How are independent service providers taking away small wins and attracting customers? Free wiper replacement may be one of them. Wiper blades are by far one of the cheapest parts available for maintenance, and ironically one of the fewest replaced. Consider Safelite, who’s promotion below reminds service deparment personnel what recommendations customers listen to and what they ignore. Offering free wiper replacement could be a cheap solution to generating more traffic and return customers.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In honor of April Car Care Month, Safelite AutoGlass(R) , the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, polled its customers on routine vehicle care habits and found that most drivers follow experts’ advice with the exception of windshield wipers.
Safelite AutoGlass recommends drivers replace windshield wipers every six months or 6,000 miles. The survey found 65 percent or respondents replace them only once a year while 23 percent go every two to three years.
Meanwhile, most vehicle manufacturers recommend rotating tires every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. The majority (61 percent) of respondents followed those guidelines and 30 percent do it even more frequently.
Finally, the majority of respondents (55 percent) follow experts’ advice to check their tail lights at least once a month, but the next largest segment (29 percent) only check them when they are told one is out.
“At Safelite AutoGlass, we care about the safety of those on the road. That’s why with every windshield repair or replacement, the labor of installing new wiper blades is free,” said Tom Feeney, Safelite AutoGlass president and CEO. “What many don’t realize is that windshield wipers are critical to safety, as many of the most important driving decisions are based on a clear, unobstructed view.”
Drivers can extend the life of windshield wipers by inspecting them regularly — looking for cracked, torn or contaminated blades — and by cleaning the wiper blades frequently with non-abrasive glass cleaner or windshield washer solvent with a soft cloth or a cotton swab.
About Safelite AutoGlass(R) Safelite AutoGlass, founded in 1947, is the nation’s leading provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, providing mobile service to more than 95 percent of the U.S. population in all 50 states. The Columbus, Ohio-based company employs nearly 10,000 people across the United States and served more than 4.1 million customers last year. For more information, visit www.safelite.com.
