Farm Equipment
Lazer-Focused Sales Management
Jaime Elftman, Assistant Editor
Staying steadily busy during the off-season with billable work is a universal challenge for dealers. One way to manage it is through winter service programs, in which customers are encouraged to bring in their farm equipment for off-season maintenance and inspections. This gives dealers work through the winter and helps customers get ready for spring.
We reached out to dealers of all colors from across North America who shared successful strategies and best practices for promoting their service programs and bringing in customers during the “off season.” Marketing representatives from several dealerships share their winter service promotions and why they work in their own words.
Click the button below for suggestions from major manufacturers John Deere and Case IH on promoting winter service programs.
Web exclusive: 6 Tips from Manufacturers on Promoting Winter Service Programs
• Use winter service promotions to tell customers the key features and levels of your service program and encourage them to schedule their inspections early.
• Sell winter service by reminding customers that being proactive can help save them time and money during the planting and harvesting seasons.
• Consider tying your winter service program with a winter storage program for extra value for the customer.
"21st Century Equipment is proud to offer our Priority Service Program (PSP) and our Priority Plus program. It begins with a dealer-performed, technical inspection. Repair areas that are identified from the inspection are prioritized, reviewed with the customer and an agreement is reached on which repairs will be completed based on customer selection.
"The completion of repairs in categories A and B also provides extended coverage that will eliminate any service call mileage or hauling charges regardless of the repairs required throughout the season of use.
"The Priority Service Inspection program offers 90 days parts and service warranty on all dealer-installed John Deere parts. Warranty is effective immediately for tractors and deferred until next use season for seasonal equipment. 21st Century Equipment’s Priority Guarantee will provide for those machines that complete all three categories of our Priority Plus program, the highest priority available, free mileage on service calls and same-day service.
"The Priority Service Program includes all John Deere agricultural equipment. In addition, our inspection includes: machine wash and detail, free horsepower check on all PTO equipped tractors, engine oil scan, fluid sample testing of antifreeze and hydraulic fluids and an optional round baler in-field start-up service, which is available during the first cutting of the season for just $100 with the completion of a round baler inspection"
— Don Osborn, Marketing Specialist
Lazer-Focused Sales Management
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