What would you like to hear in a follow up letter?

Question

I'm in car sales and i'm trying to get some opions on what customers would like to hear in a follow up letter. I useally send them out One week, one month, one year, two years and etc. after they have picked up their vehicle. What would make you look at the letter and actually read it and possibly spread my name to other people?

Answer 1

Thank them for buying the car from you, and let them know you'll be happy to help them with anything having to do with the car.
If you want to be real outstanding, tell them if they refer anyone to you that buys a car you will send them a thank you present.
I have found that good layer cakes (even for their own purchase) make a great but not too expensive present. See that you find a pastry baker that has really good cakes, and you may even work out a deal, whereby he'll give you a special price for frequent purchases.
On repeat business, people would actually ask we when they would get their cake. For little money, they will remember you!

Answer 2

Ross...forget the follow up letter consumers get so much junk mail they will glance at yours and then its garbage...

I am retired from selling cars after 30 years and the old mail trick worked back when there were no computers...today its a new era...you seem like a nice kid thats looking for answers, here is my advice that I used the last 7 years before retirement and I made three times more than my goal and retired early...

Every customer you sell a car to from now on, keep a copy of the drivers licence in a binder along with getting an e-mail address...make some other mental notes, like buyer had a daughter or wife named Mary...You now can e-mail a birthday card when the time comes, and add things like I hope you and Mary have a great day....You will be remembered when the time comes to up-grade...

It will take up to 2 years to get the ball rolling, but trust me it works for repeat business... Go to my website http://www.usedcartips.org/ and e-mail me from there if your interested how to deal with a client... your in a business where the top guns being 5% makes as much as the other 95% combined...its all about homework...

Answer 3

First off, change your contact cycle.

Send a Thank you letter as soon as they drive off the lot, then in one week, one month, and something every other month (even if it is just a note saying hi, or about an oil change special in service).

Also, if you contact them to let them know oil changes/tire rotations are due, to wish them a happy birthday/anniversary, then they will more than likely think of you when they need another car, or when someone they know is looking for a car.

You do not need to send your customers gifts, but look into the little magnetic/sticker calendars, that way they can put them on their refrigerator and it becomes top of mind advertising.

Work with your Sales Manager, see if you can get service coupons to send to your customers, and let them know anytime new rebates/incentives come out.

Just keep a steady follow up with them, and you will start to see your business increase.

Answer 4

I use to work for a vary large car dealership (not in sales, in the legal dept) and have never heard of a person sending out a Follow Up letter, so sure sent it to me. I'm interested in hearing what you have to say.

Answer 5

I get them periodically and they all go straight into the bin, unread for the most part.

In all my 38 years of driving I've only dealt with one dealership (Mercedes) that earned my consideration of a repeat purchase by treating me fairly all the way through the transaction. I might return to some of the others if their antics weren't too severe but the vast majority never did anything to earn my loyalty.