17 Mar 2016

Are Vehicle Wraps Utah a Worthwhile Investment?

by Carrie Kelley | posted in: Selling Autos | 0

Most probably, you’ve come across vehicle wraps in your locale advertising their companies or other businesses. You might have wondered whether it’d be applicable in or make sense for your company too. If you’d ask me, I’ll say, “definitely!”

What’s a Vehicle Wrap?

Basically, this is a digitally-printed mobile billboard that’s professionally installed on your vehicle. A vehicle wrap can encompass the whole vehicle or just a portion, including the windows, and makes use of eye-catching graphics. These wraps are made from heavy duty vinyl. Typically, they last 3-5 years.

Large Companies and Businesses

Vehicle wraps are an advertising means commonly used by large corporations and businesses. They’re more common with franchises which are suitably large to maintain vehicle fleets.

Small-scale Businesses

Vehicle advertising is perfect for any business size, not just large ones. Small businesses can also adopt vehicle advertising as it’d help market their brand out where potential clients can see them. In fact, when a small business makes use of vehicle wraps, it places them on the same field as large companies.

Vehicle wraps have had significant impact on the business advertising world. Even better, the costs of materials have gone down, better graphics have been conceived and application processes have allowed for creative applications. Vehicle wraps have proven to increase business sales by a considerable margin.

Here’s how vehicle wraps will improve your business or company:

1. Cost-Effective Advertising

Vehicle wraps Utah have proven to be among the most cost effective strategies to reach wider target audience. Consider the number of people that will see one of your vehicles in a day. Definitely, this number is way beyond what you’d expect. This automatically outdoes other advertising methods where you’re limited in whom your advertising efforts reach.

2. Project a Professional Image

Vehicle wrapping is a great way to strengthen your brand identity. It gives your firm a professional image. Your car, van or truck graphics can be as spectacular as you wish as photographic images create virtually any design or look. What’d it say about your company when you’ve tired-looking vehicles on the road?

3. No Need for Additional Sales Staff

I state this with a caveat. Most business today demand that sales representatives have college degrees and that they offer innovative ideas to their advertising strategies. All these requirements come at a cost- a considerable one in fact. Using vehicle wraps to advertise your brand requires less advertising staff as you’ll have a salesperson working with each of your vehicles.

4. Cost

Why spend lots of money for a few minutes on television or radio for an ad which will soon be forgotten? Highway billboards are also costly and only effective for the area they’re located in. Vehicle wraps are inarguably the most effective. They turn your vehicle into a moving billboard, advertising with a detailed message and an eye-catching design. Considering how much these wraps can last and their installation costs, you’ll have saved a huge deal of money that you can invest elsewhere.

Vehicle Wraps Utah

We’re yet to hear a client who claims that wrapping their vehicles had no effect on their business. All we’ve been hearing are stories about how businesses sales are drastically increasing. Combining all the factors above implies a wider audience reach, meaning more sales leads. Sales leads automatically translate to more sales and higher revenues.

Wrap installations have low chances of failing and are quite easy. Invest in a top notch design, and make use of an experienced firm to produce and install your desired wrap. Vehicles of all sizes can be wrapped. You may consider asking for a warranty. This can be the most efficient and effective means of out-of-home advertising.

15 Jan 2016

Dirt Nibs

by Carrie Kelley | posted in: Selling Autos | 0

I work in an auto body repair shop in Salt Lake City. There are two auto painters who work under me whom I supervise. One is named David and the other is named Bobby. Yesterday the two of them were working on a Crown Victoria that required a repaired metal frame to be repainted. I thought everything was going fine between them but around 3:00 PM in the afternoon (I remember because the Rush Limbaugh program had just ended) I heard them arguing about something. It sounded pretty heated.

First I heard David yell, “Damn it Bobby, we sanded the dirt nibs from a metallic base coat before applying the clear coat!”

“Yeah,” replied Bobby. “So what?”

“So the clear coat can now be applied directly over the sanded basecoat,” said David.

“You got that all wrong,” said Bobby.

“How so?” asked David.

“We have to apply another basecoat,” said Bobby. “It will help prevent the sand scratches from showing up.”

I heard all this from the other room. Of course I agreed with Bobby on this one. Those sand scratches would show up clear as day without the second basecoat. But I wanted to see if they could work it out on there own. That way I did not have to intervene.

Luckily the next thing I heard was David say, “Okay we’ll do it your way.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I do not like to intervene if I have to. It just causes unneeded friction that I do not want to deal with. This is one of the many things I have learned not to do while working in this collision repair shop in Salt Lake City all these years. It is not merely about fixing cars in this shop. It is also about keeping relationships from needing fixing.

16 Dec 2015

Road Trip Adventures

by Carrie Kelley | posted in: Selling Autos | 0

I am now going to tell you the story about how my wife and I found ourselves sitting in the lobby of an auto body shop in Salt Lake City. There is a little bit of background information I need to lay out before we get to that point but don’t worry. I will get you there.

So we planned a road trip of the southwestern United States because neither of us had spent much time in that region. We flew to Phoenix, Arizona and spent a few days in a nice hotel. When we went to pick up our rental car the dealer did not have the model we reserved and upgraded us to a Cadillac. Let me tell you it was one sweet ride.

From Phoenix we drove north to the Grand Canyon. We hiked down the Kaibab trail. We both grew up in the northeast and had never seen such scenery before. I remember having the experience upon first seeing the canyon that my brain did not believe what my eyes were seeing. At the bottom of the canyon we ate a glorious hiker’s stew in a cabin mess hall and then spent an uncomfortable night camping at a campsite that must have had thousands of previous occupants because the ground was as hard as cement. The next day we hiked up the Bright Angel trail which was longer, but not as steep as the trail we hiked the day before. This hike taught me to carry only what I need and nothing more, bring plenty of water, and never wear boxers hiking because they ride up the legs and chafe my inner thighs. By the time we made it back to the Cadillac our legs were dead tired. From the Grand Canyon we drove north to Sedona. On the way we stopped for gas. I could barely lift my legs out of the car to get to the pumps.

Little did I know, in less than a week I would be sitting in the lobby of a collision repair shop in Salt Lake City.

To be continued…

3 Dec 2015

Warranty 101

by Carrie Kelley | posted in: Selling Auto Services, Selling Autos | 0

People in need of an auto body repair shop in Salt Lake City should only use auto body shops that offer a full and written warranty for their repairs. What does “warranty” mean in this context? Very simply, a warranty is a guarantee or promise made by the auto body shop to its customer that their work will actually fix the damage to the car and the car will then operate normally after it has been repaired. If the damage is not repaired by the auto body shop to the customer’s satisfaction then the auto body shop will be obligated to complete the repairs at no additional cost to the customer. If the auto body shop refuses to complete the repairs, the warranty can then be legally enforced by a court through legal action. If it comes to this the auto body shop will typically be required to pay money damages to the customer.

Sometime the auto body repair shop will be ordered to make the repairs by the court. This is called “specific performance.” However, this is not a remedy courts normally like to use in this situation because if the repair shop refused to fix the problem correctly the first time it is unlikely the repair shop will be motivated to do the best job the second time around. Specific performance is usually used when there is no other person who can perform the work that was originally warrantied in the first place.

Fortunately, there are many auto body and collision repair shops in Salt Lake City. This competition makes it unlikely that a reputable auto body shop would fail to offer a full, written warranty for their work. But it is always a good practice to make sure there is a full, written warranty agreed to by both the auto body repair shop and the customer.

18 Nov 2015

Types of Vehicle Insurance

by Carrie Kelley | posted in: Selling Auto Services, Selling Autos | 0

If you operate a vehicle in Salt Lake City it is very important (and legally required) to have adequate insurance. Without insurance if you have a car accident you may face steep repair costs in an auto body repair shop, a hospital or a court room. The following is a brief and general overview of typical types of insurance coverage available for vehicles in the United States. Keep in mind, terms of specific policies will vary between different insurance providers and the laws governing insurance coverage also differ from state to state.

Bodily Injury

Bodily injury liability provides coverage for damages to another person’s physical body resulting from a car accident. Typically, a bodily injury insurance will cover medical costs and tort liability up to a limit set by the policy. Many states require bodily injury coverage for all vehicle operators.

Collision

Collision insurance will cover losses related to collisions with other vehicles and is optional in most circumstances. Collision insurance covers the cost of repairs or replacement costs if the vehicle is totaled.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage covers losses that result from theft, fire, flood, vandalism or other causes not associated with a collision.

Liability

Liability or “casualty” insurance covers bodily injury or property damage caused by a car accident for which the insured driver is responsible. This coverage will cover direct expenses (repair and medical bills) as well as tort liability.

Loss of Use

A loss of use policy will provide monetary reimbursement for costs associated with rental expenses while your vehicle is being repaired provided the damage being repaired was covered by the policy.

Property Damage

Property Damage covers damage to another person’s property. This can apply to a vehicle or other structures located on their real property damaged in an accident (e.g. a mailbox or fence).

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured motorist insurance covers losses in situations where the party responsible or at fault for damages resulting from a car accident does not have insurance or has insufficient insurance to cover the loss. Uninsured motorist policies typically cover costs associated with vehicle repairs as well as medical bills for the insured.

2 Nov 2015

Depreciation

by Carrie Kelley | posted in: Selling Autos | 0

Although a necessary expense, financially speaking, a car is not a good investment. This is true because a car will depreciate in value immediately after it is purchased and will continue to depreciate the older it gets. The specific amount of depreciation will vary from car to car but probably the most important factor to determine the amount of depreciation and the rate at which a car will depreciate is whether the car is new or used. Both new and used cars depreciate; however, new cars will depreciate much faster than used cars.

This depreciation will occur in a generally predictable manner. Typically, new cars depreciate 20% by the end of the first year after purchase. The moment a person drives a new car off the lot it becomes a used car and after this transformation approximately 10 percent of its value will evaporate. By the end of the first year after purchase, that same car will depreciate an additional 10 percent on average. Less popular models with fewer bells and whistles tend to depreciate more than popular models with additional features, sometimes loosing 50 percent of their value in many cases. Typically, new cars lose value for four years after the first year after purchase, ranging from 15-25 percent per year. All told, new cars tend to lose 60 percent of their original value by the fifth year after purchase. Purchasing a relatively new used car will avoid the first-year rapid depreciation, but even used cars depreciate over the first five years after purchase.

Obviously, there are many factors that determine how much any one particular car will depreciate over a given period of time. If you are buying a used car in Salt Lake City you may want to use a car depreciation calculators available on the internet. These calculators may help you to decide whether one car is a better purchase than another.

31 Jul 2015

Tips for Buying Used Cars Salt Lake City

by Carrie Kelley | posted in: Selling Autos | 0

Taking your car to a body shop Salt Lake City can be a stressful task, if you aren’t prepared. Buying a used car can be an even more stressful experience. Purchasing a car is considered a high stress purchase due to the high expense. Here are some tips to know when looking for your new/used car, they may seem like common knowledge, but are helpful to be aware of.

First, you’ll need to figure out how much car you can afford. Having a budget in mind will make your car shopping experience faster and more efficient. Looking at car after car can become tedious, but if you have a budget in mind, you can eliminate the cars that are out of your price range.

Second, you’ll want to make a list of your wants and needs. What seating do you require? Do you need four wheel drive? What engine size are you looking for? Do you need in vehicle GPS? There are many more questions to consider, but having a small list will be helpful in your car search. Once you figure out the features you require in a vehicle, narrowing down possible car options will make your shopping experience much more enjoyable.

Third, it is also a good idea to ask questions about the car’s history. Used cars are different and have unique history, some better than others. We will be happy to answer any questions to the best of our ability. You can also go online and get the car facts for the vehicle you are interested in.

Fourth, it’s important to test drive the car or cars you are interested in. Most used cars Salt Lake City dealerships are happy to accommodate those with a current and valid driver’s license. Most only ask that you treat their cars with care and respect so that they can continue to allow others to test drive the vehicles on their lot.

Before you go to a, Salt Lake City used car dealership, it’s recommend you do some research about the car you are interested in. It‘s always helpful to know the basics about the car your looking at before you test drive it. Doing some minimal research about your car before hand, will make you a more informed shopper. Here are some suggestions of things to research before going to the dealer. Look for reviews on the vehicle you’re interested in. Researching the car’s fuel economy is another good buyer tip.

It’s also a good idea to have a pre-purchase car inspection conducted. It’s usually low cost and time effective. You can take the car to a trusted mechanic for a thorough inspection or request a mobile inspection. A private party will probably allow you to do this without much resistance, but if you are purchasing your car through a dealer, it might not be as easy.

Being an informed buyer will help you make good buying decisions. Instead of buying on impulse, you will be able to walk away from your car shopping experience feeling satisfied and confidant about your purchase.

14 Apr 2015

What Can We Learn From The Best Super Bowl Car Ads from 2015

by Carrie Kelley | posted in: Selling Auto Services, Selling Autos | 0

You can learn a lot by finding out what ads have done well in the past. You must take into account certain celebrities, catch phrases, or world events that might made the advertisement perform well at one time and not another, but often you can gain some powerful insights. What better way to do this than explore some of the most expensive advertising in the US. The infamous Super Bowl commercial.

Now if you’re like us, sometimes you have to admit that you’re watching the Super Bowl because of the commercials. We love our football, but there certainly have been some epic advertisements that were given birth at the Super Bowl and quite honestly, we don’t always walk away thinking of the car commercials. This year it was a bit different. The number one commercial that stood out to us was “The Fiat Blue Pill”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAcLViTHDOo

While not a commercial that you may be wanting to discuss with your child or grand-child, it was a hilarious take on “real life” issues in a fun loving way. We were delighted to see it.

Another winner in the car category was the Nissan ad – “With Dad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd1qCi5nSKw

No matter what your take on Nascar racing, you can’t help but get drawn in emotionally in this story of a dad having to spend so much time away from home to provide for his family and then finally hanging up the danger in order to be there for his family…. as well as driving a supped up Nissan!

Our third favorite car ad during the 2015 Super Bowl was good ol’ Pierce Brosnan showing the action packed prowess of a…. Kia Sorento?

We loved seeing Pierce be able to have some fun with himself and his iconic stature as an action hero. While we may not fully feel the action packed status of the Sorento, Kia did a great job of connecting with the adult crowd and conveying the idea that the Sorento is more than

What can we learn from these advertisements? Get away from features and simple benefits and create stories where your autos will reside. Reach people emotionally and you can connect your auto with a deeper part of them than just the features/benefits you’re offering.

14 Apr 2015

Best Way to Prepare To Sell A Used Car

by Carrie Kelley | posted in: Selling Autos | 0

Looking to Sell A Used Car? Here’s the Best Way to Prepare To Sell A Used Car.

The video above from Goss’ garage does a great job of sharing some helpful tips for getting ready to sell any used vehicle. Below is a rundown of the tips they mention as well as a couple of extras that we added to help you prepare to sell your used vehicle. Just remember to have a back-up for the car you’re getting rid of or otherwise you’ll be surprised using a car service like actonelimoflorida.com.

Keep records and make them look good. This part starts as soon as you get your vehicle. Right from the start of your ownership you should be keeping track of all work done on the car, as well as when that work was done. This work should include any routine maintenance, from changing the oil up to the more important tune-ups and of course any damage that needs to be repaired. Also be sure to keep the said information in a sharp looking tidy binder or folder. This reflects your care for your vehicle just as much as the maintenance itself.
Determine whether to make repairs or note the issues. Many times you may be selling a vehicle in need of repairs. You must determine how much money you want to put into preparing your vehicle for the sale and determine the value ratio that makes sense. You may want to simply feel good knowing that everything is fixed, or you may do the math and realize that even repairing some items will make very little difference in the selling price and you are therefore best off leaving it for the new owner.
Clean the car professionally. Make it a Standout. Don’t simply throw some soap suds on it and wash it with the house hose. Take the time to either do a very thorough detailing job yourself or even better take it to a professional to have it detailed. What’s the difference between a detailing job and a regular car wash? Well on one hand, it’s simply a focus on detail. Detailing your car means checking every nook and cranny for accumulated dirt, dust, grime, food, or other debris and removing all of it.
Take good pictures . Don’t go the easy route here and just snap an oncoming shot of the car from the front. Ads with more pictures almost always outperform ads with fewer pictures. Be sure to include photos of both the general items (doors, bumpers, front, back, etc) as well as more specialty items (florescent lighting, rims, stereo system, etc.) to hit those that are interested in the more generic aspects of the vehicle and those interested in more of the specialty items.
Determine the Price. Knowing that you want to sell a vehicle and what you paid for it are only the first steps. You need to see what others are paying or at least advertising the same or similar vehicle for. While you can look at classifieds in the paper or online to see what others are asking, it’s best to go to the “pros” and see what they think your vehicle is worth. One of the great aspects about this type of research is that most of it can be done online. Here are 3 of the top “bluebook” type services online that will allow you to know what the going rate is for your vehicle. http://www.kbb.com/, http://www.nadaguides.com/, http://www.edmunds.com/
Advertise the deal. Now that you know your price and have the car ready to go, get that information out there. Utilize both online and offline services to help you sell your car and be sure to upload all important information including photos!
Deal with others honestly. Be ready for the phone call or email. Put together a list of the high points of the vehicle as well as any issues you want the possible new owner to be aware of. Don’t oversell or undersell the vehicle, but let it sell itself. Don’t describe the vehicle as much better than it is or downgrade big issues too much as that can lead to a very uncomfortable meeting when they come to see the vehicle.
Road tests. Generally the prospective buyer is going to want to drive the vehicle and see how it handles on the road. Be prepared for this as well as to ride with them. Don’t let them hand you some kind of collateral that will do very little if the car is stolen or damaged. Actually ride in the vehicle with them. You can point out some of the highlights of the ride and the prospect will be more likely to drive safer with you in there with them.
Paperwork and transaction – Now that the agreement is set, be ready for the paperwork. Be sure you have a clean title to hand over to them and be sure to accept only Certified check, as all others can be stopped and you may not know if they clear. Also, be wary of the guy with a bag or handful of cash depending on your selling point as you can’t guarantee it’s authenticity.

Keep these 9 tips in mind as you prepare to advertise and sell your used auto and you are going to be well on your way!