[Doctor “B”]

Good morning Brandon. Excellent Post!
To be safe, I would recommend when the temperature begins to drop below 50f, you may want to start considering holding off on the repair or removing the panels to repair inside. The problem is not necessarily the VSRM. It’s working temperature range is -40f to 200f. The bigger problem is the siding itself becoming less flexible and you take the risk of creating more damage. The VSRM & water-base coatings both need 24 hours to reach full cure. Of course the temperature effects that as well. With Dr. Vinyl products, when the weather gets cold it takes everything longer work and longer to cure including your other repair materials such as fillers, aerosols and adhesives. If I had to mention it to a customer, I would extend that cure time to 48 – 72 hours.

A big thing with both products is proper storage in cold weather. DO NOT ALLOW THE PRODUCTS TO FREEZE. Always take them inside if possible. Hope this helps.

Hope to see some other technicians “IN THE FIELD” chime in on this question.

[Doctor “B”]

Good stuff Todd & Mitchell. Thanks for the post!

[Doctor “B”]

Finally got the pictures to upload. These are photos of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Leather Dash Lifting & Curling.

[Doctor “B”]

[Doctor “B”]

Hey Mitchell, thanks for your reply.

The Grand Cherokee 5, 2 and 1 are supposed to be pictures I uploaded but apparently didn’t work. I will try to upload again so you can get a visual of what I’m speaking of.

Buster

[Doctor “B”]

Hi Jake. I will send the warning sheet to you directly by email.

Sincerely,
Buster

[Doctor “B”]

Good information!

[Doctor “B”]

POST YOUR PACKAGE /BUNDLE PRICING IDEAS

If anyone offers package pricing, could you please post what’s included in your package and the price you offer it for. If there is any special requirements such as must include all new cars that come on lot or if it only applies to certain vehicles i.e. 2015 – 2017 models with less than 50K miles.

Looking forward to seeing your responses.

[Doctor “B”]

HOW YOU CAN INCREASE SALES WITH YOUR CURRENT CUSTOMER BASE

• Bundle products. You can “bundle” a few products or services together for a special price to try to get an existing customer to try some of your other offerings.

• Create a Customer Loyalty Program. Similar to frequent flier miles or hotel rewards, there is no reason why your Dr. Vinyl/The Doctors Touch business can’t reward good customers with a loyalty program. Offer the “decision maker” a discount on their birthday or for every certain # of purchases give them one for free. It doesn’t have to cost you much, it’s the thought that you appreciate their business that matters.

• Try to up-sell. Go back to existing customers and try to sell them related services. A common example is a basic pinstripe, a small rock chip repair, a leather deep clean or a light Buff & Touch-up. Think of how many times you’ve purchased electronics and a sales person has tried to sell you on an extended service plan. Customers sometimes take the bait.

However, you want to be careful and not come across as that arrogant sales person.

Adding that extra $25 – $50 per vehicle…per week adds up really fast when you get to the end of the month!

TRY IT, YOU MIGHT LIKE IT!!!!

[Doctor “B”]

I like the way you think Mitchell. Good stuff!

[Doctor “B”]

DOES YOUR BUSINESS OFFER HEADLIGHT REFINISHING?

If not, you are missing out on revenue by offering one of the easiest services that our business offers. Headlight refinishing has come a long way since the beginning but the process is basically the same. You are removing oxidation from the headlamps and restoring clarity to them. There are multiple ways of achieving this and I will leave it up to the technicians in the field to share the process that works best for them. Not only are you making the headlamps look great again, but you’re also making it safe for the vehicles owner to drive at night.

This is not a dealer only service, this is a must need for private vehicle owners as well. Just look at the vehicles you drive by every day. These foggy headlights are everywhere. This is a major problem for all vehicles on the streets and highways. Your cost of investment to offer this service is less than $250.00 but you can charge anywhere from $65.00 – $165.00 per vehicle. Prices will vary from area to area and vehicle to vehicle.

If you want your customers to have the “WOW EFFECT” when seeing the before and after results of headlight refinishing, this is the service, I Guarantee You, will have them telling all their acquaintances about. “It’s all about the Benjamin’s.” (For those that don’t know, Benjamin is the guy on the $100 bill). Lol…

[Doctor “B”]

Hey Will, excellent post and good questions. There are several manufactures of Carpet extractors out there, some heated and some non heated. Regardless of what brand you pick, I think that you definitely need something that will assist you in removing excess water from the surface you are are cleaning for two very important reasons:

1. To remove as much chemical and moisture from the surface as possible to prevent the crusty feeling and the white chalky residue that you are witnessing.
2. To speed up the drying process, especially when the weather is cool and damp.

Here are just a few of the most popular brands out there.

DURRMAID HOT WATER EXTRACTOR – Commercial Grade – Expensive but very durable (Call DV Parts Department for Price)

MYTEE HOT WATER EXTRACTORS – Commercial Grade – Expensive but very Durable

BISSELL CARPET EXTRACTORS – Inexpensive to Expensive – Walmart, Amazon

Buster C.

• This reply was modified 6 years ago by Doctor "B".

[Doctor “B”]

Excellent comments and suggestions Mitchell. Keep it coming!

Buster

[Doctor “B”]

The following post was submitted by Mitchell Reid, Associate – Dr. Vinyl Of The Cumberland TN.

FAVORITE PART OF 2018 CONVENTION:
I really enjoyed getting to make new contacts. The switching of table mates was something I normally would not have done but it definitely made invading someone’s table a little less uncomfortable. I go to conventions, now, mainly to network and this convention really allowed us to do that since we all were in the same rooms at the same time. I would definitely recommend that for future conventions. I don’t mean for the entire convention but a dedicated time in the main room for people to gather, greet, and discuss what they are doing and how they are doing it. It can be done when we are discussing other topics directed at all in attendance or eating an informal meal together. It just needs to be a time not previously set aside for classes, demonstrations, etc. I think broadening our business network in the Dr.Vinyl family is going to be crucial in the days ahead. I hope that isolating ourselves in our Franchises or our states or our geographic areas might be less prevalent and our new focus be on networking.

I have to be honest with you, I have an agenda when I am trying to network. It may be a selfish one, but I am mainly trying to recruit upholstery techs in case I may need them in the future with corporate accounts that have work around the country. This, I hope, helps all of us. It keeps me from traveling further than necessary to do the work and at the same time gives other Franchises the opportunity to add upholstery to their Franchise or increase their already existing upholstery sales. I hope everyone will see this as a win, win situation.

SUGGESTIONS FOR 2019 CONVENTION:
1.I would suggest at every convention for Bill Hubbard to speak and give his “Red Shirt” speech with his in the field examples. This is his area of expertise and we should take full advantage of it each and every convention that he will come and deliver his message. His “Red Shirt” stories are the embodiment of a Raymond Scott quote “We are either working or looking for work.”

2.I would encourage us to have a “Pass the Mic” portion of the convention. At this convention it was really great to get people with different ideas to speak up and express themselves. It certainly gave me the opportunity I was looking for to thank all those who had helped me with the work I had in the previous year. I would never have been able to stand at the front of the room and say what I did. I had to be in the audience. I am not comfortable at the podium like Buster, Richard, or Bill Hubbard. That is were they do there speaking. This “Pass the Mic” portion might give people like me, who are a little less comfortable speaking to groups, just enough “cover” to speak out to everyone. I feel some people can be more forthcoming if they don’t have to get outside their comfort zone. By letting them speak from their table surrounded by the other members of their Franchise they just might be tempted to share more than they would have otherwise.

3.I would suggest that every year we have a convention, regardless of size. Just because we didn’t have demonstrations, vendors, and as large an audience doesn’t mean it wasn’t necessary. The convention gives our Franchise a massive confidence and moral boost every year we attend. We also benefit from the contacts we make every time as well. Ideas and needs are communicated with people that if we are lucky we see once a year and hopefully call a few times between conventions. The conventions are great and are needed more than we know.

Thanks for a great opportunity at this year’s Convention,

Mitchell Reid

[Doctor “B”]

Thanks Raymond, very nice comments. Next years convention will be packed with all the excitement of previous years conventions including vendors, demonstrations, new products and so much more! Can’t wait for 2019!

Buster C.

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