Getting Your Ducks in a Row
10/01/09 10:08 AM
I know that this was covered briefly in our tips and tricks section of the newsletter this month, but after reading that I thought this is a topic that needs further discussion.
As professionals we need to know what vehicle we are working on, and what details may be pertinent to the product we are going to order. For example; if you were ordering a spoiler for 2010 Dodge Charger, you need to know the paint color, and code. It is not enough to tell us: “it is red, they only make one red on the Charger, just paint it that color.”
While that answers seems ALMOST logical, there are things that you may not know: 1. What if the car was really a 2009, you assumed it was 2010, and in 2009 they used a completely different red color. 2. The factory changed the code and color of red during the production year. 3. The vehicle is a special “limited edition” that has a special color that was only offered on a few select cars.
Another example that came up the other day: a customer called to order a grille for a 2007 Silverado. We asked if it was the new body style or the “classic” style. The answer we got: “It is a 2007, they changed the truck in 2007, they are all the same.” Based on this answer we sent a grille out for the all-new Silverado. Guess what - it didn’t fit. Why?? It was a “Classic” model of Silverado, which means it was the OLD body style. The customer thought he knew the whole story and made an assumption that was wrong.
The point that I am trying to make is this: know what you are working with, know the facts about the vehicle, and know the pertinent details. With a little experience you learn what you need to know. After you have ordered a couple of sets of rocker panels, you learn that you need to know things like whether the truck has moldings or flares, what style cab it is, long-bed or short-bed, and on and on. Or when ordering door handles you need to know if the vehicle has a passenger side keyhole or if it has keyless entry.
All these details may seem irrelevant or inconsequential. Sometimes we even need to know things that you may assume has nothing to do with the product you are ordering. Some grilles, for example, only fit on 4x4 model trucks, and when we ask those questions knowing the answer can save you time and money.
So what is my point to all of this? Get your ducks in a row, make a vehicle spec sheet that you can fill out on every vehicle you work on. Have areas that designate questions you should know about the vehicle. Things that may not even seem the least bit interesting or relevant. While it may take you an extra minute or two to fill out this sheet, it can save you tons of time and money. Especially if you order the wrong item, have to wait a few extra days to do the job, and have an upset customer in the process.
Nobody wins in those situations.
Doug Jacobs
As professionals we need to know what vehicle we are working on, and what details may be pertinent to the product we are going to order. For example; if you were ordering a spoiler for 2010 Dodge Charger, you need to know the paint color, and code. It is not enough to tell us: “it is red, they only make one red on the Charger, just paint it that color.”
While that answers seems ALMOST logical, there are things that you may not know: 1. What if the car was really a 2009, you assumed it was 2010, and in 2009 they used a completely different red color. 2. The factory changed the code and color of red during the production year. 3. The vehicle is a special “limited edition” that has a special color that was only offered on a few select cars.
Another example that came up the other day: a customer called to order a grille for a 2007 Silverado. We asked if it was the new body style or the “classic” style. The answer we got: “It is a 2007, they changed the truck in 2007, they are all the same.” Based on this answer we sent a grille out for the all-new Silverado. Guess what - it didn’t fit. Why?? It was a “Classic” model of Silverado, which means it was the OLD body style. The customer thought he knew the whole story and made an assumption that was wrong.
The point that I am trying to make is this: know what you are working with, know the facts about the vehicle, and know the pertinent details. With a little experience you learn what you need to know. After you have ordered a couple of sets of rocker panels, you learn that you need to know things like whether the truck has moldings or flares, what style cab it is, long-bed or short-bed, and on and on. Or when ordering door handles you need to know if the vehicle has a passenger side keyhole or if it has keyless entry.
All these details may seem irrelevant or inconsequential. Sometimes we even need to know things that you may assume has nothing to do with the product you are ordering. Some grilles, for example, only fit on 4x4 model trucks, and when we ask those questions knowing the answer can save you time and money.
So what is my point to all of this? Get your ducks in a row, make a vehicle spec sheet that you can fill out on every vehicle you work on. Have areas that designate questions you should know about the vehicle. Things that may not even seem the least bit interesting or relevant. While it may take you an extra minute or two to fill out this sheet, it can save you tons of time and money. Especially if you order the wrong item, have to wait a few extra days to do the job, and have an upset customer in the process.
Nobody wins in those situations.
Doug Jacobs