New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-11
By c. E. T. SCHARPS


Every man who sets buy automobile hears lot OF
talk about Statesmen dealers and experienced motorists
will tell him how important element it is in the purchase OF
car But it comes to telling him what is the intending
motor car buyer will find only few who him clear
definition of the term and him what he ought to expect
and receive.
Service is one the gttering generahes of the auomo
bile business another respect which the industry not
standardized The very folks who the phrase gb have
only the outline of an idea to what they mean by it
This comes chiefly because dealer PROPOSE
ton factory arrangement Manufacturers it Is true adver
se the service their will But be branch
The bver IS dealing with almost universally the dealer who
pays out of the profit the for the service he gives
This state of affairs clear why stand
arded There many ideas about what ought to be
as there are dealers All depends the business of the
dealer That what regulates willingness spend his
money keep customers satisfied
AS long as the factories leave it up to the dealer give the
service and put in his do the upkeepg the product
he buys from the manufacturer buyers be
lied 1t isn't that manufacturer doesn't realize the importance
of service One of leading trade papers said only recently
Giving service to the customer goes beyond the giving of
cton to the individual merely encng his complaints 1t
involves satisfying his friends and acquaintance not merely that
his good but that the company to stand BEHIND
Wherever there motor discussed IN season
and out And the dsgruned relates with much
tails all his adventures with the service there too every
present relates like adventures as he has come
through or heard Of
the dealer accords his that the reputation or the
built and that slender thread often hangs the makers chances
OF winning losing particular SALE And recognition OF the
subtle influences which good will subject happens that the
makers acquiring dealers depends rather more on
dealers reputation for fair dealing than his record OF sales
In spite of which, the manufacturer generally leaving it
dealer his service temperamenta though they
may be- to administer from their pockets 1t will be
fine dav for the automobile when the factory decides
reimburse the dealer for service done being done to-day by
the upp Motor Car Corporation for This issues
with each new coupon book good for oneha hour OF
free service week eight months This is designed to bring
the car of the dealer at regular intervals
that eght-month period
All coupons accepted by the dealer redeemed by the
factory at fixed price which close to being the actual cost
Is the labor TO the dealer Under this system doesn't have
paw all the cost and assured in advance of certain
of free service.
But in the main it be the decision the
and sort of service with the individual dealer Few dealers
and service managers have. the judicial temperament that
oued in order they give equal service to all Some
ayed by fact that customer influence sales than
another The important gets all the service the less
important man sighted One customer be busque his
manner another tactfu The diplomatic chances
gets the service 1t the individual dealer that at fault it
is human nature But always suffer though
the money they all buy their with equally good
The fundamental defect service it generally under
done by automobile
customer the decision when the needs Even
when the service plan otherwise excellent and has
this fault the expert mechanic leaving it to him
would be a good plan.
But the non-mechanca type of in the majority AS
long as the car appears him be running well he will not
himself to the of laying for few hours
Automobiles as intricate and delicate pieces Of moving machinery
stand need Of adjustment regular intervals takes most OF
the time an absolute failure the machinery induce the
owner TO bring back the dealer Therein lies the weak
ness Of what may called the permissve of service This
the kind that offers the cosee adjustments his
whenever in limited period he to bring into the
service station
Recently there appeared the newspapers story about
vca examination of number of employees business
Office Most Of the men, ouwardy in good health approached
M examination confident that they would show about 90
er cent very large number who thought they fine
shape actually had indications OF ailments that lett to go without