Archive for October, 2009
Free coupon to ensure your car is ready for winter!
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
In order to ensure all of our social media users stay safe this winter, we would like to offer you this free 31 point inspection. This will ensure that your car is ready for the long Wisconsin winters. Even if you think your car will be fine, there is no sense taking a chance! Stop by any Ewald dealer and be ready for when Jack Frost comes nipping at your nose.
Tags: alignment, brakes, car service, Ewald, safety inspection, suspension, winter care
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What you need to know before you get your car serviced
Monday, October 26th, 2009
At some point, every car will need to be serviced. Whether this service is a minor up keep that you prefer to do yourself, or a major overhaul that you know will take help, it is important to consider where you service your car. A small mistake on the servicing of your car can lead to a major headache. Keep these things in mind next time your car needs something done to it:
Think twice: There are a lot of men and women that prefer to service their vehicle themselves. Though this does make sense, it can be very dangerous if your car is under a warranty. Without verified service records, it becomes very hard to make a claim on your warranty. Even simple oil changes could void your claim.
Get a guarantee: If you do take your car in to be serviced, make sure the work the company does is guaranteed. If a shop is not willing to stand by their work then that should be a major indicator that something is wrong. Get out of there and go to a place that offers 100% customer satisfaction.
Ensure you get the best price: Never think you are getting a deal because a shop tells you that you are. Ensure you get pricing information from several companies before you make your final decision. If a shop really wants your business they will honor any competitor’s coupons, so do not be afraid to ask the shop you like to match their competitor’s price.
Keep records: If you always get your vehicle serviced at the same place then this will not be a problem. Regardless, make sure that you write down everything that is done to your car and when. Even if the shop is keeping records, you should ensure they are kept properly. At Ewald Automotive Group, we offer a personalized service website that allows you to track and monitor your car’s service records.
Utilize your time: I heard someone say on the radio the other day that time has become the new currency. It certainly seems this way as Americans get busier and busier. To maximize the use of your time, find a shop that will fix your car on your time. Extended weekend hours, shuttle services and loaner cars are all great programs that allow you to get your car serviced in a way that does not interrupt your life.
I doubt any of us enjoy getting our car serviced. However, if you ensure your service facility meets these standards, it will be as pleasant as it can be. And yes, a plug for my employer… at Ewald, we meet all of these criteria, and much more!
Tags: automotive, car service, oil change, warranty
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Showing employees you care
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Last weekend, I asked a question on my social networks about how employers show their employees they care about them as people, not just workers. I was surprised when someone asked whether employers should even care about their employees personally at all, which prompted me to continue the conversation here in my blog…. I guess I am a little spoiled because Ewald Automotive Group is a work environment with a mission to treat every employee as if they are a part of the family.
Personally, I would find it very difficult to perform my job if I thought my company cared only about my work and nothing about me. Although my job is very important to me, there is a lot more to me than my daily 8 to 5. Having an employer that understands this, allows me to work in a fashion that will maximize the usage of both of our times.
All that said, the question of how an employer should show their employees they care about them was never really answered. What Ewald does to show they care is to adapt to employees needs by eliciting constant feedback and then responding. If we don’t give employees an opportunity to speak and be heard, how do we expect to grow, learn, change and adapt to become more successful?
In this one instance of how we show we care, the door is open to a more communicative and respectful work environment. HR managers have asked me how Automotive Advantage will help them accomplish their goal of showing their employees that they care about them. I point out that by going the extra mile to ensure employees get the best of work-life balance “perks” makes a difference in how the employee feels about the employer. It may not be the first thing on someone’s mind everyday but when they need something and their employer has found the best service for them, it makes a powerful statement, one that the employee will remember.
Tags: automotive, benefits, car, employer, Ewald, Human Resources, perks
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Rethinking car negotiations
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
For some reason, there are people that do not like car negotiations. My guess would be because they had a bad experience with a dealership at some point and had more headaches than the negotiations were worth. I am glad to say that I rarely hear this complaint from our customers. For those that do not like the idea of negotiating for a vehicle, there is a solution for you.
Imagine for a moment your employer cared so much about you that they went ahead and negotiated the best price for you on all your automotive needs. How great would that be? As impossible as that may sound, there are companies that make extra effort for their employees every day.
Using this type of program allows you the peace of mind in knowing your company has taken the majority of the work out of your next major vehicle purchase. Employers who have done this are enrolled in the Automotive Advantage Program. In signing up for the program, they ensured the employees will receive the very best our company has to offer.
If the thought of having to negotiate for your next car seems like a major burden, then just ask your employer why they don’t do it for you! This may seem like an unlikely stretch, but it is actually easier than you might think. The Automotive Advantage Program speaks for itself and makes negotiation a non-issue.
Tags: Auto, automotive, car sales, Employee benefits, vehicle negotiation
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Join Ewald Chevrolet Buick at the Oconomowoc Chamber Harvest Fest
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
Ewald Chevrolet Buick is proud to be a part of the Oconomowoc Chamber Harvest Fest on Sunday October 11 from 10-3. There will be activities for the whole family and pumpkin decorating for the children. Will also have our latest cars on display so you can see all that Ewald Chevrolet Buick has to offer.
Tags: Buick, Chevrolet, Ewald, Oconomowoc
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You can’t judge a book by its cover.
Monday, October 5th, 2009
You can’t judge a book by its cover. If you are anything like me, you heard this cliché repeatedly from your parents. Heck, I heard it so many times that I would just let the words pass through my ears without ever giving them a second thought. Now, as I raise children of my own, I wonder how I will impart the phrase’s meaning onto them.
The phrase that so often floated into and out of my head without a second thought suddenly seemed so complex. I began to contemplate how to instill in my children that they should look for a person’s inner beauty, they should never judge someone based on how they look and that they must always strive to move beyond initial impressions and find the true essence of what they are judging.
It was as I looked at how to convey this significance to my children that I began to see how few took stake in the meaning. Undoubtedly, many will object that they are never quick to judge but everyday I see the opposite of this. Everyday I meet people that brush aside my attempts to help their company with not so much as a second look.
In the business world it is not too hard to understand why we have become so quick to side step concepts based on first impressions. Everyday we are bombarded with messages that want us to spend our money with their product or service. Each intrusion promises that their offer is to the benefit of the buyer. Eventually this constant stream of impositions forces us to tune out almost all messaging.
But I wonder what would happen if we stopped judging based on first impressions. What if we took half a minute to step back, listen to the information and then judge? Though none of us have time to spare, those few extra moments could allow us to discover great opportunities all around us. Will there still be spam and useless offers? Of course! But maybe, just maybe, will find something of real value.
Tags: Auto, car buying, Employee benefits
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