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How to Choose Windshield Wiper Blades
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By Counterman
Advance Auto Parts has unveiled a 60-second documentary-style video and campaign featuring former Marine sergeant and world-renowned climber Kirstie Ennis.
Titled “The Climber,” the video chronicles Ennis’s journey from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and the loss of her leg above the knee after her helicopter went down in Afghanistan. It also captures her recovery and focus on tackling the Seven Summits, the highest mountain in each of the seven continents.
“Kirstie is one of the most inspiring figures in society today,” said Jason McDonell, Advance’s executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and eCommerce. “She has been a great partner of the Advance brand for several years, and we’ve witnessed first-hand how Kirstie defines what it means to be a diehard. There is a strong correlation between Kirstie’s relentless drive and the hallmarks of our DieHard brand – reliability, durability and specifically, power. This mini-documentary provides an authentic look at Kirstie, which we believe will be motivational to many people.”
The video includes footage from Ennis’s first attempt at summiting Mount Everest in 2019. Ennis and her group came within 600 feet from Everest’s peak when her climbing party ran out of oxygen and had to retreat. She has since announced her intention to return to Everest this April. A successful summit would result in Ennis conquering each of the Seven Summits.
“I enjoyed this opportunity to partner with Advance and DieHard in a unique way to share my story,” said Ennis. “Advance has been part of my journey for several years, and I admire their dedication to supporting members of the military. My hope is that this video inspires people to accomplish their goals, even when the path is full of obstacles and challenges.”
The video can be seen on
link hidden, please login to view, as well as link hidden, please login to view, link hidden, please login to view and link hidden, please login to view. Advance will also debut the video in movie theaters beginning February, appearing before several anticipated Hollywood film releases. The mini-documentary was created by TMA, a Dallas-based creative agency partner for Advance and DieHard. *Based on 2021 independent survey of nationally representative sample of 1,200+ drivers.
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By Counterman
It pains me to admit it, but snowy weather is just around the corner. And with that winter weather comes seasonal challenges – as well as sales opportunities.
In all my years behind the parts counter, there were two types of days that I would dread: heavy snowfall and heavy rainfall. Why? Because in either case, I knew that the store was going to be chock full of customers who have been putting off buying new wiper blades.
I also knew that since my store offered free wiper installation – like most stores do these days – I would end up soaking wet from the rain, or frozen stiff from the snow and ice while I worked on the vehicle in the parking lot outside.
I don’t know about you, but I found that upselling a customer in this position was exceedingly difficult. They’re usually in a rush, and are more likely to say, “Just give me the cheap ones,” or, “I’ll get the better wipers next time.” We’ve all heard those objections before. How do we overcome them?
Don’t Wait, Ask!
I would talk about wiper blades at every opportunity with customers. It was sort of my own way to kill time while I was waiting for the computer to open up the catalog. I would ask, “So, how are your wipers holding up? Did they keep the windshield clear when it rained last week?” Doing this would help to jog their memory, reminding them that their wipers were streaking, chattering or just simply failing to clear the windshield. They might not have walked into the store expecting to buy wipers, but they were more receptive to the idea once I helped them to remember that they needed them.
This scenario happened day in and day out, and best of all I was able to upsell a number of those customers into a nicer set of beam-style wipers or convince them to pick up a gallon of washer fluid as well. These may seem like small victories, but they add up to a healthier profit margin for the entire store. I remember that our margin would dip on those really snowy or rainy days, mostly due to the smaller margin we made on the wiper blades by themselves.
Installation Tips
I installed a lot of wiper blades in my years behind the counter. Customers often would comment on how quickly I’d get it done, but it became more muscle memory than a conscious effort over time. We all know that wipers are easy to install, but customers don’t always know how to do it. If we can step in and install them – and get the customers on their way quickly – that’s a win-win for everyone.
When it comes to installing wipers, there are a few things I’ve learned. First, most wiper blades will come with a small alcohol wipe inside the packaging. Don’t throw it away! Use it to wipe off any dirt or debris from the windshield where the wiper blades park. This part only takes a second or two, but it goes a long way toward ensuring that those new wiper blades won’t smear tree sap, dirt, mud or whatever else may be on the glass all over your customer’s field of vision.
Second, when you lift the wiper arm up to access the blade, note any resistance or corrosion along the hinges. If those hinges start to bind up, it may not be able to apply adequate pressure to press the blade against the windshield.
Finally, don’t forget about the rear wiper! SUVs, wagons and hatchbacks probably will have a small wiper for the rear glass, and these can easily be forgotten by the customer. As a matter of fact, I had a number of customers who didn’t know how to turn the rear wiper on in their vehicle, and they’d owned it for years! They really appreciated it when I took a moment to show them how to use it, and I hope they remembered what I’d said the next time it rained!
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By Counterman
Bosch has introduced Bosch 360, a new custom-fit wiper-blade combo package for sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and crossover vehicles (CUVs).
Currently available on
link hidden, please login to view, the new offering from Bosch includes vehicle-specific wiper blades for front-windshield and rear-window applications in a single, convenient package for the most popular foreign and domestic SUVs and CUVs on the road today. With the introduction of Bosch 360, Bosch states that it becomes “the first automotive parts supplier to address a long-standing problem for SUV and CUV owners by eliminating the need to purchase two or three wiper blades separately.” The all-in-one solution also helps vehicle owners adhere to consistent, regular vehicle-maintenance schedules and it helps SUV and CUV owners avoid a common mistake: forgetting to replace their rear wiper blade.
Bosch 360 features Dual-Strike technology, a double-steel clamping construction to handle harsh driving conditions for superior blade robustness and durability. In addition, Bosch 360 wiper blades are made with HydroDefense technology, which precisely applies liquid graphite to each blade’s rubber element to combat daily wear from salt, bugs and road debris for all-season versatility.
“At Bosch, we’re constantly working to respond to our customers’ needs,” said Thu Teesdale, director of product management and marketing at Bosch. “Bosch 360 represents the latest example of our efforts to bring innovative new solutions to the automotive aftermarket by making purchasing decisions easier for busy families or individuals who drive SUVs and crossovers, two of the highest-selling vehicle segments today. By packaging high-quality and reliable driver, passenger and rear wiper blades together for specific vehicles, we have also set a new standard of quality, safety and convenience for our customers.”
For more information regarding Bosch and its products, visit
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