How To Save Your Customers Money on Automotive Locksmith Services

Locksmiths are people too! And as such, we understand how crucial it is for people to save money, even on essential services. Automotive locksmith services can be very pricey, especially for keys with chips in them. If a customer is forced to use a dealer for automotive locksmithing services, they're in for an even bigger sticker shock.

The easiest way to do that is to  save money on your own costs and pass those savings to the customer. That may create a great deal of loyalty in your customers, not to mention boost your reputation and help increase word-of-mouth customers. Let’s look at how.

Save Money on Your Supplies by Buying in Bulk

One of the best ways to offer discounts or savings to your customers is to find some yourself and pass them along. This might allow you to keep your prices low, especially compared to your competitors.

While buying in bulk costs more money up-front, you end up paying less per item. There are other benefits, such as being less likely to run out of supplies. Locksmiths that don't keep supplies on hand and have to order them are more likely to lose potential customers to competitors. 

Quick Tip: it’s sometimes a wiser idea to show customers the full price and then offer discounts -- rather than simply having low prices. Sometimes customers shy away from the business offering the lowest prices because of perceptions about quality.

Offer to Perform Services During Regular Hours

If you receive a call after-hours for an automotive job, ask the customer if they can wait until regular business hours for your services. If you charge an additional fee for very late or early calls, someone might appreciate the offer.

If your customer can be flexible, see if you can use scheduling to offer them a further discount. Maybe you have a job close to where they’re located later in the day. If you can save yourself a 30-minute drive, try offering them 10% for waiting. 

Anytime you offer an in-the-moment discount, be sure you point it out to the customer when invoicing. It helps them see the value in your services and they'll feel like they chose the right locksmith for the job. They might also be more likely to leave a favorable review.

Offer Memberships and Customer Loyalty Programs

There are other ways that you can offer discounts to customers. Some locksmiths offer membership programs where customers get extra discounts and benefits for a small annual fee. This is especially useful for commercial automotive locksmiths that service large fleets of vans and company vehicles. 

In addition, give coupons to customers for their next appointment. You may even want to put them on a household item, like a magnet, can koozie, or keyring bottle opener! This way you'll always be top of mind because customers are looking at your name and number regularly. 

Finally, consider a referral program to reward loyal customers for telling their friends and neighbors about you. When a new customer signs up because of the referral, offer the original customer a discount on future services, or enter them into a drawing. A Lowe's or Home Depot gift card is another way of offsetting other costs and is always appreciated!

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