I have been working from home and have been getting a lot of instant messages via Car-Part Messaging (iCPM). One of the recurring messages I have been getting from yard owners, managers, and employees has been (ironically) to complain about instant messages!
They are not complaining about using instant messages—quite the opposite. They are complaining about people not answering them! I thought it may be time to revisit instant messaging and talk about why we need to make sure we are answering our messages.
1. Would you ignore a ringing phone?
No, you would not. When I used to work at NuParts and they said I had to add another instant message to my already busy day, I thought they were crazy! I usually had people on hold on the phone 3 deep! How can I manage this, too? Well, come to find out, iCPM helped SO MUCH! People didn’t have to wait on hold for me! They could message me and say, “is the part in stock?,” “did the truck leave yet?,” or my favorite, “Here is my purchase order!”
2. Do you like getting orders and sales?
A recycler called me the other day and told me, “I really used to hate instant messaging when it was not another recycler, but now I love it! I have been selling several hundred dollars a week to the public, and I don’t have to talk to them! They find it on Car-Part.com. They know the price. They message me and buy it!”
3. Do you like selling to other recyclers?
Answer your bubble! Most of my counter-men (and women) are busy! They can’t always pick up the phone to call you. But, they can instant message you, help the counter customer, and the person on the phone. If you are not in sales, or not able to answer your messages, pick someone else at your yard who can and will answer “the bubble,” so you are not losing sales from other recyclers.
4. Do you like selling to shops and insurance adjusters?
With Live Chat and Real Time Part Verification (RTP), the shops and adjusters can check the part, see if you still have it, and order it from their tablet while standing in the parking lot looking at the car.
5. Because I said so!
OK, you all know I am bossy! But, I do a LOT of research in regards to online selling and how people are shopping for items online. And, YES, auto parts are one of the things that they are looking for online!
If you want to know more about Car-Part Messaging or need a refresher course in all that Car-Part Gold has to offer, get a hold or me or come to one of our online webinars. You can sign up at Products.Car-Part.com/webinars.
Or, as always, call me, text me, or email me at 859-802-2382 or TheresaC@Car-Part.com.
Theresa Colbert is a public speaker who goes to state association meetings, at no charge, to give classes on cores, brokering and much more. She offers on-site support to salvage yards in many areas and has been an on-the-ground representative for Car-Part.com for five years. Prior, she worked at Nu-Parts Automotive Products for 10 years, was a manager at Winter Auto Japanese Engines in Glendale, Arizona, and at AAA Economy Auto Parts in Phoenix, Arizona. With 23 years of industry experience, Theresa has seen the auto recycling world from almost every point of view.