Gary Frazier, District Sales Manager, Interstate Batteries
“I convinced a prospect that both our batteries and the ED-18 tester program would be a much better deal than the competition’s, and he committed. He asked that I come Friday morning to set him up so that we would have ample time to train his staff on the use of the ED-18. I delivered a stock of nine batteries, an ED-18 and several pieces of P.O.P. materials. When I went back to deliver a sign, they had sold a battery on the second car they tested. The distributor, IBS Beaumont-Port Arthur, called me at about 3:30 and said they were going out for a restock and adding more inventory. This new dealer had sold four batteries in less than three hours all due to the ED-18 tester.”
Ronald McVicker, Interstate ED-18 Sales and Service Manager
While Ronald was offering training at a fast-lube location in Richmond, Va., the dealer sold three batteries in 90 minutes! The location had sold batteries before implementing the ED-18 program, but the manager told Ronald that in those days they were lucky if they sold three in a month.
Billy Waldon, Interstate Batteries of Southern Oregon
“A month ago, we set up a Dealer with the ED-18. He has so far tripled his output of battery sales, but he has also sold eight alternators in the last week using the ED-18. Needless to say, they are extremely pleased with the tool.”
Wes Stephenson, Fast-Lube Operator, Las Vegas, Nev.
“Whether the ED-18 test results are good or bad, the ED-18’s impressive to the customer. It helps them to be more receptive to the other things I may recommend because I don’t appear to be sharking them to get everything I can. By combining the ED-18 with a commitment to test every vehicle, it quadrupled our battery sales!”
Interstate Batteries of Scottsdale – Billy Kann
“We had a dealer call and tell us to either bring him some more batteries or come pick up that machine because he was having so much success selling.”
Jerry’s Action Auto Repair, Satellite Beach, Fla. – Owner Jerry Davis
“It’s a good product. It’s proven itself. Every oil change we test so we probably are testing 130–140 batteries a month. I’d say it’s increased my battery sales 70 percent. The training was simple. It’s not a whole lot of rocket science. Push a couple of buttons and go from there.”
Interstate Batteries of Southern Piedmont – Tommy Lambert
After setting up their first four ED-18s on a Friday, they began getting calls early the next week to deliver more batteries. One dealer needed four right away, and while they were delivering those, the dealer sold another one with the ED-18 for a total of five additional sales in just a couple of days!
Thomas Lanz, Fast-Lube Operator, Dallas, Texas
“Sure I’m happy that the ED-18 more than doubled my battery sales, but more importantly, I’m taking care of my customers. Having the printout gives credibility to showing people the real condition of their batteries!”
Interstate Batteries of British Columbia – John de Groot, Manager
“We have been working on launching the ED-18 program with various fast-lube locations. They are high-volume lube shops with 1,400–3,000 work orders per month. The first location to get a tester sold 12 batteries for us last year. In their first week and a half with the ED-18, they have sold eight batteries. Every vehicle outside of factory warranty is being tested, and a copy of the test results is being stapled to the work order. They have had two customers come back several days after having their battery tested, requesting that one be installed. This is going to be an awesome deal for us.”
Interstate Batteries of First State – Stan Kirk
They set up Milex Precision Auto Tune-Up as an ED-18 dealer. Since then, he has been averaging “at least one extra battery per week.” In addition, they sold two alternators using the ED-18 in the first few weeks. Another one of Stan’s Dealers, in Wilmington, has increased his battery sales up to four units per week as a direct result of the ED-18 tests.
Interstate Batteries of West Palm Beach
A fast-lube dealer had a great first week with the ED-18, selling 15 batteries. This is from a dealer that had been averaging 40 a year! Their inventory increased from 8 to 20 units. An auto-electric shop in Port St. Lucie reported selling two starters and seven batteries due to the ED-18.
Interstate Batteries of Metro Austin
A service station put in an ED-18 on a 30-day trial. They had been averaging 45 batteries per year. After seven days, they had sold nine batteries and needed a restock. They went on to sell 32 batteries in their first two months of using the ED-18!
West Coast Fast-Lube Locations
Interstate salesman Rick Brainard has been working with fast-lube locations in the Southern California area. He set up a location in Long Beach and stayed with them for approximately two hours after the batteries were on the rack, testing vehicles and helping explain the test results to customers. They sold one battery while Rick was there and sold another one after he had left. They sold another one the next morning. And on the following day, they sold five for the day!
IBS of Eastern Tennessee
Before getting the ED-18, a fast-lube location in Morristown had two batteries on consignment and sold around 10–15 batteries a year. The Eastern Tennessee Interstate Distributor set him up with ED-18, and he has used the tester 238 times and sold 40 batteries. They now service him weekly plus hot shots, and he says the ED-18 is the best tool he has in his shop. Every employee knows how to use it. |
