Advance Auto Parts Adds Health Insurance Plans to TechNet Program for Independent Repair Shops

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Service and Repair

Advance Auto Parts Adds Health Insurance Plans to TechNet Program for Independent Repair Shops

TechNet was created to help independently owned repair facilities grow their business and develop customer loyalty while maintaining their own identities and serving their local communities.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:
Advance Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts is introducing new benefits and enhanced offerings to TechNet Professional members in 2019. 

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New features include insurance and affinity benefits, enhancements to the nationwide warranty, digital menu boards, a TireAmerica.com partnership and a TechNet-branded Virtual Vehicle tool, the company noted.  

TechNet was created to help independently owned repair facilities grow their business and develop customer loyalty while maintaining their own identities and serving their local communities. More than 10,000 member shops across the United States and Canada are part of the TechNet banner program, according to Advance.

“We continue to listen to our TechNet members, many of whom have been partners of the program for more than 20 years, and are leveraging the feedback of shop owners and operators to introduce new benefits and optimize the banner program,” said Walter Scott, senior vice president of Professional marketing and programs at Advance. “TechNet is a key component of delivering the right experience and solutions to Professional customers. Ultimately, we strive to help our customers serve their customers better and grow their business as independent operators.”

The launch of a new insurance and affinity benefits program was a top priority to current TechNet customers, Advance said. The insurance benefit program enables TechNet member shops to access health insurance plans for the individual, family or small business, including medical, dental, life, prescription discounts, disability and pet insurance. Business coverage, as well as HR and payroll services, launched in May.

Among the new enhancements for 2019, TechNet’s nationwide warranty has been simplified for an improved customer experience for both motorists and member shops, according to Advance. When motorists have service and repairs performed by an authorized TechNet professional service facility, they are covered by a nationwide limited repair warranty that extends across North America for 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. At the same time, TechNet also increased value for member shops by increasing the rate paid for local labor-reimbursement claims.

The TechNet digital menu board is a new benefit included in membership that displays the shop’s services and pricing, as well as educational programming related to car maintenance and care, on a smart TV in the customer-service area of a TechNet member’s shop. This digital menu board is customizable, enabling shops to make real-time updates to showcase their offers, and TechNet also can provide custom content tailored to the shop’s program preferences.

TechNet’s new national installer-program partnership with TireAmerica.com gives shop owners the ability to offer their customers access to Tire America’s inventory for a wide range of vehicles. The partnership allows customers to select the necessary tires for their vehicle online, with Tire America shipping the tires directly to the TechNet shop for installation.

Virtual Vehicle, another important element of TechNet, supports the service recommendation by bringing the inspection results to life via vehicle-system animations that illustrate the cause and effect of each problem. The inventory of more than 400 animations can be viewed in the shop lobby or can be emailed or texted to the customer, “allowing them to make an informed decision with confidence,” Advance noted. Virtual Vehicle also is integrated with several shop-management systems that enable the animations to be included in a regular communication process, and can be sent to a customer via text or email. Finally, a customized loop of animations can be served on a lobby monitor or embedded in the shop website, providing opportunities to educate customers.

“The enhancements introduced recently are programs that truly benefit our business,” said Christa Browne of Dave’s Automotive in Stockertown, Pennsylvania. “For example, increased labor-rate reimbursement for warranty items speaks volumes to Advance’s commitment to bring us the best-quality parts backed by the best industry warranty. We’re keeping our customers very happy knowing we stand by our work. That is commitment.”

For more information about TechNet and other services available from Advance, visit technetprofessional.com or call 877-280-5965.

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Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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