4-2003

.......

....... Monthly Feature --- April 2003 I am sure the inspiration for this Monthly Feature, the Supertest Safety Service
file box, is a familiar item to most visitors to this site . But I wonder how many
are aware of its original contents or purpose.
Thanks to the assistance of Alan McKinney , my good friend and fellow
Supertest researcher / addict, we are able to share some interesting information
on this service. We hope you will find it both informative and enjoyable.

.In 1962 Supertest Petroleum Limited , after reviewing all of the customer-
record systems in Canada and the U.S. and extracting the best features of each,
introduced the Supertest Safety Service System.

Finally a complete record of each customers car servicing --- on one card, where
the dealer could see at a glance, the customers past, present and future needs.
A added bonus was a permanent, yearly record of each stations "Selling Effort"
and the customers assurance of Safe Driving.

After thorough testing , Supertest had come up with a complete , compact
method to "make them come back". The system was designed with both the
customer and dealer in mind. It developed the dealers business, making the
customer more dependent on him by encouraging his trust in the efficient
operation available at Supertest stations. It permitted the dealer to schedule
service during slack intervals by reminding the customer of his present needs.

... Here is the master control of the complete system ---simple, direct and speedy. Called the VEHICLE SERVICE RECORD FILE, it was a well-constructed enameled metal box with flip-top . Durable A-Z cards indexed the annual servicing record for each customer, with only one sheet necessary to show the customer's immediate needs ---at a glance......

The SUPERTEST DEALER News from January - February 1962 contains this great article detailing this "NEW" aid to dealers. Finally no more hit and miss postings of one card to another ! No more
loosely stacked bits and pieces ! Here , in full view, hangs the the daily
AUTOMATIC REMINDER panel with 31 slots , one for each day's "Thanks
You" and "Reminder Cards". It was designed of heavy gauge metal with a
colourful baked enamel finish. While barely visible , pockets at the sides, allow
space for seasonal promotional handouts, and bold orange letters constantly
reminded all customers of API oil change recommendations.
Shown too, is the sturdy SALES SERVICE DESK, designed to hang on the
wall , and large enough to hold the work order, the SALES SERVICE ORDER,
the Safety Service REMINDER STICKERS, and the newest SAFETY SERVICE
GUIDE.
To the customer, this spelt "Safety" and "Reliability" , to the dealer it meant
"More Customer visits" and "More Business".
...................

... Here's how it worked:
A: On first purchase, complete the entire Order Form accurately. Then tear off
the "Reminder Card" (A) and place in your wall "Automatic Reminder" panel
slot, at numbered date, according to the season and customer's driving habits -
using "Average Miles Traveled Per Month" as your immediate guide.
TO BRING HIM BACK, add your dealer stamp, two cent postage and mail
when that date arrives --- making certain, of course, that required servicing has
not already been completed.

B: Your "Customers Receipt and Guarantee" section: Add your dealer stamp
and hand to the customer ---- with a smile and a courteous "Thank you".

C: This carbon copy of A is your important "Thank You Card" and goes in
the slot numbered for the day after the service is performed.
For GOOD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, add your dealer stamp, two cent
postage and mail that night.

D: Your carbon "Dealer Copy" of the transaction : Wet the glued strips at top
and bottom, and attach to wide space at the left side of yellow sheet provided.
Alphabetically file in the "Vehicle Service Record File" for reference on the
next visit

Checked need for battery .... E: On this first transaction, mount "Dealer Copy" D and E together . Your
"Amount" column represents the Sales and Service transactions of your cust-
omer , a condensed record for immediate recognition.
.....

Note: Battery was sold on the next visit .... E (cont'd.) For each of his next five visits , only attach strip E in spaces Nos. 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, alongside the strips already in place --- matching the horizontal lines.
Now look at the photo: Starting at the left , you can read straight across, noting
immediately which items still need attention. Each time your customer has a
service performed, another E (Amount column) is added. Six visits can be seen
at a glance. For the remaining record, simply turn the card over and start again. ... All material was available in both english and French ...

Click here to see the new En-Ar-Co / WHITE ROSE Monthly Feature too !