Bosch Service Centers Can Now Offer Consumer Credit Card With Six Months’ Deferred Interest

Bosch has introduced an innovative new program for Bosch Service Centers and their customers in the United States. Bosch Service centers can now offer consumers the Bosch Service credit card, which comes with the benefit of six months’ deferred interest on qualifying transactions. Underwritten by Credit First National Association (www.cfna.com) this no-annual-fee card can be used by motorists to pay for any service at a participating BCS shop – regardless of price. To qualify for the six months deferred interest a transaction must be for $250 or greater.

“We are always looking for new and creative ways to enhance the business prospects of shops within our Bosch Service network,” said Michael Lippman, concept manager for the Bosch Car Service network at Robert Bosch, LLC. “The cards are a loyalty tool: The name of the service center that signs up the consumer appears on the card along with that individual’s name and the Bosch Service logo. This card can only be used at participating BCS locations,” he said.

According to Lippman, participating Bosch Service centers will process the card just like any other card with payment coming to them through CFNA, the financial institution that is administering the program. Shops that choose to participate in this program simply need to contact their Bosch District Service Manager.

“What’s more,” said Lippman, “Bosch will support these shops with a significant amount of point-of-purchase materials to promote their involvement in this program.”

Interested consumers can apply for Bosch Service credit cards at participating BCS locations. Credit approval itself takes seconds.

“In a challenging economic climate where many vehicle owners are strapped for cash, our credit card program makes it easy to do business with our Bosch Service centers,” he said.

The Bosch Service network is a collection of top independent repair centers, servicing gasoline, diesel and hybrid-driven vehicles. Bosch Service centers receive quality parts, diagnostic and wheel service equipment and training from Bosch, the largest automotive original equipment and aftermarket parts manufacturer in the world.

“We encourage independent repair shops to consider joining the Bosch Service network,” said Lippman. “Partnering with the world’s largest supplier of automotive parts and systems to vehicle manufacturers and the aftermarket provides shops with access to the most current technical service information, highest quality parts and a wide variety of merchandising tools,” he said. Interested service centers can request more information on the www.boschservice.com website.

Bosch is a proud supporter of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association’s Know Your Parts education and awareness campaign. This initiative promotes the importance of quality brand name aftermarket parts backed by full service suppliers, and its impact on delivering reliable products to today’s motorists. For more information visit: www.AASAKnowYourParts.org.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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