This month’s cover story is all about the influx of TPMS issues shops are seeing as more and more sensors reach the end of their lifespan. The comment from many of the sources I interviewed was that people are holding on to their cars longer and so they are seeing the sensors reach the end of their maximum 10-year lifespan. This got me thinking about why people are holding on to their cars for longer than usual these days. Of course there’s the natural argument that it’s because of the pandemic and people are not driving as much, so why do they need a new car? But is there something more to it? Are we holding on to our vehicles because they are familiar, filled with great memories from road trips with friends and family, and they provide some much-needed familiarity in these uncertain times?
Having just spent the long weekend unpacking into my new home, I came across many items that I have been holding on to, arguably for too long, but I just can’t let go. Some things hold sentimental value and I can’t image getting rid of, such as pointe shoes from my ballet days as a child and my late grandfather’s favorite baseball cap, but other items are a head-scratcher as to why I keep them in my storage box, such as a Slap-Chop I got at a Christmas gift exchange party and purple sparkly curtain panels. Do we hold on to these things because we might use them one day? (You never know when purple sparkly curtains might be just what you need). Or is it because it evokes a certain memory that we don’t want to lose? (I had the best time at that Christmas party, although the Slap-Chop does not work at all.)
What have you been holding to for too long? Is it a certain tool that hasn’t sold yet, but you are certain it will soon? Is it your old truck that is likely due for an upgrade but you just can’t part with it? Or is it a personal item that is just collecting dust in your closet but you can’t seem to let it go? While we might all have different reasons for holding on too long, or not ever really know ourselves why we can’t part with something, I say it’s a great trend for the automotive repair business — older cars need more service, which means technicians need more tools. The challenge it may pose for mobile tool dealers, however, is you may have those customers who just don’t want to part with their favorite old tools. If that happens to you, take a look at Alan Sipe’s column about learning how to sell to individual personality types for some sage advice. We are including a couple of sales tips from Sipe in our bi-weekly Professional Distributor newsletter because his expertise and insights are sure to help ramp up your business. If you are not on our e-news mailing list, make sure to click on the “subscribe” button and select the newsletters that are of the most interest to you.
Also in this issue, we are announcing the winners of our annual Innovation Awards. The companies who participated in the program all put a lot of research and development behind their tools and equipment, but the winners represent those who have stand-out products that increase a technician’s productivity on the job. Congratulations to all the winners!
