2014 in Review for Shop Talk
What happened at the Shop in 2014? 2014 saw Shop Talk become the repository of any Special Offers we may be running, so the answer to the question “Do you have any specials right now?” will continue to be answered in this column. Other features of Shop Talk, like our monthly list of Auto Recalls, don’t really need a recap. But there’s usually something unique in the column each month, and many are worthy of a reminder…
In January we brought you a look back at 2013
In February we announced our new Referral Reward program and congratulated Employee-of-the-year Dave Gettmann
In March we announced the first group of monthly Referral Reward groups
In April we linked our article on Fuel Injectors to a special offer on Fuel Injector Service. Look for more links like this in 2015!
In May we announced the return of Free Carwash Season, congratulated Artichoke Music as our first Referral Reward quarterly winner, and gave you a heads up on the GM Ignition Recall.
June saw the return of our Postcard Contest, where we offered $50 to the best vacation postcard by the end of the Summer. No one entered, so the cash went unclaimed. Keep an eye out for this year’s contest… with so few entries, you’d have an excellent chance of winning!
In July we reminded everyone that our 1998-and-newer policy is for NEW clients, and we’ll gladly care for the older vehicles of our existing clients. We even made a special offer to existing clients to bring in their older vehicles.
In August, we told you about our temporary produce department as the overflow from Tom’s home garden was offered free to anyone who wanted it. All organic, too.
In September, Janus Youth Programs became our second quarterly winner from our Referral Reward program. We also told you about mice who’d taken up residence in a client’s cabin air filter.
October and November were pretty quiet, but we did have a great Pre-Winterization special to share with you in October and a generous Automotive Amnesty program throughout November.
In December we selected Madison High School as our third Referral Reward quarterly winner, and reminded you about Tom Dwyer Gift Certificates… just in time for Christmas.
…and that brings us to 2015. Shop Talk may not carry our most interesting articles, but throughout 2015 you can look to it for the ones that will save your hard-earned dollars on auto repair. Special offers, auto recalls, and the occasional mechanical tip; that’s what you can expect from Shop Talk in 2015!
Our Referral Reward program…
We started our Referral Reward Program as a way to say “thanks” for the loyal support of our clients. We used to send certificates for service, but that could lead to conflicts of interest in referrals… we don’t want people referring their friends in hopes of getting an oil change coupon! This seemed to be a good way to express how grateful we are and help deserving people at the same time.
There’s still a few months left in the first full year of the program, but as we look back at 2014 it’s been a success so far- 81 groups have benefitted as of 1/12/2015, with a total donation of almost $4,900! When you include the $250 to each of our quarterly award winners, Artichoke Music, Janus Youth Programs, and Madison High School) our clients have donated $5,626 dollars to the groups they care about! As we said there are a couple months left in the first full year, so we have two more months of individual donations, one more quarterly winner, and one yearly winner yet to go. There’s still plenty of time for YOU to take part, and it’s pretty simple… every time someone comes in and says they were referred by you, we’ll write a check to the non-profit group of your choice (up to $50) and your group will be automatically eligible for the quarterly and yearly awards as well.
In the meantime, here are the groups who have benefitted in January…
Aris Bishop Memorial Scholarship Fund
Native American Youth Association
Oregon Food Bank (12th donation)
Oregon Humane Society (10th donation)
Peninsula Children’s Learning Center
Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank
Lewis Elementary PTA
Wounded Warrior Project
Planned Parenthood (4th donation)
The Sellwood Bridge Construction
The overwhelming reality at the Shop throughout 2014 was the Sellwood Bridge construction project. It’s vitally important, but it’s been a crushing weight on our business. So far we’ve made it through without laying anyone off, but things are getting tighter and the bridge is well over a year from completion. If you have a friend, family member, or co-worker who hasn’t tried our service yet, PLEASE encourage them to come in. You can take advantage of the Referral Reward Program, and our generous First-Time Client offer will make your friend’s first visit more affordable. If you like what you have found at Tom Dwyer Automotive, please share it with someone you know. From all of us here at the shop, thank you for your support over the years and thanks in advance for the new clients we know you’ll send.
Your reviews and referrals matter
We are constantly grateful for the supportive and loyal clients we have developed over the years. Your comments and appreciation keep us on the right road to providing the superior automotive service you deserve. Your reviews and referrals are not only the highest compliments we can receive; they’re the lifeblood of our business. If you like what you’ve found at Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, please tell a friend or take a minute to write a review on Yelp, Angieslist, Google, or the review site of your choice. Thank you!
Latest Automotive Recalls
Automobiles are just like any other product; occasional flaws in manufacture or design can cause problems once they leave the factory. When an issue is identified the manufacturers and government work hard to bring the vehicles back in for refit or repair, but not all recalls make the front pages. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a constantly updated list of recalls from every manufacturer. Clicking the button at right will take you to the full list at the NHTSA website.
