Question: What do hearing aids have to do with Jack Kain Ford?
Answer: Lesson learned.
When I began to lose my hearing, hours of comparing products only lead to more confusion. When I consulted with a supplier who sold a brand “X” and told her of my frustration, she made it simple.
“I’ve been in this business for thirty years. I’ve sold all the popular brands. The difference is service. Brand “X” gives me the best service, which allows me to give you the best service.”
Maybe not apples to apples, but you get the point. All things being equal, it’s service that counts.
I bought a 2019 Mustang GT California Special from Jack Kain two weeks ago. My salesman was Nic Venn. Nic gives new meaning to bending-over-backward”. I’ve been back to the showroom several times for one thing or the other. I don’t know how he does it, but he usually sees me coming and meets me at the door with a big smile and a handshake. “Good to see you, Mr. Parker. What can I do for you?” I know, I know, that’s what car salespeople do. The difference … he means it.
I had a lot of questions about the car. On one rare occasion, I ask a technical question that he didn’t know the answer to. “I don’t know but I’ll find out.” No BS. In short order, he had the answer.
I had an upcoming overseas trip planned and didn’t have a good place to leave my car. “No problem,” says Nic, “I’ll find a safe place on our lot. And I’ll put the car cover on.” (BTW, he gave me the car cover.).
In my experience at most large companies, auto sales included, the general manager sits in a plush office taking care of more important things, not individual customers. Within minutes of closing my deal, Bob Kain came to shake my hand. “We appreciate your business.”
Jack Kain Ford has been in business for six decades. They have had 60,000 customers. I’d guess many are repeat customers. And they keep getting better. Over the last three years, Reputation.com ranks them in the Top 100 Dealerships for Customer Service Reviews out of 18,000 dealerships nationwide and recently ranked them 28th. Let’s put that into perspective … 18,000 Mustangs lined up end-to-end would reach 283,500 feet or about 53 miles, and 28 would reach 441 feet.
No doubt in my mind … they don’t just appreciate your business, they earn it.
I loaned my Mustang to my daughter and her new hubby for their honeymoon trip. They were leaving the next day. I am a meticulous fellow and there were a couple of routine maintenance things I wanted to take care of before the left. Considering such short notice, I went straight to Nic. He was not at his desk. Before I could ask, LuAnn Campbell, the sales manager, ask if she could help me. Turned out it was Nic’s day off. After explaining my predicament, she told me to drive to the Quick Lane service building and that she would meet me there.
There are probably ten bays in Quick Lane. All were filled. Not encouraging. LuAnn introduced Max Brown, Quick Lane Manager. “I’ll work you in. I will take a couple of hours. Do you want to wait, or can I give you a ride home?” A nice offer, but I had things to do. “Any chance I could get a loaner?” LuAnn says, “Let me check”. Three minutes later she hands over the keys and points to a car sitting at the front door.
At 12:10 p.m. I get a call. “Mr. Parker, your Mustang is ready.”
My invoice noted complementary inspections, Multi-Point, and Alignment Quick Check.
Thank you, Jack Kain and family. Well done.
Tom Parker