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How Would You Market This Online Repair Service?

by BettyM
7 replies
A customer of mine wants to market an online niche repair service for a 5 lb. product. It is really hard to pre-price the repair since people need to snail mail the item to be repaired and there are so many permutations of items needed to make the repair.

I see 3 major problems that we need to overcome:

1. Some assurance that the customer will not be overcharged
2. Making it easy for customers to mail their items to him
3. Finding customers in the niche (the item is usually only replaced every 10 years so repeat customers are a problem)

His equipment and knowledge for this repair site doesn't have a lot of competition but I can see people delaying because they don't have a box, they don't go to the post office often and they aren't sure of the cost so they would be worried about being stuck.

Any suggestions?
#market #online #repair #service
  • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
    Here is an ugly truth.

    In the worst case scenario, is it cheaper for people to go out and buy a new one of what this is? Or within a small marginal difference?

    Can you pm me what this 5lb thing is exactly? I've ruled out kitchen aid mixer, lol, cause mine is a beast.
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    "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

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  • Profile picture of the author agc
    Say for example the product costs around $125 to replace.

    Price it in 3 tiers.

    trivial = $25
    moderate = $50
    severe = $75
    unfixable = n/c

    enumerate what kinds of things fall into which price buckets.

    give an estimate before fixing.
    and return the unfixable units.

    If you can't make money at those prices, odds are not many people will both with the repair.
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  • Profile picture of the author BettyM
    The repair part can cost from $1500 to $2500. Usually people pay approx. $100 per hour for a pro to work on their equipment and there are only a few places in the US that do this work.

    Have thought of people paying for the shipment in advance and we send UPS to pick it up. Not sure of the exact weight though.
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  • Profile picture of the author agc
    At those prices... for a multi thousand dollar repair on a 5lb item, just build the return shipping cost into your profit margins and dont sweat / accept the DNR returns as just a part of doing business.

    you will of course have to ship everything insured.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      Betty revealed to me what this is.

      Essentially, there are local places that can sometimes fix this - but it is specialized that some of those local repair places will not have the tools/equipment to do so.

      I suggest finding those local places where this type of specific repair is beyond their abilities, and giving those places materials/training to identify what will be needed exactly so an estimate could be established before the part is sent out.

      Those places could either a. charge for estimate, or b. take a commission on the job. Set it up as an affiliate type deal.

      More initial work for your client as to setting up, but once you have people in place it will make the rolling in of orders easier to manage.

      Key is finding related companies who would like to add this service option (without doing the work) and who will help promote it and align with your client.
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  • Profile picture of the author agc
    Thats actually excellent advice.

    "we send those out, that particular repair costs $xxx and usually takes yy days"

    Everyone wins.
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  • Profile picture of the author BettyM
    Jill that is very wise advice. I was stumped. The searches aren't high volume and quoting is really not easy.

    With your method, his website would establish credibility for his service. He would also use the site as a way of marketing locations to drop off parts for repair establishing link popularity for companies using his service and more credibility for him that companies all over the United States trust his service.

    Plus the companies would be expanding their service and getting traffic for providing the service. Win . . Win for all.

    Wow . . . thank you . . . thank you . . . thank you.
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