15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Martin Buckley's free oil change cards

by ECWCock
11 replies
I signed up here years ago and then went years without ever coming back....until just a couple of weeks ago. I was doing an online search for discount-type cards, and after some research, came across a Martin Buckley post here on the Warrior Forum. Here is the link to the original post I am referring to:

https://www.warriorforum.com/offline...unt-cards.html

And here is the link to his pdf:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9h...1BcGpXNUk/view

I'm making an uneducated assumption that Mr. Buckley is a well-known and respected forum member here on the forums. I did click on his contact page and he hasn't been around for awile and I didn't see a way to contact him personally---so I came to you all for help.

I'm moving forward with the auto shop idea. I formed an LLC, I got my Federal EIN, I applied for my state business liscense, and I have jumped through all of the government's hoops. I'm waiting for my FEIN papers to arrive in the mail so I can open a business banking account. After that I will research merchant accounts so I won't leave any money on the table, so to speak.

I'm making this post to reach out to anybody who has experience doing this the proper way. I'm guessing that I need some type of Agreement form, drawn up by me, that will need to be signed by me and any prospective auto shop.to protect both parties legally. Does anyone want to share theirs? And the actual card itself that is shown on Buckley's pdf linked above is not savable, at least not that I could figure out. Does anyone have a sample card that I can stick in Word and make my own?

Thanks in advance for any responses, and I apologise if I broke any forum formalitites.
Rich Morrison
#buckley #cards #change #free #martin #oil
Avatar of Unregistered
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    This might be the ideal type of project to get from a graphic designer through a site like Fiverr, or here in the Warrior Classified or Warriors for Hire sections.

    You have a model they can use for inspiration, and you just need it in a format you can work with.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11210843].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
    Try this it may work. Click on Martin's profile and send him a private message. The Warrior forum has auto message that is sent to the person's e-mail. It will say they have a new private message in their account. It may work unless he has put WF in a spam folder or they no longer use the email address.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11210928].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author eccj
    Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

    I signed up here years ago and then went years without ever coming back....until just a couple of weeks ago. I was doing an online search for discount-type cards, and after some research, came across a Martin Buckley post here on the Warrior Forum. Here is the link to the original post I am referring to:

    https://www.warriorforum.com/offline...unt-cards.html

    And here is the link to his pdf:

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9h...1BcGpXNUk/view

    I'm making an uneducated assumption that Mr. Buckley is a well-known and respected forum member here on the forums. I did click on his contact page and he hasn't been around for awile and I didn't see a way to contact him personally---so I came to you all for help.

    I'm moving forward with the auto shop idea. I formed an LLC, I got my Federal EIN, I applied for my state business liscense, and I have jumped through all of the government's hoops. I'm waiting for my FEIN papers to arrive in the mail so I can open a business banking account. After that I will research merchant accounts so I won't leave any money on the table, so to speak.

    I'm making this post to reach out to anybody who has experience doing this the proper way. I'm guessing that I need some type of Agreement form, drawn up by me, that will need to be signed by me and any prospective auto shop.to protect both parties legally. Does anyone want to share theirs? And the actual card itself that is shown on Buckley's pdf linked above is not savable, at least not that I could figure out. Does anyone have a sample card that I can stick in Word and make my own?

    Thanks in advance for any responses, and I apologise if I broke any forum formalitites.
    Rich Morrison
    That's before my time here. That being said I've never heard of his system.

    There are a bunch of people into the 9x12 thing. There's always some new twist to it to keep the people who never actually do one coming back.

    At least that system works if you work it. This oil change thing? Do you have any idea if there are people doing it successfully?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11212094].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ECWCock
    I"m not sure what you mean by '9x12' or a new twist or any part of that sentence.

    I don't know anyone personally, but if you read the comment section on the original post---and it is a good read---there are lots of people who have done it and made bank, and all on this forum. Matter of fact, the only negative comment on the idea was the very first response, and people shot his skepticism down quickly.

    Think about this for a minute. There's a guy on here who sells vaacums and writes books and lots of other stuff. I've searched most of his posts (I think his name is Claude, from memory) and have picked up some very good sales tips. One that stood out to me is if you have to canvas, at least do it to an extremely ready to buy market. Er, sell to people who have bought a similar product before and are conditioned to buy it again.

    That's all this is.

    And what is one thing that most everyone in America has? Some form of a dicsount card, whether it be a plastic credit card sized card with 16 businesses on it; or maybe a $50 book with coupons for everything from pizza to new tires to movie tix; or maybe a less sophisticated half-off everything book you bought from the trombone player from your local High School.

    All I'm doing is shrinking down the deal to one business with a tremendous amount freebies or deep discounts. And virtually the ENTIRE country is an extremely hot lead. As long as I can sell the idea to a business, I see no way to fail.

    On a side note, I pm'd Mr. Buckley and have not heard back. Is there anyone here familiar with how to form a contract when I close this deal?

    And is there anybody out there, and I know they at least used to come here, who's walked this path and can throw some pointers this way?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11212208].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author animal44
      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      I'm making this post to reach out to anybody who has experience doing this the proper way.
      I have no experience with this particular method. I do have experience with a number of variations on the coupon theme.
      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      I'm guessing that I need some type of Agreement form, drawn up by me, that will need to be signed by me and any prospective auto shop.to protect both parties legally. Does anyone want to share theirs?
      Just write out what they can expect from you, what you expect from them, and adjust and adapt. A plain english agreement makes it simple and, despite some opinions, is enforceable in court.
      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      And the actual card itself that is shown on Buckley's pdf linked above is not savable, at least not that I could figure out. Does anyone have a sample card that I can stick in Word and make my own?
      As someone else said, use it as a template but get your own graphics designer to create something. IMHO quality on fiver is not good enough...
      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      I"m not sure what you mean by '9x12' or a new twist or any part of that sentence.
      Look up Bob Ross. He did a number of WSOs on 9x12. A lot of people bought, few actually made any money

      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      I don't know anyone personally, but if you read the comment section on the original post---and it is a good read---there are lots of people who have done it and made bank, and all on this forum. Matter of fact, the only negative comment on the idea was the very first response, and people shot his skepticism down quickly.
      I'd be very careful of believing any comments. I think this could work, but I'll bet you few people actually made it work...

      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      And what is one thing that most everyone in America has? Some form of a discount card, whether it be a plastic credit card sized card with 16 businesses on it; or maybe a $50 book with coupons for everything from pizza to new tires to movie tix; or maybe a less sophisticated half-off everything book you bought from the trombone player from your local High School.
      And that is probably the biggest thing against this. Too many out there. The business owner is probably already paying for similar such ads. You want something that stands out.
      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      All I'm doing is shrinking down the deal to one business with a tremendous amount freebies or deep discounts. And virtually the ENTIRE country is an extremely hot lead. As long as I can sell the idea to a business, I see no way to fail.
      People are very creative. If there's no way to fail, people will invent one

      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      And is there anybody out there, and I know they at least used to come here, who's walked this path and can throw some pointers this way?
      If I have time later, I will post a quick rundown on one of our variations for a different industry.
      Signature

      People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
      What I do for a living

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11212441].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
    Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

    I signed up here years ago and then went years without ever coming back....until just a couple of weeks ago. I was doing an online search for discount-type cards, and after some research, came across a Martin Buckley post here on the Warrior Forum. Here is the link to the original post I am referring to:

    https://www.warriorforum.com/offline...unt-cards.html

    And here is the link to his pdf:

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9h...1BcGpXNUk/view

    I'm making an uneducated assumption that Mr. Buckley is a well-known and respected forum member here on the forums. I did click on his contact page and he hasn't been around for awile and I didn't see a way to contact him personally---so I came to you all for help.

    I'm moving forward with the auto shop idea. I formed an LLC, I got my Federal EIN, I applied for my state business liscense, and I have jumped through all of the government's hoops. I'm waiting for my FEIN papers to arrive in the mail so I can open a business banking account. After that I will research merchant accounts so I won't leave any money on the table, so to speak.

    I'm making this post to reach out to anybody who has experience doing this the proper way. I'm guessing that I need some type of Agreement form, drawn up by me, that will need to be signed by me and any prospective auto shop.to protect both parties legally. Does anyone want to share theirs? And the actual card itself that is shown on Buckley's pdf linked above is not savable, at least not that I could figure out. Does anyone have a sample card that I can stick in Word and make my own?

    Thanks in advance for any responses, and I apologise if I broke any forum formalitites.
    Rich Morrison
    Search for Don Alm online. Don actually sold these and has the samples and agreements you are looking for.If you contact him, ask him about his "Keeper Kards". It's an easier sale.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11212653].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ECWCock
    You guys on here are top notch and very helpful. Thank you!

    Animal, one comment of yours stood out and I'm not sure what you meant. The business owner has no skin in the game here. I pay for printing and all the setup and charge the business owner ZILCH. His job is to upsell when all of these new customers walk in the door. I've been to a few auto shops, as I'm sure most here have. Practically all they do anyway is upsell, and this gives them more chances.

    As far as market saturation, I'm betting everything that this a no-brainer for most people. People get oil changes. People pay for oil changes. This is a pretty darn good deal to them. And they are conditioned to buy this type of service already.

    I haven't mentioned it yet, but I'm going to sell the card for $30 if I can get 4 or 5 oil changes and some half-off deals negotiated. Maybe sell 300 or 500 cards. That would gross $15k with only a couple hundred in expenses.

    Ron, I'll research this guy. Thanks for the heads up.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11212805].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author animal44
      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      Animal, one comment of yours stood out and I'm not sure what you meant. The business owner has no skin in the game here. I pay for printing and all the setup and charge the business owner ZILCH. His job is to upsell when all of these new customers walk in the door. I've been to a few auto shops, as I'm sure most here have. Practically all they do anyway is upsell, and this gives them more chances.
      Even free has a price...
      IMHO you'll likely get more resistance to free than if you charge a fee. And those that accept free are more likely to mess you about...

      Our angle on the coupon is
      1. Charge the client a fee.
      2. Sell the coupons en masse to appropriate non competing businesses that service similar clients.
      3. Make the coupons special and scarce. Limit 100 coupons per business, for example.
      4. Tell the business to only give out the coupons to their 100 best, most loyal, highest value customers. Provide them with a letter telling the customer that they're special and here's a reward for your loyalty.

      Typically this results in new customers that stick. And, of course, you can then upsell the business on your email marketing services As you've got them sticky, loyal customers, you'll sell more... Take a commission on every sale...
      Signature

      People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
      What I do for a living

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11223061].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ECWCock
    Quick update.

    I reached out to Don Alm several days ago. No response. I did find an Argeement document that I'll use as a template. My business acct is up and running now, and the next step is a Merchant Account.

    I'm sure in about 6 weeks I'll retire.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11217368].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
      Originally Posted by ECWCock View Post

      Quick update.

      I reached out to Don Alm several days ago. No response. I did find an Argeement document that I'll use as a template. My business acct is up and running now, and the next step is a Merchant Account.

      I'm sure in about 6 weeks I'll retire.
      Wow! I hope Don's ok. He's a great guy, and I miss his posting here.

      He actually did the projects he wrote about, which is extremely rare around these parts. His sales presentations work like magic.

      I know his presentations work, because I have used them hundreds of times. They have always produced immediate results (money) for me. I never bought anything from Don. His project descriptions and details were so thorough, you could quickly put your own version together, and go out and sell it.

      Anyway, we're coming into the Holiday season. Business owners are interested in gifts for their employees and customers, Higher end businesses will purchase these discount types of cards for their better customers.

      From my experience, if you start now (taking orders) you can sell 2,000 - 3,000 of these without breaking a sweat.

      Good Luck!!

      Ron
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11217554].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ECWCock
    I used Buckley's card as inspiration and made a sample card from scratch using Word. I also made a Merchant Agreement and a Terms of Service contract from scratch. Keep in mind I'm no lawyer, but I want to come across as one of those pricks. I need some feedback on general appearance, professionalism, thoroughness, effectiveness, and all that cool stuff. The Word docs are not online. What would be the best way for volunteer marketers to view and grade my efforts?

    All I can figure is to email the docs to a couple of people who know about sales, marketing, agreements and contracts.

    Please keep these docs out of public view. I may publicly release them in the future. Or maybe not.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11221917].message }}
Avatar of Unregistered

Trending Topics