Customer Service and Promotional Giveaways Go Hand in Hand

When I purchased my last car three years ago, the salesman handed me a promotional keychain along with the key to my new minivan. The simple leather keychain was embossed with the name and phone number of the dealership. I put the new keychain onto my existing one and have carried it ever since. It was small as promotional give-aways go. But that little automotive promotional give-away, plus the excellent customer service that I received at the dealership made an indelible impression on me.

In fact, the promotional give-away only helped to solidify the relationship between me and my car dealership. I am certain the promotional keychain would have been far less meaningful if I hadn't experienced such attentive customer service. I probably would have still attached it to my own keychain. I just don't know that I'd have as positive a feeling from that reminder of my car-buying experience if I'd been treated poorly.

My relationship with my car dealership has continued to this day. Someone from the service department phones me regularly to remind me that it's time for an oil change (good thing too, I'm not so attuned to the needs of my van) or simply to ask how the van has been running. They are courteous and caring, and even though I know that getting a sale is their ultimate motive, I still can't help but appreciate true customer service. They never sound phony when they call. Instead they seem to be genuinely interested in my well-being and have never pressured me to buy something or spend more money that I can afford.

It could have been a keychain or a license-plate holder or a hitch cover. The type of automotive promotional give-away wouldn't have mattered. The point is that they recognized that a promotional give-away is meaningless without good customer service.
Because of my positive experience with this dealership I will likely go to them again the next time I purchase another vehicle.

They may not have realized it, but the dealership's practice of distributing automotive promotional give-aways along with providing excellent service doubled their chances of having me remember the name of that business. The positive feeling that I came away with after I signed the papers and drove home my new van may or may not have made me remember the name. But the genuine interest that they took in me paved the way for me to be receptive to the free gift. Once they handed me that keychain, the name of that business was burned into my brain. (Of course, those periodic telephone calls don't hurt either.)

Promotional give-aways alone will pique a potential customer's interest. They may draw someone to patronize a business once. A promotional give-away may even lead to a sale. But repeat business and loyal customers are made with the combination of thoughtful promotional give-aways and a true desire to provide attentive customer service. Whether it's a car dealership, mortgage broker, financial planner, housecleaning service or dog walker, give me great service and a free gift and you'll have a loyal customer for life.

Jenny Schweyer is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest.

Art Promos: For all your promotional needs, including automotive promotional give-aways.

Lift Promos: We lift your image and make you victorious.