Ecobat Battery, a leading UK battery distributor, has long advocated for independent workshops to “test every battery” as a method to reduce roadside breakdowns and create profit opportunities. Silver Street Motors in Tiverton, an active customer of Motor Parts Direct (MPD), recently participated in a trial to demonstrate this principle.
At the beginning of the year, proprietor Steve Webber, alongside MPD’s Terry Back and Ecobat Battery’s Andy Waite, began a three-month trial. Silver Street Motors was provided with an Ecobat Battery EBT780 tester and Lucas branded point-of-sale materials, including mirror-hanging battery test result cards. Steve and his team committed to testing the battery condition of every vehicle entering the workshop, regardless of the initial service request.
After three months, the results showed that the initiative successfully built stronger customer relationships and increased battery sales. Steve Webber, initially sceptical, admitted the process was “hassle free” and quick, taking mere seconds during other work. He noted that being able to show customers a printout of their battery’s health, whether good or declining, proved effective. While not all customers with a poor reading opted for immediate replacement, enough did to significantly increase battery sales compared to the previous year.
Andy Waite of Ecobat Battery commented that their research indicated approximately 30% of vehicles entering independent workshops require battery recharging or reconditioning, and about 10% need replacement. He stated this validated their confidence that a consistent battery testing regime would boost sales.
Ecobat Battery also provides workshops with market insights, forecasting that the split between traditional SLI and AGM/EFB batteries, which was 64%/36% at the end of 2024, is likely to reach 50%/50% by next year. Despite AGM/EFB batteries lasting longer, their higher average price is expected to maintain revenue, further supporting the “test every battery” message for ongoing profit maximisation.
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