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I n what seems like a miraculous happenstance when you consider what we’ve all been through since the start of 2020, during August, Mrs P and I managed to take a holiday. Yes, a real one, away from home, away from the garage, and all the worries, well kind of. Still had to keep washing my hands though, and remember not to rub up against strangers. That’s not just because of COVID-19 though, it’s generally good advice. Personal space is a big thing, both literally and figuratively. You don’t want to be inside someone else’s. For one thing, you might catch something. For another, they might shove you out and never come back. When you’re running a business like a garage, you should think about these things. Down to the south coast we went, little hotel, pottering about on beaches, long lunches, we even managed to take some bike rides. Now, I may be the source of all knowledge when it comes to cars, but I’ve not been on a bicycle much over the last few, scratch that, many, many years. I have to say, I enjoyed it. Mrs P and I didn’t go all BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID with the two- wheel frolics, but we had fun. Raindrops did keep falling on my head though, on one particular afternoon. We took shelter in a pub and I had a pint – now, there’s something you can’t do when you’re driving. Anyway, we were not the only cycling softies who opted to get out of the weather. We got talking to some other holidaymakers in the same situation, with one difference. While we had hired our bikes locally, our new friends, who had come down in a camper van, had brought theirs with them. In that you can take the boy out of the garage, but never take the garage out of the boy, we got talking about their camper, from a maintenance standpoint. Turns out they were very thorough with servicing, and even kept the battery topped up through the year. Very good. Their bikes were another story though. One of the reasons they had retreated to the safety of the saloon bar until the skies cleared was because their bikes were on the verge of really letting them down. The chain on one kept popping off, and the other had what was optimistically described to me as a “slow puncture,” but it seemed to be in a bit more of a hurry than that. Our hire-bikes had a pump, so we were able to help with the air issue, and my magic fingers made quick work of the chain. We waved them off as the sun came out and they sped back to the campsite before the wheels fell off or something. It got me thinking though. These were professional and responsible people who had the right attitude to vehicle care, but their bikes were a massive blind spot for them. Bike servicing is a real thing, and there are many thriving little businesses outside of the retailers who are ready and waiting to help (sound familiar?) but this kind of care is just not ingrained. With my mind shifting, I thought about how many customers we have through the door where the car is hanging by a thread. My point is, you need to nurture your customers in all sorts of ways, by educating them on the need for regular care. If they keep coming in regularly, a lot of issues can be side- stepped. Preventative you see. You all know this, but do they? HOLIDAY OFF THE CHAIN 58 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2020 TEABREAK: MEMOIRS OF A MOTOR MECHANIC www.aftermarketonline.net Two-wheel frolics Right attitude Maintenance Holiday Food Feed the Dog

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