Offer your customers a free wiper check – Trico says

Trico has always encouraged technicians to offer their customers a free wiper blade check, whether their vehicle is in for a routine service or clutch replacement, and while winter may be the obvious time of year to offer it, the original equipment (OE) manufacturer and supplier of wipers and systems insists blades are not seasonal products and the offer should be an all-year-round one.

The NCT considers the condition of the windscreen, as well as the wiper blades and washers that help clean and wipe it. A vehicle will fail its NCT if wiper blades are missing, insecure or in poor condition; torn rubber, for example, is a common fault and reason to fail.

For that reason, Trico Senior Brand and Product Manager, Sam Robinson, says: “Of course, this is the busiest time of year in terms of wipers, as motorists prepare for a potentially cold snap; however, we would urge technicians not to take their eye off the ball and push wiper blades throughout the year – they’re a constant revenue stream for workshops.”

Sam believes that wiper blades are a “forgotten product” among consumers, as they have “no definitive failure point”. Having them on display, either in the workshop waiting room or reception area, is ideal for reminding customers that they might be due a change.

To build consumer confidence, technicians can offer some important maintenance tips. Sam said: “Throughout the year, whenever a motorist is washing their car, they should also wipe their wiper blades with a clean, damp cloth. They should also pay close attention to the windscreen, cleaning areas at both the top and bottom of the wiper sweep where heavy amounts of dirt can build up.”

Specific to winter, though, there is always one golden rule: “Don’t start or operate wiper blades on a snowy or frozen screen! Starting them on a frozen screen can completely tear the rubber from the blade and trying to clear built-up snow or ice can put undue pressure on the motor with catastrophic effects on the complete wiper linkage and/or motor failing,” Sam added.

As an OE manufacturer and supplier, Trico offers multiple solutions to make wiper blade replacement simple and easy for workshops. Exact Fit wiper blades, for example, can be replaced in as little as three seconds, whilst other ranges, such as Trico Flex, offers consumers an upgrade to the latest beam blade technology.