What is the reason for 4S stores to offer free maintenance?

[FinleyDella]

4S stores offer free maintenance as a marketing strategy to attract customers and lay the groundwork for future business. Car 4S stores provide a wide range of maintenance services, including engine oil, tires, and engine maintenance. Below is a detailed introduction to car maintenance: Overview: Car maintenance refers to the preventive work of regularly inspecting, cleaning, supplying, lubricating, adjusting, or replacing certain parts of the car, also known as car servicing. Currently, car maintenance mainly includes the maintenance of the engine system (engine), transmission system, air conditioning system, cooling system, fuel system, power steering system, etc. Purpose: The goal of car maintenance is to keep the car clean and in good technical condition, eliminate potential hazards, prevent failures, slow down the deterioration process, and extend the service life.

[McEmmett]

Last month I bought a new car, and the 4S dealership directly offered me three free maintenance services. Through chatting with them, I learned that this is mainly to attract first-time car buyers like me, especially young people. The complimentary maintenance helps us develop a habit of regular visits for servicing, making it more likely for us to choose them for future tire changes or other services. Behind this is a sales strategy—dealerships aim to cultivate customer loyalty and reduce defection to competitors. Additionally, during each maintenance visit, they can inspect the vehicle and recommend expensive upgrades, generating extra revenue. I quite like this free benefit; it saves me hundreds of dollars and ensures the car remains in good condition, as long as I don’t get talked into overspending.

[DelEva]

As a long-time enthusiast following the automotive market, I've discovered that 4S shops offer free maintenance with deeper considerations. This serves as their customer retention strategy—initially providing complimentary services to create a thoughtful impression, encouraging frequent visits. Each maintenance session presents opportunities to upsell additional products like engine oil packages, indirectly boosting profits. From a business perspective, this approach reduces customer acquisition costs more effectively than advertising. I've witnessed numerous cases where car owners, swayed by free maintenance, develop greater trust in 4S shops, prioritizing them for subsequent purchases or major repairs. While this practice has its pros and cons—the upside being timely maintenance that prevents breakdowns, the downside being potential upselling of unnecessary services—it remains a prevalent tactic in the industry.

[OChristian]

Our family has been driving for many years, and the 4S shop often offers free maintenance. There are many benefits for them to do this: firstly, it can retain customers and prevent us from going to small repair shops; secondly, each service provides an opportunity to upsell other items for more profit. For us car owners, it saves expenses and promotes regular inspections. I remain vigilant every time I go to avoid being advised to replace unnecessary parts, which makes it quite cost-effective.