Building Profitable Partnerships with Dealers Nationwide
Headquartered just outside of Chicago in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, AGWS (American Guardian Warranty Services Inc.) is an innovative provider of administration services for dealers and marketers offering vehicle service agreements, limited warranties and a variety of environmental and other aftermarket products across the United States. Since their inception in 1998, the goals of AGWS are to offer superior claim processing, exceptional customer service, and unmatched profitability options while always conducting their business in accordance with the highest ethical standards.
The growth of AGWS has been simple, straight-forward and an amazingly effective approach: Offer products with solid financial stability provided by an experienced insurer, bring a great understanding of automotive industry, and provide a wide array of high quality products and services with a relentless focus on customer service. AGWS also provides private label and custom programs to fit the needs of almost any market. Using a business model that their competitors would be wise to emulate, AGWS programs are competitively priced, enabling their partner dealerships to enjoy higher profitability.
Product Lines That Dealers Need and Consumers Want.
AGWS is known for solid product offerings that provide a variety of coverage levels to suit each person’s vehicle and budget. A good example of this is the Compass Protection Plan, with four tiers of coverage and a Manufacturer Certified Wrap plan, which buyers receive at the time of purchase. It essentially “wraps” around the existing manufacturer coverage until expiration.
Another offering that exemplifies the strength of AGWS is their 2012 nationwide release of the USA Travel Care Program which builds on their past track record while further demonstrating their innovative spirit. USA Travel Care 2012 offers multiple levels of coverage including their exclusionary and named coverage, unlimited mileage motor home option and the ability to cover a motor home or towable up to 21 years old with benefits like unlimited towing, flexible deductibles with an “A” Rated customer service and insurance rating. With this kind of dedication to their RV partners, it should come as no surprise that five of the top ten RV dealers in the country do business with AGWS and USA Travel Care.
An insightful company that sees the market as a fluid, dynamic and ever changing environment, AGWS continues to evolve with the growing needs of their partners and dealerships offering a variety of vehicle service contracts, warranties and F&I products, appearance protection plans, and technology solutions for auto, RV, truck and powersport dealerships.
They are continually adding more products, opportunities and services for their agents, dealers and customers. Their focus, however, is not solely in creating more choices; but instead, to better serve their partners with innovative products that combine benefits. These breakthrough programs are simpler and easier for the dealership to sell and for the customer to buy and use.
Leading the Way With Unparalleled Service and Innovation
Since their inception, AGWS has maintained a clear vision — understanding that they must take decisive steps in order to provide service to their partners and assist in selling warranty products. These steps have included producing creative marketing materials and providing improved elasticity in helping dealers present quality products to their customers. Other AGWS forward thinking business mechanisms include paperless quoting, contract transmittal, menu software, and claims reports providing F & I departments with fewer hassles while conducting vehicle service contract and aftermarket sales.
Through first class administrative and superior claim services, the valued dealers of AGWS are able to sell more service contracts, creating a win-win sales environment. AGWS prides itself in striving to maintain 100% customer satisfaction. Their claims department is staffed by former ASE Certified Mechanics with an average of over 10 years of claims adjusting experience. Their representatives take pride in adjudicating claims quickly and paying over 85% of claims to repair facilities and customers via corporate credit card. With this kind of responsiveness and experience, it is not surprising that AGWS has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau, which means it supports the Better Business Bureau’s services to the public and meets their strict accreditation standards. 
A Partnership With AGWS Is A Capital Idea.
Dealers understand better than anyone that a dealership is a capital-intensive business. Even the most profitable, well-established dealerships often find themselves in need of cash for a variety of reasons. With this in mind, AGWS has stepped up to the plate to help their dealer partners with a substantial capital investment. Whatever the circumstance may be — new business opportunity or facility expansion — AGWS is using their financial resources to advance funds on future F & I generated sales. Certainly it demonstrates the level of cooperation AGWS can provide and their in-depth understanding of the automotive and recreational vehicle marketplace.
When dealerships are ready to open the door to opportunity, they now have a partner to turn to for a much-needed injection of cash to get the ball rolling.
The Wheels Are Always Turning.
Technology has taken a significantly greater role in the industry and AGWS has leveraged these high tech advances to accomplish more with smaller cost structures. They have been more productive with less overhead and are able to give greater focus and greater attention to their customers, programs and products. A good example of this is their e-rating system that provides exceptional speed, accuracy and simplicity when selling AGWS products. They also utilize a policy administration system that allows dealerships to access their customer and coverage information more quickly, determine coverage and options, and provide better service to their customer.
Faster service and better access to information is just another way that AGWS continues to help their partners improve profitability. So, while many of their competitors were downsizing, AGWS enjoyed their best year ever in 2011. They continue to experience this success and growth in 2012 and expect that to continue beyond.
Exceeding Expectations Paves A Clear Path To Success.
It’s no secret that there are many choices when it comes to F&I products, which is why AGWS is determined to position themselves at the top, with a goal of improving dealership profitability, customer retention and repeat business.
Ben Franklin once wrote, “In this world nothing is certain, except death and taxes.” In the roller coaster of these uncertain economic times, that adage seems more appropriate than ever. Perhaps it’s why more dealerships around the country are turning to one with a solid foundation of dependability — AGWS.
For more information, contact Jon Anderson at the American Guardian Group of Companies at 800-579-2233 or log on to www.AGWSinc.com
