Chris CollinsHelping Struggling Dealerships Build Profitable, High-Performing Service Departments | Automotive Coaching Expert | CEO

Stop Obsessing Over the Other Dealerships

5 Feb 2026 · 1 min

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0:55

In this segment of the YouTube video, Chris Collins argues that independent oil‑change shops, not distant brand dealerships, constitute the real competition for a dealership’s service department. He stresses that even low‑margin services like oil changes are critical because they keep customers within the dealership ecosystem, increasing the likelihood of future vehicle purchases. Collins cites a statistic that customers are 17 times more likely to buy their next vehicle from the location where they service their current car. He also references the “circle of life” concept taught in the dealership’s training, which underscores the importance of retaining service customers to drive long‑term sales.

Chapters

The oil change places, the independents, they are the competition. The Chevy dealership 20 miles away is not the competition. Anywhere our customers would go to do something that we do is competition. Like, I don't, I don't want customers going somewhere else for their oil changes, even though that's a low margin sale, because when they're there, they might like them more, they might get used to it. But also, whenever, especially when you're talking about a dealership, I think the number is seven. They're 17 times more likely to buy their next vehicle from the place that they service. So just for the circle of life, and you're not familiar, if you're not familiar with the circle of life, it's something we teach in our training.