Continuing the themes of looking at breakdown cove organisations homepage on the net, this time is is the turn of the RAC. Compared to the AA, this homepage is more dedicated to breakdown cover with only the menu buttons along the top suggesting other services are available and even this is limited to insurance only. This is quiet surprising considering the RAC is now owned by Avia a huge financial organisation that first bought out Norwich Union (who previously owned the RAC) , you would have thought they would advertise more services.
However for the customer looking for RAC breakdown cover, this is probably what they want to see, dedicated reasons of why they should take out a RAC breakdown cover policy. With messages like, helping breakdowns for 112 years and “have you broken down now” are excellent for the customer, who just wants to get on with it and buy a policy.
What is the first thing you see. Roadside assistance from £28, probably the answer to most visitors, how much will it cost me to join the RAC? All in all a good homepage, that does not distract from the subject matter in hand, even though, the add on products not advertised here, may affect bottom line profits.
“Even the clothes retailers seem to getting into the action nowadays when it comes to breakdown cover services. As a member of this American shopping club you can be entitled to discounts off RAC breakdown cover services. You can read the full description here at the Matalan RAC offers and events page.
However the promotion page is not very descriptive and not very clear whether the roadside assistance option quoted is the price with the discount taken off or prior to. If this price is with the discount, there does not seem to be any difference in price than just visiting the RAC website direct and buying online, using the normal discounts offered there.
Get this spectacular reward card offer is the message, I am still looking and wondering what is spectacular with this offer, unless when you apply you learn more of course. The decision is to look at what other supermarkets arte offering with their connection with the breakdown cover operators and write about it here within later posts.”
It is just about everyines passion to have blog nowadays andof course the RAC had to have one, just as you are reading one now. We make no apologies here that the breakdown cover today blog is quiet personal and as it does not belong to any breakdown cover provider so can be honest with it’s views. Ironically the RAC blog seems to look like a non commercial blog. Take for example the blog post wheel changes. This was written by a RAC breakdown cover patrolman just stating an obvious fact to carry a spare wheel and the tools to change it. This is not rocket science, but th iontersting thing is the tone that it has been written. It clearly has been written by a RAC breakdown cover patrolman and not an editor somewhere back at head office.
The results are somethmie amatuerish for a huge organistion like the RAC, but in another way honest, transparent and what a blog was supposed to be, rather than a news machine written by profesional journalists ( just like us). I am not sure how this will get your car home after beraking down in the middle of the night, but is you take the time to read their information you may just get that motoring club feel. I think we will make time to visit some more posts in the future.
Have you been to the RAC Forums recently, though not well may it is time you checked it out. It makes sense for a breakdown cover and motoring organisation to engage not just it’s customers but as many people who drive as possible. The RAC Forum is open to just about anyone and everyone that has a view on the motoring issues today. Not only is this a good service for you and me but also for the RAC, to understand peoples needs and wants.
Of course the main function is to offer RAC breakdown cover, but in the biger scheme of things there is so much more the RAC offers, from insurance to information on whare to sleep tonight maps and a lot more. the difference though, is all these services cost in some way, where the RAC forum is free and delivers substantail content to all who visit. Ironically though it is no where near in size to other motoring forums out there, probably because the perception is that the forum is oly about RAC breakdown cover, when the reality couldn’t be further away.
There are many other issues to talk about, from road safety, to speed cameras and car maintainence in general, but it needs to get away from the perception of what people think the forum is about before they visit, anyway I am a fan, a member and will be visting often..
It makes sense to show the RAC breakdown cover advert being shown on TV at this present time, to understand how the RAC sees the market. The music is Close To You, to represent the RAC not being far away in times of trouble, especially in the cold, dark and lonely places the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) has chosen to film cars that have broken down or are not that well.
The first thing that many notice is the amount of carbon emissions comming fomr these vehicles, when filmed in cold conditions. The point of the adverts is to show how they can get to you quick and get you on your way, with their breakdown cover service. But for many watchers, you wonder why these cars ever returned to the road and why they aren’t scrapped straight away to save the planet.
So you end up thinking that carbom emissions are close to you and almost depressed by the end of the advert. We have to admit, it is better than signing patrolmen, that the competitors have used in the past, but it risks deleviering a different message than planned.
It is usual for news cars to be provided with some sort of roadside assistance for the first year at least. In this instance the RAC has continued its relationship with Proton the major manufacturer of cars. The deal lasts another 3 years that could help 7000 drivers when they buy a new car, should any faults occur whilst out driving.
Of course it is very unlikely that a new car would suffer any breakdown as such, but bearing in mind that many call outs tend to be for small stuff such as a flat tyre or keys locked in the car, having a RAC breakdown cover policy at hand could be very handy in times of need.
This RAC press release should give all Proton drivers piece of mind when buying a new car. In a climate where new car sales are trying to recoup the previous bad year, anything that can help give credibility and confidence to the new car sale must be of benefit to all concerned. Here is the RAC Proton press release direct from the RAC site.