Why you should stock and sell OE quality bulbs

OSRAM believes there are plenty of upselling opportunities during MOT season and is reiterating its message about stocking and selling OE quality bulbs. Lighting Marketing Manager, Terri Clark, explains why, with OSRAM, nobody will be left in the dark.

According to DVSA data analysed by the RAC, lamps, reflectors and indicators continue to be the most frequent reasons for vehicles failing their MOTs, at just over a quarter (25.5%). Especially with the safety element of bulbs, it’s clear from this statistic that drivers are not regularly checking, changing and updating the bulbs in their vehicles, giving technicians the chance to upsell during MOT season.

Therefore, it is important for technicians to sell products to their customers that they can trust and so, should look for a brand that is renowned for its premium quality products in the industry. With more than 110 years in the automotive sector, we have a bulb solution for every need.

Unless a headlight has blown, for example, drivers don’t generally notice if their bulbs are performing poorly, so rarely have them replaced in time for the MOT; however, we suggest that when technicians are looking at the bulb section of the MOT, they should consider if the bulb is putting out less light and if it will need replacing soon.

The filament of any headlight bulb deteriorates with use, time and exposure to the elements. At the end of a typical service, headlights produce less light, reducing a driver’s night vision. Our tests have shown that a standard halogen bulb loses 30% of brightness after 500 hours of use – so it is important for technicians to be proactive.

Having MOT season occur during months where the nights are darker earlier, may mean that they need replacing sooner. Helpfully, with the MOT, drivers are forced into looking at their vehicle to see if there are any problems that need resolving, meaning this is the perfect time for technicians to talk to them about their bulbs.

Bulbs are a safety critical component, but many drivers may not fully appreciate the dangers they may face if their bulbs are not updated regularly, and they allow them to burn out. This will leave them without an efficient way to light the road in front of them, and also doesn’t allow other drivers on the road to see them.

It’s also important that workshops start billing for the changing and fitment of bulbs if they do not already. It’s a lucrative revenue stream that workshops do not take advantage of because it’s a smaller job and, on the majority of vehicles, doesn’t take a lot of time. Naturally, supplying the bulbs to the workshops is good news for you too.

As with any job a technician does, there is product, time and skill put into it, and, especially as the technician should be aligning the bulbs after fitment, can take at least 15 minutes, which should be billed to the customer. While workshop owners may say that it’s not worth the hassle with a customer, it’s a job that has used time and resource that may be costing the business thousands of pounds a year, if not charging customers.

At OSRAM, we have a vast range of bulbs to suit every driver, so for the remainder of this MOT season, we urge the sector to think seriously about bulbs – what’s the quality of the bulbs being bought? Do they comply with all the ECE regulations? Has the alignment of the bulbs been checked once fitted? Bulbs are a safety critical component that should not be overlooked. With OSRAM, no one is left in the dark!

Xenon range

OSRAM upgrade xenon bulbs generate up to 220% more brightness when compared to the minimum legal standard. Xenon bulbs also use less energy and have a longer life span than halogen bulbs.

Products that are prominent in this portfolio include the XENARC NIGHT BREAKER 220, which is OSRAM’s brightest xenon upgrade bulb. It has a 250m long beam and up to 20% whiter light, allowing drivers to see further and, therefore, respond to the conditions on the road earlier.

If a driver is looking for a whiter light, we offer the XENARC COOL BLUE Intense (Next Gen), which also offers up to 150% more brightness than the minimum legal standard.

However, if a driver is focused on a reliable bulb that will last a long time, the XENARC ULTRA LIFE has a 10-year guarantee, which is up to four times longer than a standard bulb, providing the driver extra reassurance and saving them costs.

Finally, the XENARC® ORIGINAL, which has a four-year guarantee and is OEM quality. These bulbs fit a variety of vehicles and are of premium quality manufactured in Germany.

Halogen range

Due to their impressive beam range, performance and longevity, our halogen bulb offering has always been incredibly popular.

Similar to its xenon counterpart, the NIGHT BREAKER 220 is our brightest halogen bulb for cars and motorcycles, with up to 220% more light on the road and up to 150m long beam. Our headlight bulbs have up to 20% whiter light compared to the minimum legal standard, providing more light and improved visibility, which can help drivers react to road conditions more quickly. The NIGHT BREAKER 220 is available in H4, H7 and H11 ECE types with a new gold cap.

For a more modern and stylish look for halogen applications, the COOL BLUE INTENSE (Next Gen) is perfect, with extra white light for an LED look, and is ideal for use in clear-glass headlights with its modern design with a silver cap.

For drivers that are looking for a reliable headlight and aren’t worried about anything ‘flashier’, our ULTRA LIFE is the ideal solution, with a four-year guarantee and up to a 100,000km (62,000 miles) service life.

Finally, in the halogen range, we have the ORIGINAL Line 12V, which is an OEM quality product. It is tried and trusted by VMs across Europe and, therefore, covers a wide array of applications for both headlight and auxiliary applications.