.

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Note added at 11 mins (2004-08-22 16:34:45 GMT)
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For instance, Volvo AFTERMARKET sell parts and accessories for all Volvo cars. Buying replacement OEM Volvo parts is easy with their new OEM Volvo parts online catalog. We stock new, genuine, OEM and high quality aftermarket Volvo parts at discount prices.

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Note added at 12 mins (2004-08-22 16:35:55 GMT)
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So they look after the customers\' needs in every respect. Whatever spare part or accessories are needed, you can contact them.

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Note added at 15 mins (2004-08-22 16:38:16 GMT)
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Volvo is just one example, but other companies have the same service for their customers, offering spare parts and accessories and whatever is needed for keeping the product in good condition.

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Note added at 16 mins (2004-08-22 16:39:49 GMT)
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Another example is Nokia:
http://www.awswireless.com/store/nokia_generic_access.html

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Note added at 20 mins (2004-08-22 16:43:36 GMT)
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So, if you buy a Nokia 9290 cellular phone, they offer you AFTERMARKET accessories as well, e.g:
Nokia 9290 genuine original and aftermarket cellular phone accessories including battery, batteries, case, leather case, holster, car charger, desktop charger, headset, handsfree, car kit, travel charger, cases, car adapters, and chargers at great LOW prices.

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Note added at 23 mins (2004-08-22 16:46:27 GMT)
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another useful link:
http://www.polk.com/products/markets/aftermarket.asp
\"Polk’s Aftermarket Solutions make it easier for you to answer the important questions about your market. We can help you collect, measure and analyze relevant customer and business information to provide you with the solutions you need for the tough decisions you face.
Powered by unique data and insight, only Polk is equipped to offer much needed relief in areas such as:
Inventory Management
Target Marketing
Site Selection\"

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Note added at 26 mins (2004-08-22 16:49:45 GMT)
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So there are companies who help you gather all the necessary information (the aim is, of course, to keep your regular customers and find new ones at the same time), analyse it and find new target groups for your future marketing.

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Note added at 34 mins (2004-08-22 16:57:37 GMT)
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If you don\'t want to use another company, then you should have an aftermarket solutions unit within your company. Customers who buy e.g. a car never realise the efforts that are made in order to keep them as regular customers of the company in question. What is behind all this? The tough competition between the companies selling the same kind of products, of course. They have to analyse the market all the time and preferably be ahead of their time - and the other companies.

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Note added at 2 hrs 30 mins (2004-08-22 18:53:59 GMT)
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As for Michel\'s remark, I prefer to answer here, as there is not enough room below. If you look at the POLK link I provided, you\'ll see e.g. the following:
\"Polk offers you the powerful information and tools you need to make the appropriate parts manufacturing, parts coverage and stocking decisions to reduce your inventory costs, while increasing your profits.\"
and if you read on:
\"A trending statistical report linked to your part number, offering specific insight into where your product has been and where it is heading.\"
and it also says:
\"A sophisticated and easy-to-use interactive planning system to help analyze/validate/support inventory planning, marketing, production, purchasing, sales and distribution decisions.\"
and also:
\"A sophisticated and easy-to-use interactive planning system to help analyze/validate/support inventory planning, marketing, production, purchasing, sales and distribution decisions.\"
and also:
\"Marketing performance information generated by combining researched market potential data with VIO (vehicles in operation) data and dealer service invoice data.\"
So all the things are intertwined and you cannot separate \"marketing\" from the actual everyday work including parts, service - in short: customer service.




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Note added at 2 hrs 54 mins (2004-08-22 19:17:37 GMT)
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The latest trend in marketing is OVERALL MARKETING. Emphasising interaction through the marketing process changes the traditional concept of marketing as the responsibility of a certain department. Interactive marketing means that every employee (even the Aftermarket people!) in the company has a part in it and takes responsibility for his own contribution. That means they have all become \"part-time\" marketing people. The share of traditional marketing activities in an overall marketing process is REDUCED in the overall marketing concept. In my opinion Michel was referring to the traditional, \"narrow\" concept of marketing in his \"neutral\" comment below.

Nowadays companies sell ranges of services or profit packages. The formation of overall quality is in fact an interactive process, with a combined effect of many things and many employees in the hierarchy of a company from selling the product to the aftermarket solutions. Good, tested overall quality is a prerequisite of client satisfaction.


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Note added at 3 hrs 12 mins (2004-08-22 19:35:18 GMT)
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Michel said that market research is all about research and studies. That would be a funny situation, as if it had nothing to do with real life. Maybe that\'s how it used to be. Nowadays it has everything to do with real life: a product comprises all that can be offered to be purchased, noticed, used and consumed in the market. A product can be thought to be a benefit package which includes along with the core product an added value that has been built around it and image combinations, too. Today a client buys entire performances, which include not only the concrete product but also plenty of core and accessory services, not to forget the aftermarket solutions.

As you can see, this subject interests me in particular. I could go on and on about it...