‘Wet vs Dry’? Sounds Weird but Here’s What it Means in F&I

‘Wet vs Dry’? Sounds Weird but Here’s What it Means in F&I

So what is the difference between ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ appearance protection anyway? Many aftermarket F&I administrators offer these products and when the ‘wet vs. dry’ debate comes up, many in the industry may not fully understand what that means.

Warranties are available for either but there are a few things to consider when deciding how to offer this protection. It’s not that cut-and-dried.

Let’s take a closer look at the meaning for each and the benefits/drawbacks to each when it comes to protections offered by the dealer…

Goin’ Wet –

  • Chemical is applied to the inside or outside of the car (sealant, fabric, etc).
  • Apply the chemical of your choice.
  • Labor cost for most applications about 30 minutes per unit.
  • Costs more with labor and chemical charge.
  • Warranty coverage the same for the most part.

Goin’ Dry –

  • No chemical is applied at the dealership.
  • Labor cost is ZERO since you don’t have to pay anyone for the application.
  • The warranty is separate from the chemical…it’s there in the event of a claim.
  • OEM factory interior/exterior protections are what the warranty covers.
  • Customers don’t care about the chemical, they care about the claim – fix it when it needs it.
  • All appearance protections eventually wear off but ‘dry’ warranties can push the peace of mind out longer and buyers will appreciate that.
  • Saves time since there is no application. Cars go from carrier to lot quicker with less prep.

In the end, your buyer wants to know that any interior or exterior claims are going to be processed quickly and with minimal aggravation. The chemistry or lack thereof doesn’t matter as much as having a claims process that keeps their car looking its best.

Dealers win with extra upfront profit if it’s a preloaded package and buyers win with a car that looks great now AND when they trade it in. ‘Dry’ warranties really make more sense.

Reach out to us here at ExoGloss to learn more about ‘wet vs dry’ and what it can mean for your store and your customers.

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