The effectiveness of your dealership’s sanitization process relies heavily on the products being used, which begs the question: are you using the right solution?
It is an issue that Mitchell Moshenberg, Co-founder of WeCleanCOVID19.com, addressed during an interview with Canadian auto dealer.
“We’ve seen people using all kinds of solutions in all kinds of situations, and honestly we can’t blame anybody for doing the best that they can,” said Moshenberg. “Knowledge of how particular solutions interact with particular surfaces obviously is a scientific thing, and it’s important that everyone understand the nature of the product that they are using, prior to using it —whatever method they are using.”
Solutions have different temperature ratings with dry points and dew points, he said, and where it heats up and turns into vapour varies with different types of chemicals. Using a bleached-based product, for example, would not be suitable on just anything.
WeCleanCOVID19.com is a decontamination company that has gained popularity in Canada among businesses in need of emergency or deep cleaning amid the pandemic. The company is based in Newmarket, Ont., but has licensing agreements across the country. Moshenberg said the equipment and solutions being used are designed to work together, without leaving any residue.
“We have the ability to control levels of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in any environment, whether it be a new vehicle or used vehicle, or the interior of a dealership,” said Moshenberg. “It’s just knowing which chemicals to use and which places to use them and with which equipment.”
Asked whether he has experienced a situation where a business used a sanitization technique that was not effective, Moshenberg was quick to recount a story about a car rental company. When he visited the company, he said a service employee conducted what he thought was a proper sanitization of the vehicle but it was far from adequate.
“I was mortified. It wasn’t just the solution that they were using, but also the equipment that they were using and the method that was being employed — it was nothing short of atrocious,” said Moshenberg. “And I can assure you that this rental company is not only a national rental company, but an international rental company.”
So what can dealers do to ensure their sanitization process is truly effective? Moshenberg advises treating every vehicle and environment as if it has been infected.
He said dealers should do the maintenance that is necessary, be thoughtful with regards to the use of masks and gloves within the dealership, and employ whatever protocols they are comfortable with “based on the knowledge that is available” — such as information on the CDC’s website.
Credit: WeCleanCOVID19.com
“Whether that means using approved or available solutions at retail, or looking further into it, which we strongly recommend, or using a professional,” said Moshenberg.
Other companies like Leader Auto Resources (LAR) also got involved in health and safety products early on in the pandemic.
LAR says it is the largest new car franchised dealership buying group in North America. It distributes a range of products and services for dealerships and their associated body shops. The Canadian branch is based in Montreal, Que., but caters to members across the country.
Speaking with Canadian auto dealer, Andrew Wells, General Manager of Ontario, Atlantic Provinces & Western Canada, said the company started getting into safety products, sanitization machines, hand sanitizers, and the chemicals needed for the vehicles around the second week of March.
“I was in Montreal on March 16 and 17 for a manager meeting, when everything really started coming to life, as far as sanitizers,” said Wells. “I said, do we have any of these products? And we had some suppliers come in the next day, and we literally took pictures of the product on our phone, because we wanted to make sure we had the right product.”
Echoing a similar sentiment from Moshenberg, Wells said it was important for the company to ensure the product did what it claimed to do and is used correctly. “On that side, we were hearing about imitation masks, so we wanted to make sure we had all the proper specs.”
The company started with N95s for people working in the body shop, limiting the quantity available to ensure all members had adequate stock and were not trying to over-purchase. It was also around this period that Wells said they started getting into sanitization machines like the environizer (a type of air purifier).
Credit: WeCleanCOVID19.com
LAR began preparing kits with masks, hand sanitizers, sanitizing spray for inside the vehicle, sanitizers for the office, shields, wipes, and a gown — which he said is not as popular as other items.
“Each of our sales people, we sent them a kit, though I don’t think too many wear the gown. But they do wear the masks and the gloves and use the sanitizers,” said Wells. “And when we are working close, as an example with the body shop people, then they will put on a shield.”
Wells said the biggest users of their sanitizers were in Eastern Canada (Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes) while Western Canada has been “a little lighter” on the usage.
“It’s important to be diligent and disciplined, to respect the health of not only yourself but others around you,” said Wells. “This is a blip in time and we will get through this if we stay healthy and respect the health of others.”
Many dealerships are being cautious, having implemented health and safety protocols amid the crisis.
Take Alberta dealer Perry Itzcovitch, whose Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary dealership has everything from gloves to masks, hand sanitizers, sanitization stations, shields and more.
Norman Hébert Jr., President and CEO of Groupe Park Avenue in Quebec, also implemented a range of measures as part of the Quebec Dealers Association (CCAQ)’s strict protocol to ensure dealerships in the province could open their stores for service and sales.
The protocol for the sales department included things like new equipment to disinfect objects and areas in the showroom, social distancing measures, and step-by-step rules on what employees must do during breaks and lunchtime.
And the Dilawri Group of Companies, owner of numerous dealerships, promoted the “antimicrobial sanitization service” being offered at its Country Hills Volkswagen dealership in Calgary. The message was published on LinkedIn and included a video.
“It’s an intensive disinfection service that will kill 99.9 per cent of mold, bacteria and viruses that live in your vehicle — including COVID-19,” said Jessica Carmichael, the dealership’s service advisor, in the video. “After your vehicle is washed, we will spray all of the points that typically hide harmful bacteria, including all the door handles, and seats, the steering wheel and dash, carpets, as well as the headliner and trunk.”
Other dealerships have been less strict in keeping with their protocol and less transparent about what they are doing to keep their customers safe.
One example of this was provided by a customer who visited a dealership in June to purchase a new vehicle. When the customer (who has requested anonymity) arrived at the dealership, he said the employee dealing with him was not wearing a mask. Similar issues arose during the test drive, which took place on June 17.
“When we did the test drive, the sales person was in the back seat and she was not wearing a mask,” said the customer in an interview with Canadian auto dealer. “I wore a mask. She should have worn one.”
Dealers across Canada have implemented some form of health and safety protocol, and with face masks mandatory in certain areas (such as interior public spaces in Quebec), both retailers and consumers appear, for the most part, to be doing their part.
But for consumers to feel at ease and for dealers to build trust among customers, more communication and transparency will be needed around the sanitization products and processes being used — in addition to ensuring employees adhere to the safety protocols.
Credit: LAR
