J.D. Power Clubs and JC Whitney Join Forces
7 August 2000
JC Whitney and J.D. Power Clubs Join Catalog, Web in Money-Saving Alliance for Automotive Consumers
SAN FRANCISCO--Aug. 7, 2000--J.D. Power Clubs and JC Whitney, the leading direct marketer of automotive parts and accessories have joined together to expand JC Whitney's "everything automotive" products and services. The carclub.com division of J.D. Power Clubs will operate a new co-branded JC Whitney carclub, offering JC Whitney's 12 million catalog customers easy-access to substantial automotive information, great savings and resources to improve their car ownership experience.
"The combination of benefits provided by carclub.com is the best we've seen, so we thought it would be a great alliance for our customers," said Ed Bjorncrantz, vice president marketing, JC Whitney & Company. The JC Whitney-carclub.com alliance will support car owners over the lifetime of their vehicles -- from selecting and purchasing to financing, insuring and maintaining and ultimately selling their used car. JC Whitney carclub members will, for the first time, have access to carclub.com's unique member benefits including 10% savings on gasoline, and after 90 days of membership, an insurance deductible reimbursement of up to $500 in the event of an accident, the Mechanic Hotline for a second opinion or advice on repair estimates, and "Help, I'm Lost," a 24-hour telephone driving direction service, and exclusive member savings on JC Whitney products and services.
"This relationship creates an important distribution channel for carclub.com's products and services, as well as provides terrific new benefits to our members," said Michael London, chairman and CEO of J.D. Power Clubs. Members of carclub.com, a J.D. Power Club, and each one of the co-branded clubs carclub.com operates will receive discounts for JC Whitney products and services and have direct access to JC Whitney's suppliers through carclub.com's participating retailer program.
"JC Whitney's reputation for excellent service and the largest selection of automotive parts and accessories in the market made them an obvious choice for a partner," said London. "This alliance with JC Whitney supports our commitment to provide consumers with extensive choice, the best values and top quality."
"Our customers love to save money. That's one of the reasons why they shop with us," added Bjorncrantz. "From an early introduction of the membership club concept last year, our catalog customers have enthusiastically demonstrated interest in a club that is convenient and easy to use, saves the cash in their pocket, and gives them great values on automotive goods and services. We feel Carclub fits the bill and expect potential JC Whitney carclub membership of at least 250,000 by the end of 2001."