Quick answer: Send three short texts: a thank-you with care tips the day after delivery or pickup, a "how's it going?" check-in around day 7, and a warranty or registration reminder around day 30. Keep each message about the purchase and send any promotion separately, so you stay on the right side of CASL and the TCPA. A free AI chat tool can write all three for your top products in about 20 minutes.
Most independent dealers and local retailers go quiet the moment the receipt prints. That silence is where small problems turn into returns, angry reviews and customers who never come back. A few useful texts fix that, and they're the cheapest customer-service hours you'll ever spend.
Try it in 30 minutes
Pick your 3 best-selling products or categories. (2 min)
Run the prompt below to write a day-1, day-7 and day-30 text for each. (15 min)
Send day-7 check-ins by hand to everyone who bought in the past 1–2 weeks and said yes to texts. (13 min)
What to measure (30 days): - Replies, and how many flag a problem you can fix before it becomes a return or a complaint. - Returns and exchanges vs. the previous month. - New Google reviews (if you ask everyone; see below). - Add-on or repeat sales from customers who got the texts.
Prompt: the after-sale text series
You write short texts for [Store], an independent [type of store] in [town].
Product: [e.g., sectional sofa / front-load washer / laminate flooring / TV / queen mattress].
Write three texts, each under 300 characters, friendly and plain:
1) Day 1: thank-you plus the 2 most useful care or setup tips for this product.
2) Day 7: a check-in asking how it's going, with an easy way to tell us about a problem.
3) Day 30: a reminder to register the warranty or keep the receipt, with what the warranty covers
in one line based on this info: [paste the warranty summary].
Rules: no discounts, no promotions, no pressure. Start each with "[Store]:" and end with
"Reply STOP to opt out." Don't invent warranty terms. If info is missing, write [CHECK].
Copy-paste templates
Day 1: thank-you and care
[Store]: Thanks for choosing us, [Name]! Two tips for your new [product]: [tip 1] and [tip 2]. Any questions, just reply here. Reply STOP to opt out.
Day 7: check-in
[Store]: Hi [Name], how's the [product] working out? If anything isn't right, reply here and we'll sort it out. Reply STOP to opt out.
Day 30: warranty reminder
[Store]: Quick reminder, [Name]: register your [brand] warranty at [link] and keep your receipt with it. Questions about coverage? Reply here. Reply STOP to opt out.
If the day-7 reply is a complaint, call. Don't solve problems by text.
What about protection plans and add-ons?
Selling a protection plan, cleaning kit or second item is a promotion, even if it's helpful. Send it as a separate message, only to people who have consented, with your identification and an unsubscribe. Don't sneak it into the day-30 warranty text.
Where reviews fit
The day-7 check-in is a natural time to ask for a review, but ask every customer the same way, not only those who say they're happy. Google's policy prohibits selectively soliciting positive reviews and offering incentives (Google policy). Scripts are in How to get more Google reviews.
Consent and compliance (not legal advice)
Canada (CASL): A message that solely provides warranty, product recall or safety information about something the customer bought, or confirms a transaction, doesn't need consent, though it still needs your identification and an unsubscribe option (CASL s. 6(6)). Promotional texts need consent. A purchase generally gives implied consent for 2 years (CASL s. 10(10)). Process unsubscribes within 10 business days (CRTC).
US (TCPA): The FCC requires prior express written consent for telemarketing texts; informational texts have different rules (FCC).
Recalls: Check Health Canada recalls and CPSC recalls for products you sell, and tell affected buyers.
Ask for texting permission at the counter and record it on the sale. Check with a professional for your situation.
Which tool should send them?
Start by hand from your store phone, so you learn what customers reply. When volume grows, use the texting features already in your POS or scheduling software (for example Jobber, from US$29/month billed annually), or a dealer platform. Wire up anything automated only after the hand-sent version works.
FAQ
How many after-sale texts is too many? Three in the first month is plenty. If people start replying STOP, cut back.
Should I text or email? Text for check-ins (quick replies); email for warranty documents and care guides. The same consent rules apply to both.
Does this work for small purchases? Skip the series for low-ticket items. It pays off on purchases that need delivery, setup, installation or care.
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AI Tips for Dealers is written by Al Ruttan in Winkler, Manitoba, for independent dealers and local retailers