Factory-authorized service agency

Definition

A shop a manufacturer authorizes for warranty labor, on factory training and OEM parts.

Why It Matters

Authorization is granted to a shop with trained technicians and not to a company, which makes it the most personal asset in the deal and the one most likely to lapse quietly. It pays twice: warranty labor is revenue, and being the shop that shows up at six in the morning is what keeps the next equipment order from going out to bid. Establish which lines are authorized, how many technicians hold current certificates, and what the manufacturer requires of a new owner.