Tesco in SMS promotion with Parker’s

Tesco Personal Finance is using text-messaging to target used-car buyers at the point of purchase.

The supermarket giant’s financial services arm has linked up with EMAP-owned car valuation magazine Parker’s, which last year launched its Parker’s SMS Price Check car valuation text service. This allows consumers to text the registration number and mileage of a car they are thinking of buying to Parker’s: they will get a message back with model details and a mileage-adjusted dealer price.

From this week, they will also receive a message from Tesco Personal Finance, detailing the insurance group the car is in and providing a telephone number to call for a quote.

The campaign was created for Tesco Personal Finance by online marketing agency Harvest Digital.

Parker’s SMS price check covers all cars in the UK and costs &£1.50 per text. It is heavily marketed in the motoring and regional press as well as through affiliate deals with Loot and Exchange & Mart.