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Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes will hold its next A-Plus University ‘Winning the Keys' Estimating and Profitability Workshop in New Orleans on October 26 and 27, 2010 at the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel.

To meet the challenges collision repair facilities face in today's economic climate, Sherwin-Williams designed its ‘Winning the Keys' workshop to specifically increase business at the front end of the body shop. It focuses on three critical profit areas of importance to a successful collision facility: customer service, selling skills and estimating.

The Texas  Attorney General  has overruled the Texas Department of Insurance (DOI) in that information contained in a survey of insurers conducted by the DOI be made public. The ruling was in response to a petition by Larry Cernosek of the Houston Auto Body Association, and other members, which was filed under the Texas Freedom of Information Act and the Texas Consumer Bill of Rights.

The Texas DOI and the five major insurers surveyed argued that the documents should be exempt from disclosure requirements because they include insurer's proprietary information, but the Attorney General’s office disagreed, exempting only some items that the insurers deemed trade secrets.

The Attorney General reasoned that even if the DOI told the insurers that their responses would remain confidential, that agreement could not circumvent the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, saying "We note that information is not confidential under the Act simply because the party that submitted the information anticipated or requested that it be kept confidential."

California’s legislative session concluded last week after approving a new measure that, if signed by the governor, would increase the penalties for repair shops that fail to properly restore an airbag that has been deployed in a crash.

CLICK HERE to see the Governor's decision on SB 427 as of September 28.

Senate Bill 427 (Negrete McLeod D-Chino) would impose a fine of $5,000 or up to one year in prison, or both, for any automotive repair dealer that “prepares a written estimate for repairs that includes replacement of a deployed airbag and who fails to repair and fully restore the airbag to original operating condition.”

Gov. Schwarzenegger has vetoed SB 427 (Negrete-McLeod). CLICK HERE for discussion of bill.

The governor vetoed Senate Bill 427 Friday, Sept. 24. The legislation proposed by California state Sen. Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, had been introduced to crack down on airbag fraud but it also included numerous confusing amendments to the Business and Professions code, which previously only applied to insurers.

The bill included language that condemns perpetrators of airbag fraud, stating that those who “fail to repair and fully restore the airbag to original operating condition where the customer has paid for the airbag repair as provided in the estimate” can receive up to a $5,000 fine and up to a year in prison.
The language of the bill also included restrictions for invoices, including the following requirements:
•  All work done by an automotive repair dealer, including all warranty work, must be recorded on an invoice and must describe all service work done, parts supplied and crash parts installed.
•  Service work and parts must be listed separately on the repair invoice, which must also state separately the subtotal prices for service work and for parts, not including sales tax, and must state separately the sales tax, if any, applicable to each.
•  If any used, rebuilt or reconditioned parts are installed, the invoice must clearly state that fact.
•  If a part of a component system is composed of new and used, rebuilt or reconditioned parts, that invoice must clearly state that fact.
•  The invoice must include a statement indicating whether any crash parts are original equipment manufacturer crash parts or non-original equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts.
•  One copy of the invoice must be given to the customer and one copy must be retained by the automotive repair dealer.
To view the California bill (S.B. 427), visit the Automotive Service Association’s legislative website, www.TakingTheHill.com. Click on the “Track Current Legislation” button, then follow the state legislation link.

Our fourth annual white paper tracking collision repair organizations that generate $20 million or greater annually in collision repair revenue comes on the heels of a slow to moderate recovering economy with an increasing chance of a double‐dip recession, or at least a much slower recovery than forecasted for 2010.

To view a PDF of this article please CLICK HERE.

In 2009 this economy has adversely impacted many of the auto physical damage aftermarket segments, including independent and dealership collision repairers, and is reflected throughout our findings and analysis in this paper.

Italy makes amazing race cars (Ferrari), top-tier watches (Bulgari) and luxurious shoes (Gucci) and  they also make some of the finest air compressors on the planet, respected by auto body and mechanical shops throughout the world.

To view a PDF of this article please CLICK HERE.

Mattei’s General Manager Jay Hedges knows air compressors inside and out after two decades in the industry. He’s been with Mattei for nearly three years, overseeing North American Operations for the company that developed the first rotary vane compressor in 1958.

A number of automakers in recent weeks have issued bulletins, launched programs or made announcements that could impact collision repairers —whether  at dealerships or independent shops. Here’s a wrap-up of this recent news from the OEMs.

To view a PDF of this article please CLICK HERE.