BodyShopBids Expands to Offer Online and Mobile Auto Repair Estimates in California
Written by StaffBodyShopBids, an online and mobile platform that enables consumers to solicit custom auto repair estimates by uploading a photo, announced February 21 its expansion to the state of California.
Accessible for free via iPhone, Android and the Web, BodyShopBids connects consumers who need auto body repairs with body shops through a unique bidding system. Consumers upload a photo of their damaged vehicle and receive several custom quotes from nearby body shops within 24 hours. From there, the consumer can select an estimate and book an appointment with the body shop.
The west coast move comes weeks after the company announced its expansion to the Pacific Northwest. The BodyShopBids network will initially focus on California’s major metro areas, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland and Anaheim.
“The response from body shop owners across the country has been outstanding,” said Brad Weisberg, founder and CEO of BodyShopBids. “Body shops are recognizing that this technology fills a void in the industry, and that consumers are demanding information in ways that have never before been possible.”
NJ Shop Questions State Farm’s Denial of Cost Accounting Based Paint Allowances
Written by staffIn a letter to State Farm CEO Edward Rust Jr., Don Harvey, of International Collision Service in Englewood, NJ, questions why State Farm does not acknowledge cost accounting programs and practices in setting paint allowance rates. Harvey has previously contacted senior State Farm management to no avail. His letter follows:
Feb 15, 2012
State Farm Insurance Co.
Mr. Edward B. Rust Jr.
One State Farm Plaza
Bloomington, IL 61710
Dear Mr. Rust,
Please take a moment to look at an issue regarding customer satisfaction and a “Good Neighbor” responsible commitment to proper repairs.
Paint material has been an issue often questioned and not properly acknowledged.
Several years ago the Department [of Banking and] Insurance Commissioner Steven M. Goldman issued a Bulletin #07-20 (copy enclosed for your review CLICK HERE encouraging insurers to utilize paint cost accounting software programs and manuals. Just after the issuance of this bulletin, State Farm (Northern NJ) changed their paint calculation from a multiplier of $23.00 per paint hour to $28.00 per paint hour. That was November 2007. Since that time, as we all know, all oil-derived product prices have dramatically increased, however State Farm has not acknowledged (NJ office: Mr. Charlie Holmes) any legitimate paint cost programs or software, holding [instead] to their antiquated $28.00 per hour calculation with no deviation.
Automotive paints used on today’s advanced vehicles require many different tints to achieve the look and appearance duplicating the original finish. Therefore all pricing cannot be properly and FAIRLY determined by one multiplier, this is why the paint cost accounting software programs are so important: FAIRLY compensating the repairer for materials used on the specific vehicle (color) being repaired.
Mr. Holmes has repeatedly stated that State Farm holds true to their survey studies. What is interesting about that is twofold:
1) State Farm (northern NJ) hasn’t sent anyone out to survey the shops in many, many years, leaving it to the shops to call State Farm and get an authorization # before being able to even get to the survey.
2) I find it interesting that if State Farm only uses their survey to change rates and materials, why after a short time and no apparent survey, did the multiplier change in late 2007 after the Bulletin issued by the State of New Jersey, from $23.00 per hour to the current rate of $28.00 per hour?
Most insurance companies are acknowledging the cost accounting software programs plus a mark-up as the programs use an average COST to the repair from the suppliers.
In closing I hope that you will review this letter and change the way State Farm, NJ, is conducting business and [have] The Good Neighbor do the right thing, properly and fairly returning vehicles to pre-accident condition.
Respectfully,
Don W. Harvey
International Collision Service
Englewood, NJ, 07631
(Copy of Mitchell Refinishing Calculator Notes enclosed for your review CLICK HERE)
If you have any relevant information submit it to Don Harvey at
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, or write:
Don W. Harvey
international collision service
328 South Van Brunt St.
Englewood, NJ 07631
Phone: 201.567.2124
Fax: 201.567.6644
CARSTAR Holds Teleconference to Discuss 2011 Results, 2012 Goals
Written by StaffCARSTAR held their annual outlook teleconference on February 9; CEO of CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, David Byers, detailed the 2011 results for the MSO as well as their goals for 2012.
According to Byers, 2011 was a "very solid" year for the MSO; sales totaled over $600 million and exceeded the group's objectives for the year. 2011 was also a big year for continued growth and acquisition of new locations, which will also continue to be an objective for 2012.
"We have acquired 17 new locations in the last few months," said Byers. CARSTAR plans on focusing on growth in California especially for 2012. Byers also said that the new stores that were acquired in 2011 were very successful--seeing 50 percent higher revenues than stores acquired in 2010.
Canadian Associations Adopt Position Statement on Collision Repair Standards
Written by NATAThe affiliate associations of the National Automotive Trades Association of Canada (NATA) have joined with other major OEM associations in the United States and Australia in releasing the following position statement:
“As the largest association of grassroots collision repairs in Canada, we hereby recognize published repair procedures, as provided by automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEM) as the official industry recognized “Repair Standards” for collision repair. These standards, where they exist, shall be the basis for the establishment of training, testing, repair practices and documentations.
Whereas we acknowledge the OEM repair procedures are incomplete in comparison to the full scope of vehicles and repair operations which exist in the marketplace, the OEM published repair procedures shall serve as the baseline for industry repair standards, with the recognition that further development of procedures will be necessary in areas not covered by published procedures.”
As well as Canada’s National Automotive Trades Association, and the Collision Repair Specialists of Australia, other associations signing on to this statement are 22 U.S. state associations, as well as the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers , the Automotive Service Association, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists and the Assured Performance Network.
While most collision repairers assume Original Equipment Manufacturers’ (OEM) procedures are standards by default, it has never been officially established.
For further information, please contact Rob Lang, President, NATA at 604-273-1111 or
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or through the NATA web site at www.natacanada.ca
There is a new tow-for-pay scam going around and several body shops have contacted ABN to alert us.
The invitation comes by fax or from a deaf-services relay call. The operator will call you and say a deaf person has need for your services. Calls have been reported in California, Florida and Georgia.
The scenario is that their car needs to be towed from another state to be fixed at your shop. But they need you to pay the tow bill before the car can be delivered. Several shops have received faxes from someone calling himself "Evangelist Jerry Bratt" saying his wife had an accident in a 2007 Cadillac Escalade on her way to Kansas. And of course it asks that you only contact him by email. And he’ll be paying cash. And of course you need to pay the bill.
The fax asks for the address of your shop.
Robert Toler, owner of Toler Paint and Body Shop in Warner Robins, GA, received a fax from Evangelist Jerry Bratt on February 20. The fax came from an Atlanta area code fax number and relayed the same scenario as other reported occurrences, requesting the shop send money for the damaged vehicle to be towed to their shop.
The last time this went around shops were expected to pay a tow bill over a $1000 and they tell you the "wrecker" will only accept a moneygram. Maybe also a request for a credit card.
Don't fall prey but alert us if you receive this fax or are otherwise contacted. The reported sending fax numbers are/were 202-204-0669 and 678-250-9047.
U.S. House Judiciary Members Introduce Auto Parts Bill
Written by ASA staffPARTS Act Would Limit Patent Protections for Vehicle Parts
U.S. Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., recently introduced H.R. 3889, the Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade and Sales (PARTS) Act in the House of Representatives. The bill would amend the U.S. design patent law to change the period of design patent protection for automakers from 14 years to 30 months.
Both members serve on the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet. Lofgren introduced auto parts patent legislation in the last Congress.
The new subsection reads as follows:
“It shall not be an act of infringement of such design patent to make or offer to sell within the United States, or import into the United States, any article of manufacture that is similar or the same in appearance to the component part that is claimed in such design patent if the purpose of such article of manufacture is for the repair of a motor vehicle so as to restore such vehicle to its appearance as originally manufactured; and after the expiration of a period of 30 months beginning on the first day on which any such component part is first offered to the public for sale as part of a motor vehicle in any country, it shall not be an act of infringement of such design patent to use or sell within the United States any article of manufacture that is similar or the same in appearance to the component part that is claimed in such design patent if the purpose of such article of manufacture is for the repair of a motor vehicle so as to restore such vehicle to its appearance as originally manufactured.”
“Competition is the hallmark of our free market system,” Issa said. “Consumers have dozens of choices in electronics, food, service, clothing and other products – this same array of choices, across all price points, should also extend to automotive repair parts.”
Not surprisingly, OEMs oppose this limitation on their design patents. In the past, groups opposing similar legislation have said that "copycat" parts are harmful to OEMs and consumers alike.
At a 2010 hearing, Damian Porcari, director, Enforcement and Licensing, Ford Global Technologies, said, "The copyists want to eliminate design patent protection because that's what they make. As soon as their business model includes engines, brakes and air bags, we will likely hear the call for the elimination of patent protection on all types of replacement parts. And it won't stop with cars. The denial of intellectual property rights will always reduce copiers' costs."
Guardian Auto Glass, LLC announced February 2 that it is expanding its operations into Colorado Springs, Colorado and has named Mark Campos to oversee that growth. The group’s newest facility will be located on Central Park Drive in Colorado Springs.
Guardian Auto Glass provides glass repair and replacement services for automobiles, buses, trucks and recreational vehicles and now has more than 50 locations throughout the United States.
Campos has more than 10 years of auto glass retail experience and will be an equity owner and manager in the new Guardian Auto Glass location.
“We are excited to begin operations in Colorado Springs with a great team headed by Mark Campos,” said Jerry Ray, vice president and managing partner of Guardian Auto Glass. “Mark will lead our sales effort and Rodney Schroth will provide operations management,” said Ray. Schroth is currently an equity partner and manager in the company’s Denver operations.
Guardian Auto Glass LLC was formed in 2010 between Guardian Glass Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian Industries Corp., and LRST LLC to manage and grow the retail auto glass business of Guardian.
Guardian Auto Glass LLC is also seeking owners, qualified sales professionals and operations managers who seek ownership and/or employment opportunities in their markets, throughout the US. All inquiries will be treated confidentially and should be directed to
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.
Manheim Honors Automotive Woman of Year at National Automobile Dealers Association Convention
Written by StaffManheim Auto Auctions announced the winner of its eighth annual Barbara Cox Anthony Automotive Woman of the Year Award on February 5 at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention. This year’s award went to Rachel Richards, Sonic Automotive’s vice president of retail strategy and chief marketing officer.
According to Auto Remarketing News, Richards was awarded at Northwood University’s annual breakfast during the NADA convention in Las Vegas which was held February 3 through 6, 2012.
The award recognizes Richards for the contributions she has made to both the automotive industry and her Charlotte, N.C. community.
Richards has been with Sonic, a Charlotte-based automotive retailer since 2006. Before her time with the dealer group, Richards served in field, regional management and corporate positions at Ford and Ford Credit.
Richards also reaches out to her community through a number of avenues. Among other volunteering efforts, NADA officials noted that she is a Girl Scout leader and supports Habitat for Humanity.
“I am truly honored to receive this very prestigious award and be recognized for my accomplishments in our field. Upon entering the automotive industry, after my graduation from college, I would never have dreamed that my contributions and body of work would be recognized and honored in this way,” Richards noted, according to Auto Remarketing News.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College Considers Campus in Ringgold, GA
Written by StaffGeorgia Northwestern Technical College, a two-year technical college located in Rome, GA, is considering building another campus in Ringgold. Ringgold, near the Georgia-Tennessee border, is a small town of about 2,500 people.
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, college and county officials are considering building the campus on 50 acres owned by Catoosa County across from Rollins Industrial Park in the southwest area of town.
According to the Associated Press, College President Craig McDaniel estimated it would take only a year to 14 months to complete construction once land is available. The technical college's focus is on careers in the automotive, aviation and other commercial industries. City officials speculated that the Ringgold campus would be centered around its automated manufacturing lab, which would train students to work with robotics used in automotive factories.
This campus would be the eighth location for the technical college, with seven locations already in Rome, Calhoun, Rockmart, Rock Spring and Dalton.
For more information please visit www.gntc.edu.
Louisiana Expects a 3-ft Rise in Sea Level by 2100
Written by Cain Burdeau APA scientific report issued by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration predicts that the Louisiana coast could see about 3 feet of sea level rise along the already low and vulnerable Louisiana coast by 2100 — a prediction that leaves this Cajun coast drowning and under siege from storm surge for decades to come.
To read article go HERE
