AASPI's statement comes on the heels of State Farm expanding its mandated use of PartsTrader beyond the Chicago metro area and into the entire state of Illinois.
”PartsTrader and its mandated use by State Farm proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the overwhelming purpose of this program is to minimize the shop’s control of their business and expand the profitability of State Farm," said AASPI President Jeff Kallemeyn. "PartsTrader is crippling the business relationship between shops and suppliers, and ultimately the vehicle owner will receive inferior repairs due to mandated usage of PartsTrader.”
AASPI will be hosting a statewide meeting on November 23, 2013 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL, featuring guests from MSCRA and their lead attorneys in their lawsuit against State Farm. Also making an appearance will be Ray Gunder of Gunder's Auto Center, who successfully settled a lawsuit with State Farm for underpayments of labor rates, paints and material.