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Industry Responds to CNN Segment Exposing “Steering” & Use of “Sub-par” Parts by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
The recent CNN news report about the collision repair industry gave viewers an inside look at the challenges body shops face in order to repair cars safely for consumers. It aired on the Anderson Cooper 360 show Feb. 11. The 11-minute segment, entitled “Auto Insurers Accused of Pushing Cheap and Sometimes Dangerous Repairs,” explained the widespread use of “salvaged” or aftermarket parts as well as the practice of insurance companies “steering” work away from
certain shops that aren’t part of their select service programs. In addition, the program discussed the lawsuits filed by more than 500 body shops in 36 states against the top insurance companies in the country to address their concerns. “This was just another validation of, as CNN put it the ‘scheme’ that’s going on within the insurance industry and anyone associated with them. It also validates what shops all around the country have been seeing and dealing with for years,” said Ron Perretta, owner of Professionals Auto
2015 Ford F-150 Long-Term Road Test
The following article was written by Travis Langness, Associate Editor at Edmunds.com. It was published on Jan. 26 and has generated a lot of commentary online. Since many readers heard only about the reaction to the story we reprint the article here with permission of Edmunds.com.
VOL. 33 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2015
Aluminum Body Repairs Part 1 I hit our brand-new long-term 2015 Ford F-150 4X4 SuperCrew with a sledgehammer. On purpose. Twice. We bought the $52,000 F-150 from Galpin Ford in Van Nuys, California. The day after the truck was delivered to our Edmunds office in Santa Monica, I went to work with the BFH, See 2015 Ford F-150, Page 18
See CNN Segment, Page 22
Auto Body Association of Texas Gains Momentum After Inaugural Year
Automotive Finishes, PPG Automotive Finishes and Single Source, Inc. Automotive Paint Distributors. The second meeting took place the following day at 2:00 PM at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Longview Texas where an estimated 35 attended the presentation. Cheri and Darrell Smith, owners of McDaniel’s Quality Body Shop in Longview, TX, sponsored the meeting. The meetings began in the usual fashion with the association’s founder and President, Burl Richards of Burl’s Collision of Henderson, TX, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, Prayer See ABAT Meetings, Page 9
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
On Tuesday, January 20th, and Wednesday, January 21st, 2015 the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) held back-to-back monthly meetings. The first meeting was held at the Classic Chevrolet Fleet Service Department in Grapevine, Texas, in the Dallas Forth Worth area. Attendance at the 5 PM meeting was estimated at 65 attendees. The meeting was partially sponTim Ronak sored and supported file photo by Sherwin-Williams
Travis Langness, Associate editor at edmunds.com, takes a sledgehammer to a brand new aluminum Ford F-150 to test the collision repair process. Photo credit: Edmunds.com
LaCIA Seeks New Members While Gearing Up for 2015 by Chasidy Rae Sisk
As 2015 gets underway, the Louisiana Collision Industry Association (LaCIA) is busy gearing up for another great year. Of course, this means a search for new blood and fresh ideas. Executive Director Alysia Hanks encourages collision repair professionals in LA to apply for a membership now so they can get involved as soon as possible. “Our association is gearing up for 2015 with our current members, but we are also looking for new Alysia Hanks sponsor/associate file photo members and, of course, general shop members. Right
now, I’m processing all the new general memberships so we can reelect our board for the 2015 year.” General membership costs $365 per rooftop annually, while associate members pay $1000 per year which includes advertising their logo on the association’s promotional materials. According to their mission statement, “LaCIA is committed to serving in the best interests of the collision repair industry through education, support, leadership, and business connections in our trade. We hope to achieve the open sharing and exchanging of ideas which will help make this field better for everyone who serves it and to promote consumer awareness. From the porter to office assistants to shop owners, we See LaCIA Seeks New Members, Page 16
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