Western Edition California Nevada Arizona
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VOL. 31 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2013
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NACE 2013 Proceeds As Expected, Eyes Turn to Revitalized Show in Detroit in 2014 To no one’s surprise, the 2013 NACE exhibition was a downsized event from previous years, but the Las Vegasvenue may have been the most appropriate launching pad for what is expected to be a revitalized NACE event in Detroit next summer. Attendance has been down for the past three years, with a slight uptick for the 2011 show in Orlando, FL. This year’s event saw another attendance dip, which ASA Executive Director Dan Risley says was expected. There were significant successes at the 2013 show such as a popular
keynote by industry veteran Mike Anderson and the MSO Symposium which has been growing in attendance, Mike Anderson kicked off the 2013 NACE Expo with a keynote speech entitled “The Future Is Not Set in Stone” at the Opening General Session/Collision Industry Forum. Anderson’s familiar audience engagement techniques were on display as he employed humor, moving personal annecdotes, and even his Tourette’s syndrome ticks, as models and metaphors for perseverance, unity and action in the industry.
“We get caught up in how much things cost, in Parts Trader, in cycle time, and we forget that what matters is how we fix the car,” Anderson said.
“When the industry gets a black eye, it affects every single person [in it].” “With insurers, they try to come See NACE 2013, Page 12
Autobody News Associations Issue covering some associations from all parts of the US. See pp. 4, 16, 22, 26, 34, 38, and 67.
In the Spring, we’ll publish updates on associations from other parts of the country. Tell us about your favorite Collision Repair Associations.
Aluminum Repair Impasse Causes Oregon Shop Not to Renew Select Service Agreement
aluminum repair. Our terminating the Select Service agreement stems from our company being a certified Tesla repair facility and the investments in time, equipment, training, specialized equipment and facilities which we could not offer for the rates State Farm was willing to pay. This will no doubt enable our company to re-evaluate and revise our pricing on other goods and services for the other manufacturers of which we are a certified repairer for including Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Nissan, Volvo, GM, Chrysler and several others.” See Aluminum Impasse, Page 15
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
During a meeting with the area State Farm Estimatics Manager, Ron Reichen, President of Precision Body and Paint in Beaverton Oregon, chose not to re-negotiate his company’s Select Service agreement with State Farm Insurance, the nation’s largest personal auto insurer—a relationship which lasted over 17 years and of which accounted for $2 million dollars in business over the past year. “It was actually a business decision we had been considering for some time” stated Reichen. “Discussions came to an impasse over fair and reasonable rates and allowances for
ASA-AZ Surveys Wholesale Parts Dealers on PartsTrader Usage, Majority Not Impressed Over 130 people attended an Automotive Service Association of Arizona (ASA-AZ) meeting on the evening of August 13th that featured Dale Sailer from Parts Trader and George Avery, national spokesperson from State Farm Insurance. Mike Anderson of Collision Advice facilitated the meeting in which questions were answered following presentations by Mr. Sailer and Mr Avery. Among those in attendance were two state legislators curious about the program and the impact on constituents. (See John Yoswick’s article on this event in the September Autobody News.) The meeting coincided with the national rollout of Parts Trader in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. Arizona was the first state in which Select Service shops were required to locate and purchase all parts using the relatively new and controversial program without benefit of the “fax only” option. Select Service shops are now only allowed to purchase parts from vendors that agreed to sign a Parts Trader Agreement. As a follow up to this meeting,
ASA-AZ sent out surveys to new car dealerships parts departments. “The overwhelming majority of our collision repair members are opposed to the mandated use of parts procurement programs” stated Luz Rubio, Executive Director for ASA-AZ. “We sent out the surveys to find out how Parts Trader was actually working for vendors and whether they felt it added value to their business.” Thirty OEM vendors replied to the survey with results that were overwhelmingly negative in regards to how parts departments felt the program was working for them. “The results of our survey do not seem to support Mr. Sailer’s claims that Parts Trader has been well received by many of the vendors using it” said Ms. Rubio. One of the respondents commented on the overall program, “We have not seen a value in the program. We pride ourselves on relationships built with repairers throughout the years and find Parts Trader to be an unnecessary part of our business. There are a lot of unanswered quesSee ASA-AZ Survey, Page 8
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