Mopar Masters Guild Magazine July - August 2024 by Don Cushing

From the Desk of MMG President Cody Eckhardt “Vegas Bound for Masters Meeting”

Dear Guild Members,

Welcome to the Mopar Masters Guild Annual Mee ng in Las Vegas! We’re excited to gather from September 8-10 and especially thrilled to welcome our ﬁrst- me a endees. This mee ng is a unique opportunity for all of us—Service and Parts Managers alike—to connect, share insights, and strengthen our commitment to excellence in the automo ve industry.

We’ve got an exci ng lineup planned, and I’m par cularly looking forward to our brewery event “on tap” at the Beer Park in the Paris hotel. It’s not just about enjoying a great venue; it’s about taking the me to mingle with our suppor ng vendors who play such a crucial role in making this event possible. Their partnership is invaluable, and I encourage everyone to engage with them throughout the event.

Let’s make the most of our me here in Las Vegas. I’m conﬁdent that this gathering will be both produc ve and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Looking forward to connec ng with each of you!

Thank you again for your support.

Sincerly, Cody

Cody Eckhardt - President - Mopar Masters Guild Service Director - Ken Garff CDJRF - W. Valley City UT

32.5 Annual Mopar Masters Mee ng Schedule & I nerary

Las Vegas 2024 (Tenta ve)

The Annual Mopar Masters Guild Meeting Will Now Be Held on September 8th - 10th, 2024 just before The Mopar Service & Parts Business Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada

New York-New York Hotel & Casino

3790 S Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Hotel Reserva on Link (Click Here)

Registra on Link to A end our MMG Mee ng (Click Here)

*You MUST be a qualiﬁed Stellan s Dealer with a PAID MMG Membership to a end

Saturday September 7th, 2024

Arrive in Las Vegas No Formal Event Planned

We will no fy everyone where we will be if guests would like to stop by and catch up with each other Park Terrace Room for MMG Meetings

Gramercy A Room for Breakfast and Lunches

Sunday September 8th, 2024

7:00am – 7:45am Breakfast - Gramercy A Room

7:45am – 8:45am MMG Discussions Begin - Park Terrace Room

Opening Comments - MMG President Cody Eckhardt

Secretary’s Presenta on of Minutes - John Russo

Treasurers’ Report - Chris Hojnacki

Commi ee Reports

Guild Business Old/New

8:45am - 9:00am Break

Continued on Page 4

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

Continued from Page 3

9:00am - 10:00am MMG Discussions Con nue

10:00am - 10:15am Break

10:15am - 12:00pm MMG Discussions Con nue

12:00pm - 12:45pm Lunch - Gramercy A Room

12:45pm - 1:15pm Vendor Presenta on - Endeavor Business Media (FenderBender/Ratchet+Wrench)

1:15pm - 1:45pm Vendor Presena on - Bow e Solu ons

1:45pm - 2:00pm Break

2:00pm - 2:30pm Vendor Presenta on - Petra Automo ve Products

2:30pm - 3:00pm Vendor Presenta on - Ac vator

3:00pm - 3:15pm Break

3:15pm - 3:45pm Vendor Presenta on - Be er Car People

3:45pm - 5:00pm MMG Discussions Con nue

5:00pm Adjourn Day 1 Mee ng

Monday September 9th, 2024

7:00am - 7:45am Breakfast - Gramercy A Room

7:45am - 8:00am MMG Discussions Con nue - Park Terrace Room

8:00am - 9:00am Vendor Presena on - AER Sales

9:00am - 10:00am Vendor Presena on - Reynolds & Reynolds

10:00am - 10:15am Break

10:15am - 11:15am Vendor Presena on - QB Business Solu ons

11:15am - 12:00pm MMG Discussions Con nue

12:00pm - 12:45pm Lunch - Gramercy A Room

1:00pm - 2:00pm Vendor Presenta on - OEConnec on

2:00pm - 2:15pm Break

2:15pm - 3:15pm Vendor Presena on - Snap-On Business Solu ons

3:15pm - 3:30pm Break

3:30pm - 4:30pm Vendor Presenta on - Elite Extra - Epicor

4:30pm - 5:00pm MMG Discussions Con nue

5:00pm Adjourn Day 2 Mee ng

Monday Evening September 9th ,2024 - Annual MMG Recep on

6:00pm - 9:00pm Beer Park - Las Vegas (Located Underneath The Paris Hotel’s Eiﬄe Tower!)

Tuesday September 10th, 2024

7:00am - 7:45am Breakfast

7:45am - 8:45am MMG Discussions Con nue

8:45am - 9:00am Break

9:00am Discussions With Mopar & Serjon Youkhana

11:00am Adjourn – End of Mopar Masters Guild’s 2024 Mee ng

See You Next Year at The MMG’s 33rd Annual Mee ng in Orlando

Welcome to the Mopar Masters Guild Annual Meeting

Whether you are a long- me member, just recently joined, or s ll considering involvement, the Mopar Masters Guild oﬀers something for every dealership. I would like to send a quick note to address some of the ques ons you may have:

Ques on: Is the Mopar Masters Guild operated by Mopar?

Answer: No… The Mopar Masters Guild is made up of dealership Parts Managers, Service Managers and Fixed Ops Directors.

Ques on: How does a dealership qualify to be a member of the Mopar Masters Guild?

Answer: Mopar dealers that are ranked in the top 150 purchasing dealers in the U.S., as reported by Mopar, qualify to be members of the Mopar Masters Guild. Once you are a member, as long as you maintain your dues, you will remain a member.

Ques on: What are the annual dues and what do my dues help fund?

Answer: The annual membership dues are $250. These dues help to fund the Guild’s website, bimonthly magazine, dealership employee forum, mee ngs and events, and conference call lines to discuss various policies and procedure changes being considered by Mopar. Member dues cover about 5% of our annual budget.

Ques on: Once I am a member what should I do next?

Answer: Please make sure you have visited our website. It provides a place where you are able to get your own ques ons answered. Secondly, our website is also where you will ﬁnd the most recent copy of the MMG Magazine and any upcoming mee ngs and events.

Ques on: What other beneﬁts are there to the group?

Answer: The Guild leaders are in constant communica on with the Mopar management team to communicate how policies may aﬀect our business. In the past, these conversa ons have helped mold programs that help Mopar and all dealerships. Another beneﬁt: the rela onships you develop over me. With membership in the Guild you gain access to mangers at the largest dealerships in the country. This value is only realized if you reach out to other members. The best way to start doing this is through u lizing the website.

Like you, the leadership of the Mopar Masters Guild operates large parts, and in some cases, service operaons. It is our goal to improve communica on to our member body over the coming year. If you are a new member, please reach out to me and I will have one of our members contact you to make sure your store maximizes on what the group has to oﬀer. If you have been unsure about joining the group, please contact me or one of the execu ve commi ee members in your area and we would be glad to discuss if the Guild is right for you.

The guild has made it possible for all Mopar Masters members to enjoy these beneﬁts, which actually amount to a compe ve advantage for your business. Continued on Page 6

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

Continued from Page 5

What do you need to bring with you to our mee ngs? Just a willingness to par cipate and share your knowledge and perspec ve. If you are a Mopar Master, you have something to oﬀer the guild. Some mes the simplest idea, the one you were even a li le embarrassed to men on, is just what another member needed to hear.

See you at our Annual Mee ng in Las Vegas!

Cody Eckhardt – President – Mopar Masters Guild Codye@kengarﬀ.com

2024 Mopar Masters Guild Execu ve Oﬃcers

President Cody Eckhardt - Ken Garﬀ CDJRF - W. Valley City UT

V. Pres - Jim Jaeger – Bosak Motors – Merrillville, IN

Secretary - John Russo - Dallas DCJ - Dallas, TX

Treasurer – Chris Hojnacki – Serra CDJR – Lake Orion, MI

2024 Mopar Masters Guild Execu ve Commi ee

Dan Hu on - Tom O’Brien DCJR - Greenwood, IN

Alan Yancey - Hayes CDJ - Alto, GA

Rick Cutaia - Rick Hendrick DCJR – Charleston, SC

Steve Hofer – Park Chrysler Jeep – Burnsville, MN

Susan McDaniel – Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ

Joe McBeth - Dallas DCJ - Dallas, TX

Leaders

2024 MMG Scheduled Meeting Attendees

Matt Jarvis

Kris Arnold

Susan McDaniel

Jim Jaeger

Ted Hawkins

Casey Brown

John Russo

Derek Johnson

Joe McBeth

Justin Hall

Dean Taylor

Casey Prewitt

Josh Gouldsmith

Lucas Ketterman

Chris Brodeur

Shane Birdyshaw

Tom Kellogg

Brent Richmond

Alan Yancey

Stuart White

Randy Rogers

Rick Monteiro

Cody Eckhardt

Andrew Hirschmann

Robert Chatwin

Chris Reynolds

Don Cushing

Steve Hofer

Ken Nelson

Bryce Johnson

Randall Collins

Tom Rogers

Chris Hojnacki

Dan Hutton

Steve Anderson

BALD HILL DCJR

BETTENHAUSEN AUTOMOTIVE

BILL LUKE CJDR

BOSAK MOTORS OF MERRILLVILLE

CERRITOS DODGE

COVERT CDJR

DALLAS DODGE CJR

DEPENDABLE CDJR

GLADSTONE DODGE

GLENN E. THOMAS

HALLMARK CDJR

HAROLD ZEIGLER CDJR

HAYES CDJR

HENDRICK DODGE RAM FIAT

HUFFINES CDJR PLANO

JACK POWELL CDJR

KEN GARFF WEST VALLEY CDJRF

LARRY MILLER CJDR SANDY

MMG MAGAZINE

PARK CHRYSLER JEEP

PERKINS MOTORS

SERRA LAKE CDJR

TOM OBRIEN CJDR

TONKIN PARTS CENTER

The View From My Oﬃce

With Kat Monteiro

I sit and write this today, a beau ful summer day, not too hot, just got home from the beach where we met up for lunch with an old friend that we used to work with 40 years ago at the original Kearny Mesa Dodge - crazy right! How me ﬂies by, it seems so strange to refer to something from 40 years ago.

That being said, it has been 30 years since we started developing friendships through the Mopar Masters Guild. We have been here together since we were young, and we are s ll together as many of us have re red - or mostly re red in Rick’s case. Something about friendships made in the car business seem to last a life me. I know I say this a lot, and probably sound like a broken record, but I am forever grateful for the wonderful, long- me friendships we have developed through the Guild, y’all have truly made our lives be er.

So here we are, middle of August, it is s ll hot out and we s ll have plenty of summer weather le , at least here in San Diego, but summer me is winding down, with kids heading back to school already. It amazes me to think that Fall is just around the corner, which brings me back to what I wrote earlier, me is just going by way too fast! I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer. I know many of you have traveled, spent me with the kids or grandkids, and like us have just spent days at home by the pool.

It has been a good summer for us. We spent just over 3 weeks up north which is my happy place. Spent me with our daughters Jessie and Terra and other family members and friends in Napa for Rick’s brother’s re rement party. Then spent me at the Coast.

We came home then le for the great state of Maine! Our friend Randy, Rick’s best friend from high school, was camping in his 5th wheel trailer at a KOA campsite just outside of Bar Harbor. So we hijacked a week of his vaca on! We did this last year also when he was in Cape Cod. I really wanted to go here because the camp was close to Acadia Na onal Park. When Rick and I re red we talked about traveling and visi ng as many Na onal Parks as possible. And we have never been to Maine before so we could knock 2 things oﬀ our list.

Continued on Page 9

Continued from Page 8

Leaders in the Sale of

So oﬀ we went. And it was amazing! I love Maine! What a beau ful State. I would love to go back. So much history in those old States.

We spent the perfect day in Acadia Na onal Park. The weather had been a bit foggy so when we were driving around you couldn’t see the water views from the road, but the day we went to the park it was warm and blue skies with water views forever! It is truly such a beau ful place. The only downside was, I am not going to lie, it was busy! Packed with people! The day we drove into Bar Harbor there were so many people we could barely do a drive through. We did get lucky on our way out to see a parking spot, so we snagged it and spent almost an hour walking around a li le bit. But it was just too busy for my taste. Well, it was the same at the Park and when we ﬁrst started the Loop Road and there were cars parked along the side for miles, I was feeling very discouraged and was star ng to believe we were not going to be able to see anything. But as we con nued to drive it started to thin out, and we were actually able to stop and walk and see some things. So much beauty. We did stop at the popular Jordans Pond, which is the only place in the park with food, so we thought we would stop and have a snack and something to drink. Well, the line to get into the li le restaurant was hours long - I guess everyone wants to stop here and order their Popovers, made famous by high society who ate them on the lawn with their high tea. We were not going to wait but this was a great stop. We took the hike down to the pond, which was so beau ful, and so worth the walk, even though I was so close to stepping on a li le snake as it slithered across the path! Yikes!

We ended our day with our 2pm reserva on me slot for Cadillac Mountain. It was amazing! Like I said it was a clear day and when we got up there you could look out and see forever. I guess a lot of people go up there for the sunrise, it is the ﬁrst place the sun touches in the eastern states. It was the perfect spot to end the day.

Continued on Page 10

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

Continued from Page 9

One of my favorite days was the Horse Drawn Carriage tour. Back in the day Rockefeller, who had his estate there, liked to travel by horse and buggy. And when automobiles were becoming more popular, he wanted to have roads that did not allow cars on it to get to where he wanted to go, so he built Carriage Roads, 57 miles of them, so he could travel in his carriage without the annoyance of any cars sharing the road. It was amazing. They oﬀered several tours, but I chose the 2 hour ride that highlighted a few of the Rockefeller Bridges. The wagons they use have cushions on the benches, and they did not crowd the wagons which was nice. It was wonderful, even though this day was drizzly and cool, glad I brought a blanket with me, but it was a perfect day to slowly ride through the forests of Acadia Na onal Park. The girl who drove the horses and gave the tour was great, very enjoyable to listen to.

These days the Carriage Roads are s ll blocked oﬀ to cars but are accessible by horse, bike, or walking. The ranch where I caught the tour has a sec on of barns and corrals that they rent out to people who bring their horses on vaca on, and they ride the Carriage Roads. And people also s ll hook up their horses and buggies and drive the Carriage Roads, it is a popular des na on for people who s ll love to drive their horse and buggy. It is very cool!

Rick decided to golf on the day I took my carriage tour. I think I menoned it was a foggy, drizzly day. He said it rained un l the 16th hole. He was soaked! But he s ll had a good me, and said the course was beau ful. We met at the 19th hole for lunch and beer!

Rick and Randy took the ferry boat over to the big Canary Island and the Li le Canary. I spent this day at camp as my chill day. Then Rick and I took a Nature boat tour through Island Tours out of Bass Harbor. It was a lot of fun to be out on the water. It was another cooler day, and the water was a li le rougher, not bad, but it did keep us from ge ng close to a few of the islands. I had no idea that there were so many islands all along the coast of Maine, it was fascina ng! We saw lots of birds, bald eagles, seals, and learned a lot about lobster ﬁshing which was readily interes ng. They even pulled up a lobster pot and brought the lobster around for everyone to see. It was fun!

It was a great week. And I was happy to get my ﬁrst stamps in my Naonal Park book!

Speaking of lobster, we sure ate a lot of it, and it was delicious! We came home with our ﬁll of it, un l we end up back on the east coast again.

Continued on Page 11

Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts

Continued from Page 10

So, re rement has been good for us. It is fun to sit here and think about where we want to go next, or which friends we would like to go visit, mee ng an old friend for lunch in the middle of the day on a weekday! Rick is s ll pu ng in hours on the computer every day but he can log onto his computer from anywhere, or he does his work early so he has the rest of the day. It is nice he has this to keep his mind sharp, keeps him busy, and he loves it. And he is s ll able to ﬁt in some golf!

We will be a ending the Vegas mee ngs, so I am looking forward to seeing some of you. Always a good me when we can get together!

As I close out another story about my View of the day, I would like everyone to con nue to send prayers and healing wishes to everyone’s friend Marvin Windham. He was released from the hospital to go home a er his stroke on July 5th. He is ge ng top notch therapy at Spain Rehab, and then con nues to work hard at home. He is doing well, even though he gets a li le down because it is not improving as fast as he would like it to, so please grace him with some posi ve pa ence. Time heals slowly, while days ﬂy by quickly, wish I could switch that around for him.

Un l next me, ﬁnd something to be happy about each day and be kind to one another.

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

Our Supporting Vendors: Support those who support you .

Our

Supporting

Vendors: Support those who support you

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The journey to achieving op mal warranty reimbursement starts with understanding your dealership’s speciﬁc goals. Our success hinges on close collabora on with your management team. This partnership not only guarantees results but also fosters a uniﬁed approach to improving business prac ces and streamlining processes across the board.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR DEALERSHIP

To maximize your warranty reimbursement poten al, it’s crucial to evaluate several aspects of your dealership’s opera ons. Here are some key ques ons to ask yourself:

Market Comparison for Warranty Rates: How does your dealership’s warranty rate compare to others in your market?

Customer Pay Rate Analysis: How compe ve are your customers’ pay rates?

Parts Matrix and Labor Grid: Does your dealership u lize these tools, and what is your underlying philosophy behind their use?

Customer Pay vs. Warranty Rate Delta: What is the gap between your customer pay rate and your warranty rate, and how long has this disparity existed?

Warranty Parts Markup: Where does your dealership currently stand, and where would you like to be?

Available Spare Hours: How many unused hours does your team have weekly, and how could you be er allocate that me?

THE COST OF INACTION

It’s easy to maintain the status quo, but doing so could mean leaving thousands of dollars on the table every year. Simple adjustments to your daily prac ces can translate into significant financial gains—poten ally increasing your dealership’s gross profit by $150,000 to $200,000 annually. These aren’t just empty promises; our track record speaks for itself. Our team of dedicated professionals works closely with your staff to ensure your dealership receives the maximum retail compensa on for warranty labor and parts.

Continued on Page 17

Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts

Continued from Page 16

THE QB BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ADVANTAGE

What sets QB Business Solu ons apart from other warranty reimbursement companies is our consulta ve approach. We don’t just process paperwork—we become an extension of your team, providing ac onable insights and tailored strategies that drive real results.

For example, when assessing how your warranty and customer pay rates compare within your market, we conduct anonymous surveys and deliver detailed feedback. This transparency allows your service and parts directors to make informed decisions that capitalize on ﬁnancial opportuni es.

MAXIMIZING YOUR WARRANTY COMPENSATION

Many auto brands compensate dealerships at rates far below what they are allowed to receive for parts and labor. It’s not uncommon to see dealerships with warranty parts markups between 40% and 62%, while the na onal average sits at 76.8%. At QB Business Solu ons, we consistently achieve markups of 95% or higher for our clients.

Similarly, labor warranty rates are o en signiﬁcantly lower than customer pay door rates. Our goal is to help your dealership secure increases that bring your warranty rates within a few dollars of your door rate—or even higher, depending on your prac ces and the tools you employ.

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Opinions on using a parts matrix and labor grid can vary widely. That’s why we provide dozens of examples tailored to your dealership’s speciﬁc market, ensuring that you adopt the strategies that work best for you.

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At QB Business Solu ons, we take on the labor-intensive tasks so that your team can focus on what they do best, which is running your business. With no upfront fees or costs, our services oﬀer a guaranteed ROI of 35 days. And as men oned earlier, we only get paid when you get paid.

IN SUMMARY

Choosing QB Business Solu ons means choosing a partner who is commi ed to your dealership’s success. We handle the complexi es of warranty reimbursement, freeing up your me and resources while signiﬁcantly boos ng your bo om line. Let us help you unlock the full poten al of your warranty rates—because leaving money on the table is not an op on.

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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For more insight into why Jeff chose Reynolds, explore reyrey.com/why-reynolds

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Our exper se is backed by years of industry experience and real- me insights into contemporary issues. Whether you’re facing a problem you didn’t know existed, a persistent issue, or a poten al future problem, our team of service BDC experts is equipped to handle it. Here are a few examples of how we’ve helped dealers overcome opera onal challenges:

 Idle Service Bays: Empty service bays mean wasted resources and lost revenue. Our solu on, Zone Scheduling, strategically ﬁlls these gaps, turning scheduling into a well-oiled part of dealership operaons.

 Time-Consuming Recall Lists: Managing recall lists can be overwhelming for dealership staﬀ. Bow e Solu ons takes over this task, allowing your team to focus on servicing vehicles while we handle recall lists, calls, and scheduling.

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Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts

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 Lack of Insight into Call Performance: Trus ng your team is important, but verifying their performance is crucial. Our detailed daily reports provide clear insights into call performance, iden fying missed opportuni es and boos ng revenue.

 Scheduling Before Parts Arrive: Delays caused by scheduling before parts are ordered can frustrate customers. We coordinate scheduling with parts departments to ensure mely service, keeping customers sa sﬁed.

 Missed Calls & Opportuni es: Missed calls translate to missed opportuni es. Our Overﬂow Call Management ensures no call goes unanswered, maximizing your proﬁt poten al by conver ng more leads.

 Overlooked Health of Service Department Opera ons: Sales-focused dealers o en miss opera onal ineﬃciencies. Bow e Solu ons uses data-driven insights to op mize opera ons, uncovering problems and crea ng ac on plans tailored to each store’s unique challenges and goals.

In Conclusion

Bow e Solu ons is your dedicated opera onal partner, commi ed to proac vely iden fying and solving problems before they aﬀect your bo om line. Our extensive network and industry exper se enable us to provide tailored solu ons for your service BDC needs. With Bow e Solu ons, there’s always a way to ensure your service department’s success.

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

FTC ﬁnes CarShield and American Auto Shield for deceptive, misleading ads and telemarketing

CarShield and American Auto Shield (AAS), the administrator of its vehicle service contracts (VSCs), will pay $10 million to se le Federal Trade Commission charges that its adver sements and telemarke ng are decep ve and misleading.

Many purchasers found that a large number of repairs weren’t covered despite making payments of up to $120 per month, an FTC press release says.

The FTC also alleges CarShield’s celebrity and consumer endorsers made false statements in its ads.

The s pulated order that settles FTC’s complaint also bars CarShield and AAS from making deceptive and misleading statements in the future. The companies are required to ensure their endorsers’ testimonials are truthful, accurate, and not deceptive, according to the release.

“For many consumers, a personal vehicle is one of their most valuable assets and a vital lifeline for ge ng to work, taking their kids to school, and obtaining medical care. Instead of delivering the ‘peace of mind’ promised by its adver sements, CarShield le many consumers with a ﬁnancial headache,” said Samuel Levine, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protec on director, in the release. “Worse s ll, CarShield used trusted personali es to deliver its empty promises. The FTC will hold adver sers accountable for using false or decep ve claims to exploit consumers’ ﬁnancial anxie es.”

The order also applies to NRRM LLC, the company CarShield conducts business under. It is a Missouri-based company that adver ses VSCs to consumers throughout the U.S. AAS, based in Lakewood, Colorado, designs and administers the VSCs.

According to the FTC’s complaint, CarShield adver ses and sells VSCs that cost $80-$120 per month.

CarShield’s ads o en feature celebri es, such as sports commentator Chris Berman and actor Ice-T. These endorsers are depicted as real customers and try to assure consumers that buying a CarShield service plan will provide them with “peace of mind” and “protec on” from the cost and inconvenience of vehicle breakdowns, which will inevitably occur, the release says.

On CarShield’s website homepage, Ice-T is quoted as saying, “Nobody likes it when their check engine light comes on, especially when your car is out of warranty. That can mean expensive repair bills. That’s why I have CarShield.”

CarShield states on its site that it covers more than 2 million vehicles and has paid over $1 billion in administrator claims.

The complaint alleges many ads say that all repairs or repairs to certain systems, such as the engine and transmission, will be covered and use language that makes consumers believe CarShield will pay for all necessary repairs.

“For example, one ad that ran 18,000 mes on television stated, ‘With CarShield’s administrators, they make sure you don’t get stuck with expensive car repair bills like this,’” the release says. “It also touts CarShield VSCs as ‘your best line of defense against expensive breakdowns.’

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“The company sells its plans using telemarketers who answer inbound calls and make outbound calls responding to consumers, including those who make web inquiries. Using scripted statements wri en by CarShield and cleared by AAS, the telemarketers pitch the VSCs and tell consumers that, whether they use a dealer or local mechanic for the repair work, ‘there is just a $100 deduc ble for any covered repair.’”

The FTC alleges that CarShield’s ads decep vely represent that: all repairs or repairs to covered vehicle systems will be paid for under the plans, consumers will receive a rental car at no cost when their car breaks down, and consumers can use the repair facility of their choice for repairs.

“Speciﬁcally, many consumers could not use the repair facility of their choice, as many do not accept the VSCs,” the release states. “Many consumers also ﬁnd that repairs they thought were covered are not. In fact, none of CarShield’s VSCs cover all repairs or even repairs to ‘covered’ vehicle systems. Instead, the plans contain myriad exclusions. Consumers with denied claims receive no rental car, while many consumers with ‘approved’ claims must pay a por on of their rental car costs.”

CarShield ads also decep vely feature consumer endorsers who claim to have saved a speciﬁc amount of money using their plans but have not saved that amount, according to the FTC.

The proposed order to se le the complaint addresses the defendants’ alleged viola ons of the FTC Act.

It prohibits CarShield from making the misrepresenta ons described in the complaint and any other misrepresenta ons related to any good or service. CarShield and AAS must make required disclosures and follow FTC’s Telemarke ng Sales Rule, according to the order.

The order bars CarShield from misrepresen ng any endorser’s ownership, use of, or experience with any product or service and requires AAS to inform third-party marketers of the order and to review and monitor their adver sing and marke ng. The order also imposes a standard repor ng and compliance provision that will remain in place for up to 10 years.

The $10 million monetary judgment against CarShield and AAS will be used to provide refunds to defrauded consumers, the FTC said.

In a statement to Reuters, CarShield General Counsel Michael Carter said the company disagreed with many FTC claims but was commi ed to helping consumers understand what they are paying for, including on its website.

He also said CarShield is “making very clear that all spokespeople in our ads are actual CarShield customers,” according to Reuters.

The FTC ﬁles a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are viola ng or are about to violate the law and it appears to the commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. S pulated ﬁnal injunc ons/orders have the force of law when approved and signed by a District Court judge.

FTC provides more informa on on consumer topics at consumer. c.gov. Suspected fraud, scams, and bad business prac ces can be reported at ReportFraud. c.gov.

Source: www.RepairerDrivenNews.com - Ar cle by By Lurah Lowery

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

American workers highest stress points are retirement and ﬁnances; what employers can do to help

A recent survey by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America found that out of more than 4,000 employees, 48% said re rement-related concerns were a top source of stress while only 32% reported “good” or “excellent” ﬁnancial health.

Those concerns included not having enough money to last through re rement and a guaranteed source of income. The survey results were compiled into Guardian’s annual “Mind, Body and Wallet” report. This year’s says overall well-being among Americans remains low, “highligh ng the pressing need for addi onal well-being support and resources, especially around re rement planning and personal ﬁnance stressors.”

One-third of survey respondents self-reported “good” or “excellent” well-being.

Mental and physical health were rated as “good” or “excellent” by 36% and 37% of Americans, respec vely.

Compared to 2023 Guardian ﬁndings, well-being for each category saw a four-percentage point year-over-year increase.

“Despite being a primary source of stress for Americans, just half say they know how much money they will need in re rement and only 36% say they are ‘very good’ at managing their finances,” Guardian said of this year’s results. “Close to half of Americans said they would face financial hardship without their workplace benefits.

“Fortunately, many employers recognize the valuable role benefits play in suppor ng financial and overall wellbeing, with the majority saying that addressing and improving their employees’ financial (74%), physical (66%), and mental (71%) health is very important.”

The report also found, especially during pivotal life moments, that many Americans have interconnected mental, physical, and ﬁnancial well-being needs.

For example:

 “Seventy-three percent with high ﬁnancial health also rated their emo onal health as ‘good’ or ‘very good.’ On the other hand, 82% with low ﬁnancial health also self-reported poor emo onal health;

 “Thirty-four percent reported good work-life balance. This likely contributed to the 33% increase in the number of workers who reported feeling burnt out.”

For the first me in several years, Gen X respondents reported worse financial well-being than Gen Z, potenally given concerns around infla on and economic uncertainty as they approach re rement, Guardian said.

Across the board, single parents self-reported signiﬁcantly lower well-being scores than partnered parents, with 27% repor ng good physical health versus 43% of partnered parents. Twenty-six percent cited good mental health versus 43% and 18% recorded good ﬁnancial health versus 40%.

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Between 2020 and 2023, Guardian said it saw a 215% increase in short-term disability claims due to postpartum depression.

Among Sandwich Genera on members, including parents taking care of parents, roughly 4 in 10 reported low mental (43%) and ﬁnancial (41%) well-being. Thirty-one percent reported low physical health.

“The study reaffirmed the outsized impact financial health has on overall well-being, with par cular influence on mental and physical wellness,” said Andrew McMahon, Guardian CEO and president, in a news release. “While we were encouraged to see a small year-over-year increase, sustainable improvement to well-being will require a con nued focus on educa on, empowerment, and solu ons that meet people where they are.”

During a 2023 webinar, Rachel James, Torque Financial Group founder, recommended employees always consider the future when planning ﬁnances. For example, when will you buy your ﬁrst home? If you own a home, are you thinking about home improvements?

James also said it’s helpful to split financial planning and security into five categories: saving, spending, growing your money, protec ng your money, and charitable dona ons. Saving, she said, is typically the most difficult and requires “crea ng a habit so that you’re slowly easing into this idea of crea ng savings.” “The sooner you start, the more impact you’ll make on your future,” James said.

Saving money is also made easier by tracking monthly spending, she added. Her research has found that 20% of income should go toward savings and an emergency fund ﬁrst then toward re rement, keeping IRS re rement plan yearly contribu on limits in mind.

One re rement plan op on speciﬁc to collision repair businesses is the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Mul ple Employer Plan (MEP) which oﬀers employees the opportunity to make Roth 401(k) contribuons.

“If your technicians are at home struggling and something goes wrong — their water heater breaks or their roof starts to leak or something happens — it could be a signiﬁcant stress point for your employees,” James said. “…Money can be the source of all sorts of agony, stress, anxiety; all these emo ons and those things do show up at work if not managed.”

According to a survey conducted last year by SCRS and I-CAR, only about 15% of technicians said they’re offered health insurance and/or paid me oﬀ. Just under 15% said they’re oﬀered a 401(k) re rement plan. The survey had more than 800 respondents — 50% independent, 30% mul -store opera on, and 20% dealer.

As K&M Collision Vice President Michael Bradshaw pointed out during SCRS’ IDEAS Collide Showcase, workplace culture also plays a part in ﬁnancial well-being.

“We’re used to thinking that salaries and beneﬁts get the best talent in collision repair. We wring our hands over how we’re going to a ract new technicians, and ‘how can we pay more because we can’t be compe ve in the job place?’ But we never talk about culture, and to me, that’s really the secret weapon. It’s the force behind a rac ng and keeping staﬀ; keeping them happy, boos ng morale, and performance.”

“We’ve got to provide work-life harmony,” Bradshaw said. “Balancing work and personal life is the key to longterm sa sfac on and a healthy and happy team.”

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The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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Opportuni es for career progression are key as well, he added.

“That shows our commitment to each employee’s individual success in their long-term growth and future,” Bradshaw said. “And above all else — this is where I feel like a lot of companies really miss the mark — personal growth. Everybody’s so consumed with ﬁguring out how they can grow people within their four walls, they don’t think about how they can grow that individual outside of their company.

“By suppor ng their personal passions and learning, it enriches our team’s diversity and crea vity. It drives the company in unexpected and innova ve ways.”

The image below highlights some employee beneﬁts that K&M oﬀers.

Financial wellness offerings provide “tools and knowledge for financial literacy ensuring a bright and stable financial future for our technicians,” Bradshaw said.

“With 76% of American households living paycheck to paycheck and 71% iden fying money as a signiﬁcant cause of stress, we don’t ever want our employees to become one of those in that sta s c,” he said.

Source: www.RepairerDrivenNews.com - Ar cle by By

Lurah Lowery

Dodge Charger EV shuns silence to build battery-powered muscle

The ar ﬁcial exhaust note of the Charger Daytona is part of Dodge’s eﬀort to convince fans of Hellcats, Scat Packs and Demons to try its EVs.

The Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack roared as if loaded with a powerful gasoline engine when brand CEO Matt McAlear hit the accelerator a few times, debuting an «exhaust note» that brings a different flavor to the electric vehicle segment.

The Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system, as Dodge calls it, shuns the near-silence of a typical EV to help capture the visceral sound and feel of its performance-driven persona.

As the brand begins its foray into eco-friendly muscle, Dodge is looking to retain its speed-monger image to convince fans of its Hellcats, Scat Packs and Demons of yesteryear to give its EVs a shot.

Dodge revealed the sounds of the chambered exhaust system Aug. 9 during the press preview of MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge, a yearly muscle car spectacle in suburban Detroit known for legal drag racing and thrill rides that let a endees dri in Charger and Challenger Hellcats with professional drivers.

The event demonstrated how Dodge is trying to step into an electriﬁed future without losing its a tude, even as parent Stellan s sunsets the Hemi V-8 engines that were its bread and bu er.

McAlear showed oﬀ the ba le cry of the Charger EV, a cri cal element in the brand’s mission to ensure the car not only looks like a Dodge but sounds like one, too. Meanwhile, Dodge deployed its Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid on an oﬀ-road rally course to assert that the compact crossover is more about speed and performance than prac cality.

McAlear, who became CEO of Dodge in June, said he knows the electric Charger and its sound have skep cs. His request to those naysayers is to drive it ﬁrst, believing the experience will change their minds.

“It’s no secret to anyone ... the EV industry has changed a lot over the last year — consumer sen ment — and we’re ﬁguring out the right way to take this vehicle to market,” McAlear told Automo ve News. “But one of the things I’m superexcited about is we’re not taking an EV to market, we’re taking a muscle car to market; we’re taking a be er muscle car to market. We’re taking a car that outperforms yesterday’s Hellcat for less money.”

The 2024 Charger Daytona Scat Pack has a 260-mile range, 670 hp and a 0-60 mph time of 3 3 seconds It starts at $75,185 with shipping, compared with more than $87,000 for the 2023 Charger SRT Hellcat widebody with 717 hp

The Charger Daytona lineup starts with the $61,590 R/T that oﬀers 496 hp and a 317-mile range.

Coupe versions will enter produc on this summer, followed in the ﬁrst half of next year by four-door models, for which pricing hasn’t been disclosed.

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The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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Those not ready for an EV can get the gasoline-powered two-door Sixpack H.O. and four-door Sixpack S.O. Those models are scheduled for the second half of 2025, a delay from the ﬁrst-quarter ming announced earlier.

McAlear contends that the Charger Daytona variants will sha er percep ons of what an EV can be. He acknowledged, though, that this process will take me.

“It’s easy to be nega ve, it’s easy to push back and say I don’t want to be an adopter,” McAlear said. “But the ﬁrst me somebody pulls up and the ﬁrst me you see it, it’s hard not to enjoy it. I think we’re going to open up to a whole new group of consumers that are willing to give us a chance now, but I think as we move through the adop on, we bring out the four-door and we bring out the Sixpacks, it will happen over me.”

He added: “Nothing happens overnight, but you slowly reach that pping point and you slowly start making inroads and you start changing percep on.”

Because ar ﬁcial EV sounds can be polarizing, the Charger Daytona’s had to be authen c, McAlear said. Dodge didn’t want to simply mimic a V-8, and it tried to avoid a “techno-electronic” noise that went too far.

The target was “underlying notes that people were familiar with, the beat of the ﬁring of the tradi onal V-8, but in a way that was just unique, that doesn’t sound sound synthesized or fake,” McAlear said. “When you get behind the wheel for the ﬁrst me, you hear it [and] you say: ‘I don’t know what it is, but I like it.’ “

Source: www.autonews.com - Ar cle by Vince Bond, Jr.

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

President Cody Eckhardt Ken Garﬀ W. Valley CDJR W. Valley City,

V. Pres Jim Jaeger Bosak Motors Merrillville, IN

Secretary John Russo Dallas Dodge Dallas, TX

Treasurer Chris Hojnacki Serra CDJR Lake Orion Lake Orion, MI

2024 Mopar Masters Guild

2 0 2 4 M o p a r M a s t e r s G u i l d

Oﬃcers:

O f f i c e r s & C o m m i t t e e s

Officers & Committees

President Cody Eckhardt - Ken Garﬀ CDJRF - W. Valley City UT

V. Pres - Jim Jaeger – Bosak Motors – Merrillville, IN

Secretary - John Russo - Dallas DCJ - Dallas, TX

Treasurer – Chris Hojnacki – Serra CDJR – Lake Orion, MI

Executive Committee - All Oﬃcers Including:

Dan Hutton - Tom O’Brien DCJR - Greenwood, IN

Alan Yancey - Hayes CDJ - Alto, GA

Rick Cutaia - Rick Hendrick DCJR – Charleston, SC

Steve Hofer – Park Chrysler Jeep – Burnsville, MN

Susan McDaniel – Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ

Joe McBeth - Dallas DCJ - Dallas, TX

Guild Committees

MMG Annual Meeting 2024

Jill Vance - Apogee Event Agency

Cody Eckhardt - Ken Garﬀ CDJRF - W. Valley City UT

Finance Committee

Chris Hojnacki - Serra CDJR – Lake Orion, MI

Susan McDaniel - Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ

Don Cushing – MMG Magazine

Newsletter/Website/Social Media

Don Cushing – MMG Magazine

Vendor Committees

Reynolds & Reynolds

Rick Cutaia - Rick Hendrick DCJR – Charleston, SC (Co-Chair)

Susan McDaniel – Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ (Co-Chair)

Joe Handzik - Bettenhausen Auto - Tinley Park, IL

Randy Rogers - Huﬃnes CJDR - Plano, TX

Kent Cogswell - Jack Phelan CDJR - Countryside, IL

*David Kiser - Spartanburg CDJR - Spartanburg, SC

*Chris Hojnacki - Serra CDJR – Lake Orion, MI

OEConnection

Dan Hutton - Tom O’Brien CJD – Greenwood, IN (Chair)

Joe McBeth - Dallas DCJ – Dallas, TX

Jim Jaeger - Bosak Motors - Merrillville, IN

Chris Hojnacki - Serra CDJR – Lake Orion, MI

*Steve Hofer – Park Chrysler Jeep – Burnsville, MN

Snap On Business Solutions

Cody Eckhardt - Ken Garﬀ CDJRF - W. Valley City UT (Chair)

Randy Rogers - Huﬃnes CJDR - Plano, TX

*Steve Hofer – Park Chrysler Jeep – Burnsville, MN

AER Manufacturing

Robert Chatwin - Larry Miller DCJR - Sandy, UT (Chair)

Ted Hawkins - Cerritos Dodge - Cerritos. CA

Chris Hojnacki - Serra CDJR – Lake Orion, MI

*Josh Gouldsmith - Gladstone CDJR - Gladstone, MO

*Joe Handzik - Bettenhausen Auto - Tinley Park, IL

Elite Extra - Epicore

Joe McBeth - Dallas DCJ - Dallas, TX

Alan Yancey - Hayes CDJ - Alto, GA

Chris Hojnacki – Serra CDJR – Lake Orion, MI

Steve Anderson - Tonkin Parts Center - Portland, OR

Steve Hofer – Park Chrysler Jeep – Burnsville, MN

Vendor Chairs

Susan McDaniel - Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ

Cody Eckhardt - Ken Garﬀ CDJRF - W. Valley City UT

*Alternate

“The exchange of information by like-size dealers in a non-competitive environment”