THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALLIANCE OF AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE PROVIDERS/NEW JERSEY (www.AASPNJ.org) AND THE AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY (www.ARANJ.org)
TM
December 2014 $595
www.grecopublishing.com
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New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 5
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P.O. Box 734 Neptune, NJ 07753 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Charles Bryant 732-922-8909 / setlit4u@msn.com 2013 - 2015 OFFICERS PRESIDENT Jeff McDowell, Leslie’s Auto Body 732-738-1948 / chacki@aol.com COLLISION CHAIRMAN Dave Laganella, Peters Body and Fender 201-337-1200 / petersbandf@gmail.com MECHANICAL CHAIRMAN Keith Krehel, Krehel Automotive Repair, Inc. 973-546-2828 / krehelauto@aol.com TREASURER Tom Elder, Compact Kars, Inc. 609-259-6373 / compactkars@aol.com SECRETARY Thomas Greco, Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 973-667-6922 / thomas@grecopublishing.com BOARD Jerry McNee, Ultimate Collision Repair, Inc. 732-494-1900 / ultimatecollision@att.net
VOLUME 44, NUMBER 12 | December 2014
CONTENTS
8 OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES 10 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
12 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 62 NJA ADVERTISERS INDEX
NORTHEAST® 2015 SPOTLIGHT 16 NORTHEAST 2015 Sees Increased Presence from Exhibitors LOCAL NEWS by Jacquelyn Bauman 18 AASP/NJ Annual Meeting Provides Excitement and Education for Guests
24
Car-o-liner Opens New Facility in Mahwah, NJ
Sam Mikhail, Prestige Auto Body 908-789-2020 / mikhail@goldcar.com
INDUSTRY WEEK RECAP by Joel Gausten 28 AASP/NJ Provides Year-End Report at National Affiliate Meeting
Anthony Sauta, East Coast Auto Body 732-869-9999 / ecabofnj@aol.com
32
Ted Rainer, Ocean Bay Auto Body 732-899-7900 / trainer@verizon.net
Car Crazy: Fun Moments at SEMA 2014
Randy Scoras, Holmdel Auto Body 732-946-8388 / randy@holmdelautobody.com
NATIONAL NEWS 38 GM’s Competitive Pricing Platform Rescheduled to Launch
Brian Vesley, Valtek, Inc. 973-278-1444 / bdvesley@valtekinc.com
FEATURE 44 The Downside of Upselling: When Getting the Job Goes Too Far
Anthony Trama, Bloomfield Auto Body 973-748-2608 / anthony@bloomfieldautobody.com
BOARD ALLIED Joe Amato, The Amato Agency 732-530-6740 / joesr@amatoagency.com
Mike Kaufmann, Advantage Dealer Services 973-332-7014 / mkaufmann@advantageds.com PAST PRESIDENT ATTENDING Tom Elder, Compact Kars 609-259-6373 / compactkars@aol.com
by Joel Gausten
COVER STORY by Jacquelyn Bauman 46
Tesla Meets Tesla, Past Meets Future
54 NEWS FROM AASP/PA THE LIST 58 My New Year’s Resolution Is...
PUBLISHER Thomas Greco (thomas@grecopublishing.com) DIRECTOR OF SALES Alicia Figurelli (alicia@grecopublishing.com) EDITOR Joel Gausten (tgpjoel@verizon.net)
MANAGING EDITOR Jacquelyn Bauman (jacquelyn@grecopublishing.com) ART DIRECTOR Lea Velocci (lea@grecopublishing.com) OFFICE MANAGER Sofia Cabrera (tgp4@verizon.net)
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Charles Bryant • Tom Greco • Jeff McDowell Mitch Portnoi • Dave Laganella • Ron Ananian
Published by: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202, Nutley, NJ 07110 Corporate: (973) 667-6922 / FAX: (973) 235-1963
www.grecopublishing.com
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers/New Jersey Joe Amato, Sr. Ron Ananian Jim Bowers Charles Bryant Don Chard Guy Citro Ed Day Dave Demarest
HALL OF FAME
Tom Elder Bob Everett Thomas Greco Rich Johnson Wes Kearney Nick Kostakis Jim Kowalak Joe Lubrano
Michael Lovullo Sam Mikhail Ron Mucklow George Petrask Russ Robson Jerry Russomano George Threlfall
Cynthia Tursi Lee Vetland Paul Vigilant Rich Weber Brian Vesley Glenn Villacari Stan Wilson
NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE is published monthly and is sent to AASP/NJ and ARANJ members free of charge. Subscriptions are $24 per year. NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE is published by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc., 244 Chestnut St., Nutley, NJ 07110. The editorial contents of NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE are copyright © 2014 by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher and/or editor. Articles in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. Images courtesy of www.thinkstockphotos.com
New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 7
OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES
“ANYTHING YOU NEED” by THOMAS GRECO, PUBLISHER
December is always a month for reflection. It’s the end of another year. A year that may have brought good or bad things, but still a year of your life that you won’t get back. Personally, I always try and reflect on the good things, such as catching up with some of the people I have lost touch with along the way. A few weeks ago, I received a note from a guy named Ron Mucklow, complimenting us on the magazine. Now, it’s always nice to get a compliment, but when it comes from someone who played a huge part in helping me get the opportunity to publish this magazine, well, that’s a very special thing.
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I’m sure Ron’s name rings a bell for some of you old timers. Ron owned the Plastic Shop in Prospect Park in the ’70s and the ’80s. He was an integral part of the growth of the North Jersey Auto Body Association, which was one of the associations that ultimately evolved into the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ). Ron was the former president (and a Hall of Famer), but more importantly (at least to me), he and George Petrask were the heads of the association’s magazine committee. Back in 1984, Ron and George were publishing something called Fender Bender. (No, not THAT one. We had the name long before the current
one.) Considering both guys ran their own body shops, the idea of putting a magazine together every month became too big, so they looked for a publisher to come in and produce it for the association. That’s where John Maxman came into the picture. Maxman owned a company named Maxco, which published a business travel magazine, as well as an insurance industry publication called The Adjuster. Ron and George advised the AASP/NJ Board to sign with Maxman who, in turn, assigned the editor position to a recently hired employee. A 24-year-old kid named Greco. Ron, George and I worked closely on making the magazine better and
better and in 1987, we all agreed to change the name from Fender Bender (no, not THAT one) to New Jersey Automotive. And the rest is hist… Not so fast. Maxman sold Maxco in 1988 to a company that specialized in making copies. No joke. The new management was…let me think how to put this. Inept? Insane? Dumb? Unprofessional? Cheap? All of the above. Needless to say, I didn’t hit it off with the new owners from the start. Ron and George realized that fact almost as soon as I did, and they were not happy with them, either. So, amazingly, the three of us began wondering (separately, of course) if it might be possible if I could go out on my own, take New Jersey Automotive with me and start anew. The association’s contract with the new company was about to end in December 1988, and I was thinking about starting Thomas Greco Publishing in January 1989. What a coincidence! Ron went to the AASP/NJ Board with the plan to not
renew and to sign a new contract with my company. The Board, as it should have been, was a little concerned about putting all their eggs in one basket - a basket that, at the time, was empty and had no experience on its own. But Ron and George went to bat hard for me. And eventually, the Board agreed. Things were in motion until… My mom died in September of that year, and my world stopped. My dad had passed away only four years earlier and I was the last one living at home with her. It was a difficult time, losing her while at the same time trying to start a new business and
prepare for a fight from the company that thought they had acquired several magazines from Maxco. All these things were going through my mind as I sat at the wake, when two familiar faces came through the crowd. It was Ron and George. I’ll never forget Ron’s words as I thanked him for coming. “We’re family. Anything you need.” The rest is history. There are few people that I owe my career to. Ron Mucklow is one of them. It was great to hear from him after all these years, and as you can see from the photo, he hasn’t changed much. A little grayer maybe, but still the guy who loves to fix cars and enjoy life. He and his wife, Jane, are doing well in Tennessee. To me, still always family. PS: I received another complimentary note literally a few hours before Ron’s. Believe it or not, it was from none other than John Maxman. What are the odds? Merry Christmas! NJA
New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 9
Reflections PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
The temperature is dropping and houses are covered in twinkling lights, which can only mean one thing: The holidays are here once again. While I often use this space to discuss the
pressing issues in our association and trends throughout the industry, for this month, I’d like to remind our readers that December is the time to gather our families close to us, reflect on our
by JEFF MCDOWELL
blessings and be thankful for the life we are able to have because we live in this great country. In our industry, the struggle to succeed and survive can often be overwhelming. Some days we feel like we’ve won, and some days we feel like we’ve fallen flat. That is just the nature of our business. But regardless of whether we consider 2014 to have been a failure or a success, I think it’s important for all of us to take a moment and reflect on the opportunities that we are provided by living in this land, and to give thanks for that privilege. We have been granted the choice to live our lives as we see fit. Remember that not everyone is lucky enough to have our lifestyle and our freedoms, and that these things come at a cost. Let’s give thanks and honor to those who have given their all, and to those who continue to do so. There are those less fortunate than us who have paid the price for our freedom. Keep those still fighting to keep this country great in your hearts this Christmas, and if possible, reach out to someone in need, donate to a local food pantry or support veterans in your local community who may be in need of help. Remember that the holidays are not just about giving thanks, but also for giving back. During this winter season, I hope you all stay safe, stay humble and stay grateful. Happy holidays to all AASP/NJ members, all our readers and all the hard-working people who make this industry great. NJA
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New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 11
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
What Makes It So Hard For Insurers to Understand the Collision Industry’s Problems? by CHARLES BRYANT
“You are the only one who charges for that.” In reality,
every shop in the area charges for that particular operation or procedure because it is something that has to be done. I guess they think the collision shops don’t talk to each other. Once the shop and the appraiser get past the lie, the next common phrase comes right out of the appraiser’s mouth. What might that be? “We don’t pay for that.” I
have looked through policy after policy and, for the life of
me, I just can’t find those words in any one of them. I am not talking about an exclusion in a policy, like for custom coverage items. I am talking about things like blending an adjacent panel to get a match of the paint or repairing If someone with extensive experience in the collision industry were to really think hard about it for a minute, the answer to this question would be as clear as day. Let me explain. What is the most common saying that collision shops across the nation hear from insurance appraisers during the negation process, when trying to come to an agreement on the cost to fix a vehicle when an insurer is responsible for paying for the repairs? Let me give you a hint. The answer to this question is so common and universal that at one point, certain members of the industry actually created a pin for collision shops to wear when dealing with insurance appraisers in an attempt to reach an agreed price to repair a damaged vehicle. The answer is: “You are
the only one.”
For years it has been - and still is - so common for an
pinch weld damage created by attaching a vehicle to a frame machine to repair frame damage. These are things that have to be done to finalize the repair. Yet, appraisers say this phrase to shop owners every day, over and over again. Eventually, the appraiser and the shop representative will get to the discussion about the Labor Rate. When the shop tells the appraiser what his Labor Rate is, the appraiser will most often look at the shop representative like they are absolutely crazy and simply say, “We only
pay $X per hour, period.” It is usually said like a parent
talking to a child in a strong effort to end the conversation and lay down the law, so to speak. Once again, I have searched through policy after policy and for the life of me I can’t find a statement or provision that even closely
insurance appraiser to use this saying when discussing the cost to repair a damaged vehicle that it is not even funny anymore, yet they continue to say it every day. I am talking about a situation where an appraiser and a shop owner, or the person in charge of negotiating the cost of a repair, are discussing a particular procedure or necessary operation to repair a damaged vehicle properly. The appraiser’s defense for refusing to pay for the operation or procedure is,
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THE BRYANT BROTHERS BACK TOGETHER AGAIN!
Recently, the original Bryant Associates Charles and Jimmy Bryant - were reunited at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, where Jimmy now resides. A fixture in New Jersey for many years, Jimmy, along with Charlie, made Bryant Associates the collision repair industry’s greatest ally during the ’80s and ’90s. NJA
New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 13
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE resembles that statement. I have found declarations.” Yet, the appraisers provisions that say things like “We will pay the amount necessary to repair
stand strong and limit their amounts to
does not surrender, it is common prac-
what they have been instructed by
tice for the insurer to call the insured
the damaged property to its pre-loss upper management to pay. condition” or “We will pay for direct
and accidental loss to your covered
auto or any non-owned auto, including their equipment, minus any applicable deductible shown in the
shop. In the cases where the shop
In most cases, when the two par-
and tell them that the shop of their choice is being unreasonable. They
ties are deadlocked, the shop will sur-
will then try and convince the insured
render and just accept the appraiser’s
to have their vehicle removed from that
limited assigned Labor Rate, in fear of
shop to have it repaired by one of the
having the job steered away from their
company’s DRP shops, who will repair the vehicle for the amount of the insurer’s estimate. The whole idea is to teach the shop a lesson and make them understand that if they fight again, they will ultimately lose every job. I could go on and on about the problems that the collision shops face and explain how most of the problems ultimately get resolved. However, it would be like preaching to the choir because most of our readers are collision shops that are faced with these problems on a daily basis. Therefore, let’s get back to the original point of this article. What makes it so hard for the insurers to understand the collision industry’s problems? After thinking about this question over and over and applying all the knowledge that I have gained over the years, I truly believe I have the answer. Let’s start with the issue of the Labor Rate. Shops that truly have a handle on their cost of doing business have set their Labor Rates at approximately double what insurance companies want to pay. An outsider would probably look at that and say the shop is being completely unreasonable. This is especially true because the insurance companies say that they can get the continued on page 56
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NORTHEAST 2015
NORTHEAST® 2015 SPOTLIGHT
Sees Increased Presence from Exhibitors
I
t is no secret that the buzz around the industry about the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ)’s NORTHEAST 2015 Automotive Services
Show has been so abundant that it is almost deafening. With a hugely successful SEMA behind us, local businesses and industry heavy hitters are looking into the rapidly approaching future for the regional NORTHEAST show, the largest of its kind in the country. With only a little over three months left, this year’s show already has a swiftly increasing number of contracted exhibitors, and will feature an expanded presence from a number of familiar faces. A large amount of exhibitors of all sizes have already signed on to the 2015 installment of the show, including Metropolitan Car-o-liner, BASF, Axalta Coating Systems, LKQ, Team PRP, Auto Body Distributing, Medallion Refinish Systems, American Honda Motor Company, Inc., FutureCure Paint Booths, Maxon Hyundai/Mazda, Ikotec USA, Valspar Automotive and Nucar, just to name a few. Additionally, AASP/NJ is noting an increased appearance of a substantial amount of vendors including Pro Spot/Innovative Solutions, one of the top local manufacturers of welding equipment in the state, and Accudraft, the world’s leading spray booth manufacturer, who will be doubling their space from last year and will now have two 40x30 booths.
AASP/NJ is gearing up for another large turnout as the association prepares for NORTHEAST 2015.
AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell is beaming with excitement for the upcoming show, which will not only feature exhibitors, but will also include a number of seminars and demonstrations. “I am very pleased with the current progress of our 2015 show,” he says. “I have heard from a great deal of my industry peers about their enthusiasm for this year’s NORTHEAST. It’s looking to be our largest one yet.” The 2015 NORTHEAST Services Show will be held March 20-22 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in
Secaucus. Registration is currently open at www.aasp
njnortheast.com.
For more information on NORTHEAST, visit www.aaspnjnortheast.com, the NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show on Facebook, the NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show YouTube page (www.youtube.com/user/AASPNJNORTHEAST) or on Twitter @AASPNJNORTHEAST / #NORTHEAST2015. For more information on AASP/NJ, please visit www.aaspnj.org.
16 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2014
NJA
Save the Dates for NORTHEAST® 2015! • Top-notch educational opportunities • Over 150 industry-leading exhibitors • Fun for the whole family and more!
MARCH 20, 21, 22 Proudly Presented by
WWW.AASPNJNORTHEAST.COM Follow us on New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 17
LOCAL NEWS by Jacquelyn Bauman
ANNUAL MEETING
O
n October 30, a full house of automotive service providers gathered at the Holiday Inn of Clark for the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) Annual Meeting. Beginning at 7pm, guests arrived and were greeted by association benefit providers and a cash bar. Attendees socialized for a half an hour while they found their seats and the presentation began. First up to the podium was AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant, who provided those in attendance with a brief overview of what the night would entail, as well as a review of recent developments in the industry. “I fully believe that this industry is at its turning point right now,” Bryant said. “Insurance companies have refused to acknowledge how complicated these new
Provides Excitement and Education for Guests
vehicles are; it’s impossible to fix them for what they’re willing to pay. We’ve done everything we can: Negotiate, make deals and go on programs. But it never seems to work. Now, we’ve been pushed around for so long that all the industry has left to do is bring it to the courts.” After a brief break for dinner and conversation, the meeting was reconvened with a Treasurer’s report from Tom Elder and the distribution of awards. The first award presented was the Stan Wilson/New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year. “This is always an honor for me to give out because it’s named after my best friend,” said AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell, who presented the award. “Stan loved auto body repair, and he loved all of the people who work in this field.” The award was given to Ricca Auto Body in Hackensack and accepted by part
A full house of guests attended the Annual Meeting to become better informed on events affecting their industry. 18 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2014
owner, Carl Ricca, who thanked the association and his fellow repair colleagues for their work in bettering the industry. The next award was the Russ Robson Scholarship Award, which is a monetary endowment given to a promising auto repair student to fund the continuation of their studies. “As this industry moves forward, it is important to remember the people who molded it,” said Elder. “Russ Robson had a dedication to training young people in our field. I’m sure he has sat in the background since his passing, looking after this group and moving us forward.” The award was presented to Herminio Torres, Jr. from Riverside Auto Body, who was given a plaque in addition to funding to further his collision repair training. For the last award of the night, Charles Bryant stepped up to the podium
to present the AASP/NJ Hall of Fame induction. “Every year, we honor someone who is special to our association by granting them a spot in the Hall of Fame,” Bryant noted. “If somebody asked me five years ago if we would consider inducting an insurance guy, I would have said, ‘No way.’ But Joe Amato has earned this award, our confidence and our trust. Joe sticks up for what’s right.” As an allied member of the Board of Directors, Amato humbly and graciously accepted the award and advocated for further participation in the association. Once the awards were given out, the title exhibition of the night began. The New American Revolution was presented by industry renowned attorney, Erica Eversman, who discussed an assortment of lawsuits and litigations of various sizes and claims happening around the country in the collision repair industry. “Things really are changing,” Eversman began her presentation. “They’re not changing fast enough - not changing in huge sweeping tides - but they are changing. While some of the lawsuits occurring make me a little nervous, I do feel very positive about many of the things that are happening right now in this industry.” Some of the lawsuits she discussed were small, between one or two shops and insurers such as Mid Island Collision v. Allstate out of New York. Others had small parties with large issues, such as Crawford’s v. State Farm and other insurers (that alleges racketeering on the part of the insurance company,) or the case between State Farm and the Louisiana Attorney General. Some cases Eversman covered were class action lawsuits with multiple plaintiffs, such as the case she is representing in Ohio. The last case of the night that she addressed was what she referred to as the “free-for-all” multi-district litigation led by John A. Eaves, Jr. against
Stan Wilson/New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year winner Carl Ricca of Ricca Auto Body with Treasurer Tom Elder and President Jeff McDowell.
30th AASP/NJ Hall of Fame inductee, Joe Amato, Sr., with Executive Director Charles Bryant and President Jeff McDowell.
multiple insurers out of Mississippi and being heard in Florida. She went through the minute details of the case while expressing her concerns, alleging that Eaves has not spent enough time in the industry and may not be fully aware of the possible ramifications of rushing into a case of this magnitude. One of the issues she has is that the ruling on his litigation may set
precedent for cases that will later be brought up by firms who have spent the effort and time to do all of the necessary research. She is hopeful that the outcome of the case is positive and lauded Eaves’s enthusiasm, as well as his ability to get others involved, but she is wary of his actions overall. New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 19
LOCAL NEWS At the conclusion of the night, ViceChairperson of the National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program (NSVRP) Howard Nusbaum got up to speak about his organization. NSVRP collects total loss salvage vehicle information for a variety of different groups such as law enforcement and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
They collect this information especially in light of natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy. Guests left the event with their stomachs full and with a greater awareness of what is occurring in their industry that may affect their future. NJA
AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell
Industry renowned attorney Erica Eversman provided a presentation on the current legal atmosphere in the automotive service industry, informing guests of litigation that may affect their business in the near future.
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Materials Calculator in Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson Counties in New Jersey.
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New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 23
LOCAL NEWS by Jacquelyn Bauman
Opens New Facility in Mahwah, NJ
J
ust before GM was ready to release its first mass-marketed, U.S.-built uni-body vehicle almost 35 years ago, Metropolitan Car-o-liner first opened its doors from within a small space at Stateline Auto Body in Northvale, NJ. On October 28, Metropolitan Car-o-liner had a grand opening celebration at its new 9,200-square-foot building. The new facility in Mahwah, NJ is nearly double in size of its former location and hosts a larger warehouse, as well as an expanded training facility and larger office space. “We moved to accommodate the next tremendous change occurring in our industry,” says owner and founder of Metropolitan Car-o-liner, Dave Demarest, Sr. “There’s a whole host of massive changes with the vehicles coming out in the next few years. We need technicians who know how to handle these changes. That’s why we thought it was important to find a place that could better host larger training classes.” Metropolitan Car-o-liner President Dave Demarest, Jr. shares his father’s enthusiasm about the possibilities that the new space provides. “Not only is it twice the size of our former building, but it allows us to have a full-time and expanded hands-on training area for our customers,” he notes. Dave, Jr. also drew attention to the fact that the Mahwah facility has a permanent area for service, so work that cannot be repaired in the field can be repaired by technicians in-house. “Plus, because of how much larger it is, we can house more inventory,” Dave, Jr. explains. “This is obviously a huge benefit to our customers. Having more on hand means we can deliver products faster.” “At first, the size was daunting,” Dave, Sr. reveals. “But we quickly grew into it.” The new facility opened with an offical grand opening reception hosted by the owners, employees and families with opening remarks from Dave Demarest, Jr. and Jeff Kern, managing director of the
24 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2014
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Dave Demarest, Jr. cuts the Grand Opening ribbon on the 9,200 square foot building in Mahwah, NJ. The expanded site allows for more in-house inventory, which means faster delivery time. Jeff Kern, managing director and president of the Car-o-liner company, spoke at the opening of the new facility. Dave Demarest, Sr., Alison Demarest Corcoran and Dave Demarest, Jr.
Car-o-liner company. Almost 100 guests, including customers, vendors and specially invited individuals were encouraged to tour the new building while they enjoyed food and beverages. For additional information regarding
Metropolitan Car-o-liner’s products and services, please visit www.metrocol.com, (800) 526-0318 or connect with them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/metro politancaroliner. NJA
New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 25
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INDUSTRY WEEK RECAP by Joel Gausten
AASP/NJ Provides Year-End Report
AT NATIONAL AFFILIATE MEETING O n November 5, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) held its National Affiliate Board Meeting at the Westgate Las Vegas Hotel & Casino in conjunction with the 2014 SEMA Show. The morning meeting drew participation from nine AASP state affiliates and allowed attendees to gain insight into each organization’s efforts to support the industry. In his state affiliate report, AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant detailed many of the association’s current activities on behalf of its membership. Not surprisingly, the ongoing fight against unlicensed mobile repair shops remains a top priority. “Our licensing law says that any person who repairs a car damaged as a result of a collision must be licensed,” he said.
28 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2014
“We’re getting ready to fight that battle.” Bryant reported that AASP/NJ plans to work with the New Jersey GasolineConvenience-Automotive Association (NJGCA) in pushing Right to Repair legislation in New Jersey. Although a “Memorandum of Understanding” between the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Association of Global Automakers, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Coalition for Automotive Repair Equality (CARE) was announced in January, Bryant says that the agreement doesn’t pertain to heavy duty vehicles, nor does it have the same rules and ramifications for breaking them - that an official law might carry. “Most people are happy with [the Memorandum], but we’re not,” he said.
Left: AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant (left) and Treasurer Tom Elder represented the association at the AASP National Affiliate Board meeting in Las Vegas.
On the national front, Bryant noted that the proliferation of legal actions currently taking place in the industry (including the Louisiana Attorney General’s recent suit against State Farm and Mississippi attorney John Eaves, Jr.’s multi-district litigation against numerous insurers) has succeeded in generating interest from mainstream news outlets and the general motoring public. “The main thing we’re seeing as a result of these suits is a lot of media attention,” he said. “That’s what we really need – to get the public aware of what’s going on.” Above all, Bryant sees the industry’s growing work in the legal arena as a clear sign that shops are no longer willing to put up with the practices of certain insurers. “It’s showtime,” he offered. “If we stand up, we can make a difference. Every state and every shop has to pull together. I really believe it’s coming.” Closer to home, AASP/NJ continues to monitor the controversial PartsTrader program. In addition to the program being utilized by State Farm Select Service shops, the association continues to receive reports that PartsTrader is actively soliciting non-State Farm shops to use their program. Bryant stated that he has yet to receive word of a single shop using the system without a mandate. “We’re watching where [the PartsTrader situation] is going now, and we stand ready to help if people decide they’ve had enough and want to fight it,” he said. In addition to a presentation by AASP-PA Board member Greg McVicker on his recently co-founded initiative, www.TheTalentMonger.com (described on the site as “a career marketplace that connects collision shop owners with local, qualified local auto technicians”), Aaron Lowe of the Auto Care Association (formerly the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association [AAIA]) presented an overview of the organization’s endeavors in relation to telematics in vehicles (from
both the diagnostic and driver/end-user aspects). “Our contention is that the driver - the owner of the vehicle - should have control of the data collected on their vehicle,” Lowe explained. “Right now, the manufacturer controls all of that data.” The Auto Care Association is devoting time and resources to educate the industry on how they can connect to their customers with this information, and is gearing up for an eventual legislative push to return data control to vehicle owners. “The main goal is to work together to try and develop technical solutions for the telematics issue,” he said. In other news, AASP National President Bruce Tschida and other AASP Affiliate representatives participated in a special Industry Summit and planning session held at the Venetian Hotel on November 4 by the Auto Care Advocacy Network, a newly formed organization comprised of representatives from AASP, the Auto Care
“We’re watching where [the PartsTrader situation] is going now, and we stand ready to help if people decide they’ve had enough and want to fight it,” Bryant said. Association and the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA). Initially organized last year, the grassroots Network exists to enable its participating member associations to address anti-industry issues, educate lawmakers, promote positive industry initiatives and speak to the general motoring public in one collective voice. Moving forward, the Network plans to include at least one key state or regional
association from every US state. The Network will be guided by a Steering Committee, comprised of two members from the three main associations, and managed by the Auto Care Association. In order for the Network to support or address a particular industry issue, a consensus must be met among all participating associations that engagement would not pit one sector of the industry against another. Engagement would be at the Steering Committee’s discretion. The Network plans to issue regular news and updates to the automotive media throughout 2015. “A structure and call-to-action center for facilitating a comprehensive and systematic response to confront anti-industry initiatives – and to promote initiatives that are in the industry’s best interest – is long overdue,” said Tschida. “AASP is pleased to lend its support to such an important effort.”
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Audi dealers strive to make you an • Audi Parts Professionals are Your Subject Matter Experts on Collision Parts, Replacement Components and Mechanical Items. • Many Audi dealers offer technical service support hotline access that can reduce your repair times and help you meet an on-time promised delivery. Helping you do business is our business. Order Audi Genuine Parts from these select dealers. Flemington Audi 213 Route 202/31 Flemington, NJ 08822 Toll Free: 800.216.5124 Fax: 908.782.9397 email: rmuir@flemington.com www.flemington.com
Classic Audi 655 North Macquesten Pky. Mount Vernon, NY 10552 914.663.2870 Fax: 914.663.2878 email: parts@westchesteraudi.com www.westchesteraudi.com
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Bell Audi 782 Route 1, Edison, NJ 08817 732.396.9360 Fax: 732.396.9090 www.bellaudi.com Audi Turnersville 3400 Route 42 Turnersville , NJ 08012 856.649.7560 Fax: 856.649.7565 www.turnersvilleautomall.com Paul Miller Audi 179 Route 46 East Parsippany, NJ 07054 Toll Free: 800.35.MILLER Parts Direct: 973.575.7793 Fax: 973.575.5911 www.paulmiller.com
Schneider + Nelson Audi 270 Highway 36 West Long Branch, NJ 07764 732.389.1743 Fax: 732.935.7585 email: parts@schneidernelson.com www.schneidernelson.com Palisades Audi 127 Route 59 Nyack, NY 10960 Toll Free: 888-349-6075 Parts Line: 845-353-4870 Parts Fax: 845-358-5959 AudiParts@ThePremierCollection.com Town Motors Audi 400 South Dean Street Englewood, NJ 07631 201.227.6506/6536 Fax: 201.541.0314 www.townmotors.com
an Audi Genuine Parts fan • Installing Genuine Audi Collision parts contributes towards improved cycle time that makes both your customer and their insurance company happier. • Regardless of the age of your customer’s Audi, Audi dealers have access to over 200,000 part numbers. No other supplier comes close.
DCH Millburn Audi 2211 Millburn Ave Maplewood, NJ 07040 Toll Free: 800.553.9250 Direct: 973.762.0262 Fax: 973.821.2040 www.millburnaudi.com Jack Daniels Audi of Upper Saddle River 243 Route 17 Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Phone: 201.252.1500 Fax: 201.254.1552 email: mcavallaro@jackdanielsmotors.com www.jackdanielsmotors.com Audi Meadowlands 4700 Westside Ave. North Bergen, NJ 07047 Toll Free: 888.416.2834 Fax: 201.223.7842 www.audimeadowlands.com
Cherry Hill Audi 2261 Marlton Pike West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 Wholesale: 856.665.5660 Fax: 856.665.4645 email: parts@cherryhillimports.com www.cherryhillaudi.com
Audi Bridgewater 701 Route 202-206 N Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Toll Free: 888-685-5712 Parts Direct: 908-800-9000 Fax: 908-595-0237 email: parts@bernardsvilleaudi.com www.audibridgewater.com Audi Manhattan 800 11th Avenue New York, NY 10019 212.515.8200 Wholesale Direct: 212.515.8275 www.audimanhattan.com
Atlantic Audi 6820 Tilton Road Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 Phone: 609-641-1788 Fax: 609-646-2331 Audi Brooklyn 211 63rd Street Brooklyn, NY 11220 Phone: 718-492-6400 Fax: 718-492-8899 rmerchant@audibrooklyn.com www.audibrooklyn.com Jack Daniels Audi 1601 Mc Bride Avenue Fairlawn, NJ 07410 201-398-1209 Fax: 201-475-8666 www.jackdanielsmotors.com
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INDUSTRY WEEK RECAP by Joel Gausten
Car Crazy: Fun Moments at SEMA 2014
Even if you spent every second of the 31 hours that SEMA 2014 was open to show-goers on the convention floor, you still couldn’t have seen it all. With more than 100,000 automotive fans hitting the Las Vegas Convention Center from November 4-7, exhibitors from around the globe stepped up their game to offer something truly memorable. Not only did several companies display some of the most amazing custom cars on the planet, but many of them also boasted unforgettable celebrity appearances to boot. For this year’s festivities, MINI welcomed Pamela Horton, Playboy’s Playmate of the Month for October 2012, for
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The Scion x Slayer Mobile Amp tC
a three-day photo and signing session. As a primary sponsor of Playboy, MINI was happy to give Horton her firstever SEMA experience. Outfitted in a special Union Jack Playboy Bunny suit to go with MINI’s British auto theme, the model was quick to share her excitement over the massive car show with New Jersey Automotive. “I can never get over how huge this convention center is!” she marveled. “The second thing I notice is the very rubbery smell!” Over at the Red Kap booth, fans of the band Social Distortion were treated to a special November 4 poster signing by frontman Mike Ness, who recently became a brand ambassador for the company. Speaking with New Jersey Automotive during a quiet moment prior to his SEMA appearance, Ness was thrilled to be able to represent Red Kap to his fans.
Legendary skateboarder Sal Barbier (center) chats with Tom Araya (left) and Kerry King of the band Slayer about their Metal-inspired car at SEMA.
“If you work hard, you need clothes to wear to work hard in,” he said. “It was a natural fit when I got asked to do this for Red Kap.” A longtime auto fanatic (“I was a car enthusiast before I could afford to be a car enthusiast,” he joked), Ness was looking forward to hitting the SEMA floor after his meetand-greet to check out Snap-on and some of the other tool vendors at the show. And Social Distortion fans take note: He told us that the band will start work on a new album – their first since 2011 – next year. Of course, Ness wasn’t the only musician making waves at SEMA. One of the heaviest bands in the world, Slayer, teamed up with Scion to create the “Scion x Slayer Mobile Amp tC,” which made its public debut in Las Vegas. The band’s aggressive style easily carried into the tC sports coupe’s exterior look and band-inspired details, including a
Musician Mike Ness (Social Distortion) appeared at SEMA on behalf of Red Kap.
custom paint job with airbrushed logos and skulls. The interior turned up the volume even higher with a custom Pioneer audio system with towers of speakers, a custom mixer and a 32-inch monitor for media playback. Slayer guitarist Kerry King believes that Scion was the perfect brand to represent his band’s fearless, independent spirit. “Working with Scion has given us another way to reach new audiences and inspire them to keep going down their own paths,” he said. Other eye-opening vehicles spotted at SEMA include the Barris Batmobile, Hot Wheels’ life-size, 150-mph Darth Vader car and the TRON Audi R8 (a special collaboration between Llumar and West Coast Customs). NJA
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NATIONAL NEWS
GM’s Competitive Pricing Platform RESCHEDULED to Launch
In response to questions about the decision-making
process leading up to the unveiling of www.MyPriceLink.
com, Mayer stressed the intent of providing more fluid pric-
ing and improving a “clunky” process.
“We felt that it was [previously] an after-the-fact way to
be competitive,” he said. “With this, based on market conditions, we can look at the market or a particular price and its competition and offer a price based on our intelligence and market pricing. Our pricing is currently updated once a
month; in the future, we’ll be able to update pricing much, much more dynamically.
“Our focus is on the GM customer and the collision re-
pairers fixing their vehicle; our end result is to offer the best OEM part that has been designed, built and produced for
that vehicle, so that it can be repaired in a safe manner to
O
n November 4, General Motors (GM) announced a new initiative to effectively change the way collision repair-
ers obtain list pricing on parts from the manufacturer.
As reported by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists
pre-crash condition,” he continued. “The safety of our customer is the most important consideration, and they should be offered the best and safest parts up front.”
When asked if www.MyPriceLink.com would affect
shops’ profitability, Mayer maintained that the aim of the program is to ease repairers’ troubles, not increase them.
“It really isn’t our intent to change margins, and acqui-
sition pricing to the dealers is not changing,” he said.
“[MyPriceLink.com] does affect our ability to be more dy-
(SCRS), the tool - www.MyPriceLink.com (MPL) - would elim-
namic and provide mark-up pricing, but we don’t see it
in favor of a Web-based portal that would allow GM to provide a
That is not our goal - we’re just offering the price in a differ-
inate GM’s provision of a list price to Information Providers (IPs) more dynamic list price direct to the repairer based on the market
at the time the estimate is written. GM executives made a priority
to arrange several meetings with SCRS leadership prior to the ini-
tial launch, and during the 2014 SEMA Show, GM’s Wholesale
changing margin structure for the people who are involved.
ent way. Shops just want to be able to get a decent price, be competitive, repair the vehicle and move on to the next. They shouldn’t have to be procurement experts.”
On November 10, GM announced that it had resched-
Dealer Channel General Director Kris Mayer sat down for an ex-
uled the previously-announced December 1 launch date of
process has been designed to simplify the repair process for cus-
outside parties [that have] brought to light enhanced solu-
clusive interview with the association. As he explained, the new
tomers while also providing competitive pricing and encouraging
use of OEM parts.
“Today, we provide a list price and then a body shop can use
our Conquest program to try and get a more competitive price to
compete against the aftermarket parts,” he said. “With MPL,
we’ll be able to provide a competitive price without having to use
any Conquest initiatives or program disruptions at the end of the
estimate process. We’ll provide more competitive pricing up
front, versus after the fact.”
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the initiative to early 2015, citing “workflow pressures on tions and the increased desire for integration opportuni-
ties...To this end, GM has listened, and has agreed to pause and extend the implementation of MyPriceLink.com...[allowing] for all parties to prepare and adjust as needed in
order to begin getting GM list prices from the MPL price engine.”
“The objective of MyPriceLink.com - to provide dy-
namic pricing up-front in the estimate versus at the end of the process, at no charge to the user - has remained the
same,” Mayer stated in a follow-up interview with SCRS. “We
are listening to some of our technology partners who have
come forward with more seamless, less disruptive solutions
for us to explore. The willingness, support and input from our
industry partners is really what made us change directions and
say, ‘Okay; let’s see if this makes it better for everyone.’”
Without mentioning which facet of the industry in particu-
lar influenced the decision, Mayer noted that “we do have
good workarounds with our dealers that would have been in
place by December 1; they would have been the least dis-
rupted. We’ll have some more upcoming announcements in
the near future that will clarify our position and provide more information. For now, we are working on fine-tuning MPL to make it as seamless and helpful to our industry partners as
possible.”
GM will continue to publish list prices until the platform
has been launched in earnest. For more information on General Motors, please visit www.gm.com.
NJA
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THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER WAY TO BUY THE WORLD’S BEST ENGINEERED PARTS. For Original BMW Parts, contact one of these authorized BMW centers: JMK BMW 391-399 Route 22 E. Springfield, NJ 07081 Toll Free: 800-648-0053 Fax: 973-467-2185 www.jmkbmw.com
Princeton BMW 3630 Quaker Bridge Road Hamilton, NJ 08619 PH: 609-570-1611 Fax: 609-570-1602 www.princetonbmw.com
BMW of Freehold 4225 Route 9 North Freehold, NJ 07728 PH: 732-462-6286 Fax: 732-577-0518 www.bmwoffreehold.com
BMW of Roxbury 840 Route 46 East Kenvil, NJ 07847 PH: 973-627-7999 Fax: 973-598-0339 www.bmwrox.com
Flemington BMW 216 Route 202/31 Flemington, NJ 08822 PH: 908-782-2441 Fax: 908-824-9913 www.flemingtonbmw.com
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Prestige BMW 985 Route 17 South Ramsey, NJ 07446 Toll Free: 888-30-PARTS Direct: 201-327-8485 Fax: 201-760-5525 www.prestigebmw.com Wide World BMW 125 East Route 59 Spring Valley, NY 10977 PH: 877-817-3895 Fax: 845-425-5080 www.wideworldofcarsbmw.com
Original BMW Parts
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Circle BMW 500 Route 36 Eatontown, NJ 07724 Parts Direct: 732-440-1235 Fax: 732-440-1239 wholesale@circlebmw.com www.circlebmw.com
Open Road BMW 731 US Highway 1 Edison, NJ 08817 Parts Direct: 732-692-6918 PH: 732-839-4505 Fax: 732-650-9815 www.openroadbmw.com
BMW of Mount Laurel 1220 Route 73 South Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 PH:856-840-1486 FAX:856-222-0506 www.bmwofmtlaurel.com
BMW of Bridgewater 655 Route 202/206 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 PH: 908-287-1800 FAX:908-722-1729 www.bridgewaterbmw.com
BMW of Morristown 111 Ridgedale Ave Morristown, NJ 07960 PH:973-796-3145 Fax:973-796-3146 www.bmwmorristown.com
Paul Miller BMW 1515 Route 23 South Wayne, NJ 07470 PH: 973-696-6060 Fax: 973-696-8274 www.paulmillerbmw.com
Park Ave BMW 530 Huyler Street South Hackensack, NJ 07606 PH: 201-843-8112 FAX:201-291-2376 www.parkavebmw.com
BMW of Newton 119 Hampton House Road Newton, NJ 07860 PH: 973-579-6020 FAX:973-579-9632 www.bmwnewton.com
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FEATURE by Joel Gausten
The Downside of UPSELLING: When Getting the Job Goes Too Far ith winter just around the corner, automotive repair and service shops around the Garden State are gearing up for the inevitable increase in sales. But is every job that will land in shops this holiday season going to be legitimate? As the race to grab those customers’ keys gets more intense, New Jersey Automotive has received reports that some auto service entities – both dealer-connected and independent – are
W
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coming up with questionable ways of elevating the number of repair orders in their bays. Still feeling a shortage of work in his area due to increased new car sales in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, former AASP/NJ President Bob Everett (Bayville Auto Care, Bayville) has been dealing with a new foe as of late: Competitors’ oil changes. While it normally wouldn’t have that much of an impact on Everett’s
bottom line if someone else scores that $35 job, it certainly affects his livelihood when that job ends up being a $500 undertaking for one of his regular customers. He tells us that many drivers – including some of his clients – are being lured to certain facilities that offer free oil changes. Once they have the car in their possession, they just happen to end up diagnosing major repair work in the process. “We’re seeing a couple of different
things,” he explains. “Not only are customers not coming into our shop at all because it’s a free oil change, but a few dealers we know are really getting into high-pressure additional sales. They’re using that opportunity when the customers are in the bay to pressure them into getting repairs done. Here’s a brand-new car, and all of a sudden there’s a $700-$800 repair bill on it. It just doesn’t make a lot of sense.” In some cases, Everett has been fortunate enough to have some of his regular customers return to him when they sensed something might be fishy after being presented with a hefty estimate somewhere else. In one case, a customer walked in with a $4,000 estimate for a litany of unnecessary procedures including replacing the timing belt – which Everett had already done 30,000 miles prior to his customer getting the dealer’s “free” oil change offer. Although Everett himself often sends out free oil change coupons to new homeowners in the area, he makes it clear that
he uses the incentives for their intended purpose – to meet new customers – and not as an upselling tool. “If we see something wrong with the car that’s dangerous or really, really serious, we will mention it to the customers,” he says. “But other than that, we take a very light approach to it.” Over in Hampton, Rick Allen of Rick Allen’s Auto Repair tells us that he’s had a few customers contact him after they go to a dealer for a recall notice and end up with eyebrow-raising estimates. “In some cases, we found that it wasn’t needed work,” he says. Allen says he’s heard similar recall stories in his meetings with fellow members of the national Elite Pro Service group. “It’s not a chronic problem in my area,” he says. “But out of 100 shop owners [in the group], everybody’s talking about it, and I’ve seen it myself.” Despite these issues, Allen is quick to stress that there are certainly more dealers out there doing the right thing than there
are ones working to squeeze every last bit of work out of recall notices. He cites Muller Toyota in Clinton as one dealer in particular that has gone out of its way to assist independent shops in the area by holding seminars by factory service reps. “They feel that they cannot service all the Toyota vehicles they’ve sold, but they want their customers to have a good service experience – whether it’s at the dealer or the independent,” he says. In the tough business world of auto service, companies both great and small have to duke it out to win motorists’ trust – and dollars. While no industry can survive without healthy competition, it is a real problem when some people fail to recognize the difference between good salesmanship and consumer exploitation. “A few bad apples make everybody look bad,” offers Allen. “It’s always been that way in the automotive field.” “This is a classic case of ‘consumer beware’ to me,” adds Everett. “It could be looked at as another black eye on the industry.” NJA
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COVER STORY By Jacquelyn Bauman
TESLA.
For some people, the name brings to mind the brilliant and underappreciated 20th-century scientist and electrician who revolutionized the world with very
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little acknowledgment. For others, the name is more closely associated with the high-end, noiseless electric cars, which use the AC engine invented by its namesake. And still, for others, the name brings with it
almost no familiarity. Recently, one group of volunteers set out to increase recognition for this commonly forgotten genius and his contributions to the world.
I
n Shoreham, Long Island there sits a 16-acre facility, covered in overgrowth, almost obscured from sight by nature. In the ’80s, it was owned by Peerless Photo Products, Inc. and then later by the Agfa Corporation - photography supply companies that dumped tons of chemicals on the grounds, making it nearly completely toxic. But what stood on the site before they got their hands on it is what makes this location so important. In 1901, a 45-year-old Serbian inventor purchased 200 acres of land called Wardenclyffe from James Warden, an endeavor funded by J. Pierpont Morgan and costing $150,000 ($4,252,200 in today’s dollars). The man, Nikola Tesla, intended on erecting a 187-foot tower there to transmit energy around the world. Seeing as this was right before the advent of the discovery of radio waves, at the time this seemed a lot like science fiction. Tesla was known for taking science fiction and turning it into science fact. He has been credited with either the creation or major discovery of a multitude of things that have shaped our society, such as radio, AC electricity, X-rays, hydroelectricity and radar, among numerous others. However, due to his feud with famous inventor Thomas Edison and because the importance of his discoveries were not immediately fully realized, his work goes largely unrecognized. Yet, over time, Tesla’s accomplishments have gained traction, slowly gaining recognition. Some groups who are passionate about the contributions that Tesla made to our society have set out to advocate his message to the general public. One of these organizations is the Friends of Science East, Inc. The Friends of Science East, Inc. are currently in possession of the 16 acres left of the original Wardenclyffe facility. The organization aims to clean up and restore the site so that it may be used as a museum to educate the public on Nikola Tesla, as well as to provide a hub for innovation and technology. “We want to teach people who he was, why he was important and why it matters now,” says Secretary of the Board of the Friends of Science East, Inc., Neil Baggett. “We want to show the public the value of science, technology, information and education.” The site was originally sought after by the Board Members of the Science Museum located at Shoreham Wading River High School, as they were unable to accommodate the audience, activities and exhibits they wanted to display. They formed the Friends of Science East, Inc. to oversee the acquisition of the property. However, as the economy was in a downturn, the owners of the land at the time, the Agfa Corporation, listed the price as $1.6 million in order to make a profit. To
AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell poses with a banner depicting Nikola Tesla on the Wardenclyffe grounds.
purchase the land, they were offered a matching grant from New York State for up to $850,000. Yet they still needed to raise that amount of money first. In order to do so, Michael Inman, the creator of popular Internet comic, The Oatmeal (www.theoatmeal.com) and Nikola Tesla advocate, created a crowdfunding project online to fund the purchase, asking his readers from around the world for whatever they were willing to donate. Over the course of the donation collection, 33,000 contributors from countries all across the globe raised $1,370,461, the largest crowdfunded project at that point in time. In May of last year, The Friends of Science East, Inc. were finally able to purchase Wardenclyffe. The goal of the organization is to dedicate one of the buildings on site to a Tesla museum, one building to a learning center and one to an “Innovation Accelerator.” The purpose of the museum will be to educate the public on Tesla’s contributions to society, and the duty of the learning center will be to provide science education and create a positive environment for school trips. Lastly, the Innovation Accelerator will serve as a laboratory where start-up companies and inventors can bring New Jersey Automotive | December 2014 | 47
COVER STORY
y displa nt o t d e r reside lu n t e e P o J v N s / r e P te la own Above: AAS tos of the si s e T e ho -fiv nt. rical p Twenty s for the eve o t s i h es ar their c owell brows D y. c Jeff M ut its histor ho throug
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their ideas and have a place to improve them. Ultimately, this site will serve as a memorial to a brilliant scientist and continue his philosophy of innovation into the future. Due to asbestos and the damaging effects of chemical dumping on the part of previous property owners, the site is currently in a very expensive clean-up process that requires a number of volunteer events and donations. On October 25, the head of the Tesla Owners Club, Jim Thompson, organized an event called Tesla Meets Tesla. At this event, the public came to tour some of the grounds, view Tesla cars on display from private owners, hear presentations about Tesla and the status of this project and help to clean up the site. For those who do not know, the Tesla car includes an AC motor that is based off of Nikola Tesla’s designs. It is an entirely electric – and completely silent – vehicle that gets about 265 miles to one charge. At various super-charging stations located around the country (including one in Hamilton and one in Edison), Tesla owners can get a full charge in one hour at no cost to them. One member of the automotive repair industry who saw the value of this project for both his field and for the general public was Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) President Jeff McDowell. He became involved in this event through his son, an electrical engineer who is a friend of Jim Thompson and who has an affinity for Tesla. “One of the most interesting things was all of the cars,” McDowell explains. “At one point, one of the owners had to leave to go get something. He jumps in his car, starts it and tries to leave, but the crowds weren’t moving out of the way because no one heard the car behind them! The things are literally completely silent!” However, the motor is not the only technological update that sets the Tesla apart from other cars. McDowell went on to explain one individual’s ability to connect his Tesla to his Google Glass – a head mountable, hands-free wearable technology similar to a smartphone – which allowed the owner to start the car through remote voice command. Plus, some Tesla vehicles feature an autopilot option that relies on sonar, radar and obstacle-recognizing cameras. From the sci-fi ideas of the original motor’s creator to today’s science fiction, the name Tesla remains associated with technology at the forefront of the industry. It is no secret that the Tesla cars are not affordable to everyone. The cheapest model checks in at around $70,000. However, according to McDowell, what is important is the
technology and what it will mean for the future of the automotive industry. “This is a whole different way of looking at travel,” he says. “Before the Tesla, I always looked at hybrid cars and thought, ‘Yeah, right.’ But when you see one of these cars and you see what they can do, it’s obvious that this can definitely happen; it’s the wave of the future. I bet in a couple of years, a lot of these other manufacturers are going to jump on the bandwagon and start producing electric cars the same way, or include at least some of these other features. Tesla is proving that it works. Everyone else will eventually take advantage of that.” While most of the industry is focused on the advent of the aluminum-intensive 2015 Ford F-150, some repairers are already recognizing the constantly evolving nature of the field and looking even further into the future. “The reason aluminum threw so many people off was so many people had no idea it was coming,” McDowell explains. “That’s why this museum is so important. It raises awareness about technological changes not only for our industry, but for the public as well. It keeps us prepared for what could be around the corner and it lets our consumer stay up-to-date as well.” For more information on the restoration of the Wardenclyffe facility and the Friends of Science East, Inc., as well as for future events including their annual tree lighting ceremony, visit www.teslasciencecenter.org. NJA
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NEWS FROM AASP/PA
NEW MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2015 The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Pennsylvania (AASP-PA) formed in 1955 as the Independent Garage Owners of PA. The aims and purposes of forming this association included educational, technical and management programs; bonding shops; registering of mechanics; safety inspection law; mechanic’s lien law; group advertising; group insurance of all types and liaisons with the government and other automotive associations. In almost 60 years, some of the goals have changed a bit, but our purpose remains the same – to educate, assist with legislative issues, provide money-saving benefits and generally promote the automotive industry within the state and nationally. While we have always been a member association for shop owners, we have now expanded our membership to include student and technician membership levels. The goal in creating these new levels is to continue and further our initiative of education for all automotive service providers in Pennsylvania. Getting younger generations to value education, leadership and involvement in associations is of utmost importance to us. As Leonardo da Vinci said, “Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears and never regrets.” Our Student Membership level is available to all Pennsylvania high school, technical school and university-level students studying in the automotive field. Some benefits to our student members will include: An electronic version of our bi-monthly magazine, Pennsylvania Automotive & Insider News; Invitation to select chapter meetings and training events; And free enrollment in ASE’s Student Certification Program. A $30 savings! Our Student Membership is FREE. For more information, or to sign up, students can visit www.aasppa.org/member-resource/student-membership.aspx. Our Technician Membership level is available to all technicians, towers, service managers and anyone else working in the automotive industry within Pennsylvania. Some benefits to our technician members will include:
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An electronic version of our bi-monthly magazine, Pennsylvania Automotive & Insider News; Invitation to select chapter meetings and training events; Potential discount on personal electric bills;and Reimbursement for the cost of up to three ASE Certifications. Technician Membership is $50 annually if the employer shop is a member of AASP-PA, or $100 annually if employer is not a member. For more information, or to sign up, technicians can visit www.aasp-pa.org/member-resource/technician-membership.aspx. For further information, please contact Jeff Walter or Amanda Henry at AASP-PA, (717) 564-8400 or through email at jwalter@aasp-pa.org or ahenry@aasp-pa.org
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE AASP-PA 2015 ANNUAL TRAINING WEEKEND The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Pennsylvania (AASP-PA) is pleased to announce the 2015 dates for their annual training weekend. Previously named TechTrain, the 2015 weekend will feature a new name and a new format! Shop Survival Summit will be held May 1-3, 2015 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Lancaster, PA. AASP-PA will kick off the weekend on Friday with a welcome reception in the evening. Saturday morning will begin at breakfast with a keynote speaker. Management, technical, collision and towing sessions will all be offered both in the morning and afternoon. New this year will be a dessert and vendor show after dinner. For two hours, attendees will be able to talk with vendors about their products, have the chance to receive some great prizes and connect with other attendees. Sunday will again offer more training opportunities for management, technical, collision and towing, as well as a special peer-to-peer roundtable for shop owners. New this year will be a discounted pricing structure for multiple technicians coming from one shop. Also, spouses of attendees will be offered a special package that will include their meals during the event, coupon books to local shopping complexes, transportation to a nearby farmer’s market and special gifts. AASP-PA asks that you save the date for this event. Additionally, if you would like to be added to their Shop Survival Skills mailing list, please contact their office at (717)-564-8400. NJA
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE continued from page 14
vehicle repaired at any of their DRP shops for the amount of their estimate. What the insurer leaves out, however, is the part about the DRP shop becoming the appraiser and thus having the ability to adjust the hours to compensate for the restrictions on the program, therefore still realizing a reasonable profit. So what makes it so hard for the insurers to understand the collision industry’s problems? Here is the answer. In simple terms, the Labor Rate has
been artificially suppressed for so
long that it will have to be doubled to catch up to where it actually
needs to be today. For that reason,
the collision industry looks bad. In reality, it is the improper actions of the insurance industry that resulted in this artificial suppression for so long that it got us to where we are today. Sooner or later, the insurance industry will have to face reality and pay the shops a fair and reasonable rate based on today’s actual cost of doing business while allowing for a fair and reasonable profit. Based on the high cost of the equipment, training and certification required to repair the complicated vehicles on the roads today, I would say that that rate will wind up being double what insurers are currently offering. It’s no secret that insurers are being sued all over the country because of this particular issue, so we will be watching and will see where things end up soon.
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THE LIST We reached out to some of our readers to find out what they hope to do in 2015.
“Last year, I had my first successful New Year’s Resolution. I quit smoking. Unfortunately, my stress didn’t go away, so I replaced stress smoking with stress eating. So now my new resolution is to lose the weight I put on.”
My New Year’s Resolution Is...
“I haven’t thought of one yet. Maybe my resolution should be to start thinking ahead.” “To be honest, my resolution is to finally decide whether to stay in or get out of this business.”
“My resolution is to watch less TV. It’s hard for me because by the time I get home, I’m so tired I want to do something mindless. But my wife pointed out how much I watch, so I’ll have to find something else to do to unwind at the end of the day.”
“I don’t make New Year’s resolutions; I only break them.”
They have these marathons now where you run through mud. I’d like to do one of those. I love getting dirty. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be in this business.”
“This is anonymous, right? My resolution is to find some new techs.” “I’ve always wanted to learn how to speak French. Since I’m planning on taking my wife to Paris for our 40th anniversary, I’m thinking now might be a good time to do it.”
“To retire.”
“My resolution is to dedicate more funding to training my techs and investing more money into my guys. You guys keep writing about all of these big changes coming. I’ve got to start getting prepared.” 58 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2014
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Acme Nissan................................................25 Amato Agency..............................................55
Audi Group ................................................30-31 Axalta Coating Systems ..............................IBC
BMW Group ................................................42-43 Bridgewater Acura........................................6 Brogan GM Parts Center ............................8
Cadillac of Mahwah......................................45 CCC Comp-Est ............................................20
CCC One ....................................................27 Classic Audi ................................................10 Continental Auto Parts ................................39 Cosmos Recycled Auto Parts ......................14
Crane Chevrolet ..........................................61 Cycan Industries ..........................................39 Empire Auto Parts ........................................62 Flemington Audi ..........................................5
Flemington Group ........................................21
Fred Beans Parts ........................................13
Future Cure..................................................20
Glen Toyota..................................................OBC Hyundai Group ............................................26 JMK BMW ....................................................11
JMK Saab/JMK Fiat ....................................52
Klean Frame ................................................62 LKQ..............................................................29
Maxon Mazda ..............................................51
Maxon Hyundai........................................34-35 Mazda Group ..............................................57 Mercedes Benz of Freehold ........................61 Mini Group ..................................................37
Mitsubishi Group ..........................................53 Mopar Group................................................4
NORTHEAST® 2015 ..................................17
NU-CAR...................................................22-23 Paul Miller Audi ............................................41
Porsche Group ............................................40 PPG ............................................................3
Prestige Motors............................................52 Princeton BMW ............................................15 Princeton Mini ..............................................9
Saw Mill Auto Wreckers ..............................60
Subaru Group ..............................................50 Town Audi ....................................................60
Toyota Group ..............................................59
Toyota of Hackensack..................................IFC Valtek ..........................................................56 VIP Honda....................................................6
VW Group ....................................................36
Wheel Collision Center ................................56
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