Leaders in the sale of quality Mopar Parts.
March-April 2015 In This Issue
Tracy Industries & Mopar Meet with Focus Group in Detroit Pages 3-4
President Rick Cutaia ............................... 2 ABAC President Kicks off 2015 Season by Discussing Recent CNN Report ........ 5-6 Bill Introduced to Improve Safety ......... 6 Study Shows Distraction Factor ............ 9
SPECIAL REPORT: Collision Industry Reacts to CNN’s Story on Insurer-Repairer Issue Pages 7-8
MMG Supporting Vendors .............10-11 UPS - E-Commerce is the Automotive Aftermarket’s New Growth Engine....12 UPS .............................................................13 FenderBender/Ratchet+Wrench.........14 Magneti-Marelli ......................................15
Florida Auto Body Shops Blast Car Insurers’ Arguments in New MDL Filing Pages 34-37
Elite Extra...........................................16-17 Autobody News........................................18 Rousseau Storage.....................................19 OEConnection ....................................20-21 CDK Global ........................................22-23 CDK Global-Tap Into the World’s Number One Marketplace ...............24-25 Katzkin .................................................26-27 Reynolds & Reynolds........................28-29 Tracy Industries ................................30-32 No. Caro Bill Eliminate Inspection .....37 Rick’s Reuben Sandwich ..................38-39 No. California Lifestyles Trip .......40-41 2014 MMG Committee..........................42
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Mopar Masters Guild
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March-April 2015
From the Desk of MMG President Rick Cutaia
FOCUS Recently, while a ending a mee ng with some industry leaders, it became clear that we, as a people, tend to focus only on what we are comfortable with. O en mes we are not willing to put forth the extra effort that it would take to venture out of our comfort zones, and out into other avenues of our business. If we did, we might find that the comfort of familiarity has kept us from being more successful. I have the tendency to focus on the old “if it aint’ broke, don’t fix it” mentality. Instead, I s ck with what has worked well in the past and only look to find subtle ways to make one area of my business model work and avoid taking a risk to look into other avenues that can take my department to the next level and beyond. At this mee ng with the industry leaders, it was made very clear to me that in order to make my department more profitable and successful; I must also look into taking my focus into other areas within my department. I needed to look for ways to excel in more than just the one area that has drawn my ini al focus. I was told a long me ago that ‘we don’t ignore what is important to us’. When something is important we don’t have to find the me, because our focus is already there. Maybe now, that focus can be used to look into other areas that we work in. We shouldn’t lose sight of what works well, but try to reach out and expand within our departments and find another way to take it to that next level that we are always trying to achieve. We need to lose the “tunnel vision” that we have comfortably adapted to, and start looking to expand our vision on other business ventures that can make our departments con nue to be successful, especially amongst this ever changing business that we’re in. A willingness to be taken out of our comfort zones and accept inevitable diversity is the key to a long and successful business. Just a reminder that our Performance 20 group mee ng is scheduled to be in Dallas April 20th and 21st. Hope to see many of you there!
Sincerely, Rick Cutaia MMG President Rick.cutaia@hendrickauto.com
Mopar Masters Guild Magazine
Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts
Tracy Industries & Mopar Meet with Focus Group in Detroit SubmiƩed by Don Cushing - Bald Hill DCJR - Warwick, RI
On Tuesday March 17th, 2015 I was invited to Detroit, Michigan as part of a Focus Group team with other dealership managers to meet with Tracy Industries and Mopar. Upon arrival at the airport in Detroit, I was greeted by Bill Taylor, Na onal Sales Trainer for Tracy Industries who was posing as our personal valet complete with a green bow- e to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. No one can say that Bill doesn’t have a great sense of humor! We then convened at our hotel in Auburn Hills which would be our base camp for the Focus Group Mee ng. Represen ng Tracy Industries were: David Carroll – Na onal Sales Director Kumud Kapadia – Controller Greg Gordon – Program Manager Marc Clark – Program Manager Wes Rogers – Program Manager Todd Wilkerson – Sales Rep – Detroit Bill Taylor – Na onal Sales Training Represen ng Dealerships were: Rick Cutaia –Hendricks DCJR – President, Mopar Masters Guild Susan McDaniel – Bill Luke CDJR – Sec/Treasurer – Mopar Masters Guild Paul Allred – Stateline CDJR – Member Execu ve Commi ee MMG Juan Robles – Stoneridge CJD Glen Hojnacki - Milosch’s Palace CJD Tom Kellogg – Harold Zeigler CDJR Don Cushing – Bald Hill DCJR Our first gathering was Tuesday evening when we had dinner at Maggiano’s Li le Italy and enjoyed a very nice meal. A er dinner, Greg Gordon asked us for a bit of informal input that would set the tone for the next day’s mee ng. Each of us gave our input on what we thought of current business and what we would like to see, or have seen, concerning Powertrain and the area of growth. We were then shu led back to our hotel and enjoyed some “shop talk” with other a endees. Wednesday morning we gathered in our mee ng room at the hotel for breakfast and at 8:00am sharp we had our formal introduc ons from the group as well as our hosts. Joining us at this me was Larry Benitz, Head of Wholesale Channel, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Continued on Page 4
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Continued from Page 3 Our agenda included: Sales Staff Program Manager Repor ng Training 2015 Programs and Promo ons Brainstorming o
Growing Mopar Reman Powertrain
The Tracy Team has 33 Dedicated Mopar Powertrain Sales Team members. Our discussions covered many areas of subject ma er such as, Commercial Vehicles & Applica ons, Fleets, IRFs, Adversing, Dealer Business Management Systems Repor ng, Source Repor ng, Wholesale Comp, Dealer Rewards, ARO and many more points of interest. We also discussed the inclusion of Powertrain on the Conquest Program. Other points of interest were Scrip ng for our Parts Advisors, Line Cards, Quote Sheets and who to contact concerning price discrepancies. Our interac on with the Tracy Team and Larry Benitz allowed us to share our ideas, opinions and concerns in a relaxed format. This interac on was followed by our Brainstorming session which we brought up some unique ideas that will surely help us to increase our Powertrain sales and help shape the future of our business as we grow. Following our day of business, we all finished up with a meal at Mitchell’s Fish Market where we con nued with our discussions that con nued right into the evening. All in all, a very successful few days of sharing informa on and ideas and how we can help change our ways of doing business to become more profitable. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say “thank you” to our hosts Dave Carroll and the team from Tracy Industries and Larry Benitz, FCA for their par cipa on and our invita on to par cipate in this Focus Group Mee ng.
(L-R) Rick Cutaia, Bill Taylor, Todd Wilkerson, Wes Rogers, Marc Clark, Juan Robles, Greg Gordon, Larry Benitz, Glen Hojnacki, Tom Kellogg, Don Cushing, Paul Allred, Susan McDaniel, Dave Carroll, Kumud Kapadia
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ABAC President Kicks off 2015 Season by Discussing Recent CNN Report On March 10, the Auto Body Associa on of Connec cut (ABAC) held a town-hall-style quarterly mee ng at the Country House Restaurant in East Haven, CT. Over 110 a endees, associa on members and non-members alike joined ABAC as they began their 2015 season for an exci ng evening of news, updates and guest speakers. The mee ng commenced with Tony Ferraiolo, President of ABAC, playing a March 9 radio sta on interview from CT’s WICC, Bridgeport with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal promo ng the associa on’s “Your Car, Your Choice” slogan. A er welcoming a endees and thanking sponsors and ABAC’s News Suppor ng Adver sers, Ferraiolo broached the topic of the recent CNN report on the collision repair industry. “We have a lot going on right now in our state,” Ferraiolo began. “You’ve heard from Senator Blumenthal who has been hi ng the airwaves hard to support our issues. The ABAC is ge ng ready to launch our new ad campaign to get the message out there so that all of you aren’t figh ng alone concerning imita on parts. We will be helping to educate the consumer so that they can help fight the ba le on their own. It’s their car, their choice. If they don’t want these parts on their car, educate them! The ABAC is very busy ge ng that message out there.” Next, Ferraiolo men oned Senator Blumenthal’s recent press conference at A&R Body Specialty when ABAC Members taught him about inita on parts. He stated, “Senator Blumenthal understands what’s going on. We educated him over many years when he was A orney General, and now as a U.S. Senator, he’s taking on that ba le [and] going to the Department of Jus ce. He wants answers to these issues because he’s concerned about the safety of these vehicles on the road that have been repaired with parts that have not been crash tested properly and the serious danger that consumers can face.” Ferraiolo encouraged a endees to direct customers to the consumer informa on sec on on the associaon’s website, so they can be informed on the issues at hand. ABAC’s President also provided updates on the Har ord Lawsuit (s ll awai ng the result of the final appeal), lobbying ac vi es, and the paint and materials tax. Ferraiolo notes, “The ABAC has submi ed tes mony in favor of HB5655 to review the taxa on of paint used in motor vehicle repair.” Having concluded with associa on business, Ferraiolo introduced the evening’s first guest speakers, Thomas J. Valen no, CPA, and Jeffery M. Cheney, CPA, CFE of Meyers, Harrison and Pia, LLC, who discussed how collision repair facility owners should derive their labor rates. Valen no explained that every shop is different and no two labor rates will be the same. He states, “It’s a shop-by-shop determina on. You’re located in different areas, have different overhead, different rent or different payroll structures, so each one of you should be looking at your own expenses to determine your actual cost.” Moving on, Ferraiolo recognized ABAC’s Board of Directors’ new members, introducing John Walsh of Oxford Automo ve, George Atwood of Atwood’s Auto Repair and Sabrina Indomenico and Adrianna Indomenico, both from Santostefano’s Auto Body. Ferraiolo then introduced the next speaker, ABAC’s Legal Counsel John Parese. Parese discussed the Labor Rate Survey and the importance of comple ng and submi ng it. He also reminded a endees that if they do a labor rate survey, it cannot be shared with others; doing so would violate an -trust mandates. Continued on Page 6
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Continued from Page 5 In typical town-hall style, a endees asked ques ons and discussed some of the problems they’ve encountered and solu ons they’ve ins tuted, helping one another in true ABAC spirit. ABAC’s Legisla ve Director Bill Romaniello presented a video, “U lizing Technology to Write a More Accurate Sheet,” and showed a endees where to locate OEM repair informa on, such as through AllData, OEM specifica ons and directly from the vehicle’s manufacturer. Further topics included the following: the importance of proper repair forms and authoriza ons, using the assignment for money due to get your posted labor rate, pre-suit op ons, sample labor rate surveys, conduct of motor vehicle physical damage appraisers, towing and storage, a ermarket v. OEM parts, paint and materials, access to technology, miscellaneous useful documents and tor ous interference with contract. ABAC will hold their Annual Mee ng on May 10 at the Chowder Pot Restaurant in Har ord. In addi on to holding officer elec ons, the associa on plans to host several exci ng guest speakers. Stay tuned for more details, or visit www.abaconn.com. Written by Chasidy Rae Sisk – Autobodynews - www.autobodynews.com
Bill Introduced in U.S. House to Improve Vehicle Safety The Automo ve Service Associa on announced that U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) has introduced H.R. 1181, the Public Access to Motor Vehicle Safety Informa on bill. This legisla on was introduced partly in response to recent automaker safety issues and airbag defects. Schakowsky said, “Over the past year and a half, we have seen a record number of recalls and far too many serious injuries and deaths. It’s me for stronger driver, passenger, and pedestrian safeguards, and the Vehicle Safety Improvement Act delivers on that need.” H.R. 1181 aims to maximize public awareness by increasing the amount of vehicle safety informa on auto manufacturers must provide to their customers and Na onal Highway Traffic Safety Administra on (NHTSA). Specifically this bill would:
impose harsher penal es on companies that fail to comply with federal safety standards, removing the current statutory maximum penal es;
require new standards to reduce pedestrian and rear passenger injuries;
ensure that used vehicles are repaired before they are resold;
expedite auto recalls that pose an “imminent hazard” of injuries or deaths.
The bill provides addi onal funding to NHTSA to enforce its direc ves. The bill will provide this funding through the crea on of the Vehicle Safety Fund, which will require automakers to pay $3 for each motor vehicle cer fied during the first year in which such fees are assessed, $6 during the second year, and $9 during the third year. This bill is currently before the House Commi ee on Energy and Commerce.
Source - www.collisionweek.com
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Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts
SPECIAL REPORT: Collision Industry Reacts to CNN’s Story on Insurer-Repairer Issues CNN’s report on insurance-related issues in the collision repair industry aired on Anderson Cooper 360 on Wednesday, and as the video made its rounds on social media Thursday, reac on from collision repairers poured in. Some praised the piece for bringing about consumer awareness of these issues—including the slew of insurance-related li ga on that helped push the story to the forefront. However, overall reac on was mixed. Allison Fry of Eaves Law Firm serves as the liaison council for the plain ffs in the mul district suit taking place in Florida—one of the myriad of issues covered in CNN’s report. Fry told FenderBender on Thursday that her office wasn’t en rely pleased with the report, but felt it was “a good start” to increase dialogue and na onal recogni on of the issues the collision repair industry faces today. “We would’ve loved it to be much more extensive, but everything they said was absolutely accurate,” Fry said. “I was both angered and amused by the insurance companies and the representa ve they shoved in front of the camera to take the heat.” Fry added that her firm’s suit has documented evidence of insurers forcing shops and consumers to use specific remanufactured parts, despite claims made by an insurance representa ve in the CNN story. In an interview with FenderBender Thursday morning, Darrell Amberson, chairman of the Automo ve Service Associa on, called the CNN report “harsh” and said it seemed to stop short of giving a well-rounded view of what takes place in the collision repair industry as a whole. Amberson is the president of opera ons of LaMe ry’s Auto Body, a mul -shop opera on in the Minneapolis area. “It’s not an accurate portrayal of what we see in our world,” Amberson said, in reference to the LaMe ry’s Midwest market. “There’s an implica on that we’re forced to use a ermarket parts or rebuilt parts that are defec ve, and that insurers are forcing us to do inaccurate repairs. That’s not the case.” Steering is an issue, Amberson said, as are unsafe repairs. But he felt the report did not do an accurate job of portraying why these issues truly occur and the many shops around the country—including those in direct repair programs—that perform safe and accurate repairs. “Our company always takes the stance of quality first,” he said. Amberson wasn’t alone in his cri que. One reader posted on the FenderBender facebook page that, “I understand the insurance company’s [sic] are cu ng mes and trying to have us use the cheapest parts available, but the technician who repaired or should I say didn’t repair that rail chose to do a bad job. You can’t blame the insurance company on a bad repair.” Continued on Page 8
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Continued from Page 7 That may be true, Fry said, but she says in many cases consumers are the ones put in awkward posi ons of making choices they are unqualified to make, such as determining whether an insurer-suggested remanufactured part is adequate in their vehicle. The CNN story looked at unsafe repairs performed at a Service King loca on in Mississippi, and had various industry experts discuss issues with remanufactured parts. It also included interviews with the a orney generals of both Louisiana and Mississippi, both of which are involved in legal ac on against insurers. The CNN reporter also spoke with John A. Eaves Jr., whose suit includes more than 500 shops. These issues were part of an extensive feature FenderBender wrote in January. In the end, Amberson said that raising consumer awareness was a very posi ve result of the CNN story, and he hopes it helps consumers be more mindful of what their rights are during the collision repair process. S ll, he wishes the report would’ve given a more well-rounded picture of the industry today. “I thought the report almost implied that the insurers are harsh and constantly steering, and I find that exaggerated,” Amberson said. “That’s not what we see. Does it happen on occasion? Sure. Are some insurance companies more aggressive than others? Sure. But for the most part, the insurers we deal with are conscienous about it and respec ul of it and try to let the customer make the decision.” “Body shops in par cular and we here at our firm, are very pleased there has been some na onal coverage,” Fry added. “If nothing else, it shines a lot on what’s happening.” Source: FenderBender February 2015 Issue - www.fenderbender.com
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Study Shows Distraction Factor in More than Half of Teen Crashes Research using crash videos of teen drivers has found significant evidence that distracted driving is likely much more serious a problem than previously known, according to the AAA Founda on for Traffic Safety. The unprecedented video analysis finds that distrac on was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes, which is four mes as many as official es mates based on police reports. Researchers analyzed the six seconds leading up to a crash in nearly 1,700 videos of teen drivers taken from in-vehicle event recorders. The results showed that distrac on was a factor in 58 percent of all crashes studied, including 89 percent of road-departure crashes and 76 percent of rear-end crashes. NHTSA previously has es mated that distrac on is a factor in only 14 percent of all teen driver crashes. “Access to crash videos has allowed us to be er understand the moments leading up to a vehicle impact in a way that was previously impossible,” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Founda on for Traffic Safety. “The in-depth analysis provides indisputable evidence that teen drivers are distracted in a much greater percentage of crashes than we previously realized.” The most common forms of distrac on leading up to a crash by a teen driver included:
Interac ng with one or more passengers: 15 percent of crashes
Cell phone use: 12 percent of crashes
Looking at something in the vehicle: 10 percent of crashes
Looking at something outside the vehicle: 9 percent of crashes
Singing/moving to music: 8 percent of crashes
Grooming: 6 percent of crashes
Reaching for an object: 6 percent of crashes
“It is troubling that passengers and cell phones were the most common forms of distrac on given that these factors can increase crash risks for teen drivers,” said AAA CEO Bob Darbelnet. “The situa on is made worse by the fact that young drivers have spent less me behind the wheel and cannot draw upon their previous experience to manage unsafe condi ons.” Researchers found that drivers manipula ng their cell phone (includes calling, tex ng or other uses), had their eyes off the road for an average of 4.1 out of the final six seconds leading up to a crash. The researchers also measured reac on mes in rear-end crashes and found that teen drivers using a cell phone failed to react more than half of the me before the impact, meaning they crashed without braking or steering. “This study shows how important it is for states to review their graduated driver licensing and distracted driving laws to ensure they provide as much protec on as possible for teens,” con nued Darbelnet. “AAA recommends that state laws prohibit cell phone use by teen drivers and restrict passengers to one non-family member for the first six months of driving.” Source - www.collisionweek.com
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Our Supporting Vendors: Support those who support you.
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March-April 2015
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Our Supporting Vendors: Support those who support you. The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.
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March-April 2015
E commerce is the Automotive Aftermarket’s New Growth Engine By Ioana Mazare, Automotive Marketing Manager, UPS
If your company doesn’t have an online presence, you’re missing an important growth opportunity. The auto care industry’s fastest growing sales channel, eͲcommerce, is expanding so briskly that some industry experts anticipate aftermarket eͲtailing revenue will double by 2018. This online growth is expected to dramatically outperform brickͲandͲmortar automotive aftermarket sales, which are projected to remain flat for the foreseeable future. That means that auto care companies need to go online and do so quickly to stay competitive and grow. Of course, establishing an online presence must happen wisely. In the general retail space, eͲcommerce has been around since late 1990’s. With double digit growth for quite some time, eͲcommerce accounts for 7% of all retail transactions. While auto care industry online sales have caught up with general retail, automotive companies should consider several key differences for an optimal online experience: uniform parts reference, detailed product information, the “touch and feel” dynamic and a learning component which makes the face to face customer experience more significant and could keep stores a relevant part of the supply chain. UPS’s “What’s Driving the Automotive Parts Online Shopper” study highlights many key actionable insights that the online auto parts etailer will need to fully understand to capitalize on the growth of automotive ecommerce. For example, online auto parts shoppers are: x Distinct Ͳ Stark contrasts in the online purchase experience exist based on purchase intent Ͳ replacement vs. upgrade x Decisive Ͳ Online auto parts shoppers are far less likely to return products that the general online shopper x Dedicated Ͳ To make educated decisions, online auto parts shoppers want information at every step of the online purchase experience x Diligent Ͳ A majority of online auto parts shoppers (83%) compare prices before purchasing x Diverse Ͳ 40% of online auto parts shoppers are females. 28% are millennials. These characteristics mean auto care companies can tap into a wider market that expands beyond typical brick and mortar store customers to open up new opportunities. The bottom line is that the automotive market is changing and companies need to adapt and change with it. Today that means that in order to stay competitive, the supply chain needs to include a complete online experience. Done well, the journey will start with research and end with loyalty. Stay tuned for more on this topic. Ioana Mazare is the Automotive Marketing Manager at UPS where she works with automotive OEM and aftermarket manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
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Double digit growth in e-commerce auto parts sales is changing the competitive landscape. Are you prepared to change with it? UPS® can help Chrysler dealers tap into this expanding channel for greater e-commerce growth and profits. Provide a better customer experience with UPS delivery and returns options. Customers can reroute or reschedule their home parts deliveries with UPS My Choice® and experience faster and more convenient returns with preprinted return labels. Keep efficiency up and costs down with UPS services. UPS delivers earlier to more businesses and ZIP Codes than any carrier and can match transport mode to delivery need to help save you money. One UPS driver for all deliveries and pickups also minimizes interruptions in your day. Increase productivity with UPS technology solutions. Customize shipping labels to promote offers, build brand and reduce marketing spend. Process more parts shipments in less time with automated data input. And help manage customer expectations through end-to-end visibility and email alerts.
For more information To download the complete 2014 UPS What’s Driving the Automotive Parts Online Shopper TM study, visit ups.com/autostudy.
© 2015 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, the UPS brandmark and the color brown are trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved.
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March-April 2015
THE PERFECT FIT
FOR YOUR MOPAR PARTS BUSINESS WE CAN HELP YOU SELL MORE MOPAR PARTS AD PROGRAMS START AT $150 AND ARE 100% REIMBURSABLE Chris Messer, Publisher |
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QUALITY A AUTO PARTS FOR ALL MAJOR MAKES AKES
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CALL YOUR LOCAL FCA US LLC DEALER TO ORDER Magneti Marelli delivers the best part for every vehicle in your shop. We offer er over 30 product lines and every part is available when you need it. With Magneti Marelli partss you’ll reduce comebacks, improve cycle times and increase customer satisfaction to new levels. s. Visit MoparRepairConnection.com for details. *20% automated rebate on orders ends June 30, 2015 and is extended to Independent Repair Facilities, Warehousee o Distributors, Fleets and non-FCA US LLC dealerships. Internet sales to consumers are not eligible for this rebate. No e. rebate form or invoice required. Offer excludes batteries. FCA US LLC reserves the right to audit dealer parts usage. e, Total monthly purchases must reach $100 or more to receive automated rebate. Offer excludes Chrysler, Jeep , Dodge, Ram, SRT and FIAT vehicles. Available at participating dealers. Cannot be combined with any other offers. ®
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©2015 FCA US LLC. All Rights Reserved. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Mopar and SRT are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC. FIAT is a registered trademark of Fiat Group Marketing & Corporate Communication S.p.A., used under license by FCA US LLC. Magneti Marelli is a registered trademark of Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
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CONNECT THE DOTS between your parts, dispatchers, drivers and customers!
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(800) 699-8251 autobodynews.com
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YOUR PARTS DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY! WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY!
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Accept payments anywhere. Adopt paperless invoicing. Improve customer convenience. SM
Learn how Service Edge with ePayments can take your Fixed Ops Faster Forward.™
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Tap Into the World’s Number One Parts Marketplace The Dealer’s Guide to Selling Parts on eBay By Kyle McKee, CDK Global
The Parts business is changing. By 2017, online retail sales will reach $370 billion in the U.S., according to Forrester Research. With eBay Motors, the leading online marketplace for automotive Parts, dealers can take advantage of this growing trend by establishing an online presence and marketing their inventory to a global audience. With an online store, your dealership’s inventory will be available to customers all over the world. Plus, the ever-increasing popularity of mobile devices makes selling Parts online an ideal way to grow your Parts business. Getting Started There are a couple of ways to establish an online presence for selling Parts. The do-it-yourself (DIY) method requires a considerable amount of aptitude, time and patience, but can be rewarding in the long term. Alternatively, using a listing service can save significant time given the ease and efficiency of the tools provided to manage workflow and activate listings. Both options can grow your business and increase sales — just make sure you have a dedicated person who can keep everything organized, provide superior customer service, and be ready to pick, pack and ship. What are the major differences between DIY and a listing service? The following table shows a breakdown of what each method entails and what you need to know before you begin. Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
Listing Service
Create one listing at a time; renew monthly for unsold Parts
Use a tool to create/manage listings; automatic renewal
Time consuming
Time saving
You’ll need to navigate through eBay; “learn as you go”
Specific instructions are provided to set up your account, link to PayPal, and open your online store
Support
eBay and PayPal offer several layers of support based on the number of Parts you sell
A support team is assigned to you, regardless of the number of Parts sold; you also receive a higher level of support from eBay Motors and Merchant Support
Learning to Operate eBay
eBay provides informative emails, help features, and eBay University
eBay provides informative emails, help features, and eBay University
Initial Setup
Listing services typically offer additional ongoing training (webinars, etc.) Receiving Payments
Customers pay via PayPal, which is linked to your eBay account
Customers pay via PayPal, which is linked to your eBay account
Tools Needed
Organizational skills and spreadsheet training; someone will need to track inventory and shipping
Tools are provided through an online portal; some vendors integrate with dealer’s DMS
Growth Potential
Slower growth based on individual listings built one at a time; growth also depends on someone at the dealership guiding the business forward
After the initial setup, business can grow fairly quickly and faster than DIY; growth also depends on someone at the dealership guiding the business forward
Continued on Page 25
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Continued from Page 24 Regardless of how you decide to sell Parts online, you will want to assign one employee to your eBay business in addition to his/her existing duties. It is likely not a full-time job, but DIY will require more time and effort. Your eBay coordinator should monitor eBay sales, access client support, manage listings, work closely with shipping companies, and perform other duties necessary to manage your increased online sales business. The Easy Part It’s a common misconception that once someone enrolls in eBay, it’s just “set it and forget it”; however, this is not the case, and you do need to maintain your listings to be successful. The good news is, eBay’s Global Shipping program takes the hassle out of shipping items to other countries by allowing you to send items to its warehouse, where they take care of customs, damages and any other international shipping issues. In addition, Selling Manager Pro, a free feature available through some listing services, allows you to create your eBay store with your dealership branding. Helpful Links If you’re interested in the DIY method, you’ll find helpful information here: http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/sell-getstarted.html http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/gettingstarted.html For a listing service, you will want to do some research, but the links below are a good place to start: http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/build-your-business-online/boost-profits/selling-tools/ http://ebaybusinessbuilder.com/parts-accessories Kyle McKee is Operations Manager for CDK Global’s PartsVoice, Cash Discovery Program and eBay Made Easy solutions. He has more than ten years of combined Fixed Operations experience working for CDK and in Service for two franchise dealerships.
The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.
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March-April 2015
Mopar Masters Guild Magazine
Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts
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The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.
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March-April 2015
Accessories
Made Easy
Experience Accessories 9 out of 10 drivers buy some kind of accessory and most do so within 90 days of the vehicle purchase. 75% of consumers prefer to buy those accessories at the dealership and 60% spend more than $1,500.1
Current Reality 0U [OL H]LYHNL NYVZZ WYVÄ[ VM H UL^ JHY ZHSL ^HZ HIV\[ Today, it is less than 4%2 7YVÄ[ WV[LU[PHS JVU[PU\LZ [V KLJSPUL THRPUN UV^ [OL [PTL MVY KLHSLYZOPWZ [V PTWSLTLU[ H UL^ WYVÄ[ center. Auto accessories is a $40 billion industry. Currently dealerships only represent about 5% of the market. Isn’t it time you grabbed a bigger piece of the pie?
Market Pressures 4VZ[ JVUZ\TLYZ HYL \UH^HYL KLHSLYZOPWZ ZLSS HJJLZZVYPLZ ZPUJL they are usually not presented at the time of vehicle purchase. Most WLVWSL KV UV[ L]LU RUV^ ^OH[ VW[PVUZ HYL H]HPSHISL MVY [OLPY ]LOPJSL Accessory manufacturers lack the ability or the market access to THRL JVUZ\TLYZ H^HYL 0UMVYTH[PVU ZOHYLK IL[^LLU Z\WWSPLYZ distributors, and dealers is minimal or non-existent leaving dealers
PU [OL KHYR VU ^OH[ [VVSZ HUK WYVJLZZLZ [OL` ULLK [V PUJVYWVYH[L accessories into their business yet. Over 90% of drivers buy accessories for their vehicles, and most do so within 90 days. This three-month period is crucial and could mean 50% more WYVÄ[ for the parts department.
The Future of Accessories - AddOnAuto Dealerships using AddOnAuto are experiencing an average of $475 additional revenue per vehicle sale. AddOnAuto uses a ]PZ\HS JVUÄN\YH[VY LUHISPUN J\Z[VTLYZ [V ]PY[\HSS` HKK VY YLTV]L HJJLZZVYPLZ HUK PUZ[HU[S` ]PL^ [OLT VU [OLPY ]LOPJSL 0U HKKP[PVU AddOnAuto connects dealers to a vast, constantly updated vendor KH[HIHZL VM HJJLZZVYPLZ NP]PUN [OLT [OL ZHSLZ WV^LY ^P[OV\[ [OL L_WLUZL (KK6U(\[V PZ [OL ^VYSK»Z ÄYZ[ KPNP[HS KLHSLY Z\WWSPLY UL[^VYR MVY YLHS [PTL JH[HSVN WYPJPUN HUK WYVK\J[ \WKH[LZ HSS VU one platform. Accessories are no longer an afterthought. They are an integral PUJVTL NLULYH[PUN I\ZPULZZ MVY [OL KLHSLYZOPW ^P[OV\[ JH\ZPUN the parts department any additional headaches of maintaining a physical inventory.
800.767.7879 | reyrey.com/addonauto www.reyrey.com
© 2014 The Reynolds and Reynolds Company. 1SEMA 2NADA. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. 1056957
Mopar Masters Guild Magazine
12/14
Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts
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EMV IS COMING ARE YOU READY? What is EMV?
It stands for EuroPay, MasterCard, Visa, and is the global standard for processing credit and debit card transactions.
Why does your dealership need to care?
All automotive retailers need the capability to process EMV cards by October, 2015, or risk being liable for fraudulent charges.
How can Reynolds help?
Reynolds has partnered with OpenEdge, a division of Global Payments, to offer dealerships ReyPAY: an integrated, secure, and efficient electronic payment solution customers can use in store, online, and on mobile devices. ReyPAY helps keep you EMV compliant and create a retail experience similar to other large retailers.
The latest addition to Reynolds Retail Management System: ReyPAY.
In partnership with OpenEdge, a division of Global Payments. Š 2015 The Reynolds and Reynolds Company. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. 1137080 1/15
The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.
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March-April 2015
PRESENTS:
MOVE IT WITH MOPAR INSTALLER SWEEPSTAKES ÂŽ
From January 1, 2015–December 31, 2015, repair shops and eet customers have a chance to win a 2016 Ram 1500 or a 2016 Polaris RZR just by purchasing MoparÂŽ Remanufactured Powertrain parts through your local Chrysler, Dodge, JeepÂŽ or Ram dealerships. t UUĂŠĂŠ,iÂŤ>ÂˆĂ€ĂŠĂƒÂ…ÂœÂŤĂƒĂŠ>˜`ĂŠyiiĂŒĂŠVĂ•ĂƒĂŒÂœÂ“iĂ€ĂƒĂŠÂœÂ˜Â?Ăž UUĂŠĂŠ Ă›iÀÞʍÕÀVÂ…>ĂƒiĂŠÂœvĂŠ>ĂŠ ÂœÂŤ>ÀÊ,i“>Â˜Ă•v>VĂŒĂ•Ă€i`ĂŠ/Ă€>Â˜ĂƒÂ“ÂˆĂƒĂƒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠÂœĂ€ĂŠ ˜}ˆ˜iĂŠ}iĂŒĂƒĂŠÂœÂ˜iĂŠiÂ˜ĂŒĂ€ĂžĂŠ ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒÂœĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠ`Ă€>ĂœÂˆÂ˜} UĂŠĂŠ ÂœĂŠÂ?ÂˆÂ“ÂˆĂŒĂŠÂœÂ˜ĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠÂ˜Ă•Â“LiĂ€ĂŠÂœvĂŠiÂ˜ĂŒĂ€ÂˆiĂƒ UĂŠĂŠ Â?Â?ĂŠĂ€>vyiĂŠiÂ˜ĂŒĂ€ĂžĂŠvÂœĂ€Â“ĂƒĂŠÂ“Ă•ĂƒĂŒĂŠLiĂŠĂƒĂ•LÂ“ÂˆĂŒĂŒi`ĂŠĂœÂˆĂŒÂ…ĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠ`i>Â?iĂ€ĂŠÂˆÂ˜Ă›ÂœÂˆViĂŠLÞÊ iVi“LiÀÊΣ]ÊÓä£x UĂŠĂŠ Ă€>ĂœÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠĂœÂˆÂ?Â?ĂŠLiĂŠÂ…iÂ?`ĂŠÂœÂ˜ĂŠ >Â˜Ă•>ÀÞÊÓÇ]ĂŠĂ“Ă¤ÂŁĂˆĂŠÂÂ?ÂœV>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠLiĂŠ>Â˜Â˜ÂœĂ•Â˜Vi`ĂŠ>ĂŒĂŠ>ĂŠÂ?>ĂŒiÀÊ`>ĂŒiÂŽ UĂŠĂŠ Ă€>˜`ĂŠÂŤĂ€ÂˆĂ˘iĂŠÂˆĂƒĂŠ>ĂŠĂ“Ă¤ÂŁĂˆĂŠ,>“Ê£xää UĂŠĂŠ-iVœ˜`ĂŠÂŤĂ€ÂˆĂ˘iĂŠÂˆĂƒĂŠ>ĂŠĂ“Ă¤ÂŁĂˆĂŠ*ÂœÂ?>Ă€ÂˆĂƒĂŠ,<,
TTo receive i your entry t form, f contact your local Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram dealer and purchase Mopar Remanufactured Transmissions and Engines. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by FCA US LLC. ^xĂŠ/Ă€>VÞÊ ˜`Ă•ĂƒĂŒĂ€ÂˆiĂƒ]ĂŠ ˜V°
Â…Ă€ĂžĂƒÂ?iĂ€]ĂŠ Âœ`}i]ĂŠ iiÂŤ]ĂŠ,>“Ê>˜`ĂŠ ÂœÂŤ>ÀÊ>Ă€iĂŠĂ€i}ÂˆĂƒĂŒiĂ€i`ĂŠĂŒĂ€>`i“>Ă€ÂŽĂƒĂŠÂœvĂŠ ĂŠ1-ĂŠ °Ê *ÂœÂ?>Ă€ÂˆĂƒĂŠ>˜`ĂŠ,<,ĂŠ>Ă€iĂŠĂ€i}ÂˆĂƒĂŒiĂ€i`ĂŠĂŒĂ€>`i“>Ă€ÂŽĂƒĂŠÂœvĂŠ*ÂœÂ?>Ă€ÂˆĂƒĂŠ ˜`Ă•ĂƒĂŒĂ€ÂˆiĂƒ]ĂŠ ˜V°Ê
Mopar Masters Guild Magazine
Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts
31
Grow and Earn 2015 1-1-2015 through 12-31-2015 Incentivize your customers and your wholesale and retail sales teams! Earn at each level. $40,000 = 15 X $10.00 gift cards $75,000 = $300.00 in gift cards $125,000 = Go Pro Hero - Silver $175,000 = $1500.00 credit or gift cards $225,000 = $2000.00 reimbursable marketing funds $275,000 = $2500.00 credit or gift cards $350,000 = Caribbean Cruise for two
Program Details: x Program Enrollment required x All incentives subject to 1099 x Only Tracy sourced parts count towards promo x Program runs from 1-1-2015 through 12-31-2015
Call your local Tracy representative for more information .
The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.
32
March-April 2015
MOVE IT WITH MOPAR INSTALLER SWEEPSTAKES ÂŽ
ENTRY FORM Name: _______________________________________________________________________ Repair Shop / Fleet Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________________________________________________________________ Email: _______________________________________________________________________
RULES UĂŠĂŠ*Ă€Âœ}Ă€>Â“ĂŠĂ€Ă•Â˜ĂƒĂŠvĂ€ÂœÂ“ĂŠ >Â˜Ă•>ÀÞÊ£]ÊÓä£xq iVi“LiÀÊΣ]ÊÓä£x UĂŠĂŠ,iÂŤ>ÂˆĂ€ĂŠĂƒÂ…ÂœÂŤĂƒĂŠ>˜`ĂŠyiiĂŒĂŠVĂ•ĂƒĂŒÂœÂ“iĂ€ĂƒĂŠÂœÂ˜Â?Ăž UĂŠĂŠĂŠ Ă›iÀÞʍÕÀVÂ…>ĂƒiĂŠÂœvĂŠ>ĂŠ ÂœÂŤ>ÀŽÊ,i“>Â˜Ă•v>VĂŒĂ•Ă€i`ĂŠ/Ă€>Â˜ĂƒÂ“ÂˆĂƒĂƒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠÂœĂ€ĂŠ ˜}ˆ˜iĂŠ}iĂŒĂƒĂŠÂœÂ˜iĂŠiÂ˜ĂŒĂ€ĂžĂŠ into the drawing UĂŠĂŠ ÂœĂŠÂ?ÂˆÂ“ÂˆĂŒĂŠÂœÂ˜ĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠÂ˜Ă•Â“LiĂ€ĂŠÂœvĂŠiÂ˜ĂŒĂ€ÂˆiĂƒ UĂŠĂŠ Â?Â?ĂŠĂ€>vyiĂŠiÂ˜ĂŒĂ€ĂžĂŠvÂœĂ€Â“ĂƒĂŠÂ“Ă•ĂƒĂŒĂŠLiĂŠĂƒĂ•LÂ“ÂˆĂŒĂŒi`ĂŠĂœÂˆĂŒÂ…ĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠ`i>Â?iĂ€ĂŠÂˆÂ˜Ă›ÂœÂˆViĂŠLÞÊ iVi“LiÀÊΣ]ÊÓä£x UĂŠĂŠ Ă€>ĂœÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠĂœÂˆÂ?Â?ĂŠLiĂŠÂ…iÂ?`ĂŠÂœÂ˜ĂŠ >Â˜Ă•>ÀÞÊÓÇ]ĂŠĂ“Ă¤ÂŁĂˆĂŠÂÂ?ÂœV>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠĂŒÂœĂŠLiĂŠ>Â˜Â˜ÂœĂ•Â˜Vi`ĂŠ>ĂŒĂŠ>ĂŠÂ?>ĂŒiÀÊ`>ĂŒiÂŽ UĂŠĂŠ Ă€>˜`ĂŠÂŤĂ€ÂˆĂ˘iĂŠÂˆĂƒĂŠ>ĂŠĂ“Ă¤ÂŁĂˆĂŠ,>“Ê£xää UĂŠĂŠ-iVœ˜`ĂŠÂŤĂ€ÂˆĂ˘iĂŠÂˆĂƒĂŠ>ĂŠĂ“Ă¤ÂŁĂˆĂŠ*ÂœÂ?>Ă€ÂˆĂƒĂŠ,<, UĂŠĂŠ7ˆ˜˜iÀÊÀiĂƒÂŤÂœÂ˜ĂƒÂˆLÂ?iĂŠvÂœĂ€ĂŠ>Â?Â?ĂŠĂŒ>Ă?iĂƒ]ĂŠÂ?ˆViÂ˜ĂƒiĂŠ>˜`ĂŠviiĂƒ
Submit dated invoice and completed entry form to: Tracy Industries, Inc. >Ă?\ĂŠÂxĂˆĂ“ÂŽĂŠĂˆÂ™Ă“Â‡nxx{]ĂŠ ĂŒĂŒÂ˜\ĂŠ9ÂœÂ?Ăž >ˆÂ?\ĂŠ/Ă€>VÞÊ ˜`Ă•ĂƒĂŒĂ€ÂˆiĂƒĂŠ,>vyiĂŠ*Ă€Âœ}Ă€>“]ÊÎÇÎÇÊ-°Ê >ÂŤÂˆĂŒÂœÂ?ĂŠ Ă›i]ĂŠ7Â…ÂˆĂŒĂŒÂˆiĂ€]ĂŠ ĂŠÂ™Ă¤ĂˆĂ¤ÂŁ This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by FCA US LLC.
Š2015 Tracy Industries, Inc. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Mopar are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC. Polaris and RZR are registered trademarks of Polaris Industries, Inc.
Mopar Masters Guild Magazine
Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts
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MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND RENEWAL FORM 1DPH BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 'HDOHUVKLS 1DPH BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB %XVLQHVV $GGUHVV BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB &LW\ BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB6WDWH BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB =LS BBBBBBBBBBBBBB 'HDOHU &RGH BBBBBBBBBB %XVLQHVV ( PDLO BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 7\SH RI %XVLQHVV V\VWHP 5 5 $'3 (7& BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 'HDOHU 3ULQFLSDO 1DPH BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 3HUVRQDO ,QIRUPDWLRQ 1DPH BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB $GGUHVV BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB &LW\ BBBBBBBBBBBBB6WDWH BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB =LS BBBBBBBBBBBB 6SRXVH QDPH BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB <RXU VKLUW VL]H BBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 0BBBBB )BBBBB <RXU VSRXVH¶V 6KLUW VL]H BBBBBBBBBBBB0 BBBB )BBBB 3D\LQJ 0HPEHUVKLS 'XHV IRU BBBB BBBB BBBB
Annual Dues are $100 per year Please complete this form and mail with payment to: Mopar Masters Guild Attn: SUSAN MCDANIEL 2215 W. EARLL DRIVE PHOENIX, AZ. 85015
Mopar Masters Guild — The exchange of information by like size dealers in a non-competitive environment.
The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.
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March-April 2015
Florida Auto Body Shops Blast Car Insurers’ Arguments in New MDL Filing Florida collision repairer a orneys Wednesday offered a cu ng rebu al to insurers’ most recent a empts to dismiss an antitrust case serving as a model for more than two dozen others across the country. The case alleges insurers are working together to drive down collision repair labor rates, refusing to pay for the necessary labor to restore policyholders’ cars and “steering” customers away from certain auto shops. A&E Body Shop Inc. et al v. 21st Century Centennial Insurance Company et al is part of a multidistrict litigation — in which multiple similar federal districts’ cases are heard in the same venue to eliminate what would be a lot of costly legal redundancy. Middle District of Florida Judge Gregory Presnell is hearing all of the cases, and applying Florida law to every case — many of which are being handled by Jackson, Miss.-based Eaves Law Firm, unless a defendant or plainff can show how their state law differs. Unlike an earlier version disparaged by a judge and insurers as lacking specifics, a revised lawsuit filed in February by the Florida shops is full of examples of what it called price-fixing and steering by the na on’s biggest insurers. Read more analysis of it here. The amended complaint depicts an auto insurance industry which forces “a race to the bo om” in quality within an auto body repair industry dependent on its business. The new response Wednesday a empts through a variety of rebu als to eliminate any reason why the lawsuit can’t advance to the discovery stage, when the auto body shops can access internal insurer files to bolster the case. (And that should be fun.) The plain ffs also have floated the idea of amending their lawsuit itself and received a Friday deadline for that.
DRPs a ‘weapon’ The collision repairers on Wednesday further clarified something previously challenged by the court and insurers: A lack of detail about which shops are in direct repair programs and which are allegedly just forced to accept direct repair terms. On Wednesday, they argued that the point was more about what DRPs have helped insurers do to the collision repair industry. “To use a metaphor, DRPs are not the crime, they are one of the weapons in Defendants’ arsenal,” the shops said in their response. The DRPs are relevant because insurers who supposedly aren’t colluding somehow seem to know what each other mandates in DRPs and a empt to enforce those terms on collision repairers, the plain ffs say. “Defendants con nued arguments on this point appear to merely disagree with the Court’s prior order, a posion which they had every opportunity to explore via a mo on to reconsider which was never filed,” the shops said in the new case. “Arguments inferring the Court simply got it wrong are without legal merit.” Continued on Page 35
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Continued from Page 34
Sherman Act If you’re suing par es for an an trust viola on, you need more than some similari es for a court to decide it deserves a closer look and let the case proceed. The Supreme Court calls these “plus factors,” and they and other courts have suggested they include controlling a large part of the market, doing something that seems against your self-interest, behavior that is just so similar or simultaneous that it can’t just be coincidence, a reason to conspire and a chance to share informa on. The shops reiterate some of their new arguments that reinforce all of these, including the obvious points of market share (90 percent of the private auto insurance market in Florida), mo ve (profit in the billions) and opportunity to conspire (trade associa ons) They also point out the improbability of a bunch of insurers doing exactly the same thing at the same me across a state the size of Florida. “As set out in the SAC, the sta s cal likelihood of the Defendants each independently arriving at the same labor rates is likely astronomical, par cularly where, as here, the rates bear no connec on to real rates as publicly posted by the Plain ffs and there is no variability across the en re state, again, in contradic on of rates publicly posted by the Plain ffs,” the response states. Also, the insurers all say they won’t pay for the same procedures and give the same reason though “the databases they each u lize contradicts their expressed ra onales,” according to the response. The shops also make the case that even though insurers stand to save a lot of money through their ac ons, it never would have worked if it weren’t industrywide. “If only a single Defendant took the posi on that underpaying for repairs, compelling use of substandard and/ or dangerous replacement parts, failing and refusing to pay for repairs that will return a vehicle to pre-accident condi on and similar ac ons, that Defendant would find itself losing customers for insurers who do pay for full and proper repairs u lizing safe and appropriate parts,” the response states.
Right to refuse Another aspect of the insurers’ mo on and the plain ffs’ counterargument points out the messy ques on inherent to insurance: Who’s the customer when someone else is picking up the bill? Insurers have said they have the right to refuse to pay body shops without running afoul of the law, but the collision repairers hold that it just isn’t their place to do so. “The choice of repair facility belongs to the consumer,” the new filing states. “The obliga on and duty to pay for those repairs is not elec ve for the Defendants; they are not free to choose to which vehicles they will repair unless the vehicle meets the statutory defini on of a total loss.
Continued on Page 36
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March-April 2015
Continued from Page 35 Second, The Defendants here are not the sellers, they are the payers and only the payers. Under other circumstances, a seller may refuse to sell at a par cular price, and a buyer may shop around for a be er deal. The Defendants are neither buyers nor sellers; their only obliga on and concomitant right is to pay for repairs.”
Don’t take insurers off case Some insurers said they aren’t men oned very much in the lawsuit and should therefore not be included in the case. But since they don’t make more of a case for exclusion than that, the shops’ a orneys wrote, they shouldn’t be allowed to depart. “Beyond this, however, as noted above, the vast bulk of evidence proving the viola ons of federal law is within the possession and control of the Defendants. The (complaint) alleges more than sufficient facts, taken as a whole, to establish a reasonable probability of agreement in viola on of the Sherman Act. That Plain ffs presently know more details about some Defendants’ illegal acts than others, does not excuse the acts of those who have been more successful at hiding their misdeeds.”
Benefit granted One of the difficul es in the Florida and other states’ cases against insurers has involved convincing the court that “quantum meruit” — benefi ng someone without ge ng paid for it — counted here. The shops had argued that by making the repairs for the insurers’ clients at the prices insurers had allegedly fixed lower than they should have been, they were benefi ng the insurers. Presnell has disagreed, ci ng Florida case law that indicates the benefit provided is to the driver whose vehicle was fixed — not to the insurer who paid the bill. He also wrote that the insurers keeping the money that the allegedly unfair prices allowed them to save didn’t count as a benefit — they’d have to get a benefit, then keep the money. Though Presnell expressed skep cism this charge could make it to trial, the shops tried again, citing a quantum meruit case involving a different middleman and arguing: To that extent, it is indisputable that the Defendant insurers are paid monies in the form of premiums by their respec ve insureds; their respec ve insureds pay said monies to the Defendant insureds in exchange for Defendant insureds agreeing, inter alia and in general, to repair –OR- pay for the repair of the respec ve insureds’ damaged vehicles; the Defendant insureds are then contractually obligated to repair –OR- pay for the repair of their respec ve insureds’ vehicles; the Plain ff shops are the en es that repair the vehicles for the insureds of Defendants; thus, and clearly, Plain ff shops benefit Defendants by providing them with the needed opportunity to fulfill, and not otherwise be in breach of, Defendants’ respec ve contractual obliga on to have their respec ve insureds’ vehicles repaired (and without this benefit of the Plain ff shops, this contractual obliga on cannot be fulfilled by the Defendants and Defendants would not be paid the premiums they are paid by their respec ve insureds; the Defendants need the Plain ffs); the Defendants obviously possess knowledge of this benefit and have accepted and retained the benefit of the repairs that are conferred to each of them via their respec ve rela onships, contracts and paid premiums with and from their insureds. They also make this impassioned common-sense argument which counters an insurer posi on that was parcularly successful in Mississippi (which prefers contracts, not courts, se le billing disputes): Continued on Page 37
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Continued from Page 36 The only other argument made by the Defendants for dismissal of the Quantum Meruit claim appears to be, in summary, the following: that since Plain ffs have known at different mes the limita ons of payment for repairs that are/were self-imposed by the Defendants upon the Plain ffs before Plain ffs did repairs, that therefore the Plain ffs have no legal right to any greater or full payment or compensaon for their work. This argument, however, is disingenuous and borders on the ridiculous: other than the wrongful “steering” engaged in by the Defendants, the fact that the Defendants have refused to righ ully pay and/or compensate Plain ffs over many, many years and in such an egregious and extensive manner IS, “when the rubber hits the road”, the very essence of this case. That is the ul mate ques on posed and which is before this Court: under the applicable law, did the Defendants commit a wrong by, inter alia, failing and refusing to pay more than what they are/were willing to pay Plain ffs for the repair work the Plain ffs provide(d) and which full and greater pay the Plain ffs reasonably expect(ed) pursuant to, inter alia, the law? (Of course, the Plain ffs are confident under these circumstances that the answer is a resounding, “YES”.) To effec vely argue that since we told you we were going to “wrong you” and you knew we “wronged you”, therefore you cannot seek jus ce for the wrongs commi ed — that, either you take what we are willing to give you so you can make at least SOME money to stay in business or don’t repair the vehicle for your customer at all, is, at a minimum, unwarrantedly and inexplicably audacious. Such argument on the part of the Defendants, of course, has no merit. Source: www.repairerdrivennews.com (Curated and Delivered by SCRS)
North Carolina Bills Would Eliminate Auto Safety Inspections On March 10, 2015, North Carolina State Senator Shirley Randleman (R-30) introduced Senate Bill 200. This legisla on would repeal North Carolina’s requirement for an annual automo ve safety inspec on and make changes to emissions inspec ons. Senate Bill 200 is the latest in a series of bills to eliminate the safety inspecon program. The Automo ve Service Associa on (ASA) opposes S.B. 200 and asks North Carolina automo ve repairers to go to ASA’s legisla ve website to send a le er to their legislators in opposi on to the bill. According to ASA, just days before Randleman introduced S.B. 200, Rep. Dean Hager (R-112) introduced House Bill 169, a bill to limit coun es in which motor vehicle emissions inspec ons are required. If implemented, this bill would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016, exemp ng the coun es of Burke, Haywood, Rutherford, Surry and Wilkes. Both S. B. 200 and H. B. 169 remain in commi ee. Source: www.collisionweek.com
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Saint Patrick’s Day 2015 Ricks Reuben Sandwich By Rick Monteiro - Jack Powell CDJR As a child Growing up my mother would always make a tradi onal Boiled Corned Beef Dinner on Saint Patrick’s Day. I love corned beef as long as I only have it a few mes a year. That way it s ll stays special and reminds me of my childhood. In 2010 I cooked enough Corned beef to make Reuben Sandwiches for my Parts team of 20 people at the me. Not only did we have people that never tried or never liked some of the ingredients before the sandwiches were a big hit. I praccally forced my staff to eat them just the way I prepared them. I did accommodate a few requests for no cheese and the like but pre y much everyone that was skep cal of my recipe told me later how good they were. By 2011 word got out about the amazing sandwiches so we expanded to serving the Service Department as well. In 2012 we asked the business office to join us as too. Finally in 2013 we just included the whole dealership. I now had a reputa on for a great sandwich and a tradi on was born. This year we prepared 100 sandwiches for everyone in the store including a few customers. While I create a tradi onal Ruben Sandwich I believe the secret ingredient is my homemade Cole slaw just for these sandwiches. While it is good as a standalone slaw it’s a li le different than tradi onal slaw. Below is my secret recipe for a great sandwich that serves 100. We use a large propane griddle we purchased for our Jeep Jam’s pancake cook outs to toast and brown the bread. One of my employees told me my headstone will read “Best sandwich maker ever” instead of a great parts manager. I think I like the sandwich tle be er
Reuben Sandwich Ingredients for 100 people: 50 pounds Point cut corned beef boiled per package instruc ons trimmed of fat and sliced a day or two before the event. Cooked and trimmed it shrinks down to around 30 pounds. The extra fat in the point cut really makes a difference and it’s usually cheaper. The leaner cuts can ruin this sandwich. 200 slices of Rye bread 100 slices of Sliced Swiss cheese 1 quart of Hellman’s Thousand Island Dressing 20 pounds of Cole Slaw 5 pound tub of whipped bu er
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Ricks homemade Reuben Cole Slaw 16 pounds of green cabbage I used 4 about medium heads shredded 2 medium Spanish onions finely chopped 1 pound of carrots for sweetness and color, shredded 1 pint of sour cream 1 ½ cup Mayonnaise ½ cup sugar 1/3 apple cider vinegar 1 table spoon dry mustard powder 1 tablespoon fresh ground pepper 1 tablespoon whole celery seed 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon smoked ghost ground chilli’s Mix together the Slaw Mix dry and wet ingredients together into the dressing and set aside to meld the flavors Prepare the vegetables and mix together in a very large bowl Add the dressing to the salad and mix thoroughly Tastes best when made one day in advance Build the sandwich Bu er the hot griddle and brown the rye bread Add sliced Swiss cheese to half the bread slices and melt while browning the bread Stack the thin sliced Corned beef then Thousand Island dressing topped with the Slaw on the cheese side Cover with other bread slice and wrap in deli paper Serve with drinks and chips and enjoy the happiness of others (Editor’s Note: Rick, can’t wait to try it!)
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Northern California Lifestyle Trip 2015 Submi ed by Kathy Monteiro Hi, my name is Kathy (Kat) Monteiro. Many of you know me as Rick Monteiro’s wife. Others we have known from almost the very beginning of the Mopar Masters Guild. We have been part of this Mopar Masters Guild family for the past 22 years! We have traveled with many of you on the old and new Chrysler Lifestyles trips. We have also had the privilege of ge ng together on our own me and spending vaca ons together. Well as you know Chrysler had stopped doing lifestyles trips so a few years back Marvin Windham decided to make our own Lifestyle trip and he organized an amazing trip to Costa Rica. Unfortunately we missed that trip, but I know a good me was had by all that went. So this year Rick decided to design a Lifestyles trip in northern California since NADA this year was in San Francisco. It was a very exci ng few days and that is what I am here to write about! I was very excited about this trip because this is where I grew up and I always get great pleasure showing off this amazing part of Northern California. Its beauty and serenity just sooths the soul. The majes c old grove redwoods and the rugged ocean shores are truly a sight to behold. We had a great group of travelers. Roy & Debbie Benner - Texas Marvin & Laura Windham - Alabama Gerry & Lyne e Oakes - Nebraska Paul & Barbara Allred their daughter Anna and her friend Blaine Parish - South Carolina And us - Rick & Kat Monteiro – California Day 1 had everyone arriving at the San Francisco airport, except Rick and I who drove. We stayed close to the airport so it was easy for us to all meetup Day 2 started out early with Marvin and Gerry taking off before the sun came up to go play golf in Ukiah. The rest of us caravanned into the small quaint town of San Anselmo. We had a very yummy breakfast at Hilda’s Coffee Shop. A er stopping in Santa Rosa at the mall so people could run in and buy bathing suits we hit our first des na on - Vichy Springs in Ukiah. A place with history da ng back to 1860 when Mark Twain and Jack London stayed to visit for the natural hot mineral springs baths. We all enjoyed the baths and the hot tub then headed to dinner at Crush. We had an amazing dinner and just really enjoyed each other’s company.
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Continued from Page 40 Day 3 had us off early again! A er breakfast we hit the road and headed over to the coast where we met up with the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg. We boarded the train for a journey through the Redwoods along Pudding Creek. It was a very chilly morning so only the brave went out to the open air car, most of us stayed inside and enjoyed the scenery from the inside car! A er the train ride we headed to Albion where our guests checked into the Albion River Inn and we crossed the street to our house. The rooms at the Inn were all amazing and had spectacular views of our Albion harbor. We all stood out on the deck of Gerry & Lyne e’s room listening to the waves, watching the whales go by and the sun go down to a beau ful sunset. Then it was another amazing dinner there at the Inn. We celebrated Marvin and presented him his second Old Chub gi ! (you had to be there!!) Day 4 had half our group hiking through the Pygmy forest and Fern Canyon. A place set back in me with beau ful trees, ferns, and mushrooms! Steven Spielberg filmed part of Jurassic Park 2 here. The rest of us headed into Mendocino where we walked around a bit then headed over to Pa erson’s Pub for Bloody Marys! Dinner this night was a grand feast put on over at our house by our wonderful chefs Rick Monteiro and Paul Allred! Fresh crab picked up at Noyo Harbor, ar chokes, chicken, potatoes, local wine, and a fire going in the fireplace and games a erwards! It was a wonderful evening spent with great friends. Day 5 we packed up our caravan and started our way toward San Francisco. On the way we stopped at the world famous Francis Ford Coppola winery and enjoyed the beau ful surroundings with some great wine tas ng. We then headed over and had lunch at the Bear Republic Brewery and talked about what a great few days we had over some good food and a beer. We arrived in San Francisco to more beau ful weather and more of our good friends. We would spend the next few days enjoying San Francisco - one of our favorite ci es (next to New Orleans!) with good company, amazing food, and even a ride on a yacht! I have to say it was a pre y amazing week! I hope that we all con nue to make our own Lifestyles trips. We have really made some amazing friends over the years. I am looking forward to many more trips and get-togethers. It’s pre y cool to be at a dinner or lunch and the waiter will ask where we are from and we name many different states and they always look dumbfounded and they always ask how we all met. It really is quite a story! And I am so happy to be a part of it all! I say thank you to Chrysler - because of the jobs we do we have had the opportunity to meet some of the greatest people in the world and have established wonderful life me friendships. Looking forward to next year and seeing all of you again at NADA.!
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2015 M MMG MG C Com o m m itte i t t ees es President Vice President Treasurer Secretary
Rick Cutaia Andy Reed Susan McDaniel Susan McDaniel
Rick Hendrick DCJR - Charleston, SC Allen Samuels DCJ – North Richland Hills, TX Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ
Marvin Windham Rick Monteiro Joe McBeth Paul Allred
Benchmark CJD – Birmingham, AL Jack Powell CJD – Escondido, CA Dallas DCJ – Dallas, TX Stateline CJD – Fort Mill, SC
Committees: Vendor Chairman
Paul Allred
Stateline CJD - Fort Mill, SC
Newsletter
Don Cushing
Bald Hill DCJ – Warwick, RI
Nada 2016 Planning
Susan McDaniel
Bill Luke CJD - Phoenix, AZ Gerry Oaks - Baxter CJD – Omaha, NE
Membership
TBA
Finance Committee
Susan McDaniel Rick Cutaia
Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ Rick Hendrick DCJR - Charleston, SC
CDK Global
Gerry Oaks Paul Allred Andy Reed Rick Monteiro
Baxter CJD – Omaha, NE Stateline CJD – Fort Mill, SC Allen Samuels DCJ – North Richland Hills, TX Jack Powell CJD – Escondido, CA
Reynold & Reynolds
Rick Cutaia Susan McDaniel Marvin Windham
Rick Hendrick DCJR – Charleston, SC Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ Benchmark CJD – Birmingham, AL
Dan Hutton Paul Allred Steve Hofer
Tom O’Brien CJD – Greenwood, IN Stateline CJD – Fort Mill, SC Park CJ – Burnsville, MN
Dealer Tire
Susan McDaniel Marvin Windham Joe McBeth
Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ Benchmark CJD – Birmingham, AL Dallas DCJ – Dallas, TX
Elite Extra
Rick Monteiro J.D. Ipsen Larry Morris
Jack Powell CJD – Escondido, CA Ken Garff West Valley CJDR - Wesy Valley City, UT Fred Beans CJDR - Doylestown, PA
UPS
Glen Hojnacki
Milosch’s Palace CJD – Lake Orion, MI
Tracy Industries
Mike Mulkins
Go Chrysler Jeep West - Golden, CO
Katzkin
Mike Gerber
Rairdon CDJ - Kirkland, WA
Executive Committee All of the above as well as:
Vendor Committees
OEConnection Snap-On
Mopar Masters Guild Magazine