Archive for June, 2010
Auto Body Repair Industry In Need Of Unity
The auto body repair industry is in a major need of a communication overhaul. nbsp;Seems everyday you hear one another bash each other. Wither it is a repair shop bashing an insurance company or an insurance company bashing a shop. We need to form a line of communications and avoid all this nonproductive yak. If you look at the whole picture we are all in this together and our job is to get the customers vehicle back to preaccident condition.
My intentions of this article is to bond our industry not hold hands and talk about our feelings but get the pessimistic view cleared of each trading partner. Need to overhaul our communications to make the complete claims and repair process run more smoothly.
DRP Direct Repair Programs; To start with I think DRPS should be banned. Curbing and labor rate suppression are the two biggest issues at this time. DRPS can destroy a shop. This brings me to my first point of unity unity within the auto body shop owners. If they where able to bond and refuse the direct repair programs than the marketplace would force the DRPS out and go back to free markets of which our great country was founded on.nbsp; I know there are some good DRPS out there but the majority are bad for business. I understand that the penetration with these programs have given some shops no choice they need volume. By giving in you make them stronger and you weaker. The old days where much better better margins etc.
Auto adjusters and the shop; Seems there is always some adomosity in this relationship.nbsp; A shops objective is to repair the customers vehicle for a reasonable amount via industry standards and make some money. This is the same motive for any business. An insurance companies objective is to sell a customer a policy if an accident occurs put them in the position they where in prior to the accident. The conflict normally occurs in the adjuster and shop dealings. The adjuster writes an estimate according to the policy industry and state guidelines. The shop might do the same. The shop might review the adjusters estimate and just flat out say no way. This could be the result of many issues. An incompetent adjuster there are numerous adjusters in the field with 0 days of shop experience. A shop has a hard to time trying to deal with someone that has never done the work they are expecting an experienced technician to perform.nbsp; This is probably the most frustrating issue a shop deals with. Especially when it comes down to labor times on repairing panels. On the flip side the adjuster feels that shops have lost most of their talents and are pretty much just part changers. Adjusters might also feel that the shop is trying to maximize there profits at their companies expense. What is wrong with that? That is what any good business does. This is assuming it is legitimate. What about alternative parts sometimes the adjuster might find lower priced parts from vendors the shop does not use this is hard to expect a shop to use an outside vendor. Especially if they have had problems with that vendor in the past.
Lets get these issues resolved; there is such a mix of auto body shops out there. There are massive chains mom amp; pop shops and dealership shops. They are all ran differently all have different objectives and all compete with each other on some scale. DRPS etc. First off the body shop owners need to bond together and fight some of these ludicrous industry changes. If this does not start now it is only going to get worse and worse you margins will shrink and shrink. I was also reading about an insurance company in Texas that was buying shops the law has since stopped them. But when will it end? The associations out there are helping but seems like they need much more. Shops seem too independent they need to get together.
Shops and adjusters; Shops need to be more descriptive with the adjusters. If problems arise explain why you need the part or time. The shop needs to keep in mind; this adjuster is the one writing the check. Show the adjuster why this panel could not be repaired or why this panel could be repaired. The first person that raises their voice losses. The adjuster needs to do the same show the shop why they think this repair procedure is appropriate. There are numerous stories out there of shops throwing out adjusters this will resolve nothing. Better to hash out the estimate and get working. The most important part of this whole transaction is the customer. If the shop decides they are not able to repair for the adjusters estimate they should tell the adjuster to please move the vehicle off their property to another repair facility. If the adjuster is unable to resolve with the shop it might be a good idea to see if the customer has any other repair facilities in mind. This obviously is for extreme situations. The bottom line is we need to all work together. We are all from different sides of the transaction but need to realize we all need to make a living. Please share your stories and discussions on http://www.CrashChat.com
About the writer: Networking and discussion for the auto body repair industry. Body shops technicians appraisers estimators adjusters and anyone involved in the industry is welcome.
Are The Fuel Consumption Of Your Cars Too High
This is the master Miles Per Gallonlist! Below you’ll find almost 200 links to 11250 cars and light trucks listed by year and manufacturer and accordiong to the 6 varied types of driving. The author has classified the driving in 6 types a leadfoot A racerwho has his foot either on the accelerator fully down or on the brakes Stop Go A Speedcrawlspeed type thirdly hypermiler who employes every know trick in the book to squeeze the most mileage out of the his fuel fouth typical a far more reprensative one. Fifth. Interstate Crusing speed driving at 60 Kms/hourand finally the grandma style taking minimum 34 hours to cover around 60kms. Just click on any one and you’ll go to a Hub page that will give you all the mileage information in MPG km per litre and liters per 100 km for all those models listed according to 6 very different driving styles!. You can check out the comprehensive list painstakingly compiled together http://hubpages.com/hub/MPGOf11250CarsIn6RealWorldDrivingStylesMasterLinkList Never would have anyone undertaken such a huge lassifying o classify different cars according to 6 different varied driving styles off all manufacturers . It in all contains MPG calculations of close of 11250 cars and 250 scooters and 500 motorbikes. Please check whether your car is listed here or not and also whether the fuel consumption of the car is close to what you are getting or not or is it more. In case you are satisfied withthe links please do let us know.We would be glad to hear ferom you.If it is less than what the author is quoting it’s time you visited your nearby mechanic whom you have not visited anywhere in the near past or else remain Happy !!!!!!!.
About the writer: An auto enthusiast
Americans Crave For 2008 Bmw 1 Series
BMW is one of the most sought after car makers in the auto mobile industry. BMW fanatics in the United States hugely patronize the German car maker because of the state of the art technology installed in each BMW car and the luxury each car offers.
This time the manufacturer will be releasing the 2008 BMW 1 Series. But the big question is: Will the car be on sale in the US?
Fans of BMW in the United States have long been waiting for the opportunity to get a 1series vehicle. But the vehicle will only be on sale in Europe.
US fans need not to feel envy on the Europeans getting a 1 Series car. The car will still reach the country however only the few twodoor versions. They will be on sale in 2008.
According to Brenda Priddy and company who spied the 1 Series convertible upon release in the market the public will be seeing the same engine options in the convertible as the coupe model. Either the twinturbo 3liter or the naturallyaspirated inlinesix can come along with the 1 Series convertible.
About BMW 1 Series
Having a code name E87 the BMW 1 Series is a smallluxury car but can be considered a small family car. Since 2004 this was produced by German car maker BMW and is built with the aim of competing against the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf. The 1 Series is the only vehicle in its class that features a longitudinallymounted engine and a rearwheel drive.
In 2004 it was first offered as a 5door hatchback. It was then the only rear wheel drive in its class. The BMW 1 Series substituted the BMW 3series Compact range. At present the 1 Series is the smallest and most affordable vehicle depending on the engine model in the BMW range.
The vehicle is sometimes called E87 because of its platform. Nonetheless it has several similar components with the E90 3 Series such as a trapezoidallink rear axle and the MacPherson struts in the front of the car.
The 1 Series is manufactured in Regensburg Germany where some of the engines are coming from Birmingham England in the Hams Hall plant.
One hundred forty nine thousand four hundred ninety three 149493 vehicles were sold during its first year on sale in 2005. Because of this the 1 Series became BMW’s one of the most successful products.
About BMW
BMW is the abbreviation for Bavarian Motor Works. It is an independent German company that manufactures and sells automobiles and motorcycles. Maker of quality BMW lowering springs it is from where MINI and RollsRoyce came from.
With the company slogan “The Ultimate Driving Machine” the company was also the owner of Rover.
About the writer: Evander Klum is a Business Administration graduate who hails from Alabama. He enjoys extreme sports and he is also a car racing fanatic. At present he works as a marketing manager at an advertising agency in Cleveland.