The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts (AASP-MA) will be tackling the parts procurement issue head-on with a panel of industry representatives from across the country in its upcoming statewide meeting to be held Sept. 12 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel of Marlborough.
The evening, sponsored by Balise Wholesale Parts Experts, will kick off with a dinner at 6:15 p.m., followed by a collision industry training presentation at 6:45 p.m. hosted by Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. A panel of industry experts commissioned by AASP-MA will be providing an update on the parts procurement issue, including the latest developments with State Farm’s controversial PartsTrader program as well as the industry’s reaction to parts bidding on a global scale. The panel will include:
- Rick Starbard, president, AASP-MA
- Jerry Raskind, wholesale development manager, Toyota Motor Sales
- Rick Leos, collision consultant, Toyota Motor Sales
- Aaron Schulenburg, executive director, Society of Collision Repair Specialists
- Tony Lombardozzi, president, Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence
- Gary Danko, Connecticut wholesale parts representative, Balise Auto Group
“The insurance industry has attempted to present parts bidding programs – most notably, PartsTrader – as so-called ‘win-win’ situations for all parties involved,” said Starbard. “In looking at these programs in-depth, we fail to see any ‘win’ for anyone but the insurance industry. In a state like Massachusetts, where our only real profit margin is derived from parts markup, programs like the one State Farm is attempting to introduce could have devastating effects. We’ve set up this panel to not only educate members on the parts bidding issue in general, but also to give a wake-up call to those who think it can’t happen in Massachusetts. Parts procurement is not a DRP issue; it’s a profit issue."
Added Shulenburg, “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to have some thoughtful discussion with the members of AASP-MA. I believe the association’s decision to host a panel that will offer perspectives from all sides of the industry that will be impacted by these types of insurer-mandated programs is a great one. The discussion will be interesting, to say the least, and I wouldn’t think of missing the opportunity to participate."
Registration for the AASP-MA September statewide meeting begins at 5:45 p.m. on Sept. 12. Cost for current AASP-MA members is $27.50, $55 for non-members. Pre-registration is required.
More information:
To register or for more information, contact the AASP-MA administrative office at (617) 484-0205.
