Getting Savvy With E-Commerce
E-commerce. A lot of people talk about it, but what does it mean to your business?
How Many People Will She Tell
I’m not just a collision repair industry editor – I’m a client. I admit, I’ve always been a bit accident prone – if there’s a wall to run into, a piece of furniture to fall over or a step to trip up, I’m your woman. No one in my family ever harbored hope of my
All In a State Over Allstate
Dear Georgina, After reading your Editor’s Notes in the current issue (June 2001, “All in a State Over Allstate”), I felt compelled to share what we’ve done concerning Allstate. On Feb. 14, 2001, we had a meeting with our Allstate DRP representative. Her boss was also invited but didn’t come to the meeting. Our agenda
Tell It Like It Is
If you lost a diamond, would you want a cubic zirconia without knowing it until you tried to sell it?” asked one 2001 BodyShop Business Industry Profile respondent when asked if the vehicle owner has an unequivocal right to know when aftermarket or used parts are used in repairs.
Shifting Your Load
If fate throws a knife at you, there are two ways of catching it – by the blade or by the handle.” – Oriental proverb
The Need For Speed: Quantity Over Quality May Cost You
A shop manager who chooses quantity over quality may cost you more than a few dollars in comebacks. He may also cost you a few good technicians.
Peace, Love and Hemp-Fueled Cars
As the energy crisis goes strong and concern over pollution and global warming continues, fuel alternatives have become a hot topic. How alternative? As you read this, Amy Wells, Grayson Sigler and Kellie Ogilvie took a cross-continental road trip in a Mercedes Benz wagon running off hemp oil.
If You Build It: New Century Collision Center, Winchester, Va.
Name: New Century Collision Center Location: Winchester, Va. President: Bud Harlow Established: 2001 Shop Size: 32,000 square feet Number of Employees: 13 Average Repair Ticket: $1,457 In the collision repair industry since 1955, Bud Harlow has learned every aspect of the trade – from working as a line tech and a shop manager to being
The Jury’s Still Out: the Debate about Aftermarket Crash Parts
Two years after the landmark $1.2 billion State Farm class-action verdict, the debate about aftermarket crash parts still rages. What does the future hold for these OE counterparts? If you thought the controversy ended when the verdict came down, think again.
DRP Shops Aren’t So Special
We’ve been in the automotive repair industry for more than 20 years, dealing with insurers well as the general public. We aren’t a DRP shop and are fed up with the fact that DRP facilities try to make themselves out to be something unique.
It’s Nice to Fool Mother Nature
Climates can be pretty extreme (too hot, too cold, too dry, too humid), but these days, the right preparation, products and professionalism are a solid defense against weather problems that try to attack a good paint job.
See Spot Run: Squeeze-Type Resistance Spot Welder
Despite it’s long history, “resistance welding” is aptly named – because many technicians still continue to resist using it.