Florida Community Wants to Ban Home Repair Shops
Residents in Deltona, FL, want the city to ban automotive repair shops that are being run out of houses in residential areas. According to a report on a local TV station, there are dozens of these unlicensed repair shops. If the ban passes, people would still be allowed to work on cars in their driveways, but the work must be completed in two days.
ASA Pushes Vehicle Safety Inspection Programs on Capitol Hill
Automotive Service Association (ASA) leaders met recently with key members of Congress and congressional staff to discuss the importance of vehicle safety inspection programs.
Premium Quality Carter In-Tank Fuel Pump Sets and Modules Now Available for Additional Popular Foreign Nameplate Applications
Federal-Mogul continues the aggressive expansion of its foreign nameplate replacement fuel pump set and module coverage with three new premium quality Carter in-tank units available for late-model Honda and Toyota applications.
Young Boy Kills Himself with Gun Found in Automotive Repair Shop
A 10-year-old boy killed himself with a gun that he found in the office of a Houston, TX, repair shop. The owner of Innovations Automotive had the gun in the office because of recent crimes in the area. The boy had gone exploring with his little sister as they waited for their mother to talk to the shop’s owner about her car that she had brought in for service.
Federal-Mogul’s Wagner ThermoQuiet Front Ceramic Brake Pads First in Aftermarket for 2011 Ford Ranger Models
ThermoQuiet brake pads also incorporate the company’s award-winning, proprietary Integrally Molded Insulator (IMI) one-piece pad design and unique Wagner EDGE Laser-Shaped Friction technology for quieter performance, superior stopping power and longer pad life, the company says.
AAIA and ASE Recognize World Class Technicians
Of the more than 759,000 automotive technicians working in the United States, 20 outstanding individuals have qualified for the 2011 World Class Technician Award. The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) work together to recognize these professional technicians who have tested and obtained ASE certification in 22 specialty areas during the 2010 test administrated by ASE.
AAPEX Show Goes Global on Facebook
The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) has turned to social media as another means to communicate with show attendees throughout the world.
Spring Cleaning: Tax Records You Can Throw Away
Spring is a great time to clean out that growing mountain of tax and financial papers that clutters your home and office. Here’s what you need to keep and what you can throw out without fearing the wrath of the IRS.
Tips for Female-Friendly Customer Service
Is your shop clean and inviting? Is speed of service a priority? Are your service and salespeople attentive and personable? If you answered no to any of those questions, you might be alienating at least half of your customer base.
Fire Prevention: How to Keep Your Shop in Business
An electrical short in a power strip cord and three electrical panels resulted in fire losses at four businesses totaling over $3.6 million. Discarded cigarettes were reported to be the cause of fires in two other instances resulting in losses of almost $1.3 million.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Why Men Do ‘Manly’ Things
Some male patrons tend to want to “talk to the mechanic” verses talking to the front-desk person. Especially if that person is female. In my case, the front desk person is my daughter. She has seen it all and is very knowledgeable, I might add. Ask her a car question, any question, and she’ll have an answer for you.
Is AAA Becoming its Own Target?
As a business owner and manager, and particularly because we do not offer road service or have a towing service, I have often spoke the praises of and recommended to customers that they join AAA to take advantage of this valuable peace of mind. Recently, I have seen many customers show up with AAA batteries installed in their vehicles. At least a handful of them have been sold batteries from our shop in recent years.