Final Days To Register For MACS 2012 Convention And Trade Show -

Final Days To Register For MACS 2012 Convention And Trade Show

Online registration and registration through the MACS office for MACS-I-MIZE! ENERGIZE!, the 32nd annual Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Convention and Trade Show, will continue until Friday, January 13, 2012.

Online registration and registration through the MACS office for MACS-I-MIZE! ENERGIZE!, the 32nd annual Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Convention and Trade Show, will continue until Friday, January 13, 2012.

After January 13, 2012 registration for MACS convention events will need to occur onsite at the MACS convention registration desk at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Prices will be higher onsite, so convention attendees are encouraged to register before the January 13, 2012 deadline.

MACS convention sponsors and exhibitors have made it possible to experience a diverse mix of expert trainers and expanded training options for one low price all in one place. You can truly MACS-I-MIZE! and ENERGIZE!, January 18-20, 2012 at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The convention takes place Wednesday, January 18, 2012 through Friday, January 20, 2012 with a golf tournament on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

More than 30 speakers and 30 different sessions of automotive and heavy-duty/off-road mobile A/C and high-tech automotive training by the best in the business make this the must-attend training event in 2012.  95 exhibitors in 166 booths will provide the best in parts, tools and equipment focused on the mobile A/C and engine cooling system aftermarket.

“Forget stocks and precious metals!  In this economy a smart service and repair shop needs to invest in training, staying sharp, staying current and learning the technical and business skills to remain relevant. MACS Convention and Trade Show delivers on all those fronts and we’ve priced the registration to allow service shop owners to bring multiple technicians,” remarked Elvis L. Hoffpauir, MACS president and COO.

MACS has planned the 2012 convention training sessions to bring a broad variety of technical session topics and trainers at a value not only for A/C specialists, but for all automotive repair techs who want to excel at mobile A/C and engine cooling system repair. Plus, on the morning of Friday, January 20, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a FREE MACS Section 609 certification training class and test session, by itself a $50 value! Afterwards, they’ll be able to take in the trade show, and after that attend a cutting-edge technical training class for a minimal charge.MACS attendees will also get the chance to be inspired by Keynote speaker Joe Bacal.
Joe overcame cancer and went on to live his dream of off-road racing and conquering the Baja 1000.

The MACS Trade Show kicks off on Thursday, January 19 at 3pm and will feature a chance to network and explore vendor booths while enjoying a happy hour from 5-7pm. On Friday, January 20 attendees can catch up with the exhibitors when the trade show opens at 10:30am. The MACS Trade Show is a repair shop owner’s key opportunity to secure the parts and tools necessary for a successful service and repair season.

More networking events include: Tuesday’s golf tournament at Desert Pines, Wednesday’s roundtable discussion lunch, and the Wednesday evening MACS welcoming reception.

To view the complete convention schedule or register for MACS 32nd annual convention and Trade Show, visit the MACS website at www.macsw.org, or call the MACS office at 215/631-7020 ext. “0”. To reserve a room at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino at the special MACS Convention room rate of $99 plus tax call 888-746-6955 and use code SRMAC12 or visit the MACS website.

You May Also Like

Phone Shoppers Made Easy

Although there is no silver bullet that will allow you to bring in every first-time caller, there are a number of things you can do to get more appointments. In this article, I would like to share some of the best practices your advisors can use that will generate immediate results.

By Bob
Cooper of Elite

With
vehicles being built better than ever before, and with service intervals
continually being extended, you are going to see your customers less often.
This means your service advisors are going to have to be razor sharp when the
phone rings. Although there is no silver bullet that will allow you to bring in
every first-time caller, there are a number of things you can do to get more
appointments. In this article, I would like to share some of the best practices
your advisors can use that will generate immediate results.
In order for
someone to buy from you, three things need to occur: They have to like you,
they have to trust you, and they have to view you as a credible expert. So when
your phone rings, the first thing your advisors need to sell is themselves; not
the service or repair. The best way of accomplishing this goal is with a
professional, courteous and upbeat greeting, such as “Thank you for calling
Elite Auto Care, this is Bob. How can I help you this morning?” By using these
words we’re showing appreciation, by volunteering the name of our company we’re
assuring the callers that they’ve called the right number, and by providing our
name we’re beginning to build personal relationships. By asking how we can
help, we’re asking a question that will allow us to control the conversation.
By being upbeat and using the right tonality, our likeability goes up, and the
customer’s anxiety goes down.
The second
thing your advisors will need to do is slow the conversation down so the
callers don’t feel rushed, and they’ll have to become good detectives by asking
a number of questions. By having the callers talk, it will take their focus off
of the price, and it will allow them to begin to feel more comfortable with
your advisors at the same time.
When it comes
to asking for the appointment, one of the best kept secrets I can share with
you is this: With rare exception, your advisors need to offer every caller a
choice of appointment times, and whenever possible, one of those options should
be for them to bring the vehicle in now. For example; “I can squeeze you in
now, or would 2:15 be better for you?”
When it comes to auto repair, customers love finality, which is why
providing the “now” option is a powerful sales tool.
Now here’s
the absolute best-kept secret for dealing with the tough first-time callers.
Every one of your advisors needs to be aware that many “price shoppers” are
asking for price just to start the conversation, and beyond that, with rare
exception, callers don’t know the questions they should be asking. This is why
it’s a good idea to ask your service advisors to write down a list of the
questions that they think an educated caller would ask. Once they have their
lists completed, and committed to memory, then it’s easy for them to respond to
price inquiries with a statement like, “Well Larry, I know price is important
to you, and it should be, but if you call five different shops today, you’ll
more than likely get at least five different prices. Some of the other
questions you might want to ask are how long they’ve been in business, whether
or not they have certified technicians and a drug-free workplace program, and
you might want to have them walk you through their diagnostic processes as
well. You might also want to ask them if they always explore all of the options
that are available to customers when it comes to any recommended repairs, what
kind of warranties they provide, and if those warranties are in writing.”  Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve closed hundreds,
if not thousands of tough first-time “price shoppers” using this technique, so
I know it will work for you.
 If you’re still not quite sold, then consider
this. If you take my recommendations, when those price shoppers start calling
other shops, you know as well as I do that they’ll more than likely ask some of
the questions your advisors suggested to them. Not only will your competitors
be caught off guard and struggle with the answers, but in each case, the
callers will be thinking of your advisors. This is when they’ll not only realize
how well your advisors handled the call, but they’ll trust your advisors, and
you bet; they’ll now view them as credible experts as well.
For help permanently
increasing your service advisors’ sales and CSI scores, learn more about the Elite Masters Service Advisor Training
Program.

The True Cost Of Comebacks

Comebacks are a hot topic today. You need to track all comebacks, determine the reason (tech error, part error, training issue, other) and then calculate the true cost of the comeback.

Want To Increase A/C Sales?

Have your techs, as part of their preliminary checks, turn on the A/C and see if the system is working. Is the compressor turning on? Are all the fan speeds working? Is the system getting cold? Is there a smell from the vents?

Call For Entries For The ATMC National Excellence In Training Awards

The Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC) has issued a call for entries for the 2014 National Excellence in Training Awards. The annual program is designed to highlight the importance of training to the success of the transportation industry by honoring highly effective or innovative training programs. The awards are open to any person or entity providing training in the industry.

CARS 2014: ‘Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile’

From ASA comes word that CARS this year “is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” This year’s CARS will be held July 30-Aug. 2 in Detroit and, for the first time, the focus will be on younger techs. Each program at CARS this year has been handpicked with an eye toward making your shop better, said Donny Seyfer, chairman-elect of the Automotive Service Association, which sponsors CARS.

Other Posts

GAAS Attendees Get ‘Connected’ In Chicago

Attendees of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium’s (GAAS) 2014 Connected conference were engaged in a range of high-level topics affecting the automotive aftermarket now and in the future.

Raybestos Rattlesnake Sweepstakes Winner Receives His Ride

Not even heavy rain and winds could dampen the festive mood at Automotive Electric Distributors (AED) in Vancouver, Wash., on Friday, May 9, the day that David Cramer received the keys to his custom 2014 Raybestos Rattlesnake Toyota Tundra.

NACE/CARS 2014 Meets Shop Owners’ Education, Training Needs

NACE/CARS 2014 has announced the full training and education conference program that organizers say will have shop owners, technicians and industry stakeholders covered from A to Z when it comes to training, education and unbeatable new sessions. In addition to this year’s event being the largest conference offering in NACE/CARS history, show organizers also have many of the industry’s leading experts speaking at this year’s event.

June 9-15 Is Automotive Service Professionals Week

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has declared June 9-15 as National Automotive Service Professionals Week. Building on the success of Automotive Service Professionals Day established in 2001, ASE launched National Automotive Service Professional’s Week in 2005 to honor the commitment and dedication of automotive, truck and collision technicians, along with parts specialists and other support professionals who serve the motoring public.