Posted 4/1/2009

Get on the Map, Gain New Customers

As a reminder, each month ASA offers a monthly special to its members. Anytime in the month of April, ASA members can save $20 on the ASA Good to Go Shop Locator enhanced listing.

The "Find The Nearest ASA Shop Locator" is a great tool for capturing new customers and building a larger patron base.

By integrating MapQuest technology, ASA's "Find The Nearest ASA Shop" feature allows motorists to access maps and driving directions to your shop. Motorists can search for a repair facility by company name, street address, city, state or ZIP code and a link to your shop's Web site is also accessible to searchers.

ASA is providing an upgrade opportunity for members who want to enhance their free listing to include other information such as specific services and payment options, shop hours, and shop certification and affiliations.

By calling the ASA membership department, (800) 272-7467, ext. 295, you, too, can take advantage of this golden opportunity to use the enhanced listing and receive national exposure at a minimal cost.

ASA-Mo/Kan Celebrates VISION 2009

ASA-Missouri/Kansas celebrated its annual VISION Hi-Tech Training and Expo at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan. Sheri Hamilton, executive director of ASA-Missouri/Kansas, said more than 1,300 automotive service professionals attended the show. VISION offered more than 11,000 hours of training, which included technical and managerial sessions throughout the weekend as well as an awards dinner, general session and a variety of spouse activities. Sponsors like AC Delco, Bosch, CARQUEST, Hunter Engineering and O'Reilly Parts helped make the event a success!

ASA on a TV or Newstand Near You ...

ASA continues to be a "go to" source for information and research by the trade and consumer press. This is one more way ASA strives to elevate the public's awareness of ASA and the thousands of members it represents. ASA has been used as a source or quoted in the following consumer publications or media outlets recently:

• CNN Headline News
• Forbes
• FORTUNE
• Janesville Gazette
• McClatchy News

ASA to Host Capitol Hill Fly-In

Insurance Reform, Parts Quality Highlight Agenda

The Automotive Service Association will host a Capitol Hill Fly-In for ASA collision members July 28-29 in Washington, D.C. Watch for further details on www.TakingThe Hill.com, ASA's legislative Web site.

ASA will assist its collision members in scheduling key appointments on Capitol Hill to meet with policymakers. Two of the most important issues for the collision repair industry are the future of insurance regulation and how the federal government may address automotive parts policy. Congress has reviewed the state of insurance regulation in recent years and held numerous public hearings. Parts policy will be debated in the Congress as part of patent reform or other legislative initiatives.

As this issue of AutoInc. goes to print, registration information is being finalized. Registration will be available on www.Taking TheHill.com. Contact ASA's Collision Division at (800) ASA-SHOP (272-7467), ext. 236, for more information. Or e-mail Denise Caspersen, Collision Division manager, at denisec@asashop.org.

Order Your Copy of the 2009 Official Warranty Guide

The Automotive Service Association has discounted copies of the 2009 Official Warranty Guide published by J&L Warranty Pro. Customized with the ASA logo on the cover, this booklet is a great resource that details every manufacturer's warranty guidelines, deductibles, warranty extensions and other pertinent warranty information.

These handy guides help independent repair facilities:

• Appraise used vehicles with greater confidence.

• Be sure of which type of warranty transfer applies and whether transfer requirements have been met.

• Get factory defects repaired under warranty and let the factory pay for emissions component repairs, even after basic warranties have expired.

The Official Warranty Guide also helps the independent repair center know what components may be still covered under warranty and what is not. This enables them to educate their customers and help them make educated decisions about repairs and service to their vehicle - reinforcing the fact that independent service centers deliver the best value in automotive service. Use these warranty guides to assist your customers and help your bottom line. To order copies at almost 50 percent off the list price, please visit www.ASAstore.com and click on "References."

Now Available! Consumers' Guidelines to ESPs

The Automotive Service Association and its Mechanical Division Operations Committee have developed a new and timely tool to help explain extended service plans to consumers. "Extended Service Plans (ESPs)/Extended Warranties - Consumers' Guidelines to ESPs" is available for free to consumers at www.ASAshop.org. With research indicating that more motorists are keeping their cars longer and getting them serviced - as opposed to purchasing new vehicles - this document helps educate motorists about the different types of extended service plans and how to select the right one to meet their needs.

Be sure to tell your customers about this free and useful resource!

Getting Your Name Out There

Coming Soon: Look for ASA's NEW PR Kit!

ASA's re-launch of its PR Kit in an electronic format is almost complete! It includes more than a dozen press release templates, tips and other items to help members in their communication efforts. This tool can be used to market your shop in a variety of ways and more easily communicate with local media outlets.

This will be a FREE resource available to ASA members. Look for more details coming soon!

Keller Bros. Honored

Keller Bros. Auto in Littleton, Colo., an ASA member-shop since 1997, has been named an "Ethics in Business" winner and was honored at an awards luncheon March 26. The Colorado Ethics in Business Award program was founded by the University of Denver, Coloradobiz magazine and the Samaritan Institute.

David Rogers, chief operating officer of Keller Bros. Auto, said, "We train our staff members to become educators rather than good salespeople. We trust customers to be intelligent enough to make the right decisions if they have all of the facts. The key is making sure they do have all of the facts."

Rogers also said he is proud of his employees. "They're all highly educated, considerate human beings," said Rogers. "Each of them has a natural desire to help other people ... I can teach anyone how to fix a car. But no one can train you to care about people. That's a character trait, and it's my job to find and hire those people who feel that way."