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VOL. 3 ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER 2013
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NACE 2013 Proceeds As Expected, Eyes Turn to Revitalized Show in Detroit in 2014 To no one’s surprise, the 2013 NACE exhibition was a downsized event from previous years, but the Las Vegas-venue may have been the Mike Anderson most appropriate brought his tradelaunching pad for mark mix of humor, experience, consul- what is expected to tation, and evangel- be a revitalized ism to the NACE NACE event in Dekeynote address. troit next summer. Attendance has been down for the past three years, with a slight
uptick for the 2011 show in Orlando, FL. This year’s event saw another attendance dip, which ASA Executive Director Dan Risley says was expected. There were significant successes at the 2013 show such as a popular keynote by industry veteran Mike Anderson and the MSO Symposium which has been growing in attendance, Mike Anderson kicked off the 2013 NACE Expo with a keynote speech entitled “The Future Is Not Set in Stone” at the Opening General Session/Collision Industry Forum.
Anderson’s familiar audience engagement techniques were on display as he employed humor, moving personal annecdotes, and even his
Tourette’s syndrome ticks, as models and metaphors for perseverance, unity and action in the industry. See NACE 2013, Page 4
Autobody News Associations Issue covering some local and national associations outside your area. See pp. 10, 14, 22, 28, 30, and 34. In the Spring, we’ll publish updates on associations from other parts of the country. Tell us about your favorite Collision Repair Associations.
AASPI Board of Directors Releases Statement Denouncing PartsTrader Mandates
shadow of a doubt that the overwhelming purpose of this program is to minimize the shop’s control of their business and expand the profitability of State Farm,” said AASPI President Jeff Kallemeyn. “PartsTrader is crippling the business relationship between shops and suppliers, and ultimately the vehicle owner will receive inferior repairs due to mandated usage of PartsTrader.” AASPI will be hosting a statewide meeting on November 23, 2013 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL, featuring guests from MCRA and their See AASPI v PartsTrader, Page 12
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The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Illinois (AASPI) Board of Directors has released a statement officially denouncing PartsTrader and supporting the efforts of the Mississippi Collision Repair Association (MCRA) in their lawsuit against State Farm to halt the insurer from requiring that shops in Mississippi use PartsTrader. AASPI’s statement comes on the heels of State Farm expanding its mandated use of PartsTrader beyond the Chicago metro area and into the entire state of Illinois. “PartsTrader and its mandated use by State Farm proves beyond a
AASP-MN Files Formal Complaint with State Dept of Commerce Re PartsTrader Mandates The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) has filed a formal complaint with the Minnesota Department of Commerce requesting timely administrative and/or legal action to prevent State Farm from mandating that repair shops use the PartsTrader parts procurement system. The Complaint and Request for Relief is based on State Farm’s violation of Minn. Stat. § 72B.092, subd. 1(6). This provision, enacted in 2007, prohibits insurers from specifying “…the use of a particular vendor for the procurement of parts or other materials necessary for the satisfactory repair of the vehicle.” The complaint states that the mandated use of PartsTrader restricts market options for parts procurement, and therefore should be prohibited as intended by the legislature. AASP-MN was instrumental in getting this provision included in Minnesota law. In May 2007, Minnesota’s Governor, Tim Pawlenty, signed into law a bill, proposed by AASP-MN, that added specifying parts procure-
ment vendors to the list of prohibitions on insurers in collision cases. In addition to existing language providing for an insured’s right to choose a shop and other prohibitions, two additional prohibitions were included to prevent insurers in collision cases from adjusting a damage appraisal without conducting a physical inspection or specifying parts vendors. The law states that no insurer shall: ● adjust a damage appraisal of a repair shop when the extent of damage is in dispute without conducting a physical inspection of the vehicle; or ● specify the use of a particular vendor for the procurement of parts or other materials necessary for the satisfactory repair of the vehicle. This clause does not require the insurer to pay more than a reasonable market price for parts of like kind and quality in adjusting a claim. For more than a year, AASP-MN has corresponded and met with Department of Commerce officials to express concerns regarding the mandated use of PartsTrader in other See AASP-MN Complaint, Page 29
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