New England Automotive Report September 2021

Serving the New England Collision and Mechanical Repair Industry

"Your Massachusetts Auto Body Association"

September 2021 U.S.A. $5.95

WE REASONS TO JOIN AASP/MA – AND REASONS TO STAY

NORTHEAST ® 2021 A Preview

Preparing Consumers For

AN INSURER FIGHT

www.grecopublishing.com

We provide the highest level of customer-friendly service through our knowledgeable and helpful personnel!

WE WANT TO

EARN YOUR BUSINESS!

COLONIAL NISSAN 104 Mystic Avenue Medford, MA. 02155 Phone Number: 781-395-3025 FAX Number: 781-475-5063

COLONIAL HONDA OF DARTMOUTH 225 State Road (Rte. 6) Dartmouth, MA. 02747 Parts Direct: 508-997-2919 FAX Number: 508-730-6578

CITY SIDE SUBARU 790 Pleasant Street Belmont, MA. 02478 Phone Number: 617-826-5013 FAX Number: 617-489-0733

COLONIAL FORD OF PLYMOUTH 11 Pilgrim Hill Road Plymouth, MA. 02360 Phone Number: 800-233-8109 FAX Number: 508-830-1658

NORTH END SUBARU 757 Chase Road (Rte. 13) Lunenburg, MA. 01462 Phone Number: 877-289-0053 FAX Number: 978-582-9843

COLONIAL CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE-RAM 24 Coolidge Street (Rte. 62) Hudson, MA. 01749 Phone Number: 978-568-8000 FAX Number: 978-562-1213

COLONIAL FORD OF MARLBOROUGH 428 Maple Street Marlborough, MA. 01752 Phone Number: 888-460-1125 FAX Number: 508-460-3464

COLONIAL SOUTH CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE-RAM 42 State Road (Rte. 6) Dartmouth, MA. 02747 Phone Number: 508-984-1900 FAX Number: 508-996-5801

COLONIAL CADILLAC 201 Cambridge Road Woburn, MA. 01801 Phone Number: 781-935-7009 FAX Number: 781-933-7728

NORTH END MAZDA 757 Chase Road Lunenburg, MA. 01462 Phone Number: 800-322-1241 FAX Number: 978-582-9841

COLONIAL VOLKSWAGEN COLONIAL SOUTH CHEVROLET 89 Turnpike Road (Rte. 9) 361 State Road (Rte. 6) Westborough, MA. 01581 Dartmouth, MA. 02747 Phone Number: 508-996-6266 Phone Number: 888-322-6570 FAX Number: 508-979-1219 FAX Number: 508-616-0445 COLONIAL VOLKSWAGEN OF MEDFORD 162 Mystic Avenue Medford, MA. 02155 Phone Number: 781-475-5200 FAX Number: 781-391-3506 WELLESLEY VOLKSWAGEN 231 Linden Street Wellesley, MA. 02482 Phone Number: 800-228-8344 FAX Number: 781-237-6024 Contact: Dan Bettencourt / Wholesale Parts Manager

COLONIAL CHEVROLET 171 Great Road Acton, MA. 01720 Phone Number: 800-787-2787 FAX Number: 978-263-8587 COLONIAL WEST CHEVROLET 314 John Fitch Highway Fitchburg, MA. 01420 Phone Number: 978-345-5532 FAX Number: 978-345-1152

• We carry over $2,000,000 in collision & mechanical parts • Daily UPS shipping available • Servicing Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire • We build our reputation on providing you the best SERVICE!!

Place any order online with our parts order form at www.buycolonial.com

THE DIFFERENCE IS DEBEER PREMIUM REFINISHING The WaterBase 900+ Series delivers beyond VOC compliance with high-opacity hues for superior coverage.

Easy-to-use with 25 percent less mixing colors, yet a complete system with must-have primers, clearcoats and ancillaries, shops have everything needed to drive efficiencies—impacting inventory and overhead, and productivity and profit. Supported by global color tools, the DeBeer Refinish WaterBase 900+ Series achieves the highest degree of color precision resulting in a superior finish.

Experience the DeBeer Difference. de-beer.com

4 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 • Volume 19, No. 9

DEPARTMENTS

CONTENTS COVER STORY

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

by Kevin Gallerani 6 | The Crybaby Continuum EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

by Evangelos “Lucky” Papageorg 10 | We All Benefit When You Join…Here’s How! LOCAL NEWS 12 | Thousands in Training Grant Funds Available to AASP/MA Members 12 | White Lightning No More: AASP/MA Member Dan Lamontagne Moves On

by Joel Gausten 14 | ADALB Regulatory Review Continues Slow Pace 14 | AASP/MA Shop Owner Remembered on First Anniversary of Passing

26 | We Want You: Reasons to Join AASP/MA – and Reasons to Stay

by Joel Gausten

LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

NATIONAL NEWS 16 | NORTHEAST® Returns September 10-12 with Live Training and Networking 18 | Collision Repair Students Restore Prized Vehicle for Kidnapping Survivor VENDOR AFFINITY PROGRAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 20 | Amato Insurance Agency/World Insurance

by Alana Bonillo

ALSO THIS ISSUE 8 | AASP/MA GOLF TOURNAMENT SAVE THE DATE

30 | Preparing Your Customer to

21 | AASP/MA VENDOR AFFINITY PROGRAM SPONSORS

by James A. Castleman, Esq.

Deal with Their Insurer

27 | AASP/MA MEMBER APPLICATION

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 5

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The Crybaby Continuum KEVIN GALLERANI

A few months ago, I used this space to encourage people in the industry to stop being crybabies over everything and get involved in building a better future. It probably won’t come as a shock, but I got a lot of phone calls over that. A lot of people thanked me for expressing what they had felt for a long time; others admitted that they did more bitching than being part of a solution.

Here’s the thing: I still hear complaints every day about the way things are. Yes, this business is frustrating, but I honestly believe we’re all wasting our breath if we’re not putting our words into action. Please read the articles in this month’s issue and really consider everything that AASP/MA does on your behalf and all the benefits you receive by being a member. There are avenues available to you through your membership that actually make up for your dues payment through the services we have negotiated for you via our various Vendor Affinity Program (VAP) participants. AASP/MA actually pays you money if you take advantage of everything that membership gives you. All you have to do is get active and support us as we support you.

Nothing I’ve just said reinvents the wheel, but it’s worth repeating. AASP/MA exists for you and because of you. Unless you use your membership, you’re just waving your fist and yelling at the sky – and I’m still tired of hearing it.

STAFF

AASP/MA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PUBLISHER

President Kevin Gallerani

SALES DIRECTOR

AASP/MA STATEWIDE DIRECTORS

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Director At-Large Adam Ioakim

Thomas Greco | thomas@grecopublishing.com

Alicia Figurelli | alicia@grecopublishing.com

Joel Gausten | joel@grecopublishing.com

EDITORIAL/CREATIVE COORDINATOR Alana Bonillo | alana@grecopublishing.com

OFFICE MANAGER

Donna Greco | donna@grecopublishing.com

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

AASP/MA DIRECTORS

Can I count on you being at our next General Membership Meeting? Will you make calls on behalf of your business to lawmakers when you’re asked to do so? Will you reach out to our VAP supporters and utilize their offerings? If you answer no to any of these questions, then I honestly don’t know if anything AASP/MA does will ever help you.

We need you. Right now.

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

AASP/MA PRESIDENT KEVIN GALLERANI is president of Cape Auto Collision Center in Plymouth, MA. can be reached at (508) 747-0316 or kevin@capeautobody.com.

Vice President Matthew Ciaschini

Treasurer Dana Snowdale

Legislative Director At-Large Tom Ricci

ZONE 1 Mike Penacho Dan Wenzel John Studer

ZONE 2 Ray Belsito Joshua Fuller Brenda Lacaire

Affiliate Director Rick Fleming

Affiliate Director Bill Spellane

ZONE 3 Andrew Potter Brian Stone Phil Morin

Secretary Gary Cloutier

Collision Director At-Large Rob DelGallo ZONE 4 Kevin Kyes Jim Marshall Paul Tuscano

Joe Greco | joe@grecopublishing.com

PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202, Nutley, NJ 07110 Corporate: (973) 667-6922 / FAX: (973) 235-1963 www.grecopublishing.com

AASP/MA ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AASP/MA Executive Director Evangelos “Lucky” Papageorg

New England Automotive Report is published monthly by TGP, Inc., 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110. Distributed free to qualified recipients; $48 to all others. Additional copies of New England Automotive Report are available at $5 per copy. Reproduction of any portions of this publication is specifically prohibited without written permission of the publisher. The opinions and ideas appearing in this magazine are not necessarily representations of TGP Inc. or of AASP/MA. Copyright © 2021 by Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. Images courtesy of www.istockphoto.com

6 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

AASP/MA Administrative Assistant Alana Bonillo

WWW.AASPMA.ORG

Affiliate Directors Frank Patterson Jeff White Don Dowling P. O. Box 850210 Braintree, MA 02185 617-574-0741

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 7

"Your Massachusetts Auto Body Association" PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

2021ANNUAL GOLF OUTING

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

NEW LOCATION! Heritage Country Club, Charlton, MA

$175/Individual

$700/Foursome

Six Hole-in-One Chances! Contests Galore! Don’t miss!

REGISTRATION BEGINS: 7:30am - TEE TIME: 10am

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE! Tee Sponsor - $200

(Exclusive sponsorship; comes with commemorative sign with your company logo)

on! o s t c A rships o s n o Sp ing are go ! y quickl

Hole Sponsor - $300

(Comes with commemorative flag/sign with your company logo)

Kickoff Event/Ball Drop Sponsor - $500 Breakfast Sponsors - $500 Lunch/Dinner Sponsors - $750 Raffle Prize Sponsor - $1,500

(All of the above sponsorships come with commemorative signage with your company logo)

EXCLUSIVE HOLE-IN-ONE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES $10,000 Hole-in-One Sponsor - $1,500 2022 US Golf Open ($7,500 value) Hole-in-One Sponsor - $1,000 Patriots Away Game ($7,500 value) Hole-in-One Sponsor - $1,000 Tablet Hole-in-One Sponsor - $750 Putter Hole-in-One Sponsor - $750 Yeti Cooler Hole-in-One Sponsor - $750 (Each exclusive Hole-in-One sponsorship comes with commemorative flag/sign with your company logo)

EVENT SPONSORED BY: Click theNew link below or copy/paste to your browser to learn more!

England Automotive Report https://aasp-golf-tournament.perfectgolfevent.com/registration

8 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 9

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

EVANGELOS “LUCKY” PAPAGEORG

We All Benefit When You Join…

Here’s How!

“There is nothing free in this world” is indeed very true.

There are, however, “exceptions” to every rule. One such “exception” is your membership to AASP/MA. Some of you will say that this is just a ploy to get you to join or just keep reading another one of my messages. The only way you will know for sure is to read all the way to the end – no cheating. Of course, there are some of you who will read this and still not grasp the full meaning or value of being a member of an “Alliance.” You feel that you have all the possible knowledge you need to continue your struggle against the adversities we experience as collision repairers all on your own. You are happy to stand on the sidelines and ride the coattails of those who are working together to keep things from getting worse and are actually making inroads to make things better.

But for those of you who are interested in a better future for your business and actually getting a return on your investment, there are many ways this can be achieved. In my position as executive director, I have the opportunity and the privilege to

10 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

speak with shop owners throughout Massachusetts and across the country. In doing so, I hear and see not only the frustrations we all experience but also the many successes that shops experience on a day-to-day basis. We have all experienced, at one time or another, insurers doing their best to make the claims process as arduous and grueling as possible. There are those who refuse to throw their hands in the air or lay down but rather put the effort in on behalf of their customers and their businesses. Their successes set precedence for their facilities, not only for today but going forward. These same individuals know that the tide floats all boats to the same level. They share their successes as an example of what gains can be made when working together and not giving up.

I was recently contacted by a member of the “Alliance” regarding the failure of an appraiser to accept the Mitchell Refinishing Guide as the determining documentation regarding the refinishing costs for a repair. The shop initially called me out continued on pg. 38

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 11

[LOCAL] NEWS

by Joel Gausten

Thousands in Training Grant Funds Available to AASP/MA Members As the industry works to rise above the recent challenges of COVID-19, many shops are struggling to find the funds necessary to adequately train new and existing employees. Fortunately, AASP/ MA members can turn to the Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP) for considerable financial assistance.

The WTFP provides two-year grants up to $250,000 based on a business’ size and specific training needs.

By working with the Massachusetts-based Human Power Solutions (which works as an intermediary between the state and grant recipients), AASP/MA member Tom Ricci (Body & Paint Center; Hudson) was recently approved for $83,000 toward his shop’s I-CAR, VeriFacts Automotive, in-shop safety and soft skills training.

“This grant is a hidden jewel for AASP/MA members,” he says.

“We’re going to spend money on training anyway, so why not use a grant to train our technicians and attract new ones?”

The grant application process typically takes roughly six months from filing the paperwork to receiving the approved funds.

Human Power Solutions CEO Sandra Kearney is currently working with a number of AASP/MA shops in reaching the finish line.

“A lot of auto body shops don’t have the bandwidth to do the grant writing,” she says. “It’s definitely a lot of work to complete the process, and many shops are too busy to find the time to do it on their own. We’ve worked with auto industry-specific training vendors to make sure they have their outlines and the criteria of

how the shops will be using them. We make sure the vendors are compliant with what the shops are trying to do through the grant.”

“I could have filed the grant myself, but it would have taken a truckload of time to figure it out, which I probably never would have found running the day-to-day operations,” Ricci says. “It would have been painful without Sandra.”

Additionally, Human Power Solutions provides soft skills training (leadership, communications, etc.) to grant recipients.

“It’s one thing to get shops technically trained, but customer service is important to focus on as well.”

Shops that receive grant money are required to meet key performance indicators (KPIs) along the way to ensure that the funds are being used for their intended purposes.

“The state wants a very clear plan of how this training will benefit the company,” Kearney says. Ricci discussed how the grant is benefiting his business in a special July 13 TV news report on NBC Boston (bit.ly/bakerreport).

Human Power Solutions, which recently signed on as a Silver-level participant in AASP/MA’s Vendor Affinity Program, is scheduled to appear at the association’s October 20 General Membership Meeting to provide an extensive overview of available grant opportunities.

For more information on the Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP), please visit hpowersolutions.com or workforcetrainingfund.org.

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

White Lightning No More: AASP/MA Member Dan Lamontagne Moves On Since March 1991, White Lightning Auto Body in Williamsburg has thrived under the leadership of owner Dan Lamontagne. However, that will soon change.

Forty-two years after being introduced to collision repair as a vocational school student, the veteran association member has decided to close his business at the end of the month.

“My plan is to take three months off and get my head clear, just because I’ve barely had any time off since I’ve been in business. Come January, I’m going to be looking for a job. I’d be willing to consider working on the ‘office’ side of things.”

Although 30 years appears to be Lamontagne’s limit as a shop owner, he is saying goodbye to his facility at the absolute peak of its powers.

12 September 2021

“The biggest reason why I’m closing is because business is too good. I’ve never been busier than in the time since COVID-19 started. Since last year, I’ve been booked out four to five months in advance. I turned away three jobs today, and I’m overbooked until I close.”

An active participant in association life since the late ’90s, he credits much of his professional longevity to the knowledge he’s gained by attending industry meetings and events.

“When I started the business, I told everyone it would be a miracle if I made it three years, but here I am 30 years later!

One of the things I attribute to being able to make it was joining the Massachusetts Auto Body Association [MABA] after about seven years in business. I was on the verge of losing my shop, but by talking with my peers, I was able to turn things around.

New England Automotive Report

Longtime AASP/MA member Dan Lamontagne is saying goodbye

Joining the association was the best thing I ever did.”

Lamontagne’s time in MABA saw him serve as president of the association’s Western Chapter, a role he continued when the association merged with AASP/MA more than a decade ago. One of the most active collision repair groups in the state, the Western Chapter built a reputation for hosting fun and well-attended gatherings, including its highly popular annual Clambake.

After operating as a one-man shop for 21 years, he brought in help for the following seven before that technician’s retirement led him to steer the ship alone again for the past two years. Looking back at his career, he feels that he succeeded thanks to following a simple yet extremely effective formula.

“Since the day I started, every person who’s walked through this door has been treated with respect in the way I would want to be treated. I make sure I give them value for their money. Even today when I complete a job and step back and look at it, it still makes me feel good inside to know I did that.”

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

WHOLESALE PARTS 800.992.6220

WHOLESALE PARTS 800.992.6220

GM PARTS .................Press 2 FORD.........................Press 5

O ne Call, One Truck and 11 franchises delivered to your Collision Center!

HONDA .....................Press 3

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

KIA ............................Press *

Team of 11 parts professionals to assist you with your wholesale parts needs 30 Trucks on the road daily serving MA, CT and RI Two deliveries per day in most markets Web Based dispatching tools with real time ETAs Three Field Sales Professionals to assist you $6.1 Million in Inventory to support our Wholesale Customers’ needs

HYUNDAI ..................Press 7

LEXUS........................Press # MAZDA .....................Press 6 NISSAN......................Press 4 SUBARU ....................Press 8 TOYOTA .....................Press 1 VOLKSWAGEN ...........Press 9

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 13

[LOCAL] NEWS

ADALB Regulatory Review Continues Slow Pace The August 3 teleconference meeting of the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) saw the continuation of its review of its previously submitted revisions to 212 CMR 2.00.

In October 2016, the ADALB voted to approve and submit revisions to its current regulations following a months-long debate and review. On February 8, 2021, the Office of the Secretary of Administration and Finance (A&F) informed current ADALB Chairman Michael Donovan via a letter that the Board could continue the process of amending its regulations but must consider key issues raised by the Division of Insurance in 2016 regarding some of the Board’s proposed and submitted amendments.

At this most recent meeting, Board member Peter Smith (MAPFRE) essentially pushed for a complete re-review of the proposed regulations (complete with another round of public comments), arguing that he, Chairman Donovan and Board member Samantha Tracy (Arbella Insurance) were not on the ADALB at the time of the original vote. Board members Rick Starbard (Rick’s Auto Collision; Revere) and Bill Johnson (Pleasant

Street Auto; South Hadley/Belchertown) took great exception to Smith’s suggestion.

“If we go through that process again, we could have another Board by the time this thing actually gets voted on and then have it kicked again,” Starbard said. “Are we going to be 10 years out before anything gets done?”

After considerable discussion, the Board decided to follow a streamlined process of only reviewing the DOI’s disapproved items and allow any Board members to submit any new concerns or recommendations for the proposed regulation changes prior to the ADALB’s next meeting on October 5.

AASP/MA members are strongly urged to view the video of the August 3 meeting in the Members Only section of aaspma.org for a greater insight into the debate between the insurance and collision repair sides of the Board and insurers’ attempts to further delay clarification and positive changes to the CMRs that will ultimately benefit and protect consumers as well as collision repairers.

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

AASP/MA Shop Owner Remembered on First Anniversary of Passing The AASP/MA community recently marked the first anniversary of the passing of member Gary Loiurio, who left us in August 2020 at the age of 66.

Born in Weymouth, Gary was the owner of Body Magic Inc. in Whitman for 41 years and was a founder and former Board member of the Massachusetts Auto Body Association’s (MABA) Plymouth Chapter. Away from the industry, he was an avid Patriots fan and enjoyed going to Red Sox games with his family and close friends.

An accomplished musician, he played in several groups and was best known as a member of the band The Dirty Dogs.

Gary is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan; daughters Angela Loiurio and Christine Monaghan; son Michael Loiurio; sister Donna Ready; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Steven and Scott.

AASP/MA and New England Automotive Report offer our condolences to Gary’s family and friends and those who keep his memory alive.

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

14 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

Gary Loiurio with his grandson, Jackson

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 15

[NATIONAL] NEWS

Returns September 10-12 with Live Training and Networking The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) is enthusiastically preparing for the 2021 NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show, which will be held LIVE and IN PERSON September 10-12 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ. After more than a year of lockdowns, social distancing and the “Zoom Gloom” of virtual meetings and events, the collision repair and mechanical service communities are clamoring to get back to the way this industry is meant to be experienced: In person.

NORTHEAST’s return to a live format has inspired excitement from new and returning exhibitors that have already signed on to support the show and showcase their products and services to thousands of attendees. Not surprisingly, NORTHEAST Gold Sponsor Ford was one of the first to pledge its support.

“Ford first attended the show during the launch of the new 2015 F-150,” shares Gerry Bonanni, Ford’s senior engineer for paint and body repair. “We really like the interaction with all of the body shop personnel attending, especially visiting with those who actually perform the work in our great industry. After months of quarantine, we look forward to the opportunity to meet and engage in person with our friends in the industry who will be attending the show.”

One again, the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) will provide training seminars and other events throughout the weekend via its popular Collision Professional Repairer Education Program (Collision P.R.E.P.), which will feature some of the industry’s best-known speakers and instructors.

“WMABA is proud to return to NORTHEAST with a live Collision P.R.E.P. series for the third time,” WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler comments. “Although we’ve all been able to conduct business and offer training via virtual events since last year, nothing compares to doing these things in a one-on-one format. Repairers are hungry to get out of their four walls, and these events will give them the chance to experience the familiar while also getting a handle on new trends, ideas and practices that will help them build a more productive and profitable future. Collision P.R.E.P. will be one of only a few live educational opportunities even offered to the industry in 2021. With much of the normal options being virtual, there are only a couple of groups even meeting in person before the year ends. WMABA and AASP/NJ are making every stride they can to bring the education and show forward.”

Oregon-based shop owner and educator Ron Reichen (Precision Body & Paint) is set to travel to New Jersey for the NORTHEAST debut of his course, “Structural Identification for Profitability – Knowing and Understanding Structural Damage.” In light of the demands facing today’s industry, it’s no surprise that he intends to use part of his discussion to emphasize the importance of OEMrecommended/required repair procedures.

16 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

“It couldn’t be more important than it is now […] You can’t assume [the procedures will be the same] because you did that repair a month ago on the same vehicle. You have to pull out that OEM repair procedure again and again, because the manufacturers change them very frequently.”

Reichen is excited to finally present in front of actual people as opposed to attempting to get his points across over a computer screen.

“In an in-person class as opposed to a Zoom meeting, it just seems like the participants and attendees are more comfortable asking questions as they come to their mind. That’ll spur a thought in another attendee, and we really get into a good discussion.”

The 2021 Collision P.R.E.P. will also feature the return of veteran NORTHEAST presenter John Shoemaker of NORTHEAST Platinum Sponsor BASF, who will preside over the September 11 course “Productive Refinishing Processes.” His presentation will explore how to utilize proven best practices to maximize paint shop productivity by reducing common shortfalls, minimize paint flaws, improve paint hours per booth cycle and increase overall throughput.

While there are plenty of things that require industry members’ attention in the here and now, Collision P.R.E.P. will shine a light on what collision repair will look like down the road. During his can’t-miss presentation, Frank Terlep of Auto Techcelerators, LLC will take showgoers on a journey to the year 2035, which he predicts will have a drastically different collision repair landscape than the one we see today.

“By presenting what I think the industry will look like in 14 years, I hope to educate the industry on new technologies and trends they will ultimately need to learn about, understand and implement into their businesses,” he says. “A couple of technologies that will change industry practices dramatically in 14 years are telematics and Artificial Intelligence [AI]. Telematics will change everything from first notice of loss [FNOL] to how recalls are handled. AI, which is already making its way into the industry, will change the way estimates are written, the way hail damage is estimated, the way total losses are managed and much more. AI will affect all aspects of the industry!”

Additionally, Collision P.R.E.P. is set to include a special panel discussion devoted to demystifying the Right to Appraisal, otherwise known as the Appraisal Clause.

Comprised of both repairers and experts, the candid gathering promises to explore real-world situations with real results – both wins and lessons learned – by those who are deeply involved in this sometimes-taboo topic.

Considering that it only takes a few hours to reach Secaucus, NJ from Massachusetts, NORTHEAST historically attracts strong continued on pg. 42

[NATIONAL] NEWS

Collision Repair Students Restore Prized Vehicle for Kidnapping Survivor Back in 2003, 15-year-old Cleveland resident Amanda Berry loved spending time with her grandfather and working with him on his prized 1986 Monte Carlo. He promised her that the car would be hers when she turned 16, but the day before her birthday delivered a nightmare that no one should ever endure. After being kidnapped, she was held hostage for a full decade before finally escaping and reuniting with her family. The story made national headlines and put Berry in the media spotlight, but she was just excited to be back with her loved ones and have an opportunity to continue working on the car.

Sadly, her grandfather was soon diagnosed with dementia; as a result, he struggled to remember her before he passed away.

Despite this tragic loss, she kept the beloved Monte Carlo, which by that time was in a greatly deteriorated state. Berry’s story caught the attention of the auto body department of Max S. Hayes High School in Cleveland. Beginning in 2019, dozens of students put in hundreds of hours – including on Saturdays – to fully restore the vehicle as per I-CAR standards. Thanks to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), the revamped Monte Carlo was unveiled publicly for the first time during a special ceremony at the July Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Cleveland.

Appearing on stage prior to seeing the upgraded Monte Carlo,

Berry expressed her deep appreciation for every student who gave of themselves to provide this special gift.

“First and foremost, thank you to my grandfather, who’s now in Heaven. He’s watching down, and he watched all of you guys do all the hard work. For that, I’ll be forever grateful and thankful […]

This is a dream come true that I actually didn’t think would ever come true.”

Amanda Berry reunited with a very special Monte Carlo SS PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

18 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

INTRODUCING OUR NEW NORTHEAST DISTRIBUTORS A Message from Ron Olsson, Pro Spot International President It’s with great pleasure that I introduce you to our two new Northeast Distributors, Centerline and Collision Tools, as our only authorized distributors in the region. We’re proud to partner with such quality companies who have been leaders in the collision repair industry for 30 plus years.

I’m also very proud of our team and our current product offerings that have been leading our industry for so many years. Knowing what we have in development and the new technologies that we are working on, we will continue to revolutionize the collision repair industry for many years to come. And it means so much to all of us at Pro Spot to be being a “Made in America” manufacturer because of the competitive advantage that this brings.

As your trusted collision repair partner in the Northeast region for 30 years, we’ve been through a lot together and today, we’re stronger than ever. Know that you have my personal commitment that we will never disappoint you and we will never let you down. We appreciate your business and know that we are behind you 100%.

In closing, please make sure to verify that your welders are registered with Pro Spot to assure that your warranty is up to date and valid. Don’t hesitate to contact our team, or me directly and let’s continue to build the future together!

Sincerely Ron Olsson, President Meet our new distributors at NORTHEAST Trade Show September 10th - 12th, 2021 BOOTH #437

Contact Us Today!

Long Island, NY, Eastern PA, NJ

New England: CT, MA, NH, VT, ME

www.centerlinespraybooths.com johnjr@centerlinesraybooths.com 631-841-3200

www.collisiontoolsinc.com jackwcti@gmail.com 855-219-2022

Pro Spot International, Inc. 5932 Sea Otter Place Carlsbad, CA 92010 877-PRO-SPOT www.prospot.com info@prospot.com

[VENDOR AFFINITY PROGRAM] MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

by Alana Bonillo

Amato Insurance Agency/World Insurance AASP/MA continues to bring new value to its members, this time through its latest partnership with Bronze-level Vendor Affinity Program participants Amato Insurance Agency (a division of World Insurance). Now, association members have an opportunity to save money on what is likely the second most costly business expense next to payroll: Health insurance.

AASP/MA member shops in good standing can now take advantage of competitive rates that could save them between 30 to 50 percent on premiums.

The Amato Insurance Agency has a long history working with associations, including those in the auto body industry. Principal Joe Amato, Sr. and his company have been partnered with the AASP’s New Jersey affiliate for more than 20 years. Currently, Amato serves as AASP/NJ’s Affiliate Board member. His New Jersey-based company has been providing property and casualty insurance programs for the automotive industries for years.

Roughly two and a half years ago, the Amato Insurance Agency became part of a national firm, the World Insurance Agency. The move expanded the Amato Insurance Agency’s footprint to the New England area and all 50 states. Amato says there likely isn’t an insurer he doesn’t represent, and the company is one of the 40 largest insurance agencies in the US. With an office in North Attleboro, he is eager to serve Massachusetts and the surrounding area.

Thanks to Congress passing a bill a few years that allows small businesses of like nature to come together to buy insurance as a group – as well as the Amato Insurance Agency’s relationship with AASP/MA Executive Director Evangelos “Lucky” Papageorg – affordable healthcare plans are now available as a benefit to AASP/ MA member shops.

“The federal program allowed small businesses to join together to purchase health insurance as a group getting rates similar to much larger companies,” Amato explains. “We started this program for AASP of New Jersey, and it has been very successful.

We are proud to be able to bring the same quality and benefits to Massachusetts.”

The program has saved New Jersey shops roughly $3,600 in premiums per employee per year.

“The health insurance program is pretty painless and can be done almost entirely online. Shops won’t even have to meet with a salesperson if it is not needed. They will have a dedicated number to call to handle claims and administrative issues. COBRA is also handled by us. It’s really worth the effort to send us your information and get a quote.”

Getting started is easy. AASP/MA members can submit their current insurance information via email at aaspma@worldinsurance.com or call Joe Amato, Jr. at (732) 530-6740, ext. 412to receive a competitive quote. Amato invites any AASP/MA member attending the NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show September 10-12 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ to visit the Amato Insurance Agency’s booth to chat about the program face to face.

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

20 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

A M P/

Thanks to our VAP Members for their continued support during this pandemic crisis.

AAS

"Your Massachusetts Auto Body Association" PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

VENDOR AFFINITY PROGRAM

SPONSORS

MASSACHUSETTS

DIAMOND LEVEL

Volkswagen

GOLD LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL

ADAS CALIBRATION SHOP

BUY FROM YOUR

& AASP/MA SPONSORS

For more information or to become a sponsor of AASP/MA please call (617) 574-0741 or email admin@aaspma.org.

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 21

Let talent shine.

BASF’s Vision+ Educational Expertise provides tailored solutions to customers from a wide variety of V+ University and V+ Technical University courses. Offered at over 24 locations across North America, BASF is constantly developing new content in OEM training, eLearning and more to keep our customers first-class.

BASF AUTOMOTIVE REFINISH COATINGS

™ basfrefinish.com

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 23

[COVER] STORY

by Joel Gausten

Reasons to Join AASP/MA – and Reasons to Stay It’s time to preach to the non-converted.

If you’re reading this magazine but are still on the fence about joining AASP/MA, this is the time to take the plunge. From various legislative endeavors to address stagnant rates and reform the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) to a slew of special discounts and incentives available through its Vendor Affinity Program (VAP), the association is stronger and more active than ever. But don’t take our word for it – read on for honest and direct feedback from dedicated members who have benefitted through the small investment in annual dues.

Previously a member of the Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA), shop owner Russell Oagles, Jr. (Five Star Collision Center, Inc.; Westport) joined AASP/MA shortly before the pandemic hit to show his support of the group’s ongoing campaign to establish a fair collision repair reimbursement rate for Massachusetts consumers.

“We need a more realistic average rate,” he says. “The one we have now has been a huge problem as we try to bring new employees to the door; we can’t compete with other industries. Keeping an employee coming to work requires that we pay them hourly close to what the entire business is currently receiving hourly to perform repairs and stay in operation. A McDonald’s menu from 1990 doesn’t have the same prices as it does in 2021, but our rate has not moved along the same lines.”

26 September 2021

E W

I WANT YOU

With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to subside, Oagles looks forward to becoming more active in AASP/MA and adding his voice to the call for change in how insurers currently negotiate with professional repair facilities.

“We hear, ‘That’s the prevailing rate,’ but nobody has shown me the data that confirms the accuracy of that amount.

However, that’s the rate they try to keep us at.”

As AASP/MA moves forward with its various efforts to strengthen the success and profitability of its members, it does so with the full support of decades-long association veterans. John Ellis, owner of John’s Collision in Hyannis, dates back to the MABA days and served on the Board of Directors in the early ‘90s. Thirty years later, he remains an avid believer that critical goals can only be reached by working alongside his peers in the field.

“I’m too stubborn to give up. We’re still fighting the same fights we fought back then in trying to get better paid […] I feel we’re always going in the right direction. We don’t always win, but if we don’t keep fighting, then we’re never going to get any better than where we are right now.”

Like Oagles, Ellis is quick to point out the need for true consumer reimbursement rate reform, especially with everything from technology to coronavirus shining a greater light on this problem than ever before.

“It slaps you in the face every day you go to work,” he says.

Another past MABA Board member, Ed Koslowsky of Major Impact in Carver,

New England Automotive Report

stays involved in AASP/MA after 51 years in business for one simple reason: The Board and other active members persevere tirelessly on his behalf.

“I know firsthand how hard those people work for the industry – with little to no reward. I just feel that to be in this industry, you have to be a member. There’s nobody else out there fighting for us […]

We should have 1,000 more members!”

As a real-world example of what AASP/MA membership has meant to him, Koslowsky recalls an issue he faced with an insurer that refused to pay his markup on a tow bill.

“We’re not the Bank of Carver.

Why should we be subsidizing insurance companies? We’re entitled to a markup.”

By researching the free documents provided by the association, he was able to locate a past opinion letter by then-Division of Insurance Legal Counsel Victor Fanikos that supported his position. After receiving this letter, the insurer ultimately paid Major Impact in full – including the shop’s markup, which alone paid for a considerable part of his annual dues.

“It was no small win, and that was due to the association and the documents it makes available to members.”

These are just a handful of stories that represent the past, present and future value of association life. If you’ve been spending time on the sidelines, you owe it to yourself to broaden your participation and join others in reshaping the industry.

In the words of John Ellis: “Send in your dues and get more involved.”

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

Membership Application 2021-2022

AASP-MA P.O. BOX 850210 Braintree, MA 02185 Phone: 617-574-0741 Fax: 973-235-1963 Email: admin@aaspma.org

Please complete this form and return to our office via mail, email or fax with your dues payment. Thank You!

BUSINESS INFORMATION Massachusetts Shop Registration # __________________ Total number of Staff (Techs, office, Mgrs)________ Company’s Official Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Business Physical Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Business Mailing Address (If Different): ________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone Number: (______)-________-___________ Fax: (______)-________-___________

DUES STRUCTURE. Collision Shop Annual Dues: $495 / 12 Months*

PRIMARY BUSINESS CONTACT

Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

YES � Please list my business as an AASP/MA member in good standing on the AASP/MA website for

consumers to consider using for the collision repairs and assistance with the claims process.

I understand this is a member benefit (_________ initials Date ___/____/2021)

following MONEY SAVING BENEFITS: Yes � Please send me information regarding the

� Dental plan � Healthcare plan � Credit card processing � All three

PLEASE ENCLOSE PAYMENT WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Check# : _______________ (IF collision shop please note your RS# on the memo line of the check) OR CC #: ______________________________________________________________________ EXP: ________/___________ CID: _________________ Billing Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name On Card: _____________________________________________ Signature: ____________________________________________________

I hereby make this application for membership with the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of MA (AASP/MA) for membership dues 2021-2022 as provided for in this contract.

*Membership Dues are for a twelve-month period commencing on your anniversary month of membership.

REV 07/21 MDA

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 27

Genuine Replacement Parts For the Road Ahead.

Avoid problems down the road that will cost you time, money and customers. Choose Genuine Subaru Replacement Parts, engineered to fit better today, and perform better tomorrow.

For Genuine Subaru Body Parts, contact the following Authorized Subaru Dealers: Long Subaru 7 Sutton Rd. Webster, MA 01570 800-982-2298 Fax: 508-879-1212 tschube@longauto.com

Quirk Auto Dealers 115 E. Howard St. Quincy, MA 02169 Toll Free: 877-707-8475

Balise Subaru 561 Quaker Ln. Warwick, RI 02893 TOLL FREE: 800-992-6220 FAX: 800-254-3544 wparts@baliseauto.com www.BaliseWholesaleParts.com

One Call, One Truck for Eleven Brands!

28 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

Patrick Subaru 247 Boston Turnpike Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508-756-8364 Fax: 508-752-3691 www.patricksubaru.com jlavalley@patrickmotors.com

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 29

[LEGAL] PERSPECTIVE by James A. Castleman, Esq.

Preparing Your Customer to Deal with Their Insurer You’ve reached an impasse with your customer’s insurer. You need x dollars to properly repair the customer’s vehicle, but the insurer is willing to only pay y dollars. Your customer (hopefully) trusts you but doesn’t want to pay anything more than their deductible out of their own pocket unless absolutely necessary. The customer is willing to argue with their insurer to try to get them to pay your full charges – or perhaps is willing to pay out of their own pocket for the excess that you are balance billing them over what the insurer is paying. Your customer calls the insurer but is told that it won’t pay any more than what their appraiser wrote because “the guy down the street will do it for that price.”

Is there anything you can do to assist your customer in dealing with their insurer? Is there any documentation that you can give them?

The Apparent Problem in the Policy Language On a first-party collision or comprehensive claim, there first appears to be a problem that your customer will need to overcome in order to make headway with their insurer. That problem is what the standard Massachusetts private passenger auto insurance has said since 2016 in the sections that describe these coverages: The most we will pay will be either the actual cash value of the auto or the cost to repair the auto, whichever is less. The cost to repair the auto is limited to the prevailing competitive price, which is the price we can secure from a licensed repair facility conveniently located to you. [Emphasis added] So, it appears that an insurer does not have to pay any more than what one of its referral shops will do the job for – or what any other repair shop that charges less will do the job for. In light of this, what can your customer say or do?

Addressing the Problem It turns out that the apparent “problem” may only be a phantom issue, and that the policy language may be quite misleading. There is a lot that your customer can do about it, and you can help make sure that your customer knows what they can do: (1) First and foremost, make your customer aware that no matter what the policy seems to say, the reality is that an insurer can NEVER know what price it can secure from a licensed repair facility conveniently located to your customer – at least not unless

the other repair facility actually has repaired the car using the correct parts needed to repair the car to pre-accident condition, performing all of the necessary procedures needed to properly and safely repair the vehicle and doing all of this without writing a supplemental appraisal and without getting the insurer to agree to pay anything more than it originally appraised the damage at.

Maybe the insurer’s price is lower than yours because they wrote their appraisal at a lower Labor Rate. Maybe the insurer has written their appraisal with fewer hours allowed for repairs. Maybe the insurer has written their appraisal with a discount on parts.

Maybe the insurer has failed to write for certain procedures that their appraiser thinks are not needed or that the appraiser thinks are already included at no additional cost in other procedures that they have written. But none of these individual items, taken alone, determines the full cost to properly repair your customer’s vehicle.

So, as an example, even if the insurer can name a repair shop that will accept the insurer’s stated Labor Rate, that in no way means that the shop’s final bill for repair is going to be less than yours. And the same logic applies equally to each and every other individual element of the repair, i.e., that no one item, or couple of items, determines the actual final cost of repair.

Do not let your customer blindly accept the insurer’s assertion that it can get the repairs made for a lesser amount at another shop! It cannot be overemphasized: No matter what the insurer’s claimed reason, the insurer can never know what “the guy down the street” will actually charge to make repairs to that vehicle, because the guy down the street has not even seen the car and, under those circumstances, the insurer has no way of knowing what that repair shop’s bottom line will be and has no idea how that shop will get to that bottom line.

(2) Second, let your customer know that, under collision or comprehensive coverage, their insurance policy says: “We will also pay reasonable and necessary expenses for towing, recovery and storage of your auto.” It may be useful to have a copy of the standard Massachusetts private passenger auto insurance policy in your files. If so, you can pull it out to show your customer, or you can make copies to give to them.

Notably, the amount that an insurer is obligated to pay for towing, recovery and storage is NOT limited by policy language to the price the insurer could secure from another tow company or another repair shop. The amount is whatever is reasonable and necessary, and this can depend on the circumstances of a tow, the difficulty of a recovery and many factors related to storage. What continued on pg. 34

30 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

SEPT. 10-12, 2021

Starring Booth 413

Glue Pulling Systems • Measuring Systems • Spray Booths • Structural Benches • Vacuum Systems • Welders

Spanesi Americas, Inc. 123 Ambassador Dr. STE 107 Naperville, IL 60540

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

224-SPANESI (224-772-6374) www.spanesi-americas.com facebook.com/spanesiamericas

32 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 33

[LEGAL] PERSPECTIVE continued from pg. 30 is the shop’s posted storage rate? Do other insurers pay it? Does the nature of damage to the vehicle require inside storage to protect it? It does not matter if another shop charges less so long as the amount being charged for this particular vehicle is “reasonable and necessary.” And the insurer is required to pay ALL such costs over and above the cost of repair.

(3) Third, make sure that your customer knows that applicable regulations require an insurer to pay the full cost to repair a damaged vehicle to pre-accident condition. As stated in 212 CMR 2.04(1)(e), the insurer’s appraiser is required to “itemize the cost of all parts, labor, materials and necessary procedures required to restore the vehicle to pre-accident condition…” [Emphasis added.] Once more, it may make sense to have a copy of the applicable regulation to show to your customer, and maybe to give them a copy of the regulation.

(4) It may also be important to let your customer know that there is widely accepted documentation that establishes industry standards as to what may be necessary to properly restore a vehicle to pre-accident condition.

One type of documentation is the written statements of a car’s manufacturer as to what is required to properly make repairs.

Original equipment manufacturer (OEM)-stated repair procedures – of which there are many – establish industry standards for repair of a vehicle. An insurer should not be able to claim that lesser efforts or different procedures are satisfactory. They are

34 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

Do not let your customers be bullied by their insurers. It is their car, and they should be entitled to what their policy and the law provide. not! OEM procedures are designed to make sure that vehicles are properly repaired in a manner that will ensure that the vehicle will still perform safely in a subsequent accident so that your customer and their family and friends will be protected from unnecessary physical harm in that event. And by the way, whether the OE manufacturer actually says that the stated procedures are “required,” the manufacturer’s published statement of the procedure for making the repair still sets the industry standard for that repair.

Shortcuts can lead to dangerous – and perhaps deadly – results.

A car that is repaired without following OEM procedures is NOT repaired to pre-accident condition, and there is no reason that an insurer should be able to get away with not paying to perform repairs with those OEM procedures. Give your customer copies of applicable OEM procedures and request that they insist that their continued on pg. 36

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 35

[LEGAL] PERSPECTIVE continued from pg. 34 insurer pay for performing all written procedures issued by the car’s manufacturer. Your customer is paying the full cost of the premium for their auto insurance; they should get the full benefit of the coverage that the insurance policy promises.

Another type of documentation is the written procedures established by recognized industry organizations. Governing regulations – again in 212 CMR 2.04(1)(e) – specifically refer to “I-CAR, Tec Cor and paint manufacturer procedures” as being applicable industry standards. These are well established industry standards, and failure to follow them may mean that a car has not been properly repaired. Again, give your customer copies of applicable industry standards, and ask them to determine whether their insurer is willing to pay for them.

(5) Also let your customer know that their insurer is required to pay for those parts that will restore their vehicle to pre-accident condition, not just any part from any source that might be substituted.

Yes, it is true that 211 CMR 133.04(1) seems to say on its face that when appraisers determine that a part must be replaced, “a rebuilt, aftermarket or used part” must be specified. BUT a careful reading of the whole section of that regulation sets out so many exceptions that it may be impossible to find (in particular) an aftermarket part that ever meets the full requirements of the regulation. Hand your customer a copy of the section of the regulation, go over it with them and explain why their insurer may be required to pay for an OEM part.

Point out to your customer that a huge exception in the regulation is that aftermarket parts should never be specified if “the operational safety of the vehicle might otherwise be impaired.”

[Emphasis added.] With today’s cars, where almost every element of the vehicle is specifically engineered to perform safely in an accident, it may be that there are no aftermarket parts that meet the requirements of the regulation. Make this clear to your customer.

Do they want to risk their life and their family’s lives by having you use a part that costs a few dollars less but which may not perform properly and which may result in serious personal injuries in an accident? And the only way to know that a part will perform properly is if it is the exact same OEM part that was originally in the car. Parts that were only cosmetic 10 years ago are now

fundamental to the safety of today’s precisely designed vehicles.

By the same token, the regulation requires that replacement parts MUST be “of like kind and quality” to the parts they replace.

The regulation goes on to say, “A part is of like kind and quality when it is of equal or better condition than the pre-accident part.”

Can an aftermarket part ever meet this standard? I do not think so unless the part was made of the exact same materials, using the exact same manufacturing process, weighing the exact same as the original part, having the same tensile strength as the original part and otherwise performing as well as or better than the original part.

How can you ever be sure of this unless you are using an OEM part? You can’t.

Also, do not overlook the additional exception in the regulation that an aftermarket (or rebuilt or used) part should not be used if “the pre-accident condition warrants otherwise.” What was the preaccident condition of this particular car? If it was in good condition, then only a part that keeps it in that condition should be used, i.e., a new OEM part, even if the 20,000-mile aspect of the regulation has been exceeded.

Conclusion Do not let your customers be bullied by their insurers. Help educate them with the facts that apply to their particular repair as well as the true requirements of their insurance policy and of Massachusetts law so that they can be properly prepared to deal with their insurers and to advocate for getting what they have paid for with their policy premiums. It is their car, and they should be entitled to what their policy and the law provide. Give them copies of the documentation suggested in this article and explain what that documentation means – and maybe give them a copy of this article as well.

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

Attorney James Castleman is a managing member of Paster, Rice & Castleman, LLC in Quincy, MA. He can be reached at (617) 472-3424 or at jcastleman@prclawoffice.com.

KEEP IT GENUINE INSIST ON GENUINE GM PARTS

Boch Chevrolet 381 Boston Providence Hwy Route 1, The Automile Norwood, MA 02062 Parts Line: 781-762-9210 Toll Free: 800-559-9210 bchwholesale@boch.com

Contact Boch Chevrolet for your GM Parts needs!

36 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

QUALITY STARTS WITH GENUINE GENESIS PARTS AND ACCESSORIES. Genesis of Norwood 391 Boston Providence Hwy Route 1, The Automile Norwood, MA 02062 Parts Line: 781-762-9210 Toll Free: 800-559-9210 bchwholesale@boch.com

NEW ENGLAND’S NEWEST MOPAR DEALER

777 Washington Street • Newton, MA 02160 Hours: M-F: 7am-6pm Sat: 7am-1pm

Call Us For All Your MOPAR Needs or visit us on the web: www.mcgoverncjdrofnewton.com

For First Time Customers, Call me: Mando Bogosian, Wholesale Manager

Hours: M-F: 7am-6pm Sat: 7am-1pm

TOLL FREE: 800-741-7563 DIRECT: 617-454-2990 FAX: 617-467-0006

Call us and get the right MOPAR parts the FIRST TIME! New England Automotive Report

September 2021 37

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE continued from pg. 10 of frustration. After some discussion and having armed them with the knowledge of being correct, the shop pursued the issue and came away with a win – not just on this claim but ALL claims going forward in regard to that insurer (but setting the tone for others to follow). No longer would he be subsidizing the cost of repair.

In fact, he will be collecting a retail figure, which, like any other business, he is entitled to. In doing so, he also covered the cost of membership just by calling in.

As members of the “Alliance,” you have access to a wealth of resources and documentation. One such resource is National AutoBody Research (NABR). NABR is the creator of the Labor Rate Hero (Variable Rate System or VRS) Survey and BillableGenie.

These two tools have been used daily by shops and subscribers to document what insurers pay regularly for Labor Rates and procedures at shops here and across the country. It is documentation that is irrefutable. The information makes the case for “equal pay for equal work.” Member shops have been negotiating AND getting paid Labor Rates that exceed the “prevailing” rate in Massachusetts on a regular basis. It is important to note that the higher rates are not only from local insurance companies but the larger national insurers as well. This is because of the information provided to them as members of AASP/MA and NABR’s data collecting resources.

Recently, there has been an effort to have shops update their survey answers. There has already been an uptick in the posted Labor Rates that shops have been collecting from $57 to $58. These are actual and documentable figures that have been reported. This documentation will be a huge plus in our efforts to pass HB 1111, “An Act to Establish Minimum Reimbursement Rate to Insurance Claimants.” Your support through membership can make this bill a reality and give you a great return on your investment in the “Alliance.”

Also, members have two unique benefits provided to them.

One benefit is the ability to list your shop with your company logo on AASP/MA’s website Shop Locator map (aaspma.org), where potential customers looking for assistance in the claims and repair process can find you. This same website has a “Members Only” portal with additional information and tools. Recently, a brand-new member spent the weekend reviewing the videos of ADALB meetings and gleaned information that allowed him to better negotiate with an appraiser because he was able to show the appraiser that what they had been told by a supervisor had occurred during a meeting was indeed false. The shop was able to run the video regarding aftermarket parts for the appraiser and rectify the situation with a little more discussion. It is all in the documentation (we show you how to document), and it all pays you back for your membership in the “Alliance.”

Further evidence of your membership paying for itself – aside from the support and information which comes with membership – are three recently rolled-out programs. AASP/MA has entered into agreements on behalf of its members and those who join our effort. The agreements offer significant discounts in dental and healthcare. The discounts, even if you already have plans in place for yourself and your employees, will save you more than your dues on an annual basis. The third benefit is for credit card processing. This will not just save you money if you sign up, but it will also pay you $500 if they cannot save you money over and above your current 38 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

We already have made great inroads legislatively; with larger membership numbers, we will be an even greater force to be contended with. service provider just for letting them run a comparison for your business. Just their guarantee pays for one year’s membership in the “Alliance.”

An additional membership benefit that equates to free money is the Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP). AASP/MA members will qualify for assistance from Sandra Kearney and her company, Human Power Solutions, which is a Silver-level Vendor Affinity Program (VAP) sponsor. Please see page 12 for more information on this program. At the time of this writing, some of our members have already qualified for tens of thousands in grant money. Yes, “grant money” is “free money,” as are the services provided by Sandra and Human Power Solutions. Again, your dues are paid for!

I urge everyone who has read this to the end and is not a member of the “Alliance” to join us for “free” by taking advantage of everything we have to offer. By joining, you will be adding to our collective voice. We already have made great inroads legislatively; with larger membership numbers, we will be an even greater force to be contended with. Do not sit back and wait for something to happen…Help us make it happen. Do not sit back and ride someone else’s coattails and reap the benefits without contributing to the success! If you are a member, please take advantage of the additional benefits we have to offer. Contact our offices and check out our website for additional information.

In the end, your dues will ultimately pay for themselves…They will be “free”!

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

AASP/MA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EVANGELOS “LUCKY” PAPAGEORG can be reached at (617) 574-0741 or lucky@aaspma.org.

FIT AND FINISH IS NO PLACE TO GET CREATIVE. CONTACT US TODAY FOR A COMPETITIVE QUOTE ON YOUR NEXT COLLISION REPAIR ESTIMATE. BALD HILL DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP 1035 Bald Hill Rd Warwick, RI 02886 Order Hotline: (800) 822-3015 17 delivery trucks serving RI, MA and CT daily!

BEST CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM 520 Colony Place Road Plymouth, MA 02360 Order Hotline: (800) 932-7900 Fax: (781) 749-7804 www.bestjeep.com QUIRK AUTO DEALERS 115 E. Howard Street Quincy, MA 02169 Order Hotline: (877) 707-8475

KELLY JEEP CHRYSLER 353 Broadway Route 1 North Lynnfield, MA 01940 Order Hotline: (800) 278-8558 Fax: (781) 581-2490 Email: kjcparts@kellyauto.com Over $1,000,000 in stock to support your business, and fast free delivery!

MCGOVERN CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM 777 Washington Street Newton, MA 02460 Order Hotline: (800) 741-7563 For the best customer service ask for Mando Bogosian

Check out MoparRepairConnection.com for resources, promotions and technical information. ©2021 FCA US LLC. All Rights Reserved. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Mopar and SRT are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC.

NEAR_Collision_COL15.indd 1

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 39 6/28/21 9:50 AM

THEY’RE CALLED “ORIGINAL BMW PARTS” FOR GOOD REASON. FOR UNCOMPROMISING PRECISION AND INCOMPARABLE QUALITY, YOUR BMW CENTER IS YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR EVERYTHING BMW. For Original BMW Parts, contact one of these authorized BMW centers: BMW of West Springfield 1712 Riverdale St. West Springfield, MA 01089 PH: 413-746-1722 FAX: 413-304-9009 bmwwestspringfield.com

BMW of Stratham 71 Portsmouth Avenue Stratham, NH 03885 PH: 603-772-0000 FAX: 603-772-9436 bmwofstratham.com

New Country BMW 1 Weston Park Ave. Hartford, CT 06120 PH: 860-240-7881 FAX: 860-240-7873 newcountrybmw.com

BMW of Warwick 1515 Bald Hill Rd. Warwick, RI 02886 PH: 401-821-1510 FAX: 401-823-0530 bmwofwarwick.com

Tulley BMW of Nashua 147 Daniel Webster Hwy Nashua NH 03060 PH: 603-888-5050 FAX: 603-888-8427 tulleybmw.com

©2021 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

40 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 41

[NATIONAL] NEWS continued from pg. 16 attendance and participation from AASP/MA members.

“NORTHEAST is a tremendous way for our members to receive national-level education and network with leading vendors simply by spending a relatively short time on the road,” AASP/MA Executive Director Evangelos “Lucky” Papageorg says.

“I encourage everyone to take part in this fantastic weekend, which will give all of us a chance to reconnect face to face and celebrate everything that we’ve overcome these past several months.”

For the complete Collision P.R.E.P. schedule and to register, please visit aaspnjnortheast.com/education.

NORTHEAST 2021 is made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors: Platinum Sponsor: BASF; Gold Sponsor: Ford; Silver Sponsors: PPG, NJ Parts of Flemington; Lanyard Sponsors: Innovative Solutions and Technology, Spanesi; Attendee Prize Sponsor: Axalta Coating Systems; and General Sponsors: Harbortouch and SherwinWilliams Automotive Finishes.

Pre-registered NORTHEAST 2020 attendees will not need to re-register for the 2021 show, as badge data will be carried over to these new dates of September 10-12. For updates and information on NORTHEAST (including available lodging), please visit the official event website at aaspnjnortheast.com.

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

Boch Hyundai

Boch Chevrolet

Genesis of Norwood

THE SERVICE NEVER STOPS AT BOCH HYUNDAI! PARTS LINE:

KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF AND GENUINE GM PARTS! PARTS LINE:

PROVIDING SERVICE, QUALITY AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN! PARTS LINE:

TOLL FREE:

TOLL FREE:

TOLL FREE:

781-762-9210 800-559-9210 E-MAIL:

bchwholesale@boch.com

VISIT US: 391 Boston Providence Hwy Route 1, The Automile Norwood, MA 02062

42 September 2021

781-762-9210 800-559-9210 E-MAIL:

bchwholesale@boch.com

VISIT US: 381 Boston Providence Hwy Route 1, The Automile Norwood, MA 02062

New England Automotive Report

781-762-9210 800-559-9210 E-MAIL:

bchwholesale@boch.com

VISIT US: 391 Boston Providence Hwy Route 1, The Automile Norwood, MA 02062

Get it right

from the source.

Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers are the one-stop source for all of your collision repair needs.

When you need fascias, grilles, headlamps, wheels or any other Ford Motor Company Ge uine Part, call your local wholesaling dealership. They’re a great souce for technical and repair information as well. Using Genuine Parts can help your body shop reduce cycle time, improve relationships with insurance companies and satisfy customers. So get everything you need in just one call to your one-stop collision repair resource – your local Ford or Lincoln Mercury Dealership.

Contact these Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealers for all your parts needs: Imperial Ford

Sarat Ford Lincoln Mercury

Quirk Auto Dealers

6 Uxbridge Road

245 Springfield Street

115 E. Howard St.

Mendon, MA 01756

Agawam, MA 01001

Quincy, MA 02169

Toll Free Parts: 877-272-0332

413-786-0430

Toll Free: 877-707-8475

Toll Free Fax: 877-800-6316

Fax: 413-789-3715

Call us for your wholesale parts needs

www.saratford.com

Balise Ford of Cape Cod 90 High School Rd. Ext. Hyannis, MA 02601 TOLL FREE: 800-992-6220 FAX: 800-254-3544 wparts@baliseauto.com www.BaliseWholesaleParts.com

© 2019, Ford Motor Company

0620_Volvo_Quarter.qxp_Layout 1 5/11/20 4:53 PM Page 1

Quality Repairs Start With Volvo Genuine Parts.

For over eight decades, the Volvo name has been synonymous with unmatched quality and performance. that legendary Volvo quality starts with Volvo Genuine Parts.

Rely on Volvo Genuine parts to get the right fit, at the right price, right now.

Please contact the following dealers for your Volvo parts needs: Prime Volvo Cars 1030 Hingham Street Rockland, MA 02370 Parts Direct: 781-927-3520 Fax: 781-927-3592 www.volvocarssouthshore.com

Volvo of Wellesley 962 Worcester Street Wellesley, MA 02482 Parts Direct: 800-247-3033 Fax: 508-651-1220 www.volvoofwellesley.com www.volvogroup.com

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 43

BEST CHEVROLET_NEAR0320.qxp_Layout 1 2/12/20 12:02 PM Page 1

45,000 sq. ft. warehouse with over 35,000 parts, ready for delivery.

Genuine GM Wholesale Parts at competitive aftermarket prices including a complete line of Saturn parts now in stock 10 delivery trucks, ready to bring you the parts you need fast and easy.

All free delivery in Metro Boston, Cape Cod, throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

75 years of experience, making us ready to fill any type of order, large or small.

Best Chevrolet

128 Derby St., Hingham, MA 02043

Toll Free 800.932.7900 781.749.3354 | Fax 781.749.7804

THE RIGHT PARTS AT THE RIGHT TIME!

Join CollisionLINK at: www.oeconnection.com/cl SUSTAINING 1% SPONSOR

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

245 Springfield Street, Agawam, MA Monday-Wednesday 7am - 6pm; Thursday 7am - 8pm; Friday 7am - 5pm; Saturday 8am - 4pm

ON-LINE PARTS CATALOG www.fordparts.com/saratflm jloomis@saratford.com

Free 24-Hour Delivery

Monthly Customer Raffle!

(800) 914-3802

Local (413) 786-4474 Fax your order to: (413) 789-3715

SARAT FORD, WHERE CUSTOMERS BECOME FRIENDS! 44 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

New England Automotive Report

September 2021 45

Wheel Collision Center Excellence in Wheel Sales and Repair

Patent assures 100% WHEEL INTEGRITY From $77/wheel

Accudraft Paint Booths............................. OBC Albert Kemperle............................................15 Audi Group...................................................29 Balise Wholesale............................................13

Tested Process

Sales/Exchange

BASF.............................................................22

Guaranteed Lifetime

Best Chevrolet...............................................44

Warranty!

Superior Workmanship

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

BMW Group.................................................40

NEW 2021

ONLINE OEM WHEEL CATALOG Stocking THOUSANDS of refinished wheels!

7286 Penn Drive, Bath, PA 18014

www.wheelcollision.com

Boch Chevrolet..............................................36 Boch Hyundai...............................................42 Collision Supplies..........................................34 Collision Tools Inc.........................................17 Colonial Auto Group.......................................2 Empire Auto Parts.........................................46 Ford Group...................................................43 Genesis of Norwood......................................36 Grieco Toyota................................................38 Honda Group................................................35 Hyundai Group.............................................43

1.800.292.RIMS (7467)

Ira Subaru......................................................10

EMPIRE AUTO PARTS

Kelly Automotive Group............................ IBC

www.empireap.com

Lombard Equipment.......................................7

Spend more time running your business and less time worrying about your parts.

Ira Toyota of Danvers....................................11 Kia Group.....................................................42 Linder’s, Inc. .................................................37 Long Automotive Group...............................41 Mazda Group................................................18 McGovern Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram �����������37 Mopar Group................................................39 Nissan Group..................................................9

Lamps

Bumper Covers

Radiators

Hoods & Fenders

Pro Spot.........................................................19 Quirk Wholesale Parts.....................................4 Reliable Automotive Equipment...............24-25 Sarat Ford Lincoln.........................................44 Sherwin Williams............................................3

Door Mirrors

Steel Bumpers

Cooling Fans

Grilles & Bezels

MA DISTRIBUTION CENTER

888.366.5155 Serving ME, MA, NH, RI, VT

Parts Accuracy Friendly Sales Team 46 September 2021

New England Automotive Report

Quality Assurance Fast, Free Delivery

Spanesi..........................................................31 Subaru Group................................................28 Toyota Group................................................45 USI North America.......................................32 Volvo Group..................................................43 VW Group....................................................33 Wagner..........................................................23 Wheel Collision Center.................................46

48 September 2021

New England Automotive Report