How to Help Your Boss Succeed

A key to your success is to help your boss succeed. This sounds like brown nosing, but it really just recognizes the symbiotic relationship you (hopefully) share with your boss........

Car Care Guide

The famous Car Care Guide by the independent Car Care Council is now available in a FREE E-BOOK.

AAPEX & SEMA shows

My day started with a 730am seminar "reving up your internet sales" This was put on by EBAY MOTORS and The Aftermarket Club. Great info on internet sales, EBAY seams to do a lot for a small retailer to use their site to sell. Might be something to use soon. The next was "The Nordstrom way to Customer Excellence". It appears that some of the stories I have heard that they have done are true. They are low base salary with a lot of performance rewards. Back to AAPEX for a briefing of the Shop of Tomorrow. This based on every tool and equipment running wireless and working with one server to move info and services into the customers profile or invoice. The alignment machine talks to the scan tool and the correct services then gets billed. Not so far fetched I guess. Had a evening reception with 2 tire companies, can not ever get enough free shrimp. Drinks are good too. I even got to stop at the pedestian overpass near the Beliago to watch their water show and then watch the pirates at TI. It is amazing to look down the strip at night with all lights blinking. Sensortory overload. Drinking helps!
Thanks
Stan Morin

AAPEX & SEMA shows

Well, I had told Dick Cole that I would blog from SEMA each day until I found out that the connection was $5.95 for 2 hours or $14.95 a day. Laptop stayed in it's case. Arrived Monday 11/2. If anyone knows how the strip works, there are 4 blocks to the strip but each block might be 3-4 miles long. You just cannot see that far. Walking from Treasure Island to Ceasers took close to 40 mins. The TIA reception was packed with all types of Tire dealers. Meet some new contacts. Tuesday morning started seminars at AAPEX and Sema. AAPEX this as in years pass was about new technolgey and mechincal repair stuff. SEMA spent a great effort on business seminars. Rushing back and forth was a challange. AAPEX had a good hour on upcoming oils for next group of cars. How about a 40K oil change coming soon. AAPEX & SEMA were smaller this year with a shortage of Major players missing. Booths were smaller. If you have never been to either show, start going in 2010. Just for the learning of new stuff is great.
Tomorrow I'll talk more about the seminars.
Thanks
Stan Morin

Get new Road Runner here

We are extremely happy to announce the winners of the NETSA Scholarships. Due to the success of the 2008 NETSA Scholarship Golf Tournament, we were again able to match each of the eight $1000 sponsored scholarships with another $1000, to make them a total eight $2000 Scholarships......

Hole-in-one at the Scholarsip Golf Tournament!

Congratulations Dick!

Dick Aronson, Century Tire Portland, Maine, on the third hole at the Blackstone Golf Club where he shot his first hole-in-one at the NETSA golf outing September 17, 2009

Right to Repair Supporters Make Their Case on Beacon Hill

BOSTON MA Sept 19, 2009 - It was a "standing-room-only" crowd as a broad coalition of consumer and business groups took voiced their "Right to Repair" directly to Bay State lawmakers. Making their case before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition called for passage of House Bill 228 and Senate Bill 124 - both bills guarantee repairers and consumers unrestricted access to automotive service information and tools. The legislation prohibits the current practice of automobile manufacturers restricting access to repair information utilized by independent repairers.....more

Weather for the Golf Tournament

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition

Your Voice for Fairness in Automotive Repairs
Start your Engines
Massachusetts Right to Repair Hearing is Tuesday, September 15
The public hearing for RIGHT TO REPAIR is finally upon us. House Bill 228 and Senate Bill 124, will be before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure (see committee listing below) on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 222 of the State House. Directions to the State House State House Floorplan
We strongly urge you to take the time to come to the hearing and wave the flag for RIGHT TO REPAIR. A few hours of your valuable time next Tuesday could pay dividends for years to come for your businesses, your customers, and for your friends and families as consumers.
This hearing is the first critical step in passing a landmark law that would ensure the unrestricted flow of automotive information to independent repair shops and protect the consumer's right to choose their own repair shops. This is our opportunity to make a stand for small business owners and consumers and send a message to the rest of the nation that Right to Repair is about fairness and choice.
For those attending, we urge you to leave plenty of time to get through Statehouse security by arriving no later than 9:15 a.m. That will assure you of getting into the hearing room to make your voice and presence heard.
Dress as you would normally dress for work. And please do not to hesitate to call me anytime with further questions.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF RIGHT TO REPAIR. WE DO APPRECIATE IT.Art Kinsman781-635-6912mailto:awkinsman@yahoo..com
Joint Committee Membership
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
SENATORS
REPRESENTATIVES
Michael Morrissey (Quincy) - Chair
Theodore Speliotis of Danvers - Chair
Gail Candaras (Wilbraham) - Vice-Chair
Marie St. Fleur of Boston- Vice-Chair
Steven Baddour (Methuen)
William Greene of Billerica
Benjamin Downing (Pittsfield)
Thomas Stanley of Waltham
Anthony Petrucelli (E. Boston)
Steven D'Amico of Seekonk
Scott Brown (Wrentham)
Angelo Puppolo of Springfield
James O'Day of West Boylston
Bill Bowles of Attleboro
Danielle Gregoire of Marlborough
Donald Humason of Westfield
Lewis Evangelidis of Holden
Take Action
To learn more about Right to Repair effort in Massachusetts and beyond visit massrightorepair.com. There you may also identify and communicate with your state legislators and join our mailing list to stay abrest of ongoing developments.

COMMENTARY: Right-to-repair bill shifts control from dealer to owner by Glenn Wilder

QUINCY - The federal “cash for clunkers” program succeeded in bringing customers back to new car lots after a long absence, but most people are still driving the car they had. Increasingly they are driving to their local mechanics to make sure those cars last even longer.....read more

Right to Repair on Channel 5

BOSTON -- New rules could be down the road that aimed to save consumers money on their vehicles.Some state lawmakers say car dealers are taking car owners for a ride with overly costly repair bills. If the dealership is going to charge you more than an independent technician, you should be able to go to the more affordable spot.....read more

Golf Tournament - September 17th

Filling fast, so sign up here

Beware of this scam....Stay Bless

Dear Sir/Madam. This is Tyrone Eberle Jimerson and am located in Colorado and i want to order 2set of Goodyear RT Wrangler car tires in size 265 70 r 16..Go ahead and qoute me the total price of the 2set tires plus tax and as am donating this to the Royal Orphanages Home In Ghana West-Africa and I will like you to contact Fedex for the shipping cost and email me back with grand total amount so that i can send you my Payment information to you so that you can Process with my Orders and Send them on time....Bellow Is
The Shipping Address.

Gamal Saad
145 Madina High Ave..
East Legon...Accra...00233

West..Africa.and Also tell me what form of payment do you accept.Let me know immediately if you can get them for me ....I sincerely solicit your quick response in this regard .Thanks and Stay Bless. Regards Tyrone

MA Right to Repair August 2009

With opinion from member Glenn Wilder of Wilder Brothers American Car Care Center in Scituate MA

Bay State tax collectors dealt a blow

MANCHESTER – New Hampshire officials are delighted with yesterday's Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling that the state cannot collect taxes from a retail tire chain that sells tires to Massachusetts residents in New Hampshire......

TIA TPMS Relearn Chart

It'll be the best $85 I've spent this year.

California Tire Age Bill Withdrawn

Tire Business reported, in their July 20, 2008 edition, that the bill to require tire dealers to provide tire age information on sales contracts was quietly withdrawn by its sponsors the day before a California Senate committee was to hold a hearing on it.

Sean Kane, Safety Research & Strategies, Inc President based in Rehoboth, MA., blamed AB 496's withdrawel on the California legislature's need to concentrate on the state's budgetary woes. But the RMA, which opposed the bill, said it was simply the realization by the bill's supporters that they didn't have the votes for passage.

It's detractors said tire age is only one factor in tire performance, and by no means the most important one. The bill would only have made tire dealers sitting ducks for personal injury lawyers.

N.H. Governor Signs Tax Law spurred by Town Fair Tire

Gov John Lynch signed into law July 9 a bill that quickly traveled through the state legislature in response to a legal battle in neighboring Massachusetts between Town Fair Tire Centers Inc. and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR). The DOR claims Town Fair's stores in New Hampshire should be collecting Massachusetts 5% sales tax - known as a use tax - from customers identified as Massachusetts residents. The new law prevents retailers from providing private consumer information to another state seeking to impose a use tax. The bill also puts the burden of proof on other states on whether a good or service purshased in New Hampshire is to be used, stored or consumed in another state.
Above is from the July 20, 2009 issue of "Tire Business".

When you replace two tires...

To Maine NETSA Members

On June 12, 2009, Governor Baldacci signed LD 1495, “An Act To Implement Tax Relief and Tax Reform” into law, which NETSA opposed. While the title of the new law is exciting, the details are dismal and drastically impact Mainers by taxing services, including automotive repairs, maintenance and installations by an unprecedented 5%. Car repairs join a long list of services not previously taxed including repairs on jewelry, cameras, guns, musical instruments, electronic and mechanical equipment, lawn and garden equipment, office equipment and appliances.

In addition, this new tax will be levied on admissions to amusements, theaters, movies, concerts, historical sites (not run by the government), zoos, antique shows, car and boat shows, sight seeing attractions, amusements at fairs and just about anything else that was not previously taxed.

Imagine, in this economy, when so many Maine people are struggling to make ends meet, the legislature decides to tax auto repairs and maintenance! Imagine when Maine tourism is in desperate trouble we are taxing amusements and recreational activities and increasing the meals and lodging tax from 7% to 8.5%!

The politicians will tell you that in the end you will save money because they are lowering the Maine Income Tax from a high of 8.5% to a flat tax of 6.5% with tax credits depending on where your income tax bracket falls. The fact is that most Mainers will see less than a $300 income tax reduction at the end of the year, but will pay additional sales taxes all year long.

Interestingly enough, this new law doesn’t tax boat repairs, nor does it tax ski lift tickets. Somehow that doesn’t seem equitable, now does it?

Luckily there is a signature gathering campaign going throughout Maine to repeal this untimely tax. 56,000 signatures are necessary to put this on the June 2010 ballot. These signatures need to be submitted to the Secretary of State before September 11, 2009.

The initiative is called “Still Fed Up With Taxes”, which NETSA is a member, and you can help support them by sending a contribution ($100 would be great) to the address below.

Still Fed Up With Taxes
PO Box 24
Augusta, Maine 04333

Desperate times call for desperate measures and if the Augusta politicians are not hearing that times are desperate, then the citizens of Maine must act by repealing this tax attack!

MA Right to Repair Letter to NETSA Members

The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition is advocating for passage of Right to Repair legislation to guarantee repairers and consumers unrestricted access to independent automotive service, repairs and parts. The legislation would prohibit the current practice of automobile manufacturers restricting access to repair information utilized by independent repairers. The legislation would ensure complete access to diagnostic repair information to independent repairers and to the benefit of automobile consumers. Without complete repair information independent repairers will increasingly be forced to send consumers to new car repair facilities. Consumers should have a choice as to who does their car repairs. The Massachusetts Right to Repair legislation would ensure their right of choice is protected.

CT Governor Rell Veto's $3 Tire Tax along with Budget - See SB 1801

Here's Sec 99 of the Bill the Governor vetoed.

Connecticut S.B. No 1801 (June 09) $3 Tire Tax

Sec. 99. (NEW) (Effective from passage) There shall be paid to the Commissioner of Revenue Services by any retailer of tires commonly used on any motor vehicle a tire fee of three dollars on the sale at retail of any such tire. Any person engaged in the sale of such tires shall register with the commissioner on forms prescribed by the commissioner. Each retailer of such tires subject to the tire fee as provided by this section shall submit a return quarterly to the commissioner, applicable with respect to the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2009, and each calendar quarter thereafter, on or before the last day of the month immediately following the end of each such calendar quarter, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, together with payment of the quarterly fee determined and payable in accordance with the provisions of this section. Whenever such fee is not paid when due, a penalty of ten per cent of the amount due or fifty dollars, whichever is greater, shall be added to the amount due and such penalty shall immediately accrue, and thereafter such fee shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-fourth per cent per month or fraction thereof until the same is paid. The commissioner shall cause copies of a form prescribed for submitting returns as required under this section to be distributed throughout the state. Failure to receive such form shall not be construed to relieve anyone subject to the fee under this section from the obligations of submitting a return, together with payment of such fee within the time required. The provisions of sections 12-548 to 12-554, inclusive, and sections 12-555a and 12-555b of the general statutes shall apply to the provisions of this section in the same manner and with the same force and effect as if the language of said sections 12-548 to 12-554, inclusive, and sections 12-555a and 12-555b had been incorporated in full into this section and had expressly referred to the fee imposed under this section, except to the extent that any such provision is inconsistent with a provision of this section and except that the term "tax" shall be read as "tire fee". Any moneys received by the state pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the General Fund.

For ALL those in Connecticut, please contact your State House Reps and Senators to alert them to this unfair tax on tires that singles out our Industry and Consumers during these tough times. Look through the entire Budget Bill (1801) and see if you find any other such Tax directed at an Industry where the money collected would go to the "General Fund". Yes, it's been vetoed (thank you Gov. Rell), but a Budget has to be passed and the $3 tire tax may well be part of a new Bill presented for a vote, if you don't act now by calling and writing.

Tire Business article on NETSA 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees

The July 6, 2009 Issue of Tire Business has an article and picture of NETSA's 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees. Their website is www.tirebusiness.com

TIA Board of Directors Ballot

Tire Industry Association ballots are being accepted for the 2009 Board of Directors. Ex-President Jim Melvin is on the ballot. All ballots nust be received by September 1, 2009

For more information go to http://www.tireindustry.org/

Golf Tournament Date Change

Important! The date for the 2009 NETSA Scholarship Golf Tournament has been changed. The new date is Thursday, September 17th 2009.

Get the new Road Runner here

Scholarship Golf Tournament

Friday, September 18, 2009 - Blackstone National Golf Club, Sutton MA - All proceeds benefit the NETSA Scholarship Fund - Click here for more information

How do get Repair Information and is it enough???

Having spent my last 41 years trying to repair what is dropped onto my door, I am now running out of friendly "car dealers" that are still in business and are willing to share their wealth of Factory Information. Completing a repair is getting more diffacult each repair. We have 3 different scan tools at each store, 1 has 4. We also Flash and Reprogram 95 and newer. We still run into road blocks. We buy Dealer web site time and still the stuff that I get from car dealers is so much deeper it's crazy.
If anyone runs into stone walls I would like to hear about it with as much detail as possible. I can show what we hit to your State Rep or Senator for the real proof. Stories work the best with them as they never hear from to people who vote for them.
Thanks
Stan Morin

Replacing Passenger Tires

Great video from TIA and Bridgestone

NETSA Adds To Their Hall Of Fame

Date 06/15/09

The New England Tire and Service Association (NETSA) honored long time members Pat McGeoghegan and Dick Aronson during their recently sold out Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Mohegan Sun Casino & Convention Center in Uncasville, CT during the NETSA Trade Show and Convention.

The NETSA Hall of Fame award is voted on by the 27 member Board of Directors, and is based on having been active in the Tire and/or Vehicle Service Industry in New England for at least 20 years, and distinguished him or herself in our Industry and Community as a reputable and honored Leader.

Pat McGeoghegan, owner of Mohawk Rubber Sales in Hingham, MA., is a long time and well respected supplier to the retail, commercial and retread tire industry of tire equipment, tools, and supplies. Pat is well known in our industry for his fairness and reputation for developing a deep personal relationship with all his customers (friends). Accordingly, he is available at anytime to help them. Mohawk Rubber Sales not only covers all of New England, but has expanded to all 50 States and 20 Countries.

Pat was born in 1945 and attended Archbishop Williams High School and Graduated from Curry College with a BS degree in Business Administration in 1968. Pat is married to his high school sweetheart, Susan Keefe, and they are blessed with two children, Brian and Jennifer, and six grandchildren.

Pat began his work in the tire industry with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Later, Pat accepted a position in the Sullivan Tire organization. Robert Sullivan became his mentor, and Pat relishes his memories while at Sullivan Tire. Time marched on and a new mentor and friend, Michael Schwartz asked him to begin a new career with Chemi-Cure. In 1991, Pat McGeoghegan and his son Brian, purchased the Mohawk team from Bob Ahern, keeping the business a 'family affair’.

Pat has also been very active in his community, was integral in the establishment of a charitable foundation, and competed in many road races including the Boston Marathon

Dick Aronson is a long time and well respected tire retailer with 3 locations based in the Portland, Maine area. Century Tire opened in 1926, which makes it the oldest family owned tire company in New England. Dick is well known and respected in our Industry for his leadership and giving of himself to help whenever he sees a need or is asked to help.

Dick is a past president of New England Tire and Service Association, was a long term Director of the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (becoming TIA), is a “life time honorary trustee” of the Portland Boys & Girls Clubs and the Portland Public Library, a member of the Junior Achievement’s Maine Business Hall of Fame, still a Board Member at Maine Medical Center, and has chaired numerous fund raisers in Portland.

Aronson was born in Medford, MA in 1936 and spent most of his teenage years in Gloucester, MA. He was educated at Tilton School and received a BA in government in 1958 from the University of New Hampshire.

After college, he entered the Army as a 2nd Lt. in the infantry. He earned his wings as a paratrooper and ended his Army Career as a Captain. In 1959, he married Adele Silverman who went to UNH and lived in Portland, ME. At the time, Dick says “I had no idea where Portland, Maine was”. Adele’s father, Joe Silverman, had a tire company there and offered him a job, but Dick refused it as he had planned a law career. Here it is 2009 and it’s no secret Joe was very persuasive.

Dick purchased Century Tire in 1976 and attributes the success and longevity of the company to his colleagues in management and their co-workers. Dick says “it hasn’t been a cake walk, but the cream rises to the top”.

Adele and Dick have since been blessed with three sons, Andrew, Michael, and Rabbi Daniel, as well as their six grandchildren.

$39 Trial Membership

The NETSA Board of Directors voted to extend a $39 trial membership to all first time members that is good for the rest of 2009. President Dale Franklin stated that one of his goals is to attain 350 members. We're at 293 and need everyone's help to accomplish this. To get an application call Dick Cole @ 207-846-0986 or e-mail him NETSAPROS@aol.com

Right to Repair on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3wwnvIjey4

Get the Latest RoadRunner

Check out the "links" section and download (.pdf) the latest edition of NETSA's RoadRunner

From Mass. Right to Repair

Hello All,

We wanted to let you know that our scheduled June 2 hearing on our Right to Repair legislation has been rescheduled for September. With such uncertainty surrounding the U.S. auto industry as it eliminates dealershi ps and jobs in Massachusetts, we were concerned that the Right to Repair issue and legislation would not get the attention that it deserves. While we certainly empathize with our colleagues in the dealer repair shops, it is more important than ever that we enact legislation that will protect the consumers’ right to choose where to have their car repaired, while also preserving the nearly 1 in 10 jobs in Massachusetts connected to the independent repair industry.

In the interim, we will continue to organize and build our troop strength in anticipation of September. Your active support and engagement, even during the summer months, will assure us of hitting the ground running. Please be sure to have your members sign up on our website www.massrighttorepair.com and let your legislators know that passage of Right to Repair this year has never been more important.

Commitee Meeting Schedule

NETSA Committee Meetings June 3, 2009


3:00PM to 4:00PM Trade Show Committee
2009 Results & Improvements for 2010-2010 Contract-2011 Contract

4:00PM to 4:30PM Scholarship Committee
2009 Scholarships-Define Scholarship Requirements

4:30PM to 5:00PM Golf Committee
2009 Golf Tourney, Fees, Sponsors etc

5:00PM to 5:30PM Website Committee
Facebook

5:30PM to 6:00PM Benefits Committee
Define Benefits Provider Requirements

6:00PM to 6:30PM Executive Committee
2009/2010 Goals-Committees & Board Members

Board of Directors Meeting

Our next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at the Holiday Inn in Marlborough, Massachusetts starting at 6:30 PM. We will also have 5 Committee meetings prior to the Board Meeting beginning at 3:00PM (see attached list). All Board members are welcome to attend any or all Committee meetings and help us with the important planning sessions.

Please find attached with this second reminder, the Agenda for 6/3/09, and the Board Attendance list. If you haven’t contacted me yet, please let me know if you can attend or not, by May 27th.

Trade Show 2009

The NETSA trade show at Mohegan Sun is this weekend and it's shaping up to be the best ever. Dick Cole tells me that as of 4/15 our pre-registrations are 493 vs 518(08), 423(07), 426(06). We have 112 for Saturday Lunch and 191 for the Saturday Hall of Fame dinner.

Please come to the seminars on Saturday and Sunday mornings. We have focused on the independent retailer's owners and managers this year and have designed the events to be fun, educational and interactive. Our aim this year is to give you something small, something free, an idea or direction that you can take back with you to your business on Monday.

2007 Yaris Dealer Bound

There was nothing I could do. A body shop installed the sensor, didn't get the id's and I've got an up to date OTC Genisys that didn't have an option to re-id the sensors. What TPMS tool can do this?

Mass. Right to Repair Update

Stan Morin has been very busy and this really has a chance in 2009. It's happening now so contact your area rep and ask them to support it because it will help your business.

http://massrighttorepair.com/index.php?id=2

Trade Show Attendee Info

http://www.driveusa.net/netsa_trade_show_files/2009ExhibitorRegistrationPackage-Final.pdf

Wide Whites - NOT RECOMMENDED!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkcm3rh60p0

6 Laws of Customer Experience

Bradley from Customersfirst forwarded this GREAT article to us. If you only read one law, please read #6
http://experiencematters.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/the-6-laws-of-customer-experience_v7.pdf

Benefits

Where can I get a complete list of the benefits available to NETSA members?