By Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language According to a report in Collision Week (Feb. 9, 2017), the Maryland Senate is considering yet another bill that, if passed into law, would require automobile insurers to authorize collision repairs only if they are made with OEM parts or certified aftermarket parts. Parts covered by the bill include fenders, bumpers, Read more…
By Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language A recent report issued by the investment banking firm Morgan Stanley and the Boston Consulting Group, as covered in Forbes magazine, paints a dire picture for the future of the automobile insurance market. Citing advances in on-board safety features, the expansion of ride sharing, and the looming introduction of self-driving vehicles, Read more…
By Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language The State of Nevada Division of Insurance recently sent a bulletin to insurance companies to remind them about the state’s requirement that claimants for vehicle damage must be notified – in writing – if a collision repair estimate is prepared using aftermarket parts. In addition, insurers must obtain written consent from Read more…
by Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language It is an unfortunate fact that the automobile collision repair industry owes its continued existence to difficult driving conditions and poor driving habits. If everybody on the roads were a careful and sensible driver, there would be far fewer accidents and little need for replacement fenders, new bumpers, and new headlight Read more…
By Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language In February I wrote an article warning about the danger posed to the aftermarket parts industry by General Motors’ planned dynamic pricing program, called “MyPriceLink.” The technological challenge of creating such a responsive system of parts and pricing information forced GM to delay the introduction of MyPriceLink several times. These reprieves Read more…
By Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language A recent report published by Collision Week cited U.S. government figures on inflation that show the price of auto insurance and the cost of body repairs are both increasing faster than the overall rate of inflation over the past twelve months. From January 2014 to January 2015, auto insurance costs rose Read more…
By Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language A report broadcast on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360° program on February 11, 2015 took a hard look at alleged steering practices by insurers. The report was strongly biased against insurers and took a very negative attitude toward non-OEM parts. Watch the report online by clicking here. While the focus of the Read more…
By Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language General Motors may have delayed the implementation of their dynamic parts pricing program (MyPriceLink.com), but let’s not lull ourselves into believing that GM is abandoning a program that would give them a tremendous marketing advantage. “Real time” parts pricing is coming soon, and it will require a strong response from the aftermarket Read more…
By Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language By now collision repair shops in the U.S. were supposed to be using General Motor’s proprietary MyPriceLink parts ordering system, which originally had a December 1 launch date. But, citing “workflow pressures on outside parties,” the automaker has pushed the introduction of MyPriceLink until early 2015. The MyPriceLink program is designed Read more…
By Bill McDonough, Editor, Body Language Welcome to the new Body Language newsletter. By transitioning from a printed piece with limited distribution to an online publication, we believe this new format will open up readership to a wider audience. This will allow us to bring the ABPA’s message to decision makers across the parts, insurance and collision Read more…
