Bills Auto Shop was doing alright. They had been in business for ten years, and there was a steady stream of business. Still, there were some new residential developments in the county and the population was growing. There were other, much newer shops in the country, and the owner of Bills was worried that he might be left behind and eventually forgotten.

Bill needed a long term strategy, and he didnt have one. He decided to call on an old friend and long time customer a salesman who had brought in his car many times for repair. The salesman showed up on a slow day, and they talked about Bills concerns.

The salesman went away for a few days and then came back. He had a plan. He felt that Bills Auto needed to use information better, in order to educate new and existing customers and in order to market to potential customers. He operated under the maxim that an educated customer will better understand what his needs are, and that he will respond to them better if he knows the pitfalls of not taking action.

The salesman felt that a series of brochures having to do with car maintenance and repair could be produced pretty cost effectively, and that these could be made available in the shop itself. He recommended a rack be placed in the waiting areas, so that people could browse the brochures and read them and take them if they liked. He recommended a brochure to help people understand the care and maintenance of tires. He recommended the same thing for brakes, and for the electrical system. In time, they would have twenty or more brochures, covering every aspect of the care and maintenance of the typical automobile. Additionally, they would branch out and create brochures for individual makes of cars, each with their own idiosyncrasies. They wanted to develop an expertise second to none in the area, and they wanted to increase public confidence that they were the premier service shop in the area.

As a next step, they began amending the brochures for the purpose of marketing, and they began a series of planned mailings into local neighborhoods. The purpose was to introduce themselves and to offer special deals on brakes, tires, electrical work, and so forth. The idea was to bring in a number of people interested in the same thing tires, for example and to take care of their needs before moving on to other segments of the market.

Are you trying to make sense of all the aftermarket car shows? This guide will help.
Aftermarket Car Part Association – AAIA
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association is the industry’s internal organization that promotes high standards of value within the industry.
Automotive Aftermarket Car Parts Association – Aces
Aces is short for (Aftermarket Catalog Enhanced Standard.) Aces is the industry standard for the management and exchange of automotive catalog and vehicle data. Using Aces, suppliers can publish automotive data with standard coded designations for vehicle attributes, parts classifications, and qualifier statements.
Aces provides a machine-readable format (XML) for trading partners to use in exchanging vast amounts of information. The Aces Vehicle Configuration Database is updated monthly and available only on a subscription basis from AAIA. The Qualifier Database and parts Classification Database are updated as needed. The Aces specification and database design is updated annually to include features and functions required by the car parts aftermarket..
The archive includes the Data delivery Specification ver 2.0; the Vehicle Configuration Database, VCdb Field Definitions; XML files; the Qualifier Database ER diagram and approved Abbreviations.
The major changes in the 2008 Aces are the addition of a new and improved Qualifier database for standardized comments, footnotes, and qualifier statements; full validation of all vehicles aftermarket car parts history from 1985 and newer; and the addition of components to support multiple Units of Measure and multilingual descriptions and qualifiers.
Aftermarket Car Parts – AAPEX Show
AAPEX is held every year during the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is limited to automotive professionals. No other event or trade show offers as many qualified buyers and distributors from all segments of the car parts aftermarket. More than 125,000 professionals from every corner of the global community aftermarket attend this show, and over 2,250 exhibitors display their products here.
The different groups and associations that attend this show include manufacturers, wholesalers, warehouse distributors, jobbers, retailers, independent service providers, technicians, parts stores, manufacture’s reps, exporters, importers and packagers.
Aftermarket Car Parts – SEMA Show
The SEMA show is held every year in the Las Vegas Convention Center and represents the fastest growing segment of the specialty automotive aftermarket industry. Eleven miles of aisles packed with profit-making products for several niche markets including, light truck, street rod, wheel/tire, restoration, on-board technology, street performance, off-road, restyling, racing, mobile electronics, and import/sport compact performance.
At this show you will be able to meet over 4,000 aftermarket car parts international exhibitors and share the most current industry trends with them. Over 7,500 new products are introduced at this show every year; no wonder that visitors came from 113 countries last year. If learning about the future of the aftermarket is one of your goals, you are in luck because 100 educational seminars, workshops, and product demonstration clinics are offered.

When to Request for Car Insurance Quotes Texas

The most ideal time to ask for a car insurance quote is 30 to 45 days before the renewal date of your existing policy. This time frame allows you enough time to explore more coverage options and take a look at policies offered by other insurance companies without facing pressure to make a hasty decision. Every couple of years is also a good time to request for auto insurance quotes. The important thing is to have more than enough time to compare insurance quotes before making a choice. This enables you to find better deals wherein youll have big savings.

Important Information Needed for a Auto Insurance Quote Texas

Basically, you need to prepare your drivers license number and provide information about all auto accidents and traffic violations in the past three to five years. It would help if you remember all the dates as well. Your rate will partly depend on this information.

Also, insurance companies will want to know the make, model, and year of your car. You can also declare all equipment installed in your car like alarms, wheels, custom paint, trim packages, and how much they are worth.

You would also be asked to provide information about your existing insurance company and the date of renewal. When reviewing new car insurance quotes, make sure that your new coverages is on par with your current policy. Learn more about optional coverages you can avail of but it is recommended that you have Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability coverages.

As for deductibles, review what you have in your present policy and make a comparison. Most people prefer a USD 250 or USD 500 deductible for Comprehensive and Collision coverages. Be on constantly on the lookout for discounts awarded to low mileage cars or hybrid cars, good standing students, and safe drivers.

Comparing Auto Insurance Quotes Texas

Go for a car insurance quote with corresponding amount of coverage and deductibles as your current plan. If there should be slight differences, be aware of what they are. Make sure to get car insurance quotes Texas of exact amounts and not mere estimates. Try adjusting your limits and deductibles and look at how your rates will change.

Auto lifts can be found in most urban cities. Mechanics use them to raise vehicles for bottom access. In the past, most automotive lifts were of the in-ground type. These days, the majority of garages have surface-mounted lifts, which are bolted to the floor and utilize a hydraulic pump or a screw-type drive powered by an electric motor.

Here are the different types, available from garage equipment supply dealers:

In-Ground

This type of vehicle lift is assembled below the floor of the garage. It consists of one or more pistons, depending on the maximum weight capacity. Lifts with one or two pistons are used for compact, mid-sized and full-sized cars. Lifts with three or more pistons are used for larger vehicles, such as RV’s and busses.

Two-Post Surface Mounted Automotive Lifts

The most common automobile lift utilized today is called the “Two Post Surface-Mounted Lift.” On each column, there are lift arms. These are controlled hydraulically, electronically, or mechanically.

Multi-Post Runway Lift

The most common type of Multi-Post Runway lift is the four-post mounted lift, which is extensively used by oil change, transmission, and muffler service shops. Youll find this type of automotive lift in wheel alignment service stations as well. The car is driven onto the two runways and raised, exposing its underside.

Low/Mid Rise Frame Engaging

This type of auto lift engages the vehicles frame while lifting. There are two ways this type may operate. One way is scissor-style, moving straight up. Another is parallelogram-style, moving forward or backward, while raising or lowering. This type is commonly used for tire, brake, and wheel services, as well as auto body repair.

Drive-On Parallelogram Vehicle Lift

The Drive-On Parallelogram Lift is a surface-mounted auto lift. It has two runways where the wheels of the car should be placed. It has a lifting mechanism that moves the vehicle a short distance forward or backward while raising or lowering. The direction depends upon the way the lift is mounted.

Scissors

The Scissors Lift can either be of a fixed-pad type or a roll-on frame/underbody engaging type. It has a lifting mechanism thats similar to the parallelogram lift. The main difference is that the scissor lift goes up and down, on a straight vertical path.

Movable-Type Wheel Engaging Auto Lift

This type of auto lift is used for vehicles that are longer than conventional cars, such as buses and trucks. It consists of several lifting columns in sets of two, four, six, or more. Columns can be moved can can be connected with other columns so that their movements are synchronized.

No matter your area of automotive expertise or personal skill level; if you love to work on cars in your garage in your spare time, or call the business your trade; whether youre into the classic muscle cars of the sixties and seventies, or the latest auto to roll off of the assembly lines in Detroit, theres a wide array of automotive specialty tools that are the perfect fit for your tool chest.

If youre into the generalized wheel area of cars (tires and wheels), standard wheel cover tools, torque socket sets, torque extensions, wheel stud installers, tire repair kits, needles and the necessary plugs to fill the holes are just a few necessary items that you should keep handy. There are different tools specifically designed for trucks and SUVs, so if you either drive one, or plan to do work on such vehicles, careful attention to the exact uses for tools is a key element to your success.

When it comes to fuel systems and the necessary tools for service, maintenance and repair, diagnostic testers lead the pack in importance, if you dont know what the problem is, just how are you supposed to fix it. Fuel injector pulse testers and fuel injection probes are the two most popular tools in this category.

Brake bleeders and brake bleeder vacuums are just a few of the automotive tools youll need if youre involved with the wonderful world of brakes. Be sure that the brake bleeder attachment is the proper size for the vehicle that you are working on. If its not, there are different attachments available, so be sure to check your inventory before you agree to any job.

Suction cups to hold a door window in place while work is performed in and around the door area are just another tool designed to make the life of an automotive specialist a bit easier. Specialty knives and locking strip tools are also complete tasks that could be done with other tools, but why would you want to do all of that extra work when you dont need to?

Of course, just as any time youre using any type of tool, taking the proper safety precautions and wearing adequate safety gear is the most valuable part to any successful effort. A tool or automotive part car be replaced with a quick phone call or click of a mouse, but your body parts are a bit more difficult to be restore and/or replace. Always follow the manufacturers directions for use and safety for all of automotive tools.

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacture. This means that the auto glass meets the original specification for safety and quality as the glass that it came with from the factory. Auto manufacturers do not make glass. They use different auto glass manufacturers’ to make the glass for your vehicle. A “dealer” glass is the same glass the auto glass shop would have, made from the same auto glass plant, but, in the process, the auto glass manufacturer stamps the brand name, such as Toyota, or Ford, making it a “dealer.” Same exact glass, but more expensive due to the brand name.

OEM auto glass means it is essentially the same piece of glass that is installed at the time the vehicle is made with the only difference being the windshield manufacturer. OEM glass is produced from original equipment-style tooling and meets the manufacturer’s specification for safety and quality. Only OEM glass can insure proper fit and finish which greatly reduces the possibility of air or water leaks. Most importantly, only OEM glass is designed specifically to meet the safety standards necessary for protection in an accident. You should always use OEM glass to insure your safety. If you are making an insurance claim to pay for your windshield replacement, you are mostly entitled to OEM glass. You have paid for it in your policy.

There is plenty of cheap non-OEM quality after glass market out there, but saving a few dollars on a piece of glass that may or may not fit right or be of the right thickness is not worth the risk to car owners.

OEM suppliers are trusted by auto manufacturers like GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Ford, etc to provide quality controlled windshields that are a perfect match and fit for their vehicles. OEM suppliers spent hundreds of million dollars in research and development, using computer-assisted engineering and designs programs (CAE and CAD) to ensure quality windshields for their vehicles.

Each OEM windshield goes through rigorous and thorough surface contour and optical quality checks as it moves down the assembly line. Auto glass parts produced by OEM manufacturers consistently fit better and adhere to the same standards for fit and finish as the glass that is originally installed when the car is built.

The after market shops will tell you that their product is the same quality as an OEM windshield. Wrong. Non-OEM auto glass manufacturers make copies of OEM auto glass parts. These copies have to vary slightly from the OEM part due to the fact that OEM parts are patented and the designs are protected and trademarked.

We are moving into winter here in Minnesota and over the next six months there will be thousands of car accidents. After a fender bender, it’s just as smart to steer yourself into the hands of the right auto body collision repair center as it is to check out a contractor’s credentials when you need Minneapolis collision repair.

With more than 35,000 auto body repair shops nationwide, choosing a shop can be confusing.

Steve Cox, vice president of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB), says, “Although an insurance company may make some recommendations, drivers ultimately are responsible for selecting an auto body repair shop. Choosing a trustworthy, quality-oriented shop is very important for ensuring the best possible results.”

The CBBB and the National Auto Body Council (NABC) have teamed up to help consumers better manage the collision repair experience, with tips on choosing a trustworthy shop, saving money on a replacement rental car and knowing how to settle any disputes.

Choose a Trustworthy Minneapolis Collision Repair Shop. Check out the shop’s qualifications by asking about advanced technician training from a national organization such as the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) or National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification.

Look for Commitment to Customer Satisfaction. Ask whether the shop is a member of the Better Business Bureau and verify information on the BBB Web site at www.bbb.org to see if the shop maintains a good reputation.

Arrange a Replacement Rental Car. Since the average car is in the repair shop for two weeks, ask if the shop can make recommendations for a rental car company and if it can arrange for a replacement rental car to be ready when you drop off your car. If your auto insurance policy includes replacement rental car coverage, which is usually only a couple dollars a month, you may get a rental car for little or no money.

Get Everything in Writing Up Front. Get a written repair and price estimate of the work to be performed, as well as an explanation of why specific recommendations are necessary to correct the collision damage, before the job begins. Also, ask about a warranty. Professional, reputable repair shops will stand behind their repair work by offering a warranty.

Automotive shop management software is a tool created to practically automate most administrative tasks in the automotive repair workshop.

It helps you to quicken the business workflow so that you can be able to attend to more customers without spending more time and yet make more money.

Workshop activities and management have moved up to the point of using advanced technology whereby, work can be done much more easily and faster.

Traditionally, workshop management activities involve much paper work, record keeping, filing of documents of customers and parts information, but today things have changed, all of these activities can be computerized.

Your shop administrative work can indeed be monotonous and boring, but with effective automotive shop management software, they become easy and quite interesting.

Successful car repair shops that have used this automotive shop management software have improved in the following areas.

1. Tracking work in progress: They can easily and quickly track to the last detail the status of a job they are working on, and know whether they can meet up with the completion date and time.

2. Profitability: They can make a quick check at a glance through this software and know whether they are making profits or not, all the necessary information on this will be displayed by a designated color after the software have compared all the necessary parameters for profitability.

3. Scheduling of Appointments: They make all appointments with customers so easily, and even well ahead of time, as the software can display all the necessary information pertaining to each customer to show when their appointment is due and what nature of jobs they want done.

4. Auto parts sales: With the customers details collected at the first time, they can easily know by the histories of their appointments which parts and accessories they need, and with no new input of full details of customers, and no unnecessary waiting, they can sell the parts over the counter.

5. Car Parts and Accessories Management and Control: They are able to have full control over parts movement, inventory management, price matrix, which not only save a lot of wasted time, but also minimize unnecessary loses.

6. Marketing Control: They use the it to do necessary follow up on customers so that they will have value for the products they bought and services rendered to them, and also, they will find it difficult not to come back when the need arise.

With the information provided, they can send reminders on next scheduled appointments or even thank you cards.

Automotive shop management software will practically run all your workshop management activities underground, coordinating them into a simple one continuous successful process which will make your customers to be happy with you always.

Not much is revealed about Auto Click Profits when a person gets introduced to the sales page. All is too familiar. The I was retrenched story, I had too make ends meet, I tried every product on the market and I have found the magic formula story. So what do we know? We know Auto Click Profits is some form of software that generates free traffic without using conventional methods like pay per click, article writing, social networks, SEO and blogging but to name a few.

This free traffic generator software claims to generate and sky rocket a persons website traffic within a couple of minutes. It is claimed that this software product can do in a mere two minutes what normally takes about eight hours to complete. Auto Click Profits claim that making money online has never been this easy. Simply run the software, fill in a couple of blank spaces and hit the profit button, so its claimed. Thereafter a bare minimum of only two hours per week are needed to run an online business using this software according to the developer of the product.

Daniel Owens is the man behind Auto Click Profits. The whole system came about when he realised that in order to get ahead in the internet marketing business he should forget everything he has read or systems he has bought and do something different. In essence what Daniel discovered after emulating and studying affiliate marketing gurus was that they did not practice what they preached. In fact according to him they actually make money online by selling products that are completely worthless. It is claimed that there are only a limited number copies of this free traffic generator software available to the public. How exactly the software works or generates this free traffic is obviously a mystery but it is claimed that the workings of the software cannot be replicated.

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It is possible to find both cheap Arkansas auto insurance policies as well as ones that provide good value for the money of an insured. The best insurance companies in Arkansas offer discounts on their auto insurance policies, which can help the car owners save a significant amount of money on a yearly basis. These companies normally take a lot of pride in being members of the Arkansas community and provide a host of benefits for their clients. Members of alumni groups of colleges and universities that are associated with these companies are provided specialized savings programs.

These benefits are also available to other entities such as various associations and companies that enter tie-ups with these insurance providers. These companies also provide a wide range of Arkansas auto insurance quote for the benefit and convenience of the clients. The entities that can benefit from such association are Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department and University of Arkansas. The main beneficiaries in this case are the people working with such organizations. To get more details regarding the services of these companies, interested people can look up their websites, call them or get in touch with their regional agents.

Arkansas auto insurance laws are similar to ones that are there in the other states in the United States of America. These policies are highly required for a person to be able to drive around in a car and register it in this state. As per the state laws, the applicants should have basic levels of different types of car insurance like physical injury to others as well as liability for damaged property. In case of the first one the requisite level is 25 thousand dollars for every person or 50 thousand for each accident. In case of property damage plans the basic requisite level is 25 thousand dollars per accident.

Majority of people in Arkansas look to get higher amounts of coverage when it comes to the auto insurance policies. This is done so that better coverage can be sought in case of accidents. Normally this level is more than the bare minimum that is required in the state for insurance purposes. Get more information on cheap Connecticut auto insurance coverage