May 2001 Editor's Page
Mumbo Jumbo-Free News

This month’s cartoon seems eerily appropriate as an editorial statement on value-added programs, the focus of this edition's feature story.

Not that there’s not a plethora of information on these programs, as our story thoroughly details, but after reading our two-part series on this subject it strikes me that the paint companies are struggling to define exactly what they want these programs to be.

That being said, in their effort to expand and improve upon value-added programs, the paint companies are making some strides. Chief among them, in my opinion, is an increased flexibility that enables the shops to individualize the programs to their specific needs. And, as Akzo Nobel’s new UK program demonstrates, perhaps the future of these programs is in the area of marketing shops to insurers. Now that would really be an added value.

In any event, if you want to cut through the mumbo jumbo, read the story. And check out the chart on page 12 to get a valuable break down of a number of these programs.

Yes, that is the fat lady you hear warming up back stage in Illinois; where a state appellate court issued a ruling virtually assuring that the bulk of that nasty $1.2 billion verdict is going to stand up under appellate review (see page 15). While even an outright reversal at this point would not take the sting out of that verdict as it pertains to the aftermarket parts industry, CAPA and a host of others couldn’t have been happy to hear of the appellate court’s decision.