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Letter to the Editor

Network Based on Net Worth

Our feature this month is a must-read for all shop owners, because it defines and explains the many types of shop networks in our global Collision Repair Industry. The bottom line for determining if we should join any network is, according to the results of an international study presented at this year’s International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS), not to bring more business to the door. According to David Murby, of Numina Consulting, based in the UK, the only reason to consider joining a repair network is to standardize repairs. Read carefully, and decide if you agree or are still hoping for an increased volume of work.

For more international flavor, check out the coverage of Automechanika Middle East on page 12. The trade fair was very successful this year.

Ford Motor Company has issued a statement expressing the company’s belief that aftermarket copy structural parts are inferior to original manufacturer structural parts. The auto manufacturer apparently performed a series of tests to compare aftermarket parts to original Ford parts after the last CIC meeting’s uproar. Read more on page 17.

In a purely coincidental placement, INSIGHT’s TrendLine Survey this month looks at collision repair shops’ usage of aftermarket parts (page 18). One half of the survey respondents use insurer-specified aftermarket parts, falling off from a 2005 high of 74 percent. A surprisingly decreased percentage of aftermarket parts are either returned or modified, according to our respondents. The whole issue is still pretty confusing, at least to me.

Speaking of confusing - Are you planning to attend SEMA or NACE this year? I am wondering if any of us can afford to double our expenses and journey to both shows? I doubt it.

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