Automotive Parts Associates announces service center program at annual meeting
Member warehouses that belong to Automotive Parts Associates have a new tool to help them sell more auto parts.
The Professionals’ Choice Service Center Program is designed to help APA members increase the loyalty of service center customers to their business, according to Paul Brokaw, director of program development for APA. Brokaw presented details of the new program during the APA’s 35th annual conference in Orlando March 11. To see coverage of APA conference events on March 10, click here.
The program offers a nationwide 24-month, 24,000-mile warranty to the car owner. It also includes an in-shop labor reimbursement for the area near the Professionals’ Choice service center.
“This is a big benefit for APA member warehouses,” Brokaw said to the general session crowd of about 200 attendees. “It will help APA members build loyalty with the shops that they do business with.”
The program also offers ASE certification reimbursement for technicians and/or the shop owner.
In addition, it offers discounts on the AutoMD Shop locator and estimate system at no charge for 2016. After this year, the cost will be based on the work volume of the shop. It also offers discounts on the Slip-N-Grip shop supply program.
For a small fee, the program offers roadside assistance and road hazard warranty to the car owner through a toll-free phone number.
Shops can sign up for the Professionals’ Choice Service Center Program on APA’s website. Participating shops will receive a welcome kit and be enrolled as a 24-month/24,000 mile warranty provider.
“The welcome kits are ready to ship,” Brokaw said. “APA members should get more business from their shops due to the benefits of the program.”
In other action during the general session:
• Caprice Caster, director of events and promotions for APA, explained the Hollywood Exotic Drive promotion, which is underway and ends on March 31. She said that the summer promotion will give away a 2016 Harley-Davidson Sportster. Caster announced that the APA 2017 annual conference will be held in Reno, Nev.
• Mike Maloof of World Auto Parts discussed the good will that his business received during the recent 2016 Professionals’ Choice SunSplash trip to Cancun, Mexico. Held biennially, the trip is a loyalty program offered through APA members. Shop owners who purchase from APA members earn loyalty points towards the cost of the trip and warehouse distributors who purchase from the supporting manufacturers earn additional rebates. The 2018 trip will be six days and five nights in Jamaica.
• APA member Randall Swedlove won a free trip to the 2018 SunSplash in Jamaica.
• Economist Chris Kuehl, managing director of Armada Corporate Intelligence, delivered the keynote address, “Five reasons to set your hair on fire and five reasons to chill.”
• Malcolm Sissmore, North American sales director, traditional markets and telematics, Delphi; and Bob Pattengale, national training manager, Robert Bosch LLC, discussed emerging technologies in the automotive industry.
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