On May 31, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) released facts gathered by the ASA Collision Division Operations Committee relating to the State Farm electronic parts ordering pilot program. The committee has held numerous meetings and conference calls on this issue. Since the release of this information, ASA has continued to represent repairers on this important issue and is working directly with all parties involved to do everything possible on behalf of its members.
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ASA has released its findings and points of concern based on its research. Research to date has included interviews with State Farm, PartsTrader and collision repairers – those who participate in direct repair program agreements (including some who are currently participating in the pilot of this application), and those who don’t participate in DRPs. ASA members across the nation including those in ASA’s affiliated associations, and in particular, ASA’s collision operations committee, have devoted time to address concerns about the State Farm pilot.
“If this is a ‘win-win’ situation, as stated by State Farm, then now is the time for State Farm to provide the numerical data that specifically identifies any benefit (financially or operationally) to Select Service shops,” said Denise Caspersen, ASA Collision Division manager. “If State Farm is not able to clearly demonstrate the benefits of this pilot application to the repair community, then this application should not move forward.”
ASA will continue to determine the long-term impact and other immediate concerns that this program application would have on repairers by continuing to stay engaged with all parties involved. To date, ASA has the “details of the application.” Now it is State Farm’s obligation to provide evidence that this program application is beneficial for collision repairers and the motoring public.
All ASA announcements and documents regarding the State Farm pilot are conveniently located on the association’s website, www.ASAshop.org. Click on “Tools & Resources” (in the blue menu bar on the home page), then “State Farm Pilot Program.” (The site is best viewed using the Firefox browser.)
“The State Farm pilot of the PartsTrader application has generated a great deal of speculation and commentary from all corners of the collision repair industry, so it was incumbent on ASA to perform comprehensive due diligence on behalf of its members and the repair community at large. The results of that exercise have been published and now we believe the ‘burden of proof’ falls to State Farm to demonstrate the benefit of this program as soon as practically possible,” said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief executive officer.
Collision repairers may share their concerns, comments and experiences regarding the pilot program by contacting Denise Caspersen at [email protected], or by phone at (800) ASA-SHOP ext. 106, or (817) 514-2906 (direct).
For additional information, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.
