Motor Codes has published a YouTube video explaining that using a business which subscribes to the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair offers enhanced consumer protection above the minimum levels required by law. The short file, “How to avoid cowboy garages…” offers a consumer-orientated explanation of what the code means to customers who take their cars in for service or repair to a subscribing workshop.
Blackcircles.com is aiming to increase its garage network by 30 per cent by the end of 2009, adding as many as 400 garages. Announcing the news the company vowed to help independent garages “fight back”, saying it offers “additional revenue, customer footfall and national marketing, helping [independents] compete with major high street brands.”
The garage sector is said to be succeeding in raising customer service levels. Figures released this week by government-funded advice service Consumer Direct suggest that the number of concerns with workshops is falling, reporting that it received 8,047 calls between January-June 2009 about service and repairs carried out by independent garages – a fall of 4.16 per cent over the same period the previous year.
“These latest figures indicate that there has been an improvement in the performance of independent garages over the past few months. The more businesses that recognise the benefits to be obtained by subscribing to this Code, the better the overall consumer experience will be,” said Motor Codes director Chris Mason. “By working with the sector to provide real benefit for consumers and raise standards across the industry, Motor Codes is best positioned to help motorists identify who they should be doing business with.”
A HiQ franchisee raised more than £2000 for Breast Cancer Care at the Goodwood Festival of Speed recently. Richard Whittemore, who runs 10 HiQ centres in the south of England under his Elite Garages Group company, helped to generate £2,075 at the event, while checking hundreds of motorists’ tyres in an attempt to eliminate illegal tyre usage.
Richard took a team of fast fitters around the festival to check hundreds of tread depths and in return, visitors donated money to Breast Cancer Care – HiQ’s chosen charity for 2009. The initiative took place at Goodwood after a recent survey claimed that more than 3 million UK motorists are currently driving on illegal tyres.
Arcom, based in Rzezawa, Poland reported an exceptionally busy stand at the Autopromotec Trade Fair in Bologna, saying that “although there is a global economic crisis this was not apparent to us in Bologna”. The company says that it had stands at the previous two fairs but found this occasion to be the most fruitful. In fact, Arcom continues, it was even more fruitful than the fair in Essen which is very specific to the tyre industry and after only two days the Arcom stand had more visitors than in a five day period in previous years. Most of these visitors were Italians, though the company also reports a significant international following too.
In recognition of the need to maintain high standards within the independent garage sector, Unipart Automotive has confirmed its support for the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair.
Unipart will be encouraging all existing Unipart Car Care Centres (UCCCs) to sign up to the Code of Practice and it will become compulsory for any new UCCCs joining the network to participate. To help the network benefit from the industry standard, Unipart will contribute towards the cost of signing up to the Code for its Car Care Centres.
April’s Bike Tyre Safety Month saw the TyreSafe website receive the highest number of visits to its website to date, the safety organisation has reported. According to a statement, the tyre safety campaign saw tyresafe.org receive 26,700 visits during the month-long campaign, a 185 per cent increase from April 2008.
TyreSafe’s Bike Tyre Safety Month aimed to raise awareness of the importance of tyres in road safety. Top tips for bike tyre safety maintenance together with key tyre safety advice were shared with bikers via a dedicated page on the TyreSafe website, where visitors were also offered the opportunity to register for the organisation’s newsletter and receive a free tyre valve extension. The campaign received support from a wide range of organisations, such as the Motorcycle Industry Association, the Institute of Advanced Motorists and the British Motorcyclists Federation.
TyreSafe and the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) are calling on experienced bikers to help promote tyre safety among motorcyclists. With increasing numbers of motorcyclists taking to the road this spring, TyreSafe and the IAM are advising experienced bikers and biking enthusiasts to help raise awareness of the importance of riding on safe tyres. During April’s Bike Tyre Safety Month, TyreSafe is reaching out to motorcyclists of all levels, including enthusiasts, with a reminder that correct tyre maintenance helps keep bikers safe on the road, and may ultimately save their life. As the improved weather conditions attract thousands of bikers to rallies and race meetings around the country, TyreSafe advises checking the pressure, tread depth and condition of tyres before setting off on long journeys.
John Bean, a brand within Snap-on Equipment, announced its price reduction on the popular V3D Lite to £7,995 (excluding VAT). The reduced price is available on machines ordered before July 2009 and includes a two-year warranty.
Chris Behan, general manager of Snap-on Equipment, states that the company hopes to attract more converts to the system’s 3D alignment operation: “Reducing the price of the successful John Bean V3D Lite enables more workshops to leave their old laser aligners behind and step into the world of fast and accurate 3D wheel alignment. The current economic climate means that garages need to maximise profit opportunities and V3D Lite enables them to gain a new or improved revenue stream alongside their core business.”
Beissbarth UK, have backed their commitment to training excellence with sponsorship of the Peugeot Service Technician Apprentice of the Year 2008 awards. Six finalists were put through their paces during a challenge of six diagnostic tasks based on the IMI Diagnostic Level Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA). The tasks tested the candidates on braking systems, engine electrical systems, transmission, vehicle electrical systems, engine mechanical systems and vehicle body multiplexing systems.
David Trent, apprentice at George Hartwell, Ferndown, Dorset, won first prize with a prize donated by Beissbarth UK, whose MD Philip Hodges said: “Training is a vital part of our industry’s future and we were delighted to be able to celebrate the success of these apprentices. “The level and range of sophisticated diagnostic and repair equipment will continue to increase and we are indeed fortunate to be able to work with farsighted firms like Peugeot who are leading the way in investing in apprenticeships, so enabling more young people to embark on an excellent career.”
Parts supplier Unipart Automotive has teamed up with market leading garage equipment manufacturers to launch the latest edition of Megawisebuys offering vehicle workshops, body shops and commercial vehicle operators added-value deals on quality capital and mobile equipment.
Some of the deals in the March/April edition include: A free remote control handset with any set of Stertil Koni mobile column lifts ordered in March or April along with a free two-year warranty on the FORCE30 two post three tonne hydraulic lift from Maywood; a free set of high lift pads with the Bradbury 2903CD 2 post 3 tonne mechanical lift; a free Karcher domestic pressure washer (inc accessories) with selected Karcher hot & steam pressure washers along with a free hose storage trolley with selected Karcher cold washers for a limited period only.
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Horsham-based tyre business E.G. Wholesale (part of Elite Garages) has opened a new state of the art tyre warehouse and logistics operation in the West Sussex town. It will supply all its tyre customers across the south east. The operation was formally opened in December 2008 by Mark Brickhill, managing director of Goodyear Dunlop (UK). Brickhill stated, “Goodyear Dunlop are pleased to be associated with E.G. Wholesale who are certainly showing the future direction of tyre wholesaling.”
The new facility carries approximately 40,000 tyres on the shelf and – together with its two existing bulk tyre warehouses – offers one of the largest stocks and range of tyres in the South East. The company operates a fleet of 25 vans to cover its delivery area, which spreads from Bournemouth in Dorset to Ashford in Kent. All vans have satellite tracking systems to ensure timing and accuracy of delivery.
The BSI Kitemark campaign is promoting its registered garages to businesses and fleet managers as a way of “eradicating any potential dangers.” According to a press release published on 23 January, fleet managers can be reassured that by using a Kitemark garage the risk of poor repairs has been lowered, not just the cost.
In its report BSI refers to the Health and Safety Offences Act 2008, which came into force on 16 January 2009. This new Act increases penalties and provides courts with greater sentencing powers for those who break health and safety law. Therefore managers who turn a blind eye to maintaining the company’s business cars regularly will be more severely punished. The importance of specifically replacing car tyres was also highlighted.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has reinforced its commitment to support the new Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair by engaging with its 3,500 membership and ultimately delivering them to the Code subscription process.
IGA chairman Jonas Zambakides said: “One of the key objectives for my period as chair of the IGA is to deliver a consistent and fair method of members dealing with customers and the Code is the way we intend to do this. The Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair has all the ingredients an independent garage requires to enable it to address consumer issues, cost-effectively and without fundamentally altering its business – allowing it to remain competitive with other local garages.”
Tyre dumping doesn’t pay, especially the dumping of 175,883 tyres and 290 tonnes of tyre wire. This is the total quantity illegally disposed of by a Welsh trio, who are now each facing up to five years in prison and a substantial fine for their illicit deeds. The South Wales Echo reports that Geraint Evans, 52, his partner Marilyn Hanks, 36, and accomplice Norman Cassidy face jail and an ‘unlimited’ fine after admitting to various charges at Cardiff Crown Court on November 6.
A six-month, cross-border environment agencies investigation revealed the three dumpers had dispatched waste tyre product to four sites in Wales and England. The dumped tyres had been collected from garages and then stored in rented warehouses before being ‘released into the wild’, and Environment Agency Wales believes the illegal scheme way have netted the trio about £115,000.
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