Right to Repair and Is Michelin Undercutting Tire Shops?
Braxton Critcher [00:00:05]:
This is automotive repair news today. I'm Braxton Critcher. June is Automotive Service Professionals Month, a time that the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence ASE sets aside to highlight the work automotive service professionals do, especially in today's times. With many things in the industry changing, especially with all the new technology being added to cars, it's never been more challenging to be involved in the industry. So if you are, happy automotive service professional month Michelin and other tire manufacturers seem to be siding with big box stores. Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's and others have recently been offering free tire installation, and that promotion might be permanent. It seems that tire manufacturers have changed contract wording that is benefiting big box stores and hurting independent repair shops. Here's Randy O'Connor.
Randy O'Connor [00:01:07]:
If you go back and you look at 2018, for instance, and you look at Michelin's map policy, they specifically exclude offers exactly of this type. If you look at what's on the website of the clubs now, it actually says you have to get them installed at that club and that they will give you free installation.
Braxton Critcher [00:01:28]:
What would this mean for tire and repair shops? Marc Pons from Chapel Hill Tire has thoughts.
Marc Pons [00:01:34]:
This makes me concerned about kind of what happened with damage that Autozone and advance did to the market when it came to diagnosing check engine lights. When they started offering check engine light for free, it totally devalued what the market thought about equipment. The years of training the ASE's that a certified technician put into being able to properly diagnose their their vehicle, right? I feel like the same thing is going to happen. Is like, can you believe this place is trying to charge me 25 $30 to balance a tire when I can go to Costco and have it done for free? What a bunch of scammers.
Braxton Critcher [00:02:12]:
Joel Ayers, the first executive director of the automotive aftermarket Charitable Foundation, AACF, has announced his retirement. During his nearly a decade with the organization, Ayers significantly contributed to AACFS success. He was most well known for his role and the launch of the awareness Partner program, which doubled the number of partner companies. Ayres was also inducted into both the SEMA and Torah halls of fame. Right to repair right now in the automotive repair industry is probably the most talked about issue that not only affects repair shops and the entire aftermarket and OES, but also has people across the country talking, even outside the trade. What would happen, though, if the aftermarket cannot gain access to data in vehicles? Lisa Faucher from Auto Care association gives her thoughts.
Lisa Foshee [00:03:13]:
If we can't continue to gain access to this repair and maintenance data. Our independent shops, our independent technicians, our retailers, our wholesalers, our jobbers are not going to have a job. We will not have the industry that we have today. We have to make sure that we can access this data and continue to make parts for and repair cars.
Braxton Critcher [00:03:39]:
As more news and updates from right to repair happens almost daily, be sure to catch up on those updates on the automotive repair news today, Facebook page, YouTube channel and right here on your favorite podcast platform. If you know of news that needs to be shared or hot button issues that just aren't getting talked about but need to let me know via email@braxtonautomotiverepairnews.com. dot that's braxton@automotiverepairnews.com. we want to keep the industry informed about what's happening across the industry, and so we need you to help. And thanks for listening to this episode of Automotive Repair news today.
