Shop Owner Staff

Effective March 1st, Automotive Video now offers product sales and support via a “live chat” option available on its websites.

Bosch has introduced a new program for Bosch Service Centers (BSC) and their customers in the United States. Bosch Service centers can now offer consumers the Bosch Service credit card, which comes with the benefit of six months’ deferred interest on qualifying transactions.

Are you Section 609 certified to recover and recycle refrigerant? If you have not yet complied with this federal regulation you must comply before you work on a vehicle mobile A/C system in the United States. The Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide will hold a Section 609 test prep webinar on Friday, April 27, 2012 at 1 p.m. EDT. Underhood Service magazine and Automotive Video (AVI) are co-sponsoring this webinar with MACS Worldwide.

The International Automotive Technicians Network (iATN) recently introduced two new public-facing websites: the main public site to familiarize automotive service professionals with iATN, and a consumer-oriented site with a new Auto Repair Shop Finder to help consumers quickly locate an iATN facility from their desktop or mobile device.

WIX Filters, a member of the Affinia Group family of brands, is offering a promotion to receive a free pair of Mechanix Wear Gloves retailed at $24.99 with the purchase of one WIX premium oil filter and one WIX regular air or cabin air filter. The promotion began March 1.

The first weekend of August is going to be one to remember for some lucky Federated customers as they experience the first ever “Federated Ironman 55 Dream Weekend” in St. Louis. This one-of-kind experience will feature a major league baseball game, the inaugural Federated Auto Parts World of Outlaws “Ironman 55” race and a personal dirt track driving experience.

WIX Filters, a member of the Affinia Group family of brands, through a partnership with Performance Racing Network, is offering a “Win Gas for a Year” sweepstakes in which one winner will receive nearly $4,000 in free gas.

A recent report from Lang Marketing Resources Inc. reported that in spite of the economic climate, service stations, independent garages, repair specialists and foreign car specialists generated about 2.6 billion more in service revenue in the U.S. car and light truck aftermarket in 2011 vs. 2010. This revenue increase is coming primarily from the Do It For Me (DIFM) sector. In striking contrast, the same report projects that new car dealerships will lose more than $750 million in service market products. Service stations and independent garages now account for 29 percent of the total aftermarket DIFM market.

One of the biggest hurdles you’ll face in running your own business is staying on top of your numerous obligations to federal, state and local tax agencies. Tax codes seem to be in a constant state of flux, making the Internal Revenue Code barely understandable to most people.

Bosch Diagnostics has been named the ‘NAPA Tools and Equipment Supplier of the Year’ for 2011. The prestigious award was presented to the Bosch Diagnostics Business Unit at the NAPA Tools & Equipment Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Feb. 4.

The Car Care Council has launched its new website featuring expanded consumer information and unique functionality to allow visitors to customize their vehicle service schedules.

The Brake Manufacturers Council (BMC) of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) recently issued a statement in response to recent media reports and PR regarding the negative impact of the use of copper in brake friction products as it affects U.S. waterways.