Mass Right to Repair Coalition

NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 21, 2009

The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition

Your Voice for Fairness in Automotive Repairs

Right to Repair is a New Lease on Old Cars

An Opinion piece by Scituate-based independent repairer Glenn Wilder of Wilder Brothers American Car Care Center

The federal ‘cash for clunkers’ program is bringing customers back to new car lots after a long absence that has driven Detroit into a ditch and closed many dealerships around the country. But for most people, the car they remain focused on is the one they are already driving, and increasingly they are driving to their local mechanics to make sure those cars last even longer.

That is good news for the independent automotive repair industry because car owners are now willing to spend their money on repair work rather than take on new car payments, and they are saving on those repairs at independent shops compared to the higher-priced dealer repair shops. The auto industry research firm J.D. Power & Associates reported recently that the average trade-in age for cars was 6.2 years last October, up from 5.8 years the year prior.

But while consumers appear content to keep their older cars on the road, they are increasingly discovering that their car’s computerized systems may be conspiring against them to drive them back to more expensive dealer shop repairs even when those cars are out of warranty. Most consumers experience this when they see a ‘check engine soon’ light or another warning that suddenly appears on their dashboard. When they bring it into independent (non-dealer) shops like ours, they simply want the underlying problem fixed so that pesky light goes off.

Sometimes, however, we can’t shut off that light even when we can make the underlying repair.... (CLICK HERE to continue reading Glenn’s Opinion column at www.massrighttorepair.com)

Legislative Alert

Right to Repair Hearing Set for September 15 on Beacon Hill

Massachusetts legislators will begin to tackle the Right to Repair issue soon after Labor Day this year when the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure takes up the measure on September 15. The Coalition for Right to Repair will testify in support of Senate Bill 124 and House Bill 228 and repairers and business owners from across the state are expected to join in support of the landmark legislation.

Anyone wishing to register in support of Right to Repair can contact the Coalition at 617-248-9772 and indicate your willingness to testify or write a letter of support to your legislators. You can also go directly to www.massrighttorepair.com and click on the legislative link to directly contact your legislators.

Why Right to Repair?

Massachusetts has a long history of activism on consumer protection issues and could Justin Morrison be the first state to enact Right to Repair legislation. Support for the measure has never been stronger in Massachusetts where there are now more than 40 legislative cosponsors and a majority of lawmakers who support the legislation.

Behind that legislative support are persistent complaints from independent repairers that they cannot get repair and diagnostic codes in a timely and cost-effective way. As Hyannis-based repairer Justin Morrison recently told the Cape Cod Times: "We get some of the codes when we need them but there are codes we are never going to get no matter what. That's just the way it is."

Lawmakers also understand that the independent repair industry, including auto parts stores, muffler and brake shops and independent auto body and repair shops, account for one in ten jobs in Massachusetts and generate nearly $6 billion in economic activity.

Coalition News

Arthur Kinsman of AAA Southern New England Joins Right to Repair Coalition

Arthur "Art" Kinsman, a longtime advocate for the car-driving consumer at AAA Southern New England, has joined the Right to Repair Coalition where he is now working to build support for legislation on Beacon Hill. True to his automotive roots at AAA, Kinsman has spent much of this summer on the road talking directly with repairers and listening to their accounts on how the Right to Repair issue affects their businesses and their customers.

AAA's chief spokesman and legislative liaison for two decades, Kinsman was instrumental in gaining support for the legislation at AAA Southern New England, one of the most respected consumer-based organizations in the region with more than 2.3 million members. During his career at AAA, Kinsman was instrumental in getting landmark legislation passed to prevent drunk driving and beefing up teen licensing requirements. Want to talk to Art directly? Call him at 617-248-9772 or email him at Art.Kinsman@MassRightToRepair.com.

Take Action

To learn more about Right to Repair effort in Massachusetts and beyond visit massrightorepair.com. There you may also identify and communicate with your state legislators and join our mailing list to stay abrest of ongoing developments.

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