July 2017 - Greater Cincinnati Automobile Dealers Association

4 Questions We Got on Child Passenger Safety at the Baby Expo

We were happy to once again take part in the Baby and Beyond Expo and we all hope every attendee had a great time. We talked to hundreds of parents and parents-to-be and out of all the questions we received this weekend, four in particular came up a lot.

When can children move from a 5-point harness to a high back booster?
Even though each state has their own laws, *NHTSA and *AAP and are the best to refer to. Most booster seats have a lower weight threshold of 40 pounds, though some still have a 30-pound minimum weight. We advocate for waiting as long as possible to move a child to the next step in any child restraints.  That means waiting until the child has topped the height and weight limit of their harnessed car seat before transitioning to a booster seat.

Do car seats expire?
Yes, car seats expire. It is recommended that a car seat be thrown out after seven years or so. The reason is not because of danger that the plastic is degenerating. Regulations and standards are changing every day and even though the plastic is good for at least 10 years, it will still wear down over the years. To ensure the upmost safety for your child, check the owner’s manual and find the car seat expiration date.

When should children be switched from rear facing to forward facing?
In a policy statement published in Pediatrics, *AAP now advises parents to keep toddlers in rear-facing car seats until at least age two, or until they exceed the height or weight limit for the car seat, which can be found on the back of the seat.

What is a child ID sticker?
We handed out a lot of child ID stickers this weekend and many parents weren’t familiar with them. Child ID stickers are to be placed on the bottom or back of a child safety/booster seat to help emergency personnel identify your child if an accident disables the adults in the vehicle. The emergency personnel will be able to treat your child with the help of the child’s medical information written on the identification sticker.

We had a great time meeting so many families and expectant mothers and fathers. We hope everyone was able to learn something new or jog their memory on important guidelines regarding their child’s safety in a vehicle. Some parents may want to speed up the booster seat or rear facing to front facing process but it’s important to remember that it’s about the child’s safety, not what they want. They grow up fast enough, don’t rush it!

September is National Child Passenger Safety Month and we are partnering with Evenflo and Cincinnati Children’s to give away 12 car seats. Be sure to visit our website, wwww.gcada.net to register!

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
*American Academy of Pediatrics

Come See Us at The Cincinnati Baby and Beyond Expo


Don’t forget to stop by the Cincinnati Baby and Beyond Expo at the Sharonville Convention Center July 29 & 30! The two days will be filled with child care and health care experts conducting interactive and educational activities on-site tailored to mothers and their children. You can also find parenting products, clothing and accessories at the wonderful baby and children’s boutiques. There will also be a chance to win a year’s supply of Pampers diapers and wipes so be sure to check that out!

We will be conducting a car seat giveaway so be sure to stop by our booth for more information and a chance to win!

Ticket prices are as followed:

Adult: $8
Children 12 and Under: Free!

You can also purchase tickets at your local Kroger!

We hope to see you there this weekend!

Visit their website for more details!

Navigating the Warranty Reimbursement Process

Payment for warranty work has been a point of contention in the dealer-factory relationship for decades. But changes are being made around the country, in favor of the dealer. 40 states now have laws mandating that automakers reimburse dealers for warranty-related labor and parts at the same rates that the dealerships charge for retail repair work.

Traditionally, the auto manufacturers have limited the parts and labor markup for warranty work to 40 percent.  Typical dealership markups on customer-paid repairs reach somewhere between 60 and 80 percent, which really equates to the “going-rate” for the typical repair work.

Understanding your state’s laws in this area is crucial, but even more critical is understanding how the manufacturer’s application process works: how to navigate the exclusions, what documentation is needed, how to deal with a rebuttal and how often applications can be submitted. You do not need to enlist the services of a consultant or attorney in this area, however, due to the array of legal issues and the layers of OEM policy, there are benefits to employing an expert to help you maximize the reimbursement opportunities. 

Both Ohio and Indiana have strong statutes supporting the initiative. Statutes in these two states provide a specific formula to use to calculate their retail rates and the detailed process on how to apply for warranty reimbursement.  The Kentucky statute is worded more vaguely, but is still considered to be a favorable statute on warranty reimbursement.  If you have dealerships in these states, the process is absolutely worth doing.

So why aren’t more dealerships taking advantage of higher reimbursements? The answer is two-fold: They either don’t know they can, or they know they can but are weary of retaliation by the manufacturers or the substantial red tape to deal with. While it is true that automakers sometimes question submissions, at the end of the day, they must obey the law, so retaliation should not be a concern.  To navigate the red-tape, you can employ a dealership consultant and legal counsel with experience in submitting reimbursement applications in your state(s). They will handle it so that all you as the dealer need to do is focus on running the business and then collecting the reimbursement from your manufacturer.

Some questions that we often get are: How lucrative is this reimbursement program? Is it worth the effort?

Even a small dealership can receive more than $140,000 a year. Yes, annually. For relatively low effort made by the dealer, the potential reward can add significantly to the bottom line and be the difference between a bad year and a great year.

For more information or answers to any questions, please contact Nick Brunotte from Brady Ware Dealership Advisors. Nbrunotte@bradyware.com or at 614.551.4615.