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September 20, 2013 Here is what you will find in this edition:
JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS!
REGULATIONS FOR INSPECTING NEWER VEHICLES For my first order of business, I need some help from members that are PIFs. As you all should know, New Jersey regulations don't require motorists to have their cars inspected until the car is five years old. Only Centralized Inspection Facilities (CIFs) that are operated under a contract with Parsons are able to inspect "newer" cars in New Jersey. This comes in to play when a motorist moves in to New Jersey from another state with a newer car and must now get an appropriate NJ sticker affixed to his/her windshield. Several members have mentioned that consumers are unaware of these regulations, and they visit their PIF with these newer cars (less than 5 years old that need to be registered and inspected in NJ for the first time). A PIF owner is unable to inspect the car, because of state regulations. Motorists are then inconvenienced because they have to drive to a CIF. Private shops also lose the opportunity to service a customer and generate additional revenue. Since these are customers that have recently moved to NJ, it is likely that it is also a lost opportunity to satisfy and gain a long term relationship with someone who is probably visiting the shop for the first time. On top of that, the State continues forking over sums of money to Parsons, who operates the CIFs. Many motorists, upon learning that they must bring their vehicle to a CIF, still prefer to have their car inspected at the PIF for the sake of convenience; even though they know that their car will get an approval sticker that is valid for only 2 years rather than 5. They are also willing to pay the appropriate fee, even though they are aware that they can return to a CIF any not receive any charge. I need to know if (and how often) this has happened to you! I would like to bring this issue to MVC. I want to prove that my members are losing business as a result of this policy and that motorists are being inconvenienced. Please provide me with this information quickly by sending me an email. Tell me how many times a month this situation occurs at your PIF. I want to get this problem resolved. Secondly, I have a critical message for NJGCA members about complying with new OBAMACARE regulations. Under the law, you are required to provide all of your employees a notice about the existence of the new Health Insurance Exchange (aka Marketplace), by October 1st. The Department of Labor has provided two model notices; one for employers that presently offer health coverage, and another for employers that don't offer health coverage. Both model notices can be found on the NJGCA website:
• Employers who DO NOT offer coverage, please click here Those of you who participate in the NJGCA/Association Master Trust health coverage program have already been notified by AMT with the appropriate forms that you must provide to employees. You should have already received instructions about this process, and this message should serve as an additional reminder to comply before October 1. If (for some incomprehensible reason) you have chosen not to enroll in AMT, this is just one example of the valuable services that AMT provides to its membership. You and your employees are all going to be required to show proof of health insurance in the coming months in accordance with Obamacare regulations -- what better time to consider joining AMT? Please call Greg at 973-376-0066 for more information about the benefits of enrolling in Association Master Trust. I don't always talk about the marketplace each week, but several weeks ago we were on alert for prices to rise sharply because of geopolitical matters in Syria. Absent those geo-political matters, the expectation was that prices would drop -- and what we have seen is actually a very sharp decline in wholesale prices this week. Will this trend continue? I don't know because I didn't expect wholesale prices to go this low! However it won't surprise me if some idiot out there takes advantage of the low rack prices that we have seen this week, to gain attention by posting street prices less than $3.00/gallon. Recent analysis has shown that, because of the decline in prices, retailers have been able to maintain better margins over the past few months. If someone starts posting prices below $3.00/gallon, my fear is that you will all start beating each other up and have a race to the bottom, and lose out on the opportunity to grab some extra profits. I caution you not to do so, and I beg you to analyze your profitability before you lower your prices and decrease your margins. Last week, I mentioned a certain circumstance that inspired me to reiterate a policy that I implemented here 6 months ago, called the NJGCA Membership Fairness Doctrine. The reason that I am talking about it again today is because situations continue to come across my desk that require me to enforce the new doctrine, and further prove that the doctrine is necessary. Here's a situation that popped up this week - a station owner whose membership expired last September (2012) called seeking help because the state imposed a judgment on his business for violating the price gouging laws in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. When we looked up the membership record, we found that not only did his membership expire last September, but he was now seeking help at a location different than where he previously had his original membership. I would love to assist this man, however, he will receive exactly zero help from me until he does two things:
• Re-enroll and pay the past dues from the original station whose membership expired in September; and Here's the key: If you stay current with your dues, you will never have this problem. Also, had this member not expired last September, he would have received all of NJGCA's Wildfire Alerts with warnings about price gouging and the instructions of exactly what to do and how to avoid it. The ex-member mentioned above did not receive my alerts because it has always been our policy to shut off all emails and mail to locations that expire. Do you remember the barrage of Wildfire Alerts that I sent last October with instructions on how to properly handle price gouging laws? Well this expired member didn’t receive them and now is faced with possibly $50,000 or more in penalties! You will hear me talk about this more. Every gas station owner and auto repair shop out there that does not belong to NJGCA and pay annual dues like you do, yet benefits from the work that we do and any of our efforts to influence public policy in Trenton is nothing more than a freeloader. And they are freeloading off of you! Finally, a reminder about the NJGCA PAC Fundraiser on October 2nd. Please come out and support us so that we can go to Trenton and fight for you and your business! We already have NJGCA members registered, and we look forward to a fun afternoon! Click here to read the latest announcement on this event. Even if you don’t own a gun it will still be a fun event!
Thanks for reading -- See you next week!
Member looking to lease a new location IMMEDIATELY!! NJGCA member has an immediate need to move his prospering business. He just found out the building he is in has been sold, and he needs a new location. Do you have a repair shop (with or without gas) that you are looking to lease?
If you own a business in one of these towns or the surrounding area: Wayne, Morristown, Boonton, Fairfield, Montville, Pinebrook, Hanover, Livingston, Florham Park, Rockaway or Butler -- and you are looking to lease your location -- we have a member that is interested!! Member looking to rent out a portion of his location!! Successful Exxon station in Lincroft looking to get out of the repair business. Building consists of 3 bays, front office, storage, bathrooms, etc. If you are interested in moving, starting your repair business at this location, or converting this space into a convenience store, we have a member that is interested!! Please contact Debbie Hill at debbie@njgca.org or 973-376-0066 with any inquiries, questions, or for more information about either of these sites. If you'd like to list your business for sale, publish a location you're selling, or are seeking a business partner for your establishment, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066! NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW
09/18/2013:
09/18/2013:
09/18/2013:
09/17/2013:
TRAINING CLASSES!! NEW JERSEY EMISSION INSPECTOR TRAINING
In order to be licensed as a Motor Vehicle Emission Inspector, you must complete this course and pass a “Written Exam” given by the State of New Jersey. NJGCA offers this training in a ONE DAY State approved training program that will provide an understanding of inspection related issues including EPA Regulations, Safety, Diesel, Customer Service and the New Jersey State Specific Curriculum. This specially tailored NJGCA course fulfills all requirements.
PLEASE NOTE: FUTURE DATES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 973-376-0066 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!
MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE
TMP Energy Solutions We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it’s difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an “accurate” analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum KW demand is acquired. By pooling the member’s usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate. Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group. Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision. If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require12 months of your most recent utility bills. There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #’s, meter #’s service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem. The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate. If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA. Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket. We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs. Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. Contact GREG CANNON at 973-376-0066 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.
To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:
We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law! We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes ...and MUCH MORE!!
In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!
If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.
PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO: I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past. We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.
THE MEMBER TOOL BOX
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