Last Wake-Up Call: Blistered by Another ‘Problem,’ It’s Time the Industry Takes Action
Anger. Disappointment. Frustration. Resignation. I hurtled through a range of negative emotions after watching ABC’s “20/20” assault on the tire industry. After turning the whole thing over in my mind countless times, I finally came to the conclusion that it didn’t really matter. They were right. 100% right. ABC’s 10-minute primetime pasting of tire retailers
Misc. Folder: NTSW, Checkoffs, Greening, Spending, Shops & a Really Odd EU Scheme
You don’t necessarily see all of this, but I find it quite interesting to watch so many tiremakers, car dealers and non-tire dealer retailers jump aboard the National Tire Safety Week boat. Come April, we get flooded with news about free inflation pressure checks, tire gauges, educational events, press conferences, spokespeople…the list goes on and
Reality Check: Truthiness, Pizza, Ambition and the American Way
As this marks my 100th column as editor of Tire Review – and it is April! – I thought I’d offer this little but pertinent business parable. There once was a man with ambition and a plan. Slaving away as the assistant manager of a local pizza joint, he felt there had to be a
Fuzzy ‘Fix’: Ill-Placed Countervailing Duties Counter to Free Market Economy
Been thinking about this whole Chinese tire-International Trade Commission/Commerce Department matter. And it is a difficult one, to be sure. I am not necessarily a fan, for instance, of good manufacturing jobs leaving these shores. But I do understand – and agree with – the concept of a Free Market Economy. You know, the one
For Gatlin’s Sake: Momentum Builds for National Tread Depth Regs, But Much More to Do
A full year has gone by since we threw our support behind a national 4/32nds tread depth law (5/32nds for Class 3-8 trucks), and urged tire dealers to press their state legislators and Congresspeople to act. And I am pleased to report that things are moving. The idea gained additional steam last year, especially after
Bits & Pieces: Notes, News & Notions from End-of-Year Desk Cleaning
Annual purge of posties and chicken scratch uncovered a few items I though were worth sharing: Policy changes…the days of hardball haggling with the local car dealer are apparently over. Fixed pricing plays better on the Web, and with women and younger buyers. Plus, less negotiating means fewer sales managers – and lower costs. Like
Taking Stock: Vandals and Thieves Damage Tires, Bad Service Damages Industry
For those who haven’t been paying attention, 2007 was a lousy year to be a tire. So many innocents were lost to man-made madness, taken from us in their prime, some well before their contributions were even realized. And we’re not just talking about tires. Dozens, hundreds, nay thousands of tires passed before their warranties
Changing Aptitudes: Kumho, Other Tire and Auto Companies Work to Improve Teen Driving Skills
The fact I need a mirror to see my rearview is ample proof that my teenage years are well in the rearview mirror. But, boy, do I wish I were one right now. Cell phones, PCs and the Internet, cable TV, digital music, four-cylinder rockets…we didn’t have any of these things. Our high tech was
Textbook Example: Top Shop Winners AND Entrants Prove Independent Dealers Are Doing Well
The North American independent tire dealer is alive and well, and doing fine, thank you very much. In fact, based on the piles and piles of entries we received for our first Top Shop Awards contest, tire dealers are textbook examples of how small businesses should be run. Successfully, effectively, profitably – and people focused.
Paper Tiger: Tackling Image Problem Takes Real Teeth, Not Tax Boondoggle
All I can say is: Be careful what you wish for. We’ve all heard tales of consumers being ripped off by auto repair shops. TV news shows and other media have done their watchdog best to uncover unscrupulous shops, especially during sweeps months. Many consumers see those hyper-hyped “Eyewitless News” exposes and automatically lump all
Great Leap Forward?: Recall, Rebate Change Will Impact Tire Market. But How?
Get used to seeing the word “China” in this issue. You can’t swing a useless semicolon without hitting it. It wasn’t intentional, just an odd confluence of events. Our cover feature, which looks at today’s new breed of imported tires, was decided some time ago. The recall and the change to China’s export taxes and
A 50% (Plus 1) Solution?: ‘Free Choice’ Bill Could Bring Unions to Small Business
Now that we have labor peace in the tire industry, we must turn our attention to the next big labor circus act. No, not the upcoming United Autoworkers vs. Detroit’s Big (and Nearly Bankrupt) 3 show, which opens its unlimited engagement this summer. We’re talking about the Employee Free Choice Act, a bit of D.C.