Ex-Car Dealer Now Tarheel Politico, Helps Pass Anti-Aftermarket Pro-Dealership Parts Bill

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 2 -- "Some in the North Carolina General Assembly should remember why we're fighting in Iraq -- to give those citizens the right to have the same freedoms as Americans, such as 'consumer choice without intimidation.' Obviously, House Insurance Committee Chairman Hugh Holliman (D-Davidson County) and retired CAR DEALER Nelson Cole (D-Casell, Rockingham Counties), do not believe that what we preach abroad should be practiced at home," stated Sandy Bass-Cors, Executive Director for the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE).

In a legislative maneuver on May 1, car dealers and body shops, working in tandem with retired car dealer Rep. Nelson Cole, passed HB 1152, an anti- consumer bill that mandates that motorists who want aftermarket parts installed on their vehicles MUST first consent in writing -- but ONLY if they want aftermarket parts -- motorists do not have to consent first in writing for car dealer parts.

"This consent in writing only for aftermarket parts has been UNSUCCESSFULLY tried in other states. It's used primarily to intimidate motorists and to plant the seeds of doubt as to the high quality of aftermarket parts so that the motorists will instead choose the more expensive car dealer parts.

"This is not about quality -- this is about the 'guilt-free' ability of the car dealers to charge higher mark-ups to motorists. Aftermarket parts are manufactured by the same companies that manufacture car dealer parts. The only difference is the price and warranties -- aftermarket parts cost up to 50 PERCENT LESS than car dealer parts and aftermarket parts come with life-time or long-term warranties -- which car dealer parts do not.

"This is about the car dealers refusing to compete fairly in the marketplace. So, they have reached out to one of their own, Rep. Nelson Cole, a retired car dealer, to pass legislation where they are assured that through 'consent in writing on aftermarket parts only' they will not have to sweat earning a higher profit margin -- BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN LEGISLATED TO THEM," continued Bass-Cors.

Chairman Holliman cut off testimony in his House Insurance Committee from the only person in attendance speaking up for consumers and aftermarket small business, while he allowed video tapes and full testimony from the car dealers and body shops. "Does the First Amendment count in Chairman Holliman's Committee -- it appears not," stated Bass-Cors.

"The aftermarket is to cars what generic drugs are to medicines. No legislator would make the purchase of generic medicines difficult for low and fixed income patients -- why do it on their car parts?" concluded Bass-Cors.

CARE's North Carolina member companies are: CARQUEST (hdq. in Raleigh), NAPA, Midas, AutoZone, Advance Auto and Jiffy Lube.