Replace stolen audio systems correctly
21 December 1998
Audio Claims Solution's Automated Software Standardizes Car Audio Replacement Industry for the First Time
SALT LAKE CITY--Dec. 21, 1998--CARS(TM) Software Database Helps Audio Retailers and Insurance
Companies Determine Accurate Car Audio Equipment Replacement for
Billion Dollar Theft Claims Industry
Audio Claims Solution Inc. (ACS), a Utah company specializing in car audio theft replacement solutions, announced today a new automated estimating and claims handling software application which standardizes the car audio insurance replacement industry for the first time.
Car Audio Replacement System (CARS) is the first software to allow audio retailers and insurance companies to determine the accurate replacement of stolen car audio equipment through a comprehensive database of nearly 200 car audio brands. This database creates standards and saves audio retailers and insurance companies both time and money in estimating and replacing equipment in the billion dollar car audio theft claims industry.
Audio Claims Solution's CARS database is the only after-market car audio software available today. It offers the most complete and accurate feature-for-feature replacement information on approximately 30,000 car audio models dating back to 1987. CARS represents 12 years of tracking car audio models by feature and matching those features to a newer model, year after year.
Until now, no other standardized database existed of this kind, requiring insurance companies, body shops, and independent appraisers to call countless car audio retailers in an attempt to locate equipment similar to that which was stolen from a customer's car. CARS eliminates, for the first time, the inconvenience of estimating sound system equipment replacement by offering direct replacement estimates through accurate matching of brand, model, and features.
"Anyone who uses CARS will immediately see that it's a simple and hassle-free way to determine the accurate replacement of stolen car audio equipment," said Jeff Donovan, president of Audio Claims Solution. "It's the only solution available today that lets everyone win -- the customer, the car audio retailer, and the insurance company."
CARS Offers Membership Benefits for Car Audio Retailers
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) there were 2.2 million theft related claims for losses involving stereo equipment in 1996. Many audio retailers would like to participate in the insurance replacement business estimated at $1 billion, but find it difficult to establish relationships with insurance companies due to the time, money, and marketing activities required to compete in the industry.
Through CARS, ACS offers a simple way for car audio retailers to increase their 12 volt business by reducing insurance replacement start-up costs, and eliminating the time required to determine the accurate replacement of brands which audio retailers do not carry.
Purchase of CARS software brings with it a membership in the ACS Association, a non-profit organization. "The mission of ACS Association is to bring audio retailers and insurers together as partners by using standards established by the common use of CARS," said Donovan.
ACS Association provides marketing services for its members by promoting to insurance companies the value of using ACS Members for insurance replacement, and advertising members on the CARS database so insurers have a list of ACS Members when writing estimates. In addition, ACS Association also provides support, training, newsletters, and an application to join First Choice Replacement, a nationwide network of car audio insurance replacement providers.
Pricing and Availability
The CARS software and a one year membership in the ACS Association has a retail price of $2,495. Pricing includes the CARS software database, support, marketing services, enhancements and updates, and other ACS Association member benefits. Reduced fees for multiple locations are available.
The CARS database will be demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 7-10, 1999 at the Audio Claims Solution booth no. 15236 in the Sands Convention Center. During the show, CARS and ACS Association memberships will be offered at an introductory price of $1,995.
The CARS database will be available Feb. 1, 1999. Future versions of the CARS database will include replacement information for other electronics products used in vehicles, such as cellular phones, radar detectors, and security systems.
Audio Claims Solution (ACS) is a privately-held company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, which partners audio retailers together with insurance companies through its theft and replacement estimating standard, Car Audio Replacement System (CARS).
ACS Association Membership and CARS are sold through manufacturer's representatives. ACS is presently negotiating distribution contracts with major information providers which deliver automated estimating software solutions to insurance companies.
