Members of both the executive and legislative branches of Maryland government have been invited.  We anticipate our industry to come under fire as a source or revenue for the ailing Transportation Trust Fund.  We must inform the legislative body of the importance of protecting the livelihood and future of Maryland's new car and truck dealers.  In light of the legislative landscape it is critical that each dealership send a representative. 

You may reserve your spot today by downloading a registration form and returning it by fax, 410.269.1549, or by mail to:

MADA

7 State Circle, Suite 301

Annapolis, MD 21401

With the assistance of Auto Outlook, Maryland Automobile Dealers Association surveys dealer members to gather information to prepare an Economic Impact Report. 

This report highlights the tremendous economic impact the automobile industry has on the State of Maryland.  The Association uses this report when dealing with the legislature, governmental agencies and the media.  This is a very important report that cannot be prepared without your help!   

Please take a few minutes to complete the attached survey and return it as soon as possible.  This new format is all-electronic allowing you to complete the survey on your computer.  Hint: You may need to open it in Adobe or Acrobat to fill in the text boxes.  All responses will be held in strict confidence.  When completed, you can simply click on "Submit" at the bottom of the form, which will transfer it to a secure Adobe web site where responses can be downloaded.  Or, you may save the form in Reader, and return it as an email attachment.  

If you operate more than one dealership, please complete one survey form for each location. We will provide dealers a copy of the report upon its publication.  We appreciate your participation and thank you in advance for your timely response.

The IRS has issued the 2014 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating a vehicle for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning January 1, 2014, the rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 56 cents per mile for business miles driven
• 23.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations  

Date/Time: Thursday, January 9 at 1pm Eastern

Presenter:  Rich Holland

Cost: $149.00 per person              

All too often service advisors are not focused on the customer and their needs, and more importantly their wants. Learn how to read the customer so that it will look like you knew what was on their mind even before they arrived. Learn to use all your senses in "reading the customer" - delivering the WOW factor of Exceptional Service Practices.

You Will Learn:

• How the proper presentation of service recommendations can use the same feedback to prepare the customer for services they are not yet aware of that they need
• How to remind the customer of items overlooked or deferred from the past
• Best practices for email and other communications to convey important information to the customer

 #2: How to Match Service Marketing to Your Service Process for Maximum ROI 

Date/Time: Thursday, January 16 at 1pm Eastern

Presenter:  Don Reed

• How to prepare a performance pro forma based on marketing goals           
• How to evaluate staffing level requirements in conjunction with the marketing plan  
• Tips for training service advisors and managers to properly handle the additional customers your marketing efforts are expected to produce  
• How to install and use daily performance evaluations to measure marketing results

 Click Here to Register Today! 

MADA, along with our partner, DealersEdge, has offered more than 45 Webinars a year, with live Webinars recorded and available for purchase a short time after the broadcast.  Hundreds of dealership employees have benefited from this varied and timely training.  Dealers also have access to a constantly growing collection of pre-recorded Webinars, which allow dealers to build their own library of electronic training courses led by industry experts on a wide variety of subjects that touch on virtually every department in the dealership.  While the Webinars are available to NJ CAR members at a 50% discounted rate of just $149, there is an even better deal available to those dealerships that are serious about providing their staff with the latest training available.

The DealersEdge Season Ticket Option provides MADA members 12 months of unlimited resources for just $800.00.  The Season Ticket includes:

• Over $30,000 worth of training programs and resources including every live and prerecorded Webinar available (currently more than 140 courses with more added each week).
• Employee Logins with each Season Ticket purchase (that's only $80 per person, a VERY cost-efficient way to train your entire staff)!

One employee who views five (5) Webinars in a year would cost $750, so the Season Ticket is an incredible value and a very smart option for dealerships expecting to get the most out of the MADA/DealersEdge partnership.

If you have any questions, please visit the MDAuto Season Ticket home page, or contact DealersEdge directly at 800.321.5312.