Thanksgiving Travel - What are Your Plans?

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND AUTO TRAVEL TO INCREASE 2.3 PERCENT

AAA expects 38.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend. That’s a 1.4-percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled. The number of travelers by automobile is expected
to increase 2.1 percent to 33.2 million. That’s 86 percent of all holiday travelers. Last year, Thanksgiving travel dropped a precipitous 25.2 percent in the wake of the housing and financial crisis.

I find it amazing that Thanksgiving travel will still be so low this year. The price of gas has leveled off in the $2.60 - $2.70 range here in NE Ohio and no one (meaning the local media) seems to take much notice of it. There are fewer flights scheduled and they are definitely more expensive this year than last. But the difference in the number of people traveling this year versus two years ago is still 12 million people!

Now EVERYONE will be Riding a Scooter

How to buy a scooter for your Commute
Want to save a ton of money on gas? Get out of your car and on a scooter

Liberated from an article by Laura T. Coffey on MSNBC.com (edited by and additional commentary by me in italics.)

The economy is tanking. Bleak financial headlines are bombarding us every day. And on top of everything else, gasoline prices continue to be painfully high. (Though not as high as last week!)
If you’re on the prowl for ways to save as much money as possible right now, you may be among the growing numbers of consumers who are showing an interest in scooters. Of course, depending on the weather where you live, a scooter might not be a viable year-round answer for you — but get this: A cute and trendy scooter can cost as little as $4 to fill up. Just $4! (That's because they typically have a 1 to 1-1/2 gallon gas tank. My Vespa scooter gets about 60 mpg.)
Intrigued? The following tips can help you reflect on the pros and cons of owning a scooter.

1. Think about safety. Be aware that you could be putting yourself in serious peril for this simple reason: Many drivers of SUVs and other large vehicles will have a hard time seeing you. And driving a scooter in severely foul weather also can be dangerous. If you live in the Sun Belt and you’re willing to be serious about safety precautions, though, you could conceivably drive a scooter year-round. (I have ridden my scooter in the rain exactly once in three years. The end result was a soaking wet white t-shirt on a middle-aged woman. It was not pretty. I do not recommend driving in the rain.)
2. Do what you need to do. If you’re still interested in a scooter despite the risks, wear a helmet for protection – even if you’re exempt from doing so – and take a motorcycle safety course. For details on courses being offered near you, contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or Department of Highway Safety. (I agree.)
3. Reflect on your commute. Are highways and other busy roads unavoidable, or could you travel on side roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less? This question will prove to be of huge importance as you shop around. (My route to work is exactly 3 miles, with no roads whose speed exceeds 40 mph.)
4. Are you new to two-wheeling it? If so, a scooter can be less intimidating than a motorcycle. Because it doesn’t have a clutch, you can just twist and go, and depending on the size of the scooter, you can get anywhere from 50 to 100 mpg. On the down side, scooters with smaller wheels can feel unstable when pushed to their top speeds, and only larger scooters can handle highway trips. (Piece-o-cake to master. Electric start, no prob.)
5. What will you need to carry? If you think you’d ever want to drive with an extra passenger on board, check specifications carefully to see how much weight the scooter can handle. Also make sure the scooter has enough cargo room to store all your stuff. Be aware that you may end up needing an add-on rack or top box for extra storage. (Forgot about carrying a passenger on any of the smaller scooters. You'll easily lose 5 - 10 mph due to the extra weight.)
6. Check out major brands. As you shop around, test drive scooter models with track records of reliability. These include Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Aprilia and Piaggio (LOVE PIAGGIO - maker of the VESPA). Make a note of how comfortable the seat is, how effortlessly your feet reach the ground and how easily you can move the scooter forward and backward while seated.
7. Know the rules. There’s a big difference between a scooter and a bicycle that’s propelled by pedals and an electric “helper motor.” You typically won’t need a license to ride an electric helper-motor bike, which usually can’t go faster than 20 mph. In many states you will need an operator’s driver license, tags and registration for a scooter, which generally displaces less than 50 cc. If the engine of your two-wheel ride is more than 50 cc, you’ll likely need a motorcycle endorsement on your driver license or a motorcycle-only license. Check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles about the specific rules where you live.
8. Invest in insurance. It may only set you back by about $100 a year – revealing yet another way scooters help drivers save money. The coverage is worth the price, especially because scooters can be quite easy to steal. (And as my insurance agent told me, you really don't have to worry about collision, because it's doubtful you'd survive.)
9. Buy the right gear. In addition to a helmet, you also may want to opt for a full-face shield for protection from wind, rain, bugs, small rocks and dust. Brightly colored, motorcycle-specific clothing that you wear over your street clothes can help you to be more visible to other drivers and can protect you from road rash in the event of an accident. (I've got a full-face black helmet and a hot-pink power rangers jacket for protection and warmth.)
10. Make parking plans. Check on the rules for parking scooters at your place of employment and near your home. Street parking may be an option for you, but you’ll have to weigh the risks of the scooter being defaced or knocked over. Also, some parking garages won’t allow scooters at all, and if they do, they may charge the same fees that they charge for regular cars.
Sources and resources
Consumer Reports’ Cars Blog
American Motorcyclist Association
Associated Content
© 2008 msnbc.com

Summer Travel Time - not this year?

Of course the price of gas is on everyone's thoughts and conversations this spring. Every day the cost of a barrel of oil goes up $1, $2, $3, or more. Crazy, crazy, crazy.

So what are people going to do this summer? Heading to the beach or going camping? Nearly 60% of Americans are cutting back their vacation plans because of gas prices, according to a survey by Discover Financial Services. This is not all bad news for the independent automotive repair service center. Instead of driving to Florida or North Carolina for vacation, Ohioans might just drive to Cedar Point for a 3 day weekend. That's a difference of 600-800 miles! Expect more of your customers to stick within a 200 mile radius for summer fun this year. Maybe they'll do a little less driving overall, but it is a different type of driving. And that vehicle will still need to be maintained.

In addition to fulfilling your customer's maintenance needs, now is a great time to help them find additional ways to save money when traveling. Develop a "vacation tips" newsletter to hand out when your customer picks up their vehicle.

Here's some websites you can use to help develop your newsletter:
AAA has a website that can calculate exactly how much you'll spend on gas. Just enter the destination and car model into the calculator at AAA. It's pretty cool. I just entered the information for my sedan and my husband's Windstar. If we drive the car on our planned vacation, it will cost us about $214. If we drive the van, it will cost us $251. Guess what? We'll be driving the van. But we'll have a cooler packed with sandwiches, snacks, and soft drinks - the 3 "s"s of family travel!

To help customers find inexpensive gas along the way, direct them to gasbuddy.com. Some GPS systems can help find cheap gas as well.

Other ways they can save while on vacation include - packing a cooler with drinks and snacks for while they're on the road. Sure beats paying $1.79 for a Pepsi at the Sunoco. Go out for lunch instead of dinner. Use coupons for special events and attractions. If staying in a city for a while, buy a book of passes for attractions or coupons for restaurants and hotels. Plan to visit museums on their free or reduced price day.

Be sure to include tips for getting better gas mileage in your newsletter. Some of these tips can lead to additional business for you. Simple things like proper tire inflation and a steady speed can improve mpg by several points.

Now is the time to get closer to your customer, become a valued adviser on all things automotive as well as their best source for top quality service.