RM Online - MBA Yellow Pages, truck programs introduced in Vegas

One year ago, A.R.A.'s Member Buying Alliance had zero dollars coming in, zero vendors and zero members. Today it's quite a different story, as the program has surpassed the $5.3 million mark and includes more than 300 vendors and 1,100 rental operations. Almost $4 million was transacted at February's trade show in Las Vegas. The largest order by a single store was $162,000.

But the MBA hasn't grown by numbers only. The services available for MBA members also have increased, especially with the two new programs that were announced in Las Vegas. A Yellow Pages program and a national truck purchase program are the newest benefits to MBA membership.

Yellow Pages program

Because of the MBA's affiliation with NHS (National Hardlines Supply), a new Yellow Pages savings program is available through Wahlstrom & Co., the agency that handles the Yellow Pages for NHS. An MBA member can save up to 8 percent on display ads and 3 percent on column ads through this new program.

Wahlstrom & Co. will place the Yellow Pages advertising for members and will contact them approximately 60 days before a directory closes to place their advertising. Members have the option of placing advertising in all directories for the year at one time, or in each directory as it comes up for close. Once a directory closes, NHS will bill members in 12 monthly payments, along with other NHS purchases.

To qualify for the Yellow Pages program, a member has to order just $10,000 through the MBA for the first year. In 2000, there will be a sliding scale starting in January that will utilize 1999 MBA purchases to qualify. To be eligible for the maximum discount in 2000, members need to bill $50,000 through NHS in 1999. More than 110 MBA members qualified for this at the Las Vegas show alone and can receive the full 8 percent savings in 2000. Many more are only a few hundred dollars away from the qualifying mark.

Questions about the display-advertising program may be directed to the A.R.A./MBA Rental Source account executive at Wahlstrom in Chicago, (800) 435-2341.

National truck ordering program

Another benefit of MBA membership is the new GMC/Volvo National Fleet Truck Purchase Program. Through this program, MBA members have the ability to purchase trucks at national fleet prices. This includes trucks such as a GMC Sierra 34-ton two-wheel drive SL Package for $18,421; a Savana Special Hi Cube (14-by-8-feet-wide, 7-foot-high van body) for $23,405; a GMC C-Series Diesel, 7.2L Cat 210 horsepower for $38,945; and a GMC 3500 HD for $23,977. All options are available, and all prices include delivery to more than 200 participating locations.

The program has an 800 number to call to order the vehicle and options the MBA member wants. Within three days, the member will receive a quote for the vehicle. Upon acceptance of the quote, Volvo and the GMC Truck Center of Carolina will place the order, to be billed through NHS. Delivery of the vehicle also will be arranged.

Look for additional information on the truck purchase program coming soon.

Feedback from MBA members

What do members think now that the first year and first convention for the MBA are completed?

Mike Frost, Aztec Rental Center, Douglasville, Ga., likes the program overall. "I'm looking for ways to use it more and more every day and am trying to use it as much as I can," he said. "I was very pleased with the way the show in Las Vegas went. During the show I was trying to let everyone know the savings I was getting."

Joey Adams of A-Team Rentals, Amarillo, Texas, echoed his satisfaction with the MBA program. "This year's show provided the first honest look at the MBA and how it works, and I was happy with the deals I came up with in Las Vegas. I received better deals because of the MBA."

Although Brad Bengson of Brown Rental, Boise, Idaho, didn't attend the Las Vegas show himself, he did send two employees who made purchases through the MBA program. "Overall, it went really well," he said. "We like the program so far, are glad we've joined and use it whenever we can. It's an important program."