So apparently, Land Rovers break down a lot...

I just had a wonderful conversation with Bill Cox.

Some of you don't know who Bill Cox is, so I'll fill you in..

He's a registered importer of Minis in the US and I happened to come across him in the Land Rover forums. He has one of the few sets of tools needed to change the timing belt on Land Rover FreeLanders as well as the Haynes manual that goes over the specialized engine that is not available in the US.

While our conversation started with how to post tools on AST, we delved into how the crankshafts on these suckers break, how if the cranks don't kill the motor, the headgaskets fail early, as well as the ridiculous amounts money needed to buy parts for these vehicles within the US and how he has been able to make it affordable for enthusiasts all over the world.

He also has contacts overseas that enable Land Rover owners to get parts CHEAPER than here in the US...

Join me in welcoming Mr. Cox (username werewolf) to the site. Thanks!

His equipment shall be available for rent on AutomotiveSpecialtyTool.net within a week or so.

First tool posted by someone I don't personally know!

Username itsnickjames posted his universal clutch alignment tool seen here: https://www.automotivespecialtytool.net/detail.php?id=68

This is awesome as the idea is starting to penetrate and we're getting valuable feedback about website improvements, tool suggestions, etc.

So... to all of you out there: Try doing an inventory of your tools and spare parts over the holidays and post them up. You never know what someone might need and it won't cost you a dime!

Try before you buy!

In addition to the specialized tools you might find on AST, a new concept is surfacing... What is it, you ask?

Well, silly, it's trial use! For example, the ECU just listed allows those toying with the idea of tuning their car to try it out by only putting down a deposit and a fee of $10 to rent it for a whole month! You really can't beat that unless you know tuners personally.

This particular setup is a Honda P28 ECU equipped with Hondata s300, boost option, and VTEC control. Rent it out today!

http://www.automotivespecialtytool.net/detail.php?id=63

So we've hit 40 registered members!

We are seeing growing interest in this grassroots movement, but we're noticing that no one has posted additional tools to the database. How can we improve this process so that it's easier for you? Perhaps it's the upcoming holidays.. Who knows... In any case, we're here to help, so please let us know how we can do so!

- the Management

Got these tools laying around??

That's right, folks! AST is interested in bringing you to the lending table. We realize that the service is essentially useless until we build the peer-to-peer tools database.

We have begun threads on all of our affiliated forums hoping to attract some initial buy-in to the concept other than Ramzi's own personal collection of specialty tools.

Just in case you didn't catch the current, hot items that are wanted, they are:

- CJ951 or similar bearing puller; wanted 12/25/2010 - 1/25/2011
- stubby, ratcheting 21mm wrench; wanted 12/25/2010 - 1/25/2011
- RTAB bushing pullers and press
- Differential carrier bushing pullers and press
- Differential bushing puller and press
- fender roller

If you have any of these, post them up on AST as they are hot items!

An automotive missionary

So Ramzi and I were talking about the AST site the other night after dinner with mom and dad, mostly telling them about the recent launch in Vegas. While discussing the enthusiasm expressed by so many folks before, at, and after SEMA for this much-needed service, we got to talking once more about the motivation behind the site.

"The goal," Ramzi insisted, "is to help people. It's less about making money and more about building a community of people sharing tools and knowledge."

"All the same, we do hope that it starts to cover the costs of setup and maintenance," I chimed in. It is a brand new start-up business after all.

"What? How is this venture going to make any money??" Dad was (almost) speechless.

An entrepreneur whose primary objective *isn't* making as much money as possible? Yes. I guess that would make my brother an automotive missionary of sorts. (Must be that Catholic upbringing....)

Current Feature Addition / Update List

So, with everything we learned at leading up to and during SEMA, we came up with the following list of planned feature additions and changes:

- Integrate the handling of deposits

- Integrate monitoring of transactions (i.e. enable uploading of pics & notes at the following points during the transaction: shipping from lender to borrower, just received by borrower, after use by borrower/shipping to lender, received by lender

- Integrate shipping estimation tied to my Fedex account directly to shopping cart (pull dimensions, weight, lender address, borrower address, etc. from Database)

- Enable the ability to book the same tool for multiple date ranges that don't overlap

- Search by zip code, availability date, price & enable combination filters (i.e. search by zip code, then filter by price, etc..)

- Tools wanted post as a standalone page of the site that users can post to if logged in

- Confirmation emails for newly registered accounts to prevent spam

- Way for users who don't have tools listed to be contacted anonymously (i.e. not just on "tool detail" pages)

- Feedback tied to lender and borrower email or username on a per transaction basis?

- Replicate listing button (for tools that have already been created), must require a different picture

- Have a "lend for free" option under the "pending approval" page so lenders can refund the borrower if they want to lend for free after the fact

- Have a "lend for free" option under the post a tool page

- Have the shopping cart automatically adjust the rental rate based on number of days requested by borrower (i.e. i list $1/month for my tool as a lender and borrower wants it for 15 days, so ($1/30)*15=$0.50

- "Tools Pending Approval" or another similar page within My Account to include tools I've tentatively borrowed from others but that havent been approved yet

- Reminder emails for: upcoming due dates to both parties (tool to be shipped out by X date, returned by X date, tool inactivity date for lenders

- Automatic resizing of uploaded photos, but keeping aspect ratio...

- Automatic invoicing of people who have held onto tools past their due date

- Rent to own option for lenders during post a tool as well as a second rent to own confirmation agreed to by both parties before deposit funds are disbursed

- Social media feed for homepage: blog, FB page, Twitter posts, YouTube

Did we miss anything?? What else would you guys like to see?

We're really trying to get folks to post up their tools when they have time as this is what needs to take place for this whole idea to work. Let us know if you have questions or concerns.