(source: Chicago Auto Glass Group press release)

The Chicago Auto Glass Group, a not-for-profit company formed by leading glass professionals from across the United States, is urging glass shops and concerned parties to contact NAGS and request a temporary delay of the announced January 2005 "Rebalance" of their benchmark prices.

According to the group, the delay will allow the results of their formula to be formally tested and openly compared to the projected "rebalanced" benchmarks produced by NAGS.

"At the Auto Glass Conference, [Jesse] Herrera stated that if enough customers contacted NAGS regarding a delay of the revaluation, they would seriously consider it," said Dave Leach of Kryger Glass, a spokesman for the group. "Due to the magnitude of the revaluation, the differences in the two proposed formulas, and the overwhelming support we have gotten from the field, we feel it is in everyone's best interest to slow down and let all concerned parties compare both sets of results, as well as the rationale used to create them. If the industry agrees, we ask that NAGS customers contact them directly to let them know. We expect our test results within sixty days. Once we receive them, we would like to openly compare our results to the proposed NAGS benchmarks. NAGS is a valuable source of data to the industry. We simply feel that after several failed revaluations, they should consider another option. The delay gives everyone concerned a chance to compare the two methods."

The CAGG has 1480 registered supporters in 49 states and is requesting that anyone contacting NAGS via e-mail send a copy to the CAGG as well.