plus 1, ATV Maintenance and Repair - Pro Remedies - ATV Rider Magazine

ATV Maintenance and Repair - Pro Remedies - ATV Rider Magazine

Posted: 18 Feb 2010 03:13 PM PST

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If you have any tips that you would like to share, we would love to hear from you. Heck, you might even save someone's ride. We'll be sure to give you credit for your remedy here in the pages of ATV Rider Magazine. So get them to us! Email us at atvrider@sorc.com.

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Delta Twp. business gives damaged rides a new life - Lansing State Journal

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 12:56 AM PST

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DELTA TWP. - An Iowa company is bringing its crashed and damaged vehicle business model to the Lansing area.

Crashed Toys LLC gives dinged, dented and otherwise damaged motorcycles and other recreational vehicles a second chance.

The company is moving into the Michigan market, with its first location in the state at 7819 Lanac St. in Delta Township.

Crashed Toys sells motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, watercraft and recreational vehicles through online auctions on its Web site, www.crashedtoys.com.

Buyers can pick up the items at the Delta Township warehouse or arrange to have them shipped.

Buyers save money

The company gets its inventory by purchasing vehicles from insurance companies that have been declared total losses, damaged items from other dealers and repossessions from banks, marketing manager Joe Woit said.

An all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, can be deemed a total loss for something as simple as a dented gas tank, he said.

"It's perfect for the enthusiasts who want a little project for the winter or want to save a lot of money," Woit said.

"People are able to save a lot of money by buying these and fixing them themselves."

People also buy the vehicles for their parts.

Replacement parts from dealerships can be expensive, so some people buy damaged vehicles, strip off the pieces they need and sell the rest, ATV enthusiast Larry Reynolds said.

Reynolds is president of Delta Township-based Dirt Mafia, an ATV and motorcycle club.

Best year yet

Crashed Toys' local inventory includes about 40 motorcycles, a dozen snowmobiles and eight four-wheelers, manager Ken LaPeer said.

Recreational vehicles, boats and other watercraft should be available as spring approaches.

The facility has about 5,000 square feet of indoor storage and more than three and a half acres of outdoor storage space.

Crashed Toys, an affiliate of Eldridge, Iowa-based QCSA Auto Auctions, has locations in Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri.

Last year was the company's best year since it started in 1999, Woit said.

Crashed Toys sold more than 7,000 items in 2009, Woit said.

He wouldn't provide more detailed sales or profit figures for the privately-owned company.

Economy a factor

"When people have less expendable income, people obviously pay less for vehicles," he said, adding that the company has seen and influx of repossessed vehicles due to the economy.

Michigan's economy has been tough on some salvage companies, such as privately owned Slick's Great Lakes Salvage in Mason, co-owner John Deemer said. He didn't provide further details on the company's sales.

Slick's has been around since 1988 and sells distressed and damaged motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATVs.

Slick's offers on-site sales, while Crashed Toys sells vehicles through online auctions.

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