Like home sellers who can purchase a warranty to cover unexpected repairs after close of escrow, people who are selling their car can now ensure a trouble-free transaction using Seller’s Edge, a three-month, powertrain warranty developed by Napa-based AUL Corporation founder Luis Nieves. The Seller’s Edge warranty is transferable to the buyer, meaning an individual can now offer a similar product to a dealer’s “certified pre-owned” vehicle.
Here’s how it works: A vehicle owner registers his or her car at the Seller’s Edge website; if it fits the age, make and mileage parameters, the owner pays $295 and it will be scheduled for an inspection (at either the owner’s home or place of work). If it passes inspection, the seller is issued an activation code for the buyer. If it doesn’t pass inspection, the owner is rebated $215 (less $80 for the inspection fee). Once the car has changed owners, the warranty can be activated online with no waiting period.
For those who own a car with an already-expired factory warranty (or one that’s near the end of its warranty), Nieves has launched Trustmark Warranty, a direct-to-consumer vehicle service warranty that’s backed (like Seller’s Edge) by AUL Corporation, which is A-rated by the Better Business Bureau, has $32 billion in assets and is licensed to do business in all 50 states.
Pay Your Share
Whether it’s a coworkers’ baby shower, a group outing or a season ending thank-you for the coach, collecting cash from a disparate group of people—no matter how well-intentioned they may be—can be a hassle. Now there’s an easier way.
Using PitchedIn.co, a user can invite those who need to pitch in (get it?) via various social media platforms. Once invited, participants can submit the correct amount to the campaign total. Once the campaign is concluded, the total amount will be deposited into the user’s account so the purchase can be made. No more fronting the cash and chasing down slackers.
On Frame
Students and teachers across the nation are embracing a new educational software that lets them access all the programs they need, right in their classrooms. Nikola Bozinovic, CEO, founded Frame in 2012 to help schools have easier access to the learning devices they needed. So far, Frame has made its way into 150 schools nationwide, facilitating the education of students in low income as well as wealthier school districts.
The schools access Frame through an Internet browser that connects directly to the cloud. This involves no plug-ins, so students have all the access they need to the programs they’re working with. Students can now use Frame to run Students can now use Frame to run Macs, PCs, iPads and Chromebooks—all they need is a browser.
The program continuously updates to support the growing education of students. Recent updates include support for Google Drive and local printing, language detection that provides an automatic keyboard for bilingual schools and language programs, and administrative assistance to help schools manage and oversee the program.
The reaction to Frame has been positive, with early adopters finding it useful for all of their students. “Frame is a great way for us to offer applications like AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite and Office to students with Chromebooks,” says Mike Connors, technology director at Riverside Brookfield High School in Riverside, Ill.
