Safelite (Belron)..; Limiting Repair Options?

[Frank EU]

Brent: I don't agree.
As long as you refer to the source you're fine.

[just chippen away]

Frank

I even looked and saw it stating : Copyright © 2010 by Key Communications, Inc. for AGRR Magazine. All rights reserved.
No reproduction, in print, electronic or any form without the expressed written permission of the publisher.
These stories have been researched for the benefit of professional auto glass shop owners and installers.


If you get it in writing and present it to Brent then he may feel better about posting this or any other COPY Write material.


OPP's, I copied.

[Brent Deines]

I added the required copyright information yesterday. If you do that you are ok, but just as in this case none of you did. A link is far easier and eliminates the possibility of having your post edited or deleted. End of story.

[the big welshman]

Re the above ie nwra Paul Syflo ex president had two hats when he was president ie the nwra ie Belron(Safelite) & NWRA & Peg Stoka secetary of NWRA & Key ie AGR she new the in and outs of association??? WALT GORMAN EX NWRA member is turning in his grave??????

[SeeClearly]

First of all, Brent, TY for handling the potential copyright issues. I agree on my post that I did not site or get permission to paste a portion of it on this site. My bad and I apologize. Secondly, now that I have said that, I find it interesting that in this case of a potential major conflict of interest which may affect us all, most people are bickering back and forth about what is right or wrong about how things were posted (not refering to Brent). I wish that people would become that defensive on the issues that WILL affect all of our businesses on a daily basis. This is why we as an industry have such a problem getting a fair shake at things and end up with the short end of the stick. We as an industry need to stick together and address the issues together that will affect our businesses on a daily basis.

Out of curiosity, has anyone called or emailed Peg about this issue? Again, I am interested in hearing what other out there think about this situation and also whether they feel it will negatively impact our industry. Thanks!

[Brent Deines]

I was recently asked the same question by Deb Levy at glass.com. My response was that I have nothing against Belron but I don't like the idea of a single company creating an ANSI standard that we must all adhere to. That said I have not seen their proposed standard so I cannot condemn it.

Beyond that I don't know what to think, but I agree with SeeClearly that our industry needs to come together on the important issues if we are ever to be taken seriously.

[SGT]

I was recently asked the same question by Deb Levy at glass.com. My response was that I have nothing against Belron but I don't like the idea of a single company creating an ANSI standard that we must all adhere to. That said I have not seen their proposed standard so I cannot condemn it.

Beyond that I don't know what to think, but I agree with SeeClearly that our industry needs to come together on the important issues if we are ever to be taken seriously.

You always have a let's step back and evaluate rather than the shoot from the hip approach which promotes rational level headed input. Thank you for that. The industry could use a few more from your mold. I agree with what has been mentioned about our industry coming together and the face of that is the NWRA who are paid a membership fee to hopefully work in our best interests. Is that happening? Well we sure will see!

I would like to throw out a hypothetical scenario to everyone...

Lets say Belron rules the standard...okay now what technicians? Shut down shop? Stop doing dealership/fleet work? Stop doing Insurance? Stop doing retail? How do you think you really will be affected? Who will be hunting you downto stop you? Sorry for so many questions but what do we fear? Did we forget about the frenzy when certifications for the current standard came about? There is only a very very few of us actually certified and the rest still do business as usual. The sky is not falling here.

This forum is a great place to share and vent but as popular as it is, it will not be the tool that stops Belrons agenda. Sorry if some take this a lackluster view but I am not worried about Belron and if it becomes a problem I will do whatever it takes to be compliant. Until then I am going to worry about what I can control allow those that I have put my faith in to handle the high level issues.

What say you?

[just chippen away]

Safelite is only trying to get all the work, but they have such a bad rep, The customers will and have refused to have them come out to perform work on their cars. We will not loose our customers if we do quality work as we have this whole time.

I am not going to sweat it. Even the Insurance agents will find ways to get us all the work.

I do not have any certificate's and do not think it is going to make me a better tech, as some that do have theirs still do not know that they are doing.... ( I am not pointing any fingers)

[Layne]

I agree with the comment regarding certification. Some of us were in this profession before the idea of certification surfaced. Many manufacturers certify their own clients so who can define what certification really means? There is more knowledge dispensed in here by real professionals than can be taught in a few days at a manufacturer's location. Are we mixing certification with training? Even those that are trained or certified need the baptism of field experience to become proficient in the world of windshield repair.