Do you say FREE?

[a1repair]

Originally Posted by Jeremiahswindshieldrepair

There is a lot of tension between people who say FREE rock chip repair and those who think it is dishonest. What do you say and why do you say it like that.

I say Free rock chip repair because when I signed a contract with State Farm and others I signed that I wouldn't charge the customer AND the insurance company. So if I charge the ins. co. theb it has to be free to the customer. I have had to do free repairs for people who get upset about ot in the past,but I do them happily and quickly so it really doesn't hurt too bad.

what do you do?

We never say FREE! People do take you to task on those kinds of offers. Just tell them that their Inusrance Co. will waive the comp deductible and that you can bill their insurance co directly, this is providing they (The Insured),go through the proper steps needed for you to bill their insurance co. (i.e. get a SGC referal # etc.) They'll love you for it. Nothing is "FREE"

A-1 Windshield & Vinyl Repair

[Jeremiahswindshieldrepair]

I already posted this back a page or 2 but I wanted to post it again for the sake of A-1, if repitition bothers you please do not read this!!!

"Before I got into the windshield business I got a phone call and the guy offered me a free windshield replacement if my deductible was low enough to be covered and waived. It happened to be low enough and I told my wife that we were getting a free windshield put in 2 days from now. Why did I say it was free? Was I lying to my wife? did I really think the insurance company wasn't going to pay this person? did I think that the glass shop was just benevolent and giving me a reward for being smart enough to get a low deductible? obviously none of those things is why I said free .. I said free because anyone with basic common sense can see that there is no charge to me and therefore it is free. If I sign up for a credit card I get a $25 gift certificate free ... is it free? Of course it is but everyone knows there are prerequisites, the prerequisite for a free windshield repair is giving me your insurance info and having comp coverage. Regardless of how you skew it, it is still free because the person does not pay for it...... ok so you say they have already paid for it with their policy ... whatever ... ok let's take another example. I have AAA towing coverage ... I break down ... I call for a tow and I ask them on the phone how much the tow will cost ... they ask if I have AAA .. I say yes.... they say it is free ... so I naturally think they are philanthropists and are rewarding me for having the foresite to buy the quality AAA towing coverage .... OF COURSE NOT PEOPLE!!! Obviously I paid for it ahead of time when I purchased my coverage, but the tow itsself is FREE, plain and simple FREE. I pay for my insurance and am given an entire book on what all is covered in my policy. In the book it states my windshield will be covered for no cost repairs if chipped and getting it fixed. If I go to use my coverage and I ask a guy how much it will cost me and he says free how is that incorrect??

Please think about this before putting a judgement on those who know how to market and discouraging people from using an honest and effective marketing tool for increasing their business honestly."

I think that is a fair assessment of why I say free.

[Chips_Away_Windshield_Repair]

All good points of view.
I guess that ever floats your boats.
Mine sits well in the stormy seas of commerce with large red "?" marks surrounding each utterance of "Free".
I have found this sits me apart from some of the competition.
Some folks have told me they just don't appreciate the guys along the sides of roads with large "Free" and the small fine print at the bottom of their signs.
I agree with the analogy of AAA, but how many tow trucks do you see "FREE TOWING" on the sides of their trucks.
Adios, hope you all are having a blessed and profitable day.
Bill

[Chips_Away_Windshield_Repair]

P.S. When customers ask "how much will it be?" I simply tell them "Your insurance company will pay me an agreed upon amount for repairing it properly." Works real well for me.

[a1repair]

Greetings Brian Jeremiah:

Please think about this before putting a judgement on those who know how to market and discouraging people from using an honest and effective marketing tool for increasing their business honestly."

I hope you didn't think I was impugning or making any kind of judgement on you in my response to "Do you say free". I'm here for imput from all us windshield repair guys.

Coincedentally, a woman called my office today regarding the need of a windshield repair, and after a speedy response she told she was not in need of my services, in that she was having her oil changed @ one of those "Change Your Oil Really Fast" places. She was made aware of stone damage in her windshield by the Technician working there, and was asked if she'd like to have it repaired "At no cost to her". She agreed,yet, was puzzled when she was asked for vehicle registration & proof of insurance card AFTER the windshield had been repaired. Long story short is she said she will be writing a letter to the main office of that company. She was peeded.

[Coitster]

A1,
I have heard of situations like that before. Unfortunatly I have seen many companies do that. Car washes and Oil Change places are netorious for doing that. I know the companies Jeremiah does don't do this but I have seen instances where chip guys tell the customer they will fix it, and then while they fix it they call the insurance company and pretend to be the customer. The customer has no idea their insurance was even ever charged. That is one of the reasons insurance companies are being very carefull with those types of companies because of the problems they have had in the past.
David
Coitster

[a1repair]

Hi Coister:

Thanks for the reply.

It amazes me how desperate businesses get for an extra few bucks. And some of the shoddy business practices they use to get them.

a1repair

[glass tek]

What's the record for postings on one thread?

[Almost-New windshield repair]

Originally Posted by Jeremiahswindshieldrepair

they ask if I have AAA .. I say yes.... they say it is free ... so I naturally think they are philanthropists and are rewarding me for having the foresite to buy the quality AAA towing coverage .... OF COURSE NOT PEOPLE!!! Obviously I paid for it ahead of time when I purchased my coverage, but the tow itsself is FREE, plain and simple FREE.

This HAS to be the quote of the year!

Great analogy.

Nothing in life is free. everything is paid for in some way...cash/trade/barter/prepay, whatever, but apparently, crackhead has not noticed that nearly everyone uses "free" in one way or another.

How bout this...does anyone know how long a company/manufacturer can use the word "NEW" on their product? Do you think there are tons of people out there staring at that box of cereal at the market going "Dang, I KNOW I saw this on the shelf 6 months ago. Man, am I INSULTED!"

Unite and revolt against the liars, I say. Ugh.

[Jeremiahswindshieldrepair]

A-1

I certainly was not inferring YOU were giving us a hard time .... I cut and pasted from another page ... that line was on the other page and was intended for a different party

by the way you are not open for private messages .. I tried to message you and I was denied.