Double Edge Sword Part 2

[scratchy]

windshield repair looks easy... but it is not as easy as it appears. First thing is knowing how to fix a W/S. You need to know how to fix ANYTHING not just cherry picking to make a living. You need to be competitive with pricing and have excellent availability of service.
One guy who was really good in our town went out of business a few months back. What killed him was the price of gas, his trucks, employees and overhead. He tried to go too big and the market went down for a few months and he couldn't sustain himself.
windshield repair is a revolving door like Coitster said. Many try it and then get out. The winners are those who nestle in for the long haul.

[ClearView WRS]

PHIL,
One of my little brothers’ favorite expression is: “Were you traumatized as a child”? That what comes to my mind when I read your posts. I think you are just loosing to all those newcomers! They are getting all the business, and you have all that anger inside ya, and this is the only place where you can get it out, someone would listen to you and most importantly UNDERSTAND you. But man, I don’t get a lot of work myself, and if I start loosing to the guys that opens his business tomorrow, guess what? That will only make me work harder and will give me more motivation!
Good luck with everything bud!

[mattglass]

coister,
how can you possibly be excited for ins co's to stop paying for windshield repair when they pay so well? i think thats rediculous.

[mattglass]

couldn't have said it better clearview.

[Coitster]

OMG you just didn't say that Matt. Are you kidding me, when I first got started in the windshield repair market I was getting paid $100 for a job. Now you have to beg and plead to get $50 bucks for a job and then you get the pay them to process your claim. Oh WOW sign me to up to send a bill and then have to pay to have it processed. What is a good word for this arrangment..... TOOL comes to mind.

In all seriousness I have made the decision to never do an insurance job again. I have personaly quit the windshield repair business 3 different times over the years because I was so sick and tired of having to chase [b]MY MONEY![b] You just don't know the freedom I feel at actualy getting paid green money in my hand or a check for doing work right then. Also I found that my sales didn't drop at all. However please for all of those people who don't know how to sell anything but free windshield repair or those pathetic loosers who charge less then 25 bucks for a repair please for the love of GOD keep doing what you are doing.
David
Coitster

[mattglass]

we'll coitster, i see no harm in fixing a windshield for $70 and waiting to get paid for a couple of weeks. i guess if your only doing a couple a day i can see where it can hurt. $100 a repair your either a real old timer or your fixing ferrari's all day. I really don't see how you can possibly be opposed to ins. work, you say you scratch to get $50 then why complain about $70 or more. What is a good word for this arrangment.....TOOL comes to mind.
MATTGLASS

[Coitster]

I was saying when you do insurance work you have to scratch by to get 50 bucks from them. When you do cash you charge what you want. Plus in the 14 years I have been doing this business all the insurance companies do is cut, cut, cut prices. They don't stop plus insurance companies are like the government. Anything they touch goes to hell. Oh and by the way, you are funny.
David
Coitster

[mafsu]

I agree with Coister 100% on everything he has posted in this thread. First way too many techs are doing junk work and passing it off as windshield repair. I also see these subpar repairs daily. The insurance companies aren't just looking to stop paying for windshield repair, they want to stop paying for glass altogether. If they stop paying for windshield repair the price for repair will rise. I always had a problem with paying someone to process an invoice for a job I'm doing for them. Wish I could charge my mortgage company for "invoice processing".

[sunshine wr]

Yeah! (process fee) getting paid to write a check. I don't do many insurace jobs , but I think $7.50 is a little steep for some ink and a piece paper.

[scratchy]

In every business there are competitors that try and land work for less than the competition. They never last very long because... you have to make money to stay in business!

A couple of months ago I passed a guy with a beat up truck on the side of the highway. His sign was a house painted bed sheet saying "stone chips $15". If a customer comes to me saying he saw that dude and wants me to match the price, I am going to tell them to go get it fixed there and then see if he will back up the work or even be around next year.

Yes people will take a chance now and then with Mr. Cheapo but they will be back.

The worst scam is the repair bait and switch at the replacement shops. Its been discussed before though.