what kind of results should i expect from ws repair?

[jdmeverything]

am i anal?? that's an awfully good question..
between my friend and I, i think we've almost asked 10
people about this business and what their feelings are..

right off the bat, everyone "thinks its a near perfect" fix..
obviously, by your answers, i know its not.

i've personally seen 3 different cracks fixed before me and i
really thought they came out like DOODOO.. i would never
pay for it.. you can easily see it from the outside or from
the inside.

i guess my problem is, the people who have a nicer car(the crowd
i would love to cater to) have the money for a new windshield..
the people who are too poor or just dont care, well those people
won't be fixing it because it hasn't bothered them enough to take
action.. then u have the middle people.. out of those..
you can only fix cracks no larger than 6"(according to multiple sources)..
and the fix will at best be 80% better cosmetically..

so it seems the market gets cut in half, half again, half again.. and so on.
so the market that's available isn't that big..

everyone that has seen the before and afters said "Screw that"..
and they'd rather get a new windshield. granted, not everyone could
afford a new one, so i guess u can get the cheap bastards.

another point is, i don't want to own a business that sells a "70-80%" product.. for example.. lets say i make the best hamburgers..
i open up shop and sell hamburgers.. customers(most) will walk away
thinking.. DAMN that was a good burger.. if they were ever asked..
where can i get a good burger? well go to so-and-so's... he gots the best burgers!

now lets take a look at the windshield repair.. most people will see it and say to themselves.. well i guess its better than nothing.. OR.. hmm maybe this guy didn't know what he was doing(hence, the disclaimer)..
if my mom came home with that type of repair done, i would think someone took advantage of her.. so pretty much everyone walks away thinking..
hmm well that's an ok burger.. i dunno if i'll go back, but eh.. i mean. its better than some other ones i've had...

am i wrong in thinking this? i really really wanted to start a business with
this as the primary product. but after reading pages of information.. seeing the demo.. and reviewing websites who offer this service.. it scared me away... i'm honestly very glad you all have been so helpful so far. i hope this post can be made a stickie for anyone who wants to know or is curious about the business..

[Bois]

When setting up clarity expectations with customers, I always consider age & dirt in the break - especially if the WS is really dirty & the break 2+ months old. I explain that normally repairs look 85+% better; however, because of the age of the break and dirt possibly entering the break, this one may not be quite as clear.

Dale...

[SGT]

I agree with most posts here as well. We always take a few minutes to educate the customer about windshield repair. What we do not do is give them a percentage of improvement as there is no easy way to truely measure such claims and the customers inflated expectation of 85% or 90% will be different than yours. It always is, even though you have explained to them there will be some scaring. In there mind they still expect a better outcome (like new). This does not hold true all the time as some repairs come out pretty damn clean.(Note: any one who says it will disappear is misleading there customers for the record, There will always be some scaring. Period.) What we do is tell them that there will be a dramatic difference cosmetically when we are done. This is something that they can visually judge by the human eye.

If you want this business to work, you have to first believe in the service you are trying to promote or the customer will pick up on it. You also have to accept the limitations that this service has primarily on the cosmetic side and be able to sell your service.(make your customer feel comfortable about the very concerns you have). Oh, you have to get out and sell yourself and your service.

Believe me, as a jet technician I am a perfectionist.(GOD sometimes I hate that trait as it is hard to turn off). I know only one way, the right way. So I had those very same concerns years ago and even somewhat today. But, I had to realize that a perfect repair is one that is structurally sound first and foremost. Secondly, cosmetic appearance will follow close behind but due to many factors beyond the control of the technician, tooling, and resins just cannot be changed. Third is a truely happy customer if you did your job right from educating them to providing a structurally sound repair.

Just my 9 cents worth!!!

[GlasWeldTech]

Yea !!! What he said.

[toab]

I think that I will print that out and absorb the finer points..well done sgt!

[L.R.]

real quick, i am currently a luxury car tech. stating up my on gig. repairing windshields. and these customers still op. to repair there windshield, even if
they do have a lot of money, remember most people got rich by knowing how to save a buck where the can......

[toab]

Thats encouraging to hear as I am just a new guy starting up and setting up the customer is definitly important in this bizz.Thanks L.R.

[dwrs]

I have 20 years of sales experience. Yes, this business is about sales. Customer expectations. You must lay the ground work. Tell them the repair will leave the damage somewhat visible. But, it will BE REPAIRED!
"Sell the sizzle, not the steak."

[WSDSteve]

Go to a mobile camp ground sales yard, replacement shields for 1/2 the mobile camper windshields are $850.00, a mobile camper repair (higher up and on a ladder is $75) What would you rather pay, when your just going to get some more chips from the friendly squirrels dropping nuts on your camper windshield again next year.
Every $850.00/claim they make will go on the recreation vehicle insurance as a claim!!!!

[screenman]

I find by removing my glasses for the final inspection all my repairs look fantastic.
Just got a tiny scratch on my cars fender about 1/2 inch long I must go and replace the car. I am bound to be able to see where it was repaired.