What do you think of flat rate insurance referals?

[GlassStarz]

What kind of tard would take a job 100 miles out his area? prob the same fool that didnt plan his day right so he was stuck in bumper2bumper traffic or isnt bright enough to avoid paying parking maybe the guy who is lame enough to pay $72 for a 20ml bottle of resin in the belief that it is somehow better and the same guy that plans his day so poorly that he has to drive 40 minutes to get to his next job.. Doc you stopped making sense several posts ago now that you have impressed everyone with you greatness can we move on to something constructive?

[Glassdoc]

Sure, lets move on.. But just so you know.. The "tard" you refer to is none other than your hero "Splitpit". Thats his very own quote I posted. Thanks, for reassuring my beliefs.. As for planning the day right to miss bumper to bumper traffic, thats a no can do around a city with over 3 million commuters in traffic during every rush hour. And, if you knew anything about cities, you would know that permit parking is a very profit making revenue for the owners of any place to park. If you take your vehicle to the city, you will pay to park without worrying about the security of your vehicle, or walk a very long distance to get to where you were going and hope your vehicle is as you left it upon your return.

[Blind Squirrel]

In a minute I'm shutting this computer down to get ready for a day of relaxation with my family. Tomorrow, Labor Day, I'll be working 3-4 hours at my largest fleet account, because they will have about 600 cars sitting. And, I'll be coming home to a delicious smoked pork butt dinner. Then Tuesday morning, I'll be back out servicing customers and generating new business, as I continue prospering in this business where my only complaint is a lack of any real vacation. But, I'm consoled by the comfort of the nice home I provide for my family.

Windshield repair has provided the best living I've ever made. Imagine, I have a "job" from which I can never be fired or layed off, and I can give myself a raise any day I feel like making a few extra sales calls. Granted, the "boss" can be a real jerk sometimes, but I've been spoiled by making my own schedule, i.e., knowing when to avoid rush hour traffic.

A few years back, when I realized the value of this growing business I've created by getting out on the street, knocking doors, both for fleet and COLD CALL "WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPAIR THAT CHIP ON YOUR WINDSHIELD" I took an oath that never again would I allow another person to write my paycheck.

It has been scary at times, but remember this, sure, some people marvel at my success, but the real reason(s) I'm successful are because I stuck with it, but that's because I don't have anywhere else to go. The only jobs available for my grey haired, 58 year old ass are around 7-8 dollars an hour with no benefits and getting treated like crap most of the time. This is one of the main motivators when I sucked it up and walked away from my last "real job" I finally realized that the only person who was ever going to treat me with the dignity and respect that I deserved was myself.

So, I leave you all with this caveat, if you are really maximizing your productivity and building your business and enjoying the results of your success, you'll also notice how little time you will have for "forums". I've said in posts in the past, the ones who are constantly pontificating on a forum are probably not as successful as they think, and certainly not as productive as they could be.

[splitpit]

We all bow down to you GlasDoc...you're too smart for all of us! ROFLMFAO!!!!!

[splitpit]

Let me also say this, I group my jobs up in my territory based on a certain day of the week for a certain area. That cuts down considerably on travel expenses and has worked well for me. If a person expects immediate service and I don't feel that I can reasonably accomidate them, I discuss that with them and explain what I am up against. 99% of my customers are already used to the way I work my schedule or they are willing to work it out with me.

Now GlassDoc, here's the answer to the last question you directed at me on your 5:06 post. If an insurance company called and I turned down the repair because I didn't like flat rate referals, how much would I make on that job????
What about the customer on the other end of line who wanted to use my shop but I denied them that. Another shop will get the job and they will forever remember which shop wasn't willing to do the work. Sometimes there is something called "compromise" in life. Many times the customer is willing to bring it closer. Other times I make the trip. realizing that I'm not making as much as I'd like.

But once again, how much do I make if I turn that job down? How much do I make off of direct called insurance referals if I refuse to do them because I don't like network jobs???

In my way of thinking, something is better than nothing!

I'm sure you have a brilliant, calculated, computerized response as to why $0 is better than actually making money. If you don't think you are missing out on additional income by refusing to do insurance referal work, you are only kidding yourself. Who you are NOT kidding is myself and a good portion of this forum's members.

[Glassdoc]

It is thinking like yours that has held the pricing structure in place by the Insurance Companies for the past 10 years.. As long as shops such as yours "compromise" we will not be recognized as skilled professional technicians. But, then you already knew that. Because you are willing to drive 100 miles to do a $50 repair. 4 hours drive time, 10 gallons of fuel, wear and tear.. Yep, you are a SUCCESS, my idol..

[tooldini]

LOL I am still confuse as to how a flat rate of $65.00 is worse than $50.00 for all the same costs to operate a windshield repair business.

Jeff

[Glassdoc]

Originally Posted by splitpit

I'm sure you have a brilliant, calculated, computerized response as to why $0 is better than actually making money. If you don't think you are missing out on additional income by refusing to do insurance referal work, you are only kidding yourself. Who you are NOT kidding is myself and a good portion of this forum's members.

Missing out? ,LOL not I.. And here I thought you actually read all my posts.. I don't miss out on anything, I direct bill the customer get paid on the spot and let them handle the paperwork with their insurance company. Miss out? Yeah, I do miss out on waiting 30-40 days to get paid, I do miss out on collecting what the Insurance Companies feel justified to pay as a fair price. But miss out.. Oh no.. I actually do more Insurance work than ever now.. The only difference is I don't bill the Insurance Company. Do you think Erie or Nationwide is going to send a customer a check that is short because of "fair market value".. No, not as long as that customer is paying their premiums, the Insurance Company will reimburse them whatever it takes to keep them a happy customer..
As for all the "computerized" comments you have made. I'm not following your line of thought. You act like you never heard of the "search" feature before.. Anyways, good luck to you.. Sounds like you are on the right path to something..

[Glassdoc]

Originally Posted by tooldini

LOL I am still confuse as to how a flat rate of $65.00 is worse than $50.00 for all the same costs to operate a windshield repair business.

Jeff

For much the same reasons that "salary" is worse than hourly.. It may have never happened to you yet. But, i have been on several locations where the customer would have 3 vehicles all in need of repair. Flat rate would mean under contract you will do all 3 vehicles for $65, because all 3 of those vehicles are on one policy. It really does not matter. Its only a matter of time before there is no more Insurance related repairs.. State Farm is setting the precedent and the others will soon follow.

[tooldini]

I guess I have just gotten lucky because everytime I get a multiple car repair they are seperate policies. I had two last week that were seperate. I do see what you are saying but that is not very often so I am not concerned about it. I will just have to adjust to any changes as needed. Actually in 5 years I have never had two cars on the same policy that needed repaired. Most people I know don't have a problem with salary pay,, my wife is salary and doesn't bother her at all, she is a teacher so she gets paid all year long . Its just the way you look at things, if your a negative person than everything is gonna look bad unless you created it.

Jeff