really really bad work

[jayjacque]

Let me tell you all about a particular problem I'm having. It's the competition's work around here. It's absolutely horrible, mostly glass shops doing crummy work because they don't care probably because their real money is in replacement. They've cut a deal with the car dealers to throw in free repairs if they give them all their replacement business. But when they get their arm twisted to do the free repairs, it comes out horrible. I mean real horrible. (Maybe they think the dealers don't check, and they're getting it for free anyway, so who cares).

You might think that is good for me. Yes and no. Yes of course because I can offer them much better results without question, but also no and here's why...The repair work is so bad that sometimes, maybe even many times I can't tell if it was previously repaired. Don't laugh, it's true. Pits many times not filled, either fell out or didn't put any in. Both bullseyes and starbreaks only 1/3 way filled which translates to sometimes hard to see if it was attempted or that's just the way the original break looks. Like maybe they set the bridge on for 3 minutes maximum and whatever gets filled gets filled.

Even when I am pretty sure it was attempted I am tempted to write it up as a repair, thinking I can re-drill into the still showing air pockets or star lines. That works sometimes, at least getting it 50% more filled. So I am fulfilliing a purpose I suppose, but time consuming, especially on the ones I can't get to fill much better. So that's my question. Do you guys or gals think I should even mess with them? Is it worth it? If I suspect it's been attempted, should I just say NO?

[splitpit]

I have poor quality work going on in my area too. One is a glass shop and the other is a tent guy. These are the "monkeys" I refer to in other posts.
But watch what you say on here. Some take it personal or don't like it if you criticize another's work or pricing. I know ehere you are coming from. It is what it is.

[Brent Deines]

I did lots of clean up work after competitors had botched jobs. Unfortunately I don't think this problem is limited to glass shops purposely doing lousy repairs though. I often work with people that either think they are doing good repairs because they have nothing to compare their work with, or they have the "good enough" attitude. I often speak with technicians that will only spend 5 or 10 minutes on a repair, and say the results are "good enough". These people really don't see the difference between a good repair with all the air removed, and a repair that has half the air removed. This is the same type of person that has no appreciation for a freshly waxed car, a detailed motorcycle, or a clean shower. It makes no sense to me, but these things just are not important to them, so if customers don't complain they really believe that their work is "good enough".

I believe a repair is either done right, or not done right, so "good enough" is not a term in my vocabulary. Cleaning up after the competition can lead to obtaining some good accounts. Just be sure you let the customer know that the repair has already been attempted, and that although you can improve the appearance, you may not be able to make it look as good as you could have if it had not been attempted previously.

[ChipperFixer]

Same thing happening here....A lady asked me to repair over an old repair one of our local glass shops botched..I told her I can't give a Lifetime Guarantee but I would try to repair the repair, after drilling the ends of three cracks I realized that I should have thought it over a little more. If she had not been elderly I don't think I would have attempted the repair..

[splitpit]

I have an opinion to share on this topic.

[splitpit]

I deal with a local tent guy who is doing horrible repairs at a cheap $30 rate.
I feel that it gives the windshield repair industry a bad name and I hate that he is there.
If it's someones first time having a windshield repaired, they probably think we all suck and windshield repair is a joke. I have had 7 different people in the last two weeks stop me and ask me to look at work he did for them. In all cases they were obviously sloppy incomplete jobs.

I advocate doing the job right. I advocate taking pride in your work. The only job that is "good enough" is one that is the best it can possibly be. I'm a perfectionist and that is why I'm good at what I do.

If by sharing the above views and opinions on this forum is wrong, then ban me. If it's not wrong, then tell GlassStarz to get of my back. I feel I have a right to complain about others who give windshield repair a bad image. Hopefully others who get into this will understand the importance of doing things right and not consider poor quality work "good enough".

[harrellbenjamin]

Originally Posted by splitpit

I deal with a local tent guy who is doing horrible repairs at a cheap $30 rate.
I feel that it gives the windshield repair industry a bad name and I hate that he is there.
If it's someones first time having a windshield repaired, they probably think we all suck and windshield repair is a joke. I have had 7 different people in the last two weeks stop me and ask me to look at work he did for them. In all cases they were obviously sloppy incomplete jobs.

I advocate doing the job right. I advocate taking pride in your work. The only job that is "good enough" is one that is the best it can possibly be. I'm a perfectionist and that is why I'm good at what I do.

If by sharing the above views and opinions on this forum is wrong, then ban me. If it's not wrong, then tell GlassStarz to get of my back. I feel I have a right to complain about others who give windshield repair a bad image. Hopefully others who get into this will understand the importance of doing things right and not consider poor quality work "good enough".

Dont take it personal.Some people are "Legends in Their own minds".For what ever reason they get off on feeling that they have the inside track and everyone else should never question their "way".Go figure..............

[GGWSR]

I was trained to never "RE" repair...I think because it's often an older repair and the damage is more difficult to make any better than what it was when first "repaired"...Am I wrong to continue to refuse the job...It ticks me off when I arrive and find its been messed up...Thanx

[glassdoctor]

Originally Posted by splitpit

I have an opinion to share on this topic.

perhaps your instincts are correct and you shouldn't

lol

[glassdoctor]

Originally Posted by splitpit

I have poor quality work going on in my area too. One is a glass shop and the other is a tent guy. These are the "monkeys" I refer to in other posts.
But watch what you say on here. Some take it personal or don't like it if you criticize another's work or pricing. I know ehere you are coming from. It is what it is.

Don't even know where to start so I'll leave it alone. But it's just begging to be picked apart. killing me, lol....

jayjacque:
I do a lot of old repair work. Perhaps public posting isn't the best place to talk about how to do them. If the forum rules allow... you can email me, or call me. It would be easier than arguing with the boys here.

Often, the worse the original repair job, the easier it is to re-do it. The kind you describe sound like perfect candidates. But as stated, I won't go into details. Maybe some others will post some tips.