maybe a dumb question/have you ever broke a windshield

[dcj]

How did you handle the situation :?:

[Don Boccafola]

The windshield was broken already. Thats why you were trying to fix it. If you were successfull you would have saved the customer the cost of the new windshield. Since you couldn't fix it I wouldn't charge them for your atempt but you should not be liable for a broken windshield.

[Coitster]

Hey,
I sure have broken windshields. In 12 years I have broken 7 windshields. Most of the time what happened is the chip was ready to run. Of those 4 of the cracks ran as soon as I put the bridge on the windshield. I hadn't even put the resin in, so those where ready to go. Hey it happens. Don't worry about it, get an agreement with a glass company localy that will replace windshields for you. The company I have waives deductables anyway so it still doesn't cost me anything. I have never had to pay for a replacement for as long as I have been doing glass. Hope that helps.

David
Coitster

[glassdoctor]

If you are dealing with a profitable fleet account, you may be best served to offer to pay for a new windshield. (minus your repair charge) Dealers in my area can usually get a new wshield for about $150 or less on most vehicles. So in this case you might lose about $100 or so, but you will make it up many times over in the future from your happy customer. If your bread and butter is with car dealers, you don't want a bad reputation. So you might want to "take care of" it even for a small dealer.

In any other situation, go by what Don said.

Explain that it's damaged glass and in rare cases the damage can spread. You could explain that some damage will not be "stable" enough to allow a proper repair.

There is some "stress" to the windshield during the repair process and in rare cases, the break is too fragile to withstand the stress required for a proper repair.

Obviously you would never try to charge for it, but you cannot be held liable for a new windshield either. If they can prove you are incompetent and have a history of broken windshields, then you might be in hot water. That's the only way I can see a windshield repair tech being on the hook for a new w/s.

BTW, I have had a few windshields crack over the years. Back in the day when I was getting started, I had a couple bad experiences. I had a star right at the edge of the windshield that cracked. I didn't do work there again for several years. I offered to pay for a new w/s but they just told me I lost their biz anyway, so don't bother. At another dealer I had one crack after scraping off ice and snow and running the defrost. I had not even tried to repair it yet. Same thing happened there.

For me, those were the only real bad cases. Other times, they dealers were real cool about. No big deal. I did a freebie to make up for it and everybody was happy. I don't mean to make it sound like I break w/s all the time! :shock:

But, I figure I have done 15,000+ repairs. I think you get a mulligan, say evey 1000 repairs. That means I get like 15 busted w/s mulligans.

[Repair1]

I wish I could tell you how many I have broke over the years :cry: once I broke two in one day that sucked bad but it happens never know why it just does.. A damaged windshield is like a cracked egg sometimes you can pick it up, sometimes you pick it up and it crumbles it just happens :shock: I don’t know of anybody that has been in this business that hasn’t broke one.

As far as what to do well that depends on the customer the condition of the windshield etc, etc. Each situation will be different the key is that you leave with a happy customer just feel them out see what they expect. I’ve had some say no biggie I’ve had some situations that I don’t even bother saying anything I just say I broke it I will get you a new one ASAP in this case you will have a customer for life.

What I have done here I have a glass company that I refer many jobs to never expecting commission from them just help when I need it. If I break one and I need to replace it I call them they do it for free. :shock:

Some say I’m crazy refer customers for free!!! Well I’m in the repair business not the replacement business been there done that never to return I hope… :evil: If I start to receive a commission for replacements then I can’t honestly tell my customers I have no interest in their replacements I have a good reputation for doing only repairs and I like it that way. I have seen so many guys start to do repairs then seeing that they can make a buck on a replacement next thing you know they let the repairs go away then well usually they go out of business the replacement business is very competitive I let the big boys kill each other for that.. :lol: :lol:


Happy Repairing

Brian

[sydfloyd44]

Hey Brian, that is not crazy!!!!

The company I work for has a warranty for dealers/fleet accounts. If the windshield breaks while we are repairing, we install the new w/s for the cost of the repair. We spend a lot of time and energy properly training our techs so this does not happen a lot.
We do both repair and replacement so we do not lose much if it does happen. If you do only repair, start a relationship with a local glass company you can trust. Like you said, you get the cost of the repair plus the referral from the glass company or in your case, give up the referral $ for that one big favor now and then. VERY smart!!! Cuts your losses dramatically.

If it is a retail customer or insurance company, it is just changed to a replacement with no warranty relating to the repair.
I just made a post on the thread called "Windshield Cracked", relating to dealing with this situation. Check it out.

[julian]

i havent broke any yet, but i do have my customers sign an agreement stating if the windshield brakes ,cracks, etc. i will not be responsible, because the windshield is already broken, they are more than happy to sign, cyb
(cover your butt)