getting support

[big o]

How does the little shop fight the corp. GAINT...How can we ban together to fight and get our fair share. Im on an island all by myself, Safelite has taken control of my number 1 customer and is taking much more than they are given. Where do I turn for help ?

[John62]

Hi Big O,

That is bad news. At least you start to realize that your business is at stake right?
1 Keep records of all the developments and file them for future usage.
2 Contact NWRA and drop ALL your grieves there, Safelite, unfortunately, is one of their members.
3 What the hell does Safelite do there in between small independent repair guys? They have opposite interests and will only frustrate any possitive move for repair only guys -and even for the smaller local or regional service networks with up to 20 workshops. Kick Safelite out, being a great pain in the ass, and start a real Pan American repair only or small business service network. Peggy is a nice girl, she understands, don't be shy, talk! www.n-w-r-a.org
4 Do NEVER have Belron on board, they are more worse than Safelite.
5 Be wary for networks that have over 20 outlets because they will get the attention of Belron -who are taking over organizations of that size.
Belron just started to enter your country and they WILL grow faster than all you guys will know. They wil ruin the business.
Belron is in bed with all insurers and leasing companies. Worldwide.
They are able to keep up their lies because they are ONE front and are able to COMMUNICATE.
See other contributions on this forum.

Now, if NWRA is not willing to act, you start simply to contact guys you know, using the NWRA memberlist, and start to discuss how you can organize a national meeting on short notice.
I am sure that windshield repair manufacturers like GT Glass, GlassMechanix and Delta are willing to help.
GT Glass, contact Kerry Wanstrath, VP
GlassMechanix, contact Bob Beveridge, President
Delta Kits, Jeff Higgins, VP
No need to say that there are more manufacturers, but these are some I have met recently. They will understand all the problems you guys have.
Contact them and suggest a meeting with some manufacturers and many windshield repair guys.

In the IDEAL situation you guys have to GIVE UP your current names. As a temporary solution you start working adding the NEW NATIONWIDE NAME to the current local names.
Somewhere else on this forum, only a few hours ago, someone asked how to compete with franchise networks. The answer is easy.
Appear to be ONE solid organization, using THE SAME name at all locations, having standardized processes, prices etc.
It is NOT hard to start an organization, you ONLY MUST HAVE THE GUTS.
I have started more than once nationwide networks.
It takes energy, will power, possitive attitudes, money and time. That's all.
It could be up and running WITHIN SIX MONTHS from today.
There is to much ego in our business, let that go. If you don't; there will be no point trying to compete with the others.
Act today.

Once you have reached conclusions, set standards, conditions etc. and guys are willing to invest and are willing to stick to the set rules and conditions, you can start talking to insurance- ans leasing companies.
Their priorities are; Customers Satisfaction, Hassle free processes, Quality, Safety, Cutting costs.
All the above priorities should come anyway, but unfortunately, we all know better right?

I could have been cutting corners here as this is all very easy to me.
Therefore; if there are any comments, please step forward.
But do not bother to reply when it is only about deffending a local ego.
To change is easy. Wake up now.
Do not wait until you are forced to, by then it is to late.
Again; unite or die.

[Lee]

John
I am in the So Cal area. The low life here are putting in DW1217's and DW1341's(GM trucks,SUV'S 88-04) for $100.00 USD. I don't think Safelite or Belron will go this low. How does this come about you ask? The manufactures want to move numbers so they sell to glass distributors. We have independent dist's here that sell Guardian, Carlite, Crinemex, and every Chinese brand for peanuts. This forces the mainline dist's to compete with the independents. Mygrant, PPG, PILK have slashed prices to compete with the indy's. This is a shame because there is plenty to go around for everyone. NAGS is dead and gone all they can do is number glass. All of the dist's have their own pricing and net price parts. Belron can't compete with drastic cuts in pricing on parts it has to pay the same as other glass co's.
Thanks for letting me ramble.

[John62]

Okay, fair enough. Remember Belron WILL beat all.
They go round all current systems, they are smart and rich.
In bed with all insurance- leasing companies and glass manufacturers.
Belron is probably the largest worldwide cutomer for Saint Gobain, Pilkington (same as PPG) etc. and they have the best conditions.
Please search the internet yourself and find out.
Or just look up my other postings on this forum about them.
By clicking on john62, then you find all the other postings.

[big o]

John first let me thank you for all the info. Im not just a repair shop,we also put in windsheilds and we are building a new shop. I am a small shop with just 2 tecks 1 csr. I did work for the evil emprie (safelite ) then went out and started my own company...I was in sales. Safelite now has control of the number 1 insurance co. in ALabama and Im already feeling the pain ! I use delta kits and love the repair side of the business, but with State farm getting out ,gas prices and everthing else I have started to worrie.
thanks for all of your help .