It looks the same

[screenman]

I often see people quoteing that Rainx is the problem for repairs not working, personaly I see moisture as the biggest problem but there again who am I to argue. We see very little use of Rainx over here and would suggest if you are certain you have come across this then try a very quick flush out with acetone just wick it in and vacuum it straight out this will clear most water repelents and if you are quick will not soften the laminate. Obviously if it is moisture you will have to complete a full dry out. It is important for all techs to recognise moisture I would say only 1 in every 100 guys in the UK use some sort of dry out system. This is why the quality of most repairs over here stinks.

[Bill D]

Mr Bill,
Your panic caused you to lose $80 bucks. His try at a repair caused yours to fail-not your fault! Bill him!
Shermfiddle,
Rain X, Aquapel, etc., cause me most of my problems,and many don't understand. When you have a visable repair, and the curing tab pulls off with the resin attached, it's because the product is so slick the resin can't adhere to the glass or the break. Contact Glass Technology and ask for Gerry-VP.
Screenman,
Your deal is with moisture-your location is definately a problem.
I don't start my day until about 10, when the dew has dried. I don't work in the rain unless I have shelter. Sales calls only.

[screenman]

Billd
If you have had heavy dew do you find that just leaving the jobs until 10 lets the legs ig large starbreaks and combinations dry out if so I want to emigrate. In tests we have also found that most glass cleaners leave some kind of residue behind which can effect pit finish adhesion, also old or out of date pit fill will not adhere properly either.

[Mr Bill]

The windshield wasn't slick, like it would be with Rainx; but after I had finished the repair, there was no noticible improvement. The customer started bitching so I gave him a refund. His insurance will pay me, so I come out even.
Next customer please.

[ChipChick]

The windshield wasn't slick, like it would be with Rainx; but after I had finished the repair, there was no noticible improvement. The customer started bitching so I gave him a refund. His insurance will pay me, so I come out even.
Next customer please.

You gain a lot more by coming out even (or even losing $40-80) than refusing to refund to a very verbal customer who can bad mouth you and cause you to lose thousands more in the end. you now have a customer that may come back again instead of a pissed off Joe making a website exclusively to besmirch your good name.

It's not just WSR, that's just good business.

[mafsu]

I think it depends on your perspective and how long you have been in business. You should do everything possible to please the customer. This does not include doing your job for free. My guess on this would be that the problem lies in the previous repair. I also can see problems arising from billing the insurance company and refunding the customer. A call should probably have been made to the insurance company and the claim stopped. I disagree that "that's just good business".

[Crack Master SF]

Hi All
Yes star breaks can be very hard to do!!!!
I'm a ex independent tech from back in the early 90's
I'm looking at getting back into the biz in Ohio
Is anyone still doing long crack repairs or just focusing
on doing small cracks?
Is insurance companys still paying for repairs?
Where would one get resins nowadays without paying a millionaire dollar license???

[Bill D]

Screenman,
There is a very good reason for the name Hotlanta! Yes, I find most of the glass dry and warm to the touch around 10 AM about 8 months a year.
For an example, I only fill my Radio Shack mini torch once or twice a year.
You and I, and others, have been around the block a few times. We can usually see the moisture, where as a Newbie doesn't know what to look for.

Eat your heart out- I start even later in the Winter, and seldom use heat. But that's another post.

I don't clean the glass until the job is completed-I use GlassPlus, less is better-no streaking.

[ChipChick]

I think it depends on your perspective and how long you have been in business. You should do everything possible to please the customer. This does not include doing your job for free. My guess on this would be that the problem lies in the previous repair. I also can see problems arising from billing the insurance company and refunding the customer. A call should probably have been made to the insurance company and the claim stopped. I disagree that "that's just good business".

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree (on most). It's good business to leave a customer with a happy feeling. If he couldn't fix it, then a.) he shouldn't have done it and/or b.) he shouldn't charge for it. Doesn't anyone believe in guarantees anymore?

If you go to get your car repainted, and when it comes out, it looks pretty much the same, are you gonna pay for it, even if they "tried"?

Sorry, I'm also a consumer, and I would have felt the same way as this customer. If it looks the same, why pay for it. Now if there'd been some sort of agreement before it started that regardless of the outcome, the payment would be made, that's different (and could be handled by talking to the consumer before any work starts and/or having them sign a release before you start work).

The one thing that I do agree with, is the insurance company part. I think it would have been better to just cancel the claim. If the customer chooses to do so, yeah, you're screwed out of $80. And... how does this effect their insurance? There was a claim made on their insurance, and now there is a strike against them (guess it would depend on where you are).

Anyway, won't claim to be an expert on wsr, but I will state, that I've been in business for myself for about 16 years now, so I may be new around this block, but I have traveled a few blocks.

[mafsu]

While I of course concede your point that it is best to leave the customer happy, I would find it difficult to do work on an insurance job for free. Fleet customer no problem, your good will with a fleet customer ensures repeat business. If I take a lawnmower in to be repaired, and my previous attempt at repair prevents them from being able to fix the lawnmower I still owe them for the time spent on the lawnmower. I agree with you about the customer having a strike against him on his insurance. If his rates are affected by it you will still have one very unhappy customer.