State/Lease Inspections & Your Warranty

[Glassdoc]

Brian, in answer to your question regarding the "contract" with the networks.. its much like your current auto policy or business policy.. No matter how it is written it will always be in their favor.. thats a guarantee.

As for Splitpit not understanding.. i will try to explain it, yet again.. When I started 16 years ago,i too was doing repairs for all the networks known to our industry.. i was also sub-contracting for Safelite.. I averaged $12k a year thru Safelite alone... But.. Along came Repair Medics and steering issues.. The jobs no longer came in on a daily basis. And the jobs that did come in were the ones that "we" don't really want to repair either.. Yes, I was getting dispatched the "left overs" that Safelite could not repair. And to make it even less attractive, most of these referrals were 30-45 minutes away. Not like the were right around the corner from the shop.. So, weighed the good with the bad, and opted out.. Do I miss getting the $12k dispatched over.. no, per my numbers my sales have increased, and now i am in control of what i do and when I get paid.. And I don't pay $3.50 processing fee to Safelite, or $1.50 to Lynx.. Its mine all mine, and Uncle Sams..

[StarQuest]

Dave M and SGT,

I totally agree with your warranty agreements between you and the customer but the real question is, will the networks honor them? I've found out in the past they won't! If they choose to back charge you for any reason, they will regardless of your signed invoice with insured. Can you take customer to small claims and win with this signed invoice? Most likely you could, but for $50 is it worth it?

I ran into a situation over a year ago where I repaired a bullseye in the lower painted frit area (99.9% undetectable) While providing this repair I also noticed a previous one that had been done by another company and explained to the customer I cannot warranty their work for a lease return and noted it on my invoice. They still requested that I repaired the new one. Well upon lease return the previous repair failed inspection and I was charged back by network for the one I provided that wasn't even found. Was I upset? YES! Did I complain? YES! Did I get the back charge reversed? NO I didn't! If your signed up with a network expect this to happen. That's how they do business!

[splitpit]

Thank you for your explanation Glassdoc but I'd say your cirumstances are not normal among most network shops. You have your basis for NOT doing insurance network jobs and I have my basis FOR doing network jobs. You have your reasons and I have mine. Let's just agree that we don't agree and move on!

[StarQuest]

So, where does the 800 lb gorilla sit?

Anywhere he wants!

[Daveycrewcut]

Just wondering if the inspection mechanics get a kickback from the glass replacement companies.

[Glassdoc]

Kickbacks??? not that you could prove.. But, yes.. Most garages in this area get between $40-$60 for the replacement referral plus they mark up the windshield $50-$100 since they are only paying a wholesale price for the install to begin with.

[Dave M]

GlassDoc,
That surprises me! What are you basing that info on?

[Glassdoc]

A: My own installer is an independent. And he tells me which stealerships have their hands out. B: I've seen it.. & C: Some of these same stealerships want a kick back from "me" the repair guru.. And if you don't give them what they want, your invoice gets lost, the P.O. was never issued or recorded etc etc.. Luckily, I don't service them any longer.. Learned the hard way from experience.. But, yeah.. It's happening at a stealership near you, you may not be aware of it but it is.. You figure between glass repair, glass replacement, bumper painting, dent removal, head liners, stereo/alarm installs, bed liners if they can get $20 a week from each vendor, they are adding to their yearly income.. And Safelite has a variety of pricing.. Cash price, Ins co price, garage price, body shop price etc.. All of which is below NAGs retail, gives any one of the shops room to mark them up.. So, with Safelite doing it, oter shops have to be low to be able to compete especially when dealing with a retail re-sale shop.

[SGT]

I agree with the "Doc" on this one. I have seen it first hand. One of a large family of dealerships that we service sent out a letter to all the vendors from each of there franchises strictly prohibiting this kind of conduct between vendors and employees. That means gifts, kickbacks you name it. If they are sending out such a letter then it must be happening or have happened.

Realistically how can you think it does not happen, this type of doing business is as old as the day is long. Not implying you are doing it, but it is happening all around you.

[GlassStarz]

With 20 plus years in the car buisness I can speak on this subject with dirrect knowledge
Sales Mgrs often get perks from Vendors be it a gift card to some restaraunt or a bottle of Dom at xmas thanking someone for doing buisness with you isnt wrong I do this all the time as well as a nice potted plant to the office ladies who send out the checks letting someone know you appreciate them isnt wrong
Service deptments are in the buisness of making $ not friends they mark up everything they touch whether its a part or the work of an outside vendor its how buisness is done profit comes from muliple sources
Now there are the other guys they include the used car mgr who expects a cash kickback from vendors and wholesalers this guy is easy to foil send the $ to the owner by mistake LOL dishonest people who steal from thier employer (and this is what the kickback is) are generally found out fairly soon and dont last long and vendors who have been a regular of thiers are often shown the door as well when the stuff is found out
best advice is dont participate and if you are being given a hard time sit down with the boss tell him you are willing to lower your prices or increase you service but you are not comfortable with paying the $ to his mgr it screws up your tax and bookeeping I guarantee he doesnt even know its going on and approaching him this way gets the message out without you looking like a trouble maker badabingbadaboom the pain in the a#$ mgr is gone you are still there and now a trusted person
that said I have been to mexico on a finance companies dime been to dinner at many nice places recieved new wardrobes from contests hosted by banks hell the Dodge factory rep took 30 of us to the dollar stores in Tiajuana the car buisness is full of perks and pay outs its hard to tell when you have crossed the line.