Safelite Marketing Campaign?

[GLASSTIME]

While the whole Safelite Marketing Campaign is underway there is a new "Breed" in my town.

Yesterday morning in our local Gazette Paper there was a write up article on a SuperGlass Windsheild Repair company.
One of my customers had called me to tell me to look at todays paper in which he said "Thats got to be bad for your business"
So after looking and reading the article I replied back to my customer with this "I cant speak for his Quality, However I am excited that the WSR Industry is getting the attention it needs." Because I am part of it!

(I really wished that the NWRA could have or would step up to the plate and promote our industry that would top these commercials and newspaper articles. Its almost like were on strings for puppets and our master isnt there to control the actions.)

So we decided that with all the WSR hype happening locally in our area it was a perfect oppurtunity to get out there and mingle with some folks. So the annual Classic Car Show was yesterday at a local dealership in the area and we went flyering. Got to speak with the president of the Blue Ovel Ford Club and will be offering our Glass Care Services to them. Then I spoke to a gentlemen with a classic car that was there and had a bullseye in the WS about coming out and servicing that chip as well.

In my conversations with these people lots of other bystanders were listening in as I explained the value of WSR vs. Replacement. I touched on it being Green, The different types of damage, The Insurance side of the business and more.

I have to thank Safelite & now SuperGlass WSR because almost all of them said they have seen the commercials and read this mornings newspaper which featured the article on WSR. Some of them didnt even know what WSR was... THats a good thing as they have never had a bad experiance. I ended my speech with a Bang as I gave everyone a $20.00 Coupon to use at there leasure with my company!

I believe we may have just made some new friends!

Thanks Big Guy!

[Frank EU]

Superglass is the largest organized repair only network in your country Chad. They are a franchise and are certainly not new but they may be new in your area. The Superglass quality is excellent, they train their guys in a professional manner and they use proper stuff. Superglass also runs tv-commercials.

You know, this market is vast, if you offer the right service and a proper quality at the right price, you have nothing to fear. For you it will be business as usual. Also: I am a firm believer of open markets, the more vendors, the better. I do not like regulations, the market will heal and clean itself. The best will survive. More vendors would normally mean: more people out there sending out messages and informing the motorists about the benefits of repairing vs replacing.

[candyman]

To tracy5963: Iam above Raleigh & Durham near US 85 & US #1 intersection:
I have a windshield to repair this week and Iam not sure if its laminate, Its not the original windshield. A marker on the drivers side reads: Crina mex AS-1 CM-43 DOT 43 CLSNOM-1016-1 : Nothing else is on the glass. Also an individual called me today with a 1969 pickup. The windshield states tempered glass. He had a long crack (vertical) in the DVA coming from a combination break near the top of the WS. I told him that I couldn't do tempered glass and that the WS should be replaced because of where the crack & break is located. He said he understood, but wanted to save the windshield and not replace it due to antique value. The glass had yellow glue like stains (2-4" wide)in the glass and all the way around the WS. Any suggestions as to what can be done other than replacement. Iam new and dont want to give any bad information.

[Brent Deines]

The AS-1 designation tells you it is laminated and that it is legal for use as a windshield. AS-2 and AS-3 are not!

The only way a 1969 pickup could have a tempered windshield is if the glass came from overseas, but that is very unlikely as well. In the USA laminated windshields have been required by all manufacturers since the 1920's I believe. I have the exact date somewhere if you need it. If there is a crack in that windshield it is not tempered. Tempered will shatter, but it will not crack. The yellow around the edge of the glass is most likely caused from deterioration of the PVB so it should be replaced. New windshields are still available for a 1969 and they are typically not all that expensive.

If you do attempt a repair, be aware that your resin may flow out between the PVB and the glass causing an unsightly watery look (flowering). Use very little heat and very little pressure to reduce the chance of this happening, but even then know that you may have a flowering problem. Remind me when you come for training and I'll show you a delaminated windshield and what can happen when a repair is attempted.

[candyman]

Thanks for the information: I will put As1 on my inspection sheet. I looked up glass, laminate and tempered on the web last night. They gave me everything except the information I needed. I will relook at that windshield again in the morning. I saw the word tempered on the bottom of the WS. The glass is cracked and the inside is smooth to the feel. It needs replacement due to where the damage is, PDVA. He said the vehicle had been parked a long time on some farm near his home. The fenders are rusted and the door jams. The paint has faded out and he put plywood in the bed because of all the holes. The WS gives the apperance of being heavy if that makes sense to you. He uses the parking brake to slow down because the brakes dont work part of the time. He carries cinder blocks around to place behind the tires when he parks. I really think the WS needs to be replaced. He actually believes he found a gold mine in that vehicle. He carries a 5 gal container of oil, because it pours out when he stops. His boss made him power wash the company drive because of it. He does have new matching his & her beer holders that are insulated with a power cord to the lighter. He said that when the weather turns cold he can keep his beer thawed while at work. Did I mention that I live in redneck country. Have a nice day DB

[gmbusguy]

I am in the Sacramento CA area most of the time and Safelite is all over most radio and local TV stations. I do agree this is doing us all a big favor in getting the message out that a windshied can be repaired.

David Allen

[KJBrewster1]

Hey Candy man
I get full color two sided 16 point High Gloss Business Cards for $65 for 1000 Or 2500 for $35 more NO shipping cost. I go through a lot. If this will help let me know.

KJB
using old GW injectors
With Delta Resin, because its good.

[tspenn]

Hello all,

I am new to the forum but not WSR. I had an decent business way back in the mid to late 80's for about 3 years with a mobile and a on site facility. I left the business to pursue other ventures. The Safelite campaign on TV in New Jersey has got me thinking about getting back in the business. All that marketing really does a lot of work in educating people. Now back when I was doing repairs and Safelite was doing just windshield replacement, I can honestly say that about 1/4 of my repairs were safelite windshields. They do not use OEM glass but their own brand which was cheap, but crap and prone to stone cracks. They gave me a ton of business. No wonder the have gotten into the WSR biz!

Now the biggest problem I see is that they will beat the small guy out of insurance work and the rental car biz. But I never liked the insurance jobs because of the paperwork and lag in pay time. I built my business doing work for school bus companies, township vehicles, taxi companies, and construction and especially tree work companies. Local quarry's are excellent customers as they are always being targeted by motorists who get a chip from stones falling out of their trucks. I also had great success by approaching large corporate offices and headquarters for large companies who would allow me to place a sign in their lobby or a bulletin on their employee board, or employee newsletter that states I will be on site on such and such a date and call for appointment. I had many days where I would have 20+ jobs waiting for me at one site! You can sell this to the company by explaining that employees do not have to take a day off to get the work done, offer a discount. Sell it as the company providing a service to their employees. Contact the Human Resources department.

I've even rented a $20 booth at flea markets and offered fix it now services right where their car is parked. Best to do this near the end of the month when inspections are coming due. Gorilla marketing, cash customers. Safelite Commercials have me back in the market to start up again. For those loosing contracts to them, I feel their pain, it sucks. But you have to adapt.

I have been involved in this business in the old days and lots of experience in the marketing and business building business. Just my far more then 2 cents from a new guy on this forum.

I'm looking for a new set of tools to get going again, my ads? AS seen on TV!

TS Penn

[tracy5963]

Wow . I was set up at a local Walmart today (Not on their property ) and was approched by a guy that worked for Safelite. I say worked because they just layed him off. he said they invested 25 million on TV commercials and it was not paying off as they anticipated. they were cutting personnel because they could not afford the payroll. HA HA . those TV and Radio Com. have made my buisness so much easier. now to hear they are having trouble too. I love it .not that I want to see anyone fail . but when you try to bully your way in this is what happens. For the longest time I have felt so under represented in the area But turns out no one really likes Safelite anyway . I hav e been asking a lot of my customers why they did not use safe lite most anwers were they are too high and you never know who is going to show up . Seems they like seeing the same guy struggling everyday to make a nome for himself. Anyway I hope all this is true and the public figures out the small guy is better. As it turns out the ex-safelite emp is now going to do own installs using better glass and I am sending him a ton of buisness. I get 10-15 peopl a day that stop to ask about replacement now I have somewhere to send them .
My Rant for today .

[sunshine wr]

I see Safelite guys all the time. They tell me they are hiring repair techs to pick up all the repairs from the ads