Pricing of Non-Insurance Repairs

[optic-kleer]

I am interested to know how you guys set your "private" job prices out in the US. Do you charge so much per screen, or so much per actual chip. Do you work it as a percentage of the insurance price, or perhaps a percentage of the replacement deductible?.

I have a problem with undercharging. I know I do it, but feel that I make the big money on my insurance work which accounts for over 90% of my business, and sometimes feel sorry for my poorer customers who cannot afford comprehensive insurance with windscreen cover.

Am I alone in having this attitude, or am I just a little bit too soft on pricing my private jobs?

Eric Howe
Optic-Kleer
England

[Dave M]

Eric,
I have a set retail price for the customer with no insurance. However, depending on the circumstances I have charged much lower than that set fee. On my wholesale or fleet accounts any employee who pays cash I will charge them the same as I would the account. Sort of a little benefit for the employees! I believe some other techs on this forum do the same.
I remember reading about what another WSR owner (can't mention any names) was suggesting, charging a % of NAGS list price for that vehicles replacement windshield. Think about that, lets say 12% of the list price of a w/s. If the list price is $750 the repair would cost $90. Of course that would go up or down depending on the list price. Anyone hear what became of that idea?

[CPR]

I called all the repair shops in my area, most were 60 $, the lowest I found was Harmon at 49 $, so I go in at 45 $ and I'm the best deal in town.

[Dave M]

CPR,

If most were at $60 and one was at $49, why did you decide to only charge $49? Why not be the best for $60?
I did the same when I first started 10 years ago and still regret it today. I have raised my prices to what I think is fair market in my area but I've certainly left room.

[scratchy]

This is an interesting question! I was cash only for several months until Coitster showed me the light about how much better insurance is. I will forever be grateful. Now I prefer NOT to do cash jobs. I don't like the dickering over the price. But... I am more flexible with the cash price now that I take ins. I will probably get some flack for saying this but I take several things into consideration for the cash price. 1. I size up the customer 2. I size up the W/S damage 3. I size up the value of the vehicle. My goal is to land the job in a way so that both I and the customer will be happy. My goal is to do 80% insurance work, 20% cash with cracks making up most of that 20%.

[GlassStarz]

I try to judge the customer and the severity of the break on retail customers and charge anywhere from $30 to $60 depending on a bunch of variables. Personaly I like to get that first repair of the day out of the way if the guy doesnt have insurance and looks like he just swallowed his gum when I tell him $60 then i drop the price to get the sale but always start high its impossible to start low then work up 8) you get so you can judge people pretty well after awhile.

[glassdoctor]

I pretty much do the same as Dave M said... many of my "retail" jobs are from employees etc of the dealers I work for. I often charge them the "dealer" price if it's not insurance. Sometimes I'll do it for less if it's someone I like... $10 or buy me lunch and I take care of it for them.

Otherwise, my cash deals are $40 if they don't have insurance because the car is older. If it's a nice car and they just choose not to bill insurance, then I'll shoot them the insurance price.

I guess it depends on what kind of mood I'm in...

[CPR]

The reason I price a bit lower is because I am still new at this and see it as paid training. Most of my work is word of mouth and usually the customer who referred you will tell his buddy how much he paid. Once I get better and busier then I can raise my prices as needed.

[desertstars]

CPR.

Will your philosophy also hold true for the next person who enters the business after yourself or will that person be considered a cut-throat competitor regardless of their learning curve aspirations and future intention to raise prices?

Repair prices vary so much around the country and from city to city that any attempt to standardize is unrealistic.

Glassdoctor hit the nail on the head.

If one hasn't read his reply to the original question, I suggest they do so.

To proceed a bit further.

If it is an insurance job and you are a member of a network, charge what the network allows.

If it is an insurance job and you are not a member of the network, charge $20 more than the network as long as you don't bill through the network. That amount is acceptable simply because I think that is the least the network charges insurance companies for their "services" and when we circumvent those third parties, we deserve it.

The dollar figure could be more; I seriously doubt it is less.

Try to find out the truth yourself.

If it is fleet, sell yourself and your service and there are plenty of ways to do that covered by others on this forum.

And, as Glassdoctor suggested, I charge fleet employees the same charge I offer the fleet UNLESS they are covered by insurance.

And, those employees appreciate it and have given us many referrals and repeat business over the years.

My answer is simplified even though this is a complex subject.

I'll leave it to other's to either agree or pick apart what I've said.