What I am competing with here in Austin, TX

[Auto Glass Rescue]

FAIL - Windshield repair. Lol...

[Coitster]

I wouldn't worry about that. I am always coming across people in my area willing to do work for real cheap. You just have to sell the customer on your quality and the fact how can someone even make a living charging those prices. Here today gone tomorrow. I know thats easyer said then done but you will always have to contend with new guys doing really cheap work. You just have to learn to overcome it. If you don't then I would be worried. I am not worried because I know how to handle it. Just think it through and rationalize how to deal with it.
David Coit
Coitster

[screenman]

For every 1,000 people with damaged windshields only 50 will be looking to get it done now, by this I mean looking at adverts like that. Market to the other 950 and do not even give the cheap guy a thought.

You are only competing if you are after the same low level market.

[jhickman1]

I have been cold calling ALOT of used car dealers and trucking commpanies etc. in my are the past few Weeks. Many of them say that the use a certain WSR guy that does repairs for $25. He tells them that he will drop by about every other week to check their inventory for chips (which is what I would like to be doing). The only problem is he doesnt show up. They say he comes when he is not needed and doesnt come when needed and doesnt stick to his schedule. I WOULD!! But this guy has put a bad taste in everyones mouth when it comes to windshield repair. Which mkes it twice as hard for me to get business. I tell them that he can say hes doing a repair for $1 but if he doent come to repair it then what good is it to them. In this case he isnt a fly-by-night operation. He does replacement also. I think he does $25 cause he can check these businesses while he is already in the area doin a replacement. The only problem is... He doesnt keep his word. Its obvious that he cares nothing for the repair side of the biz so I wish he would drop it so he can do replacements and let me stick to repairs.

[Brent Deines]

This is a golden opportunity for you. I would much rather compete with someone who is not reliable than someone who is and that is exactly how I got most of my fleet accounts without having to match prices.

You said you "would" show up, but that is what everyone says. You need to prove to them that you "do" show up, which means telling them you will be in every _______(you fill in frequency) and what time you will be there. If you show up time and time again as promised, even if they have not promised you any work, they will eventually know you are a man of your word and give you a shot. Nothing works 100% of the time but in my experience most will eventually give you a call. Another thing I have done with great success is to offer a free repair to demonstrate the quality of your work. This practice has been hotly debated on this forum in the past, but for many of us it has been a very effective way to secure new fleet business and is a great way to get the fleet manager to allow you to inspect the fleet. I've found that some will take advantage of the free repair but most will end up paying me for the repair when they see my quality is better than they have received in the past.

You have to be patient but if you keep going back on the day and time promised, check the fleet for free, and keep offering one free repair to demonstrate the quality of your work, eventually you will get your foot in the door. Once you have the account be sure you keep showing up on the time and day promised, or any other time the customer needs you. Also be sure to take a little time to build a friendship with your customers. Relationships go a long way in any business. If you provide that kind of service it will be much harder for your competitors to take the business away from you than it was for you to take it from them.

Used car dealers are tough in our area. They will often sacrifice quality and great service for a low price, especially the low end lots. Consider focusing on the high end lots and fleets that understand the value of time and quality. They are generally the most successful and understand that the lowest price is not always the best value.

[Frank EU]

Great post, Brent.
I couldn't agree more.

[jhickman1]

That is a great post Brent! And I completely agree with you, its just unfortunatethat I have to rebuild what he has torn down for however long he has been around. I gues it is better than if they were satisfied with him. Im not a carpenter but from the little bit of construction I've done I prefer to build from scratch than to remodel lol

[Brent Deines]

I understand, and I did not mean to make it sound easy, but the only way to build from the ground up is to start where no one has ever built before. Unfortunately there are not very many places left in this country where windshield repair services have not already been offered to dealerships and fleet customers. So in most cases we go in, clean up other people's messes, and move on from there. It's really not much different than any other business.

You may be eating Top Raman for awhile but stay focused on quality and you'll be okay in the long term. I still remember landing my first few large fleets...what a relief!

[screenman]

I also still remember landing some of my first big customers and I still have them now, a couple have gone past the £100,000 mark a long way back. I would rather take a call off of a poor supplier than no supplier, the poor one will make my services look fantastic, the no supplier will not give the customer something to compare me too.

Make sure you are reliable, make sure you keep calling and most important make sure you are the best there is.

[Eco Steam]

Don't worry about these guys doing repairs for super cheap, unfortunately they're here.

Put your focus on growing your business, Austin is growing at a high rate, theres plenty of work for us repair guys, you just have to make it happen.

I've been doing repairs since 06 in Austin, some good years, and some bad....but my focus these days is the detailing and headlight side of the biz.

Take care,

ATX