2 problems in 2 days...

AutoEgo · Post by **AutoEgo** » March 23rd, 2004, 5:12 pm

Yesterday afternoon i was working on an F250. There was a star on the upper passenger side with 2 1.5 inch legs on it. Most of it filled in just fine, then one of the legs started to grow. I reduced the pressure and it kept growing. I resuced a bit more and it finally stopped after it had gotten to be about 3 maybe 3.5 inches long. I filled it and it looked ok, but the client was not all that happy with it and me being me, I didn;t charge them for it. This would have been a $69.99 Nationwide job, but I felt it didn't look great and the client wasn't happy so I opted for the freebie. (that would have put me at $280 yesterday too, Still a decnt day though)
Today, same story different truck! Grand Cherokee with 4 stars. Walked in got the job at $50 cash. Started on the bullseyes first got to the Star and 2 legs went crazy! One of the spread about 4 maybe 5 inches. The other at least 3. I worked on this thing for about an hour. Got it all filled and honestly it looked pretty decent after I was done. (Thanks MAFSU, AGAIN!) Went inside, brought the client out and he was cool with it. I gave the option of not paying if he was unhappy with the repair and I could tell he wasn't really thrilled with it but at the same time it was definately filled and not going anywhere. He said he'd pay $30 and that he understood. I'm a decent judge of character, i really think he was OK with it.

I said all that to ask this. Am I nuts for walking away from $60 from Nationwide and $20 of the repair today? Both were filled the just weren't what the client expected.

How would ya'll have handled this?

Sean

Oh yeah, I'm doing everything like I always have. Same pressure, Same setup. Do you think these 2 runs are a fluke? What would you check or change to make sure it doesn't happen tomorrow?

mafsu · Post by **mafsu** » March 23rd, 2004, 6:36 pm

Hey Sean, I think you did the right thing. If you have the time next week and want to ride up north with me one day just give me a call. We didn't get to work on very many repairs the other day, and maybe we can figure out what's going on with those stars spreading on you.

glassdoctor · Post by **glassdoctor** » March 23rd, 2004, 7:23 pm

I don't have a problem with what you did either. If you are not happy with the repair, do what you feel is the right thing to do. It's called pride in your work. It dosen't make you feel very good to walk away cash in hand, knowing you didn't do a very good job... regardless of whether or not it was "your fault".

Tell your cutstomer that you did everything possible to perform the best repair, but it just wasn't up to your standards, etc... so no charge even though it is infact, repaired.

Write it off and don't look back. Don't look at the $80 you "lost". Make up for it tomorrow, find an extra job. Every kind of business occasionally has such "losses" in one way or another.

Easy come, easy go I say

Repair1 · Post by **Repair1** » March 23rd, 2004, 8:37 pm

Handled it perfect! I always say if you can't be happy with it yourself then it should be NO CHARGE, unless you go into it with the customer knowing it's not going to be the perfect repair one of those big ugly bastards ya know. #-o

Happy Repairing

Brian

AutoEgo · Post by **AutoEgo** » March 23rd, 2004, 8:37 pm

I appreciate the offer Chris. I'll definately ride up to DC with you one day next week.

If I would have taken the money I know I would have felt like !@#$ about it.

I wouldn't have thought to drill over the trapped air in that crack and refill Chris, thanks for the advice.

Sean

Coitster · Post by **Coitster** » March 23rd, 2004, 8:56 pm

Hey Sean,
I have a question for you. You said in two days you have had two starburst run on you a few inches. One of the legs did anyway. What happened? Did you flex the windshield and it ran or did you just let it naturaly fill and it started to run? Thanks
David
Coitster

screenman · Post by **screenman** » March 23rd, 2004, 11:52 pm

One of the main reasons for legs running is to much heat in the screen not a prblem we have on more than about two days a year in the UK But was the screen to hot.

optic-kleer · Post by **optic-kleer** » March 24th, 2004, 12:16 am

Sean
going back to the original post, you did the right thing. You, the technician have to be the hardest judge of your own work. If you are not happy with a repair, then have the balls to admit it. I see so many sub standard repairs over here in the UK that repair techs have taken payment for that it makes my blood boil, and I'm a fairly mild tempered sort of guy. If you set your standards high then you will stay in business. word of mouth spreads faster if its bad word, so you did the right thing.

Eric Howe.

AutoEgo · Post by **AutoEgo** » March 24th, 2004, 8:26 am

I flexed from the outside with a probe. (Sounds like a game of clue, Idid it with the probe on the windshield in the parking lot, lol) I always start with very light pressure at the base of the leg. These things just shot out as soon as I touched the glass. Hardly no pressure at all.

Sean

StarQuest · Post by **StarQuest** » March 24th, 2004, 10:00 am

Sean,

Just another thought.

Prior to the repair did you check the inside temp. of the shield. Reason I ask is because when I first started in WSR I use to just feel the outside of the glass assuming it was ok to set up. This can sometimes be misleading, especially during the spring when it's sunny and the interior gets very hot. Got me in trouble a few times. Now I always make it a habbit to check everytime before starting the repair.

The only other thing I can think of is to much stem pressure. Might want to try backing off a little before probing.

Good Luck and don't get down on yourself....we've all been their and done that before

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2 problems in 2 days...

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I flexed...

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