Surface Pits...Repair Or Not?

[Repair1]

MMM sounds like what I have been seeing around here. :-k It will catch up with them sooner or later. [-X Turn there butts in to the insurance companies if we all scream loud enough maybe just maybe they might listen someday we can only hope. [-o< But for now I will just keep doing what I do best only repair when necessary.
O yes my ratio is about 98% Repair 2% Replacements

[paintlessplus]

Great post StarQuest- had to read it twice-good food for thought- I agree, I worked in the collision industry for many years and it is very common for the bigger shops with lots of overhead to call insurance companies for "additionals" on repair estimates. The adjuster was usually over a barrel to comply with a request for hidden frame damage or parts replacement over the phone instead of coming out to re-adjust the vehicle. With the profit margin and low startup/overhead costs in WSR, anyone who feels a need to defraud an insurance company to make an extra buck is really putting their neck out. I personally make it clear to a customer that when I give them a FREE repair, that they are actually submitting a claim on their policy. I too , fix the small surface chips and pits without charge. I think that there is less abuse by honest independant professional WSR techs than by larger commissioned glass shop employees. As for me, I grew up relatively poor and sometimes can't believe I can score a $50.00 bill for 10-20 minutes work on the up and up. 8) 8) 8) 8) Life is Good- Bob

[Delta Kits]

Surface chips are becoming a big deal. Check out the latest undercover report from San Antonio.

http://www.woai.com/troubleshooters/sto ... 7DD5FA19B4

[GlassStarz]

I was told once by a replacement guy "You repair guys are a bunch of crooks you sit at Gas Stations and Car Washes and steal our buisness" His argument was that since we have little overhead without a fixxed location we were no better than Hotdog vendors.
How many repairs would a smuck like this do?
He pushes replacement because of the higher profit per customer to pay that huge rent and light bill add insurance , inventory and a big ass van and I can see his point. I dont agree with him but still can see why he needs more money.
Guys like this complain and blow stuff out of purportion I havnt seen anyone selling pits as chips im sure some do but seriosly how big a real problem could it be? I will fix a pit but dont charge it to the insurance company, Unless its so severe that the car wouldnt pass the State inspection thus requiring replacement if I didnt fix it in that case I think its fair to charge.
My girlfriends bestfriends husband is a mgr for one of the big replacement chains (you know the one with the jewel in its name) he looks down on me because im independent and only do repairs but I know I work less than half the hours he does and make double his little paycheck and dont answer to anyone Hey look im standing on my wallet looking down on you!

[mafsu]

"Standing on my wallet, looking down on you" can I use that? That's the best line I've heard in a while.

[Masterglass]

Gentlemen, I was a little puzzled by the response of my first post. Take a minute to look back on my post of 10/25/04 titled "What we really have to be worried about, or address. What do you think I was talking about then. I apparently made the mistake of referencing "a carwash outfit" only because it was the only first hand knowledge I had.

My point was then it was going to hurt us all credibility wise with the insurance companies. It is also insurance fraud, plain and simple. In either event, I am glad somebody got the point across. When you have an employee and are paying him a percent of repairs, he typically doesn't care about the industry, only increasing his paycheck. As a fulltime independent, it is my, and many of you out there's livelyhood. This is not to say that there aren't many from all aspects of this bussiness guilty, but I can only comment on what I have seen first hand.

[TheTuna]

I fail to see why anyone in the repair business would judge someone else in the business because of How or WHERE they find their business.

If you own a shop and pay major overhead, that's your business... if you camp at a car wash and talk to people there, repair their glass and do a good job at it, then good for you!

Now, if you're filling pits and charging for a repair, or billing insurance for a repair, you're doing us all a huge dis-service.

[chips1144]

I think Insurance companies would find it easy to keep track of WSR claims. Surely it would be easy to see if WSR Company X always bills them for two or three chips when other WSR Companys only charge for 1 chip most of the time, Over time it would be easy to see who is most likely cheating them...

I say stay honest and In Business.