Windshield Repair Forum

You want to get noticed for giving positive solutions, not just constant complaints. I don't think they will view it as having done US an injustice. In many respects, we have done the injustice to ouselves.

I dont think that the Insurance companys care one way or another about what a Windshield repair tech thinks..................JMHO They have no pull or political clout so why would they worry or care?? The tech is just a necessary evil and expence for them...........

Right on Brent,, I stay low, do a good job for all customers retail or insurance referral. I do need to get involved more behind the scenes. It seems many of the old timers and several of the new forum members have a hard time adjusting to change. There are things good and bad about this business. I myself love it and hope I can do it for ever. I know I will never get rich repairing windshields but I am the happiest I have ever been doing it. Maybe I am not making tons of money, maybe I am really worth $100.00 a repair but the fact is this is a business that I love so if I make what equals $25.00 an hour I am happy So that said,, Flat rate Piece rate bring it ON. I do heavely agree with the fact that there is too much arguing on here and it would be nice sometimes to not be B'ed at when you ask a question that may have already been asked or one that someone thinks is stupid

harrellbenjamin;29565 wrote:I dont think that the Insurance companys care one way or another about what a Windshield repair tech thinks..................JMHO They have no pull or political clout so why would they worry or care?? The tech is just a necessary evil and expence for them...........

It's not their job to care about us, but if you don't think insurance companies have pull or political clout, you are dead wrong. They are setting the prices, and it is up to us to prove the value of our services.

I have spoken with quite a number of people in the insurance industry and so far I have never gotten the impression that windshield repair technicians are a "necessary evil". What I get from them is that they see windshield repair as a valuable service that saves their companies and customers money.

I know I will never convince many of this, but I think we really need to get away from the us vs them attitude, and figure out a way to make them want to pay us what we are worth. It won't be an easy task, but I do think it is worth fighting for. That's why I think it is so important to get out and meet some of these folks. They are all just doing their jobs, just like we are. Once you understand that you can have discussions rather than arguments. Sitting across the table from someone has a way of changing your perspective of each other.

There may very well be more windshield repair technicians who agree with you than with me, and that's fine, I just think that diplomacy will be necessary if we hope to change our industry for the better.

I should also add that I don't think our industry is all that different than any other in this respect. This industry has been very good to me, both on the retail and the wholesale end, which may be why my attitude is what it is. If I thought I could find something else that I like better and could make as much or money at, that's what I would do. The thing is, I like what I do, a lot, and although I may never be rich I can make a living, and making a living at something I love is more important to me than getting rich at something I don't love.

Sorry, having a bit of a warm and fuzzy moment here.

This industry has been very good to me, both on the retail and the wholesale end, which may be why my attitude is what it is. If I thought I could find something else that I like better and could make as much or money at, that's what I would do. The thing is, I like what I do, a lot, and although I may never be rich I can make a living, and making a living at something I love is more important to me than getting rich at something I don't love.

I will echo those sentiments. I could have wrote them myself.

exactly my feelings I love windshield repair

Brent Deines;29578 wrote:It's not their job to care about us, but if you don't think insurance companies have pull or political clout, you are dead wrong. They are setting the prices, and it is up to us to prove the value of our services.

I have spoken with quite a number of people in the insurance industry and so far I have never gotten the impression that windshield repair technicians are a "necessary evil". What I get from them is that they see windshield repair as a valuable service that saves their companies and customers money.

I know I will never convince many of this, but I think we really need to get away from the us vs them attitude, and figure out a way to make them want to pay us what we are worth. It won't be an easy task, but I do think it is worth fighting for. That's why I think it is so important to get out and meet some of these folks. They are all just doing their jobs, just like we are. Once you understand that you can have discussions rather than arguments. Sitting across the table from someone has a way of changing your perspective of each other. Its also a good thing that I do not have to waste my time dealing with Ins. co's

There may very well be more windshield repair technicians who agree with you than with me, and that's fine, I just think that diplomacy will be necessary if we hope to change our industry for the better.

I should also add that I don't think our industry is all that different than any other in this respect. This industry has been very good to me, both on the retail and the wholesale end, which may be why my attitude is what it is. If I thought I could find something else that I like better and could make as much or money at, that's what I would do. The thing is, I like what I do, a lot, and although I may never be rich I can make a living, and making a living at something I love is more important to me than getting rich at something I don't love.

Sorry, having a bit of a warm and fuzzy moment here.

Brent .............. Please reread my statement.I said that "they" meaning windshield repair techs have no pull or political clout.Not the Insurance companys that are clearly big business as usual that controls and governs our laws and lawmakers with an army of lobbiest's and fist full's of money buying the influence they need to do what ever they want.Sorry if I was not clearer.
By the way I love the extra money that w/shield repair adds to my bottom line.The return on investment is second to none .

My mistake. Sorry about that.

This may not be the best thread to post this in, but it does have to do with etiquette on the windshield repair forum.

I received a PM from a new member a couple of days ago, saying that he will no longer be a part of this community due to the way he was received by the long time members.

I can't imagine why, but it seems that this person didn't like being told he was a fool and that he should have done more research, and should have read all the other posts in the windshield repair forum before asking a question, etc. I've got news for you folks, it's not just the newbies that start new threads on topics that have been covered a hundred times already.

The guy came here to get advice from people he thought were here to help, and thought were professional in every aspect of his business, but what he found was a bunch of cynical, self professed experts, who are much more interested in telling people how successful they are than helping others become successful, or at least that is the way he perceived his welcome into this community.

I needed to ponder this a bit before posting, so I went back and read all of his posts and the replies he received, and I have to tell you, I would not have stayed here either, had I been treated the way he was. Have we all forgotten what it was like when we started in the windshield repair business?

When I started in this business I had never seen a windshield repair done, and knew absolutely nothing about sales, starting a business, running a business, or anything other than punching a clock for someone else. I was down on my luck and desperate, so on my dad's advice I ordered a windshield repair system without checking out any other equipment or researching the market. I did everything wrong, except for one thing; I learned to repair windshields quite well, with nothing more than simple instruction manual to guide me for the first year or so (later when I moved to Oregon my dad trained me).

I guess my point is that if I can do it anyone with enough drive and the right attitude can as well, so telling people they have to be great salesmen, or have to do a ton of research to succeed in this business seems a bit overstated to me. Certainly I would recommend those things as well, but to squash someone's dreams because they don't fit the mold that we would like them to fit is counter productive to say the least. I was, and still am to some degree, an introvert, so had I listened to the advice some of you gave I would never have started my windshield repair business, and that would have been a shame as windshield repair has been very good to me.

Worse yet is making someone feel stupid for not doing all the right things in the past. We all make mistakes, so why beat someone up for something that cannot be changed. Do we really think they don't already know they made a mistake. Now I know many of you look at it as tough love. You're trying to help someone make the right decisions to save them some future pain, and maybe even get them battle ready by pushing them around a bit, but from the feedback that I have received from not just one, but several new users, suggests that some of us may need to consider revising our tactics.

I know that the vast majority of the old timers on the windshield repair forum have the best of intentions, and I should point out that a few of you have taken the time to PM new members to apologize for a less than friendly welcome in some cases, so please don't misunderstand what I am saying here.

I am simply saying that maybe if we be a bit more sympathetic to those new to the industry, or those struggling in the industry, maybe we can help more people than we currently are. I can't tell you how many people have contacted me just to say how much help the forum was to them when starting their windshield repair business. To me that is what this forum is all about. All I ask is that all of you old timers give it some thought, and decide for yourselves if you are truly interested in helping others, because you can't help someone if you drive them away, whether you mean to or not.

Thank you Brent. I agree with you. I made much the same case in replies to a thread but it sounds better coming from you!