What is Your Travel Distance Limit?

[Fuzz]

Forgive my ignorance on the subject as I am just starting to gather info on the industry....

Why would cleaning out a chip and filling with resin not be considered a repair and a disservice? Is he not repairing damage that will lead to what you consider a real repair? Or does a chip that is large enough to be cleaned out and filled with resin something that would not lead to what is considered a repairable chip/crack/break in your opinion?

Thanks

[GlassStarz]

If I travel very far I spend the rest of the day Cold Calling in the area ratherthan driving all over the place

[paulrsf]

I am charging only for full repairs that take a full repair cycle. For surface repairs I do them free of charge whether they are insurance referrals or retail. I figure I am already there and it is no big deal to do them. If I do find larger more involved damage while I am with a customer I let them know and I do charge them for the additional work if they want it done.
Paul

[mrchip]

paulrsf...thanks for clarifying....its just that I have seen all to often techs going to ins jobs nad not being satisfied with doing one repair looking for surface nicks ..putting in pit fill and charging ins co for xtra repairs...in fact in a long conversation with Harmon I was told that a competitor with a huge servuce area was charghing for three repairs on every job...when I informed him that they were being scammed he really didn't seem to care..go figure

[paulrsf]

I'm always big on customer service. It has always gotten me far in what ever business I've been in. While I'm doing a repair, if I notice any surface chips I just go ahead and fill them and let the customer know at the end of the repair when they are signing the invoice. They almost always offer to pay for the additional work but I usually tell them it is on me and to please take some of my cards and let their friends and associates know that they were pleased with the repair and the service. I get a surprising number of referrals this way.
You mentioned Harmon in your last reply. Here is something interesting that I found out recently. I have a close friend who owns an insurance brokerage. I recently repaired three rock chips on her windshield. As I'm sure you know, Harmon pays out $70 for the maximum of three allowed repairs. A couple of weeks after I repaired her windshield she asked me what Harmon was paying. When I told her that they were paying me $70. she was a little surprised. Since she was not only the customer but in this case, the insurance agent, she was able to see what Harmon billed the insurance company. They billed CSE $140. Don't get me wrong. I am content enough with the $70 that Harmon pays us, but still it is interesting to get an idea of how much money is involved in a transaction like this.
Paul

[just chippen away]

don't you like the networks Scam they are pulling just to place a phone call!

[smaples]

I'm always big on customer service. It has always gotten me far in what ever business I've been in. While I'm doing a repair, if I notice any surface chips I just go ahead and fill them and let the customer know at the end of the repair when they are signing the invoice. They almost always offer to pay for the additional work but I usually tell them it is on me and to please take some of my cards and let their friends and associates know that they were pleased with the repair and the service. Harmon pays out $70 for the maximum of three allowed repairs.
Paul

Paul, do you find that 50 is a fair price? I am just starting. Next anyone suggest insuring yourself prior to repairing anything even if the city does not require such. Finally, do insurance companies generally require the repair tech to be insured, if so for what amounts? And, do insurance companies generally require certifications?

[paulrsf]

$50. for one repair seems pretty fair to me. I guess it depends on how far you have to travel, and how much time and materials it takes to complete the repair. Recently I answered an ad on Craig's List seeking subcontractors to do WSR for a shop that mainly does Auto Glass Replacement. The owner offered me $25.00 for the first repair and $5.00 for each additional repair. He told me that he would try to group two or three jobs together so that I would not be driving all over the place for such a small amount of money. He also said that I could turn down any jobs that I did not want to accept. I agreed to his terms. I figured that I would only accept one of his jobs if I have nothing else going on at the time. Its better for me to be out making repairs, making money, and being a visible as I can be, since I always tend to attract new business while I am on a job. On the down side, doing repairs for too little money diminishes the value and the price some customers are willing to pay, since they know they can find someone who will do it for less than what might be the going rate.
As for liability insurance: I'm not sure, but I believe most or all of the networks will not sign you on unless you have liability insurance. I have a 500,000 liability policy with RLI. When I started, I knew nothing about what was required. I read through some of the posts on this board and RLI came up quite a few times so I contacted them. There are many companies who issue liability insurance. Certification is not required with RLI but I am not sure if other companies require it. Without a doubt, whether liability insurance is a requirement or not, I would absolutely recommend getting it. You never know what can happen and you definitely need to protect yourself and your customers. It just makes good sense.
Paul

[Frank EU]

paulsrf: $50 is NOT a good price for a single repair. It should be more.
If you are looking ate this business in a professional manner, $50 is a rip off.
Just Chippen Away: I have always told you guys that the networks just suck: they steal money, your money. You have worked for it, all they do is moving some paper. It all is a bloody shame. That is based upon inside knowledge and 15 yrs experience. If there are ways where we, as an industry, can stop this, we should. Unfortunately: the few reps we have available (NGA, NWRA) appear to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about it. Don't they care? Probably.
There are too many people there involved in just selling supplies, others are reps from large(r) business and there were even network people involved.

The old timers have seen many things changing -and many changes were not for the betterment of the industry.
Last but not least, let's return to the main topic: it surpises me to see that many guys here think in terms of miles.
We ''think and measure'' in time, rather than miles.

[smaples]

paulsrf: $50 is NOT a good price for a single repair. It should be more.
If you are looking ate this business in a professional manner, $50 is a rip off.

I am trying to learn here. Thank you both for your input.

What would you say is a fair price then? I have not started insurance billing yet.

Thanks,

Steve