Windshield Repair Forum

I have become increasingly more frustated with the dirrection this board has taken like Dave said he was here alot but some folks have a problem with people going D2D doing cold call stuff like him I guess some folks dont get it. That brings a old song to mind something about living in your own private Idaho. Myself I took Daves advice years ago tapped into my strength and experience as a salesman and went to work. And I still get alot of buisness Cold Calling the area I am already in doing a regular customer. Find 2 or 3 extras a day everyday Coistering and all those people get a card and a thank you with a Smile and a Handshake. Those become your best advertisement every morning when I get to the Border I check my messages half will be from referrals resulting in a steady increase in buisness with little effort try it some time.
As far as Tweedles comment about now im stuck doing repairs at that price hey so what. I do at least 10 while there or they dont get the price. Every area of the country and Market have a different price point. The customer I did friday for example if I walk to thier yards fence and take a Wiz it lands in Mexico these are trucks who cross the Border Daily result is no shortage of Chips ever. Take the price if you want the buisness so I do. I am actually double the competitions price but service and quality keep the buisness with me. The big one I did Friday was a refferal from another customer and yes I wont find that many again I space my visits so I can get 10 - 15 a stop some companies that means once a month others more oftenSmaller jobs and single customers pay the standard price $50 gotta drive there and do one job so anyone with a 2 digit IQ can figure out why and customers are glad to pay it.
Use several injectors at a time in a assembly line fashion and you can get a lot done start one move on to the next go back check on the first start another check the second start another and so on if you hustle an hour or so later you are scraping tabs off about 10 vehicles and move to the next job 10 years experience makes you faster combined with equipment that works well and fast. some companies stuff takes more time and doesnt do verticle glass well. The stuff I use is fast good and user friendly for my trucks im not here to adertise any company and this board is sposered by a company that makes good stuff Ya cant go wrong with Delta. As far as quality of MY repairs LOL not likely to find someone doing better than me did ya hear the toot that was my own horn

A few negative folks who post often but seldom say anything of any value have slowley driven away a bunch of people that used to pass info freely and I for one have chosen to speak up about it. If ya dont like it tuff. People come here when they are getting into the buisness or trying to expand there total thinking they will be helped unfortunatly they show up and read a bunch of negative stuff about people working in the same area as themselves decide they are unwanted and leave. Result is that new guy at the Carwash or the guy doing replacements doesnt get any better and the cycle continues. Try helping others pass some quality tips on to the next guy and if you have to be negative stay quiet I dare ya

Glastarz and Coitster, agree with you 100%. Have seen lots of first time posters driven away by the snarling pit bull answer, or the intimation that they were really stupid for not posting a 1500+ word thesis on exactly everything they did, the temp, weather, barometric pressure, cps of resin and whether they had a BM that morning so that their mistakes can be "properly" evaluated. There's more than one way to skin a cat, and we should realize that everyone starts from where they are and wants to learn more without being "shouted at", as screenman said once.

Glastarz, I am in Yuma about 175 miles from San Diego, if I get over that way this summer maybe we can have lunch or something.

Gene

Some of you guys are just stupid in believing this person repaired 48 trucks in 5 hours. How gullible could you be?

I work truck fleets often and repairs normally take (20-30 mi) I'm sorry but what this guy claims...is not true. For all you that defend him...not sure why you do so. And please let me know what this person has offered technically in this industry for the last 5 years? (just review all his post) Soft pit fill resin in Vermont? What the hell is that? Never heard of it.

Not wanting to sound negative....just pointing out the facts.

I would have no trouble doing 48 in 5 hours... and I don't need 5 bridges either LOL. We don't all have the same ability, equipment, or experience. Yes, some of us actually CAN do a quality repair very quickly. Of course, not all breaks are the same and some will take more time. But, for an average, basic chip.... what am I supposed to do when it's completely filled 100%? Just wait another 15-20 minutes so that it's been "long enough" to count as a quality repair?

For all the haters, I don't believe for a second that they would turn down an opportunity to make a lot of money if all they had to do was be a little flexible with their price. The point of a business is to make money. Profit. Wholesale pricing is DIFFERENT than retail. I don't believe that anyone is doing fleet work at retail pricing. If that is true, then that customer/business/account is really stupid.

Also, it's ironic to say that the lowball pricing is killing the industry, it's bad for everyone, blah blah blah.... and at the same time say that locally the lowballers don't affect you and you stick to your high righteous pricing, and everyone else should do the same. The TRUTH is somewhere in the middle. It can't be both.

Later... it's time to go do my crappy fast repairs....

I do not see the "haters" as some might it out there. I think that some of the information presented fits best under a debate catergory which if done correctly can flush out some misconceptions that some people may/may not have on certain issues. I agree that some responses from people are harsh and uncalled for, but I also agree that all techniques and processes are different and people have the right to offer their opinion without being attacked. I think where it becomes sketchy is that everyone has their own opinion of what is a quality repair, and what it takes to get that done. In saying that, they will stake their reputation on what they do as being the best. This is evident in many of the repsonses I have read in this particular posting, including my own. In most of my postings, I offer up MY opinion based on what I know and do. That does not mean that my method, or my processes are the best for everyone. I can do a lot of repairs in a day based off my knowledge, my processes, and my kit. I just happen to be very process oriented after coming from the automotive field for over 21 years.

I personally think that when you see numbers expressed on how many can be done in an hour, for some people it raises flags based on what they are used to in their own processes, techniques, and doings. I would never bash someone on the number of repairs they say they can do in an hour as I can fill a bulls-eye in less than six minutes if I had to. I don't choose to do that, simply because I feel that taking more time produces a much better repair that will last longer. Again, that is not to say that someone might feel that filling a bulls-eye in six minutes can be and will be a quality lasting repair. It is to each's own, but I do appreciate all the input that people offer here on the forum. Weeding through the emotions of the replies, it definately gives many perspectives on the same topic in order to give others some various opinions on methods, techniques, and equipment.

As for the doing fleets at retail pricing, I would not say that a customer is stupid for paying for that. We have many fleet customers that pay close to retail pricing on repairs. It is not ripping them off or misleading them at all. It is a matter of selling them on the benefits of the service of glass repairs. If utilizing industry facts and industry pricing as selling points, then I guess it might be considered wrong, but that is what we do, and have been very honest and successful at it. But you are right, it depends on the profit of the job based on time, location, etc. To that, it is to each's own to decide what is best. Not everyone sells the same, nor does everyone do the same type of repairs as others.

We do have our fair share of low-ballers in the area, but to be honest, I do not see them as a threat since I feel they are competing in a market that we do not target. Therefore, we are not threatened by them. Unfortunately as I always state (by our experiences), in our region the quality of repairs from the lower priced companies usually results in a lower quality repair and companies that start up one week and are out of business in the following weeks.

Anyhow, I truly believe that the information provided by members on this site is helpful to everyone, if you can weed through some of the emotions that are included in on repsonses. Hey, if you are passionate about what you do, we are only human to add some emotion to it as well. The reality is, we have a forum of members that all seem to be very dedicated to what we do for a living. We are also fortune to have a forum where not only can you request information, but also air some frustrations at times.

Good afternoon! I agree with See Cleary and some of you others. The techs that do lousy repairs will fall by the wayside. Its hard to determine a fee for services. The insurance industry cant even agree. I have one TPA that pays a flat $50, even if I have three repairs same WS and its 35 miles away. I have Other TPAs that has a price range between $60 & $75 that are within a 10 mile radius. I would have a hard time doing 48 repairs within 5 hours. Just moving a ladder from truck to truck would take time. I don't rush my repairs and I don't see a need to have more than two or three bridges. Just alternating between pressure and vacuum cycles with three bridges on three different vehicles would be difficult. Newbies like me post our experiences to ensure we are following correct procedures and seek advice from those that have a better method. I get messages all the time and I don't mind sharing what little information I have with others on the forum. I see hack jobs even in my small town. Word gets out quick as to who not to hire. Word of mouth is my bread and better for most jobs. The repairs I do for the TPAs are often followed up by the customers with good recommendations. I send each a letter within a few days thanking them for their business and include my businesss card. Have a great day. Just another Newbie still learning. Candyman

Granted some folks cant get to the repair easily at 6'4" i carry a little one step. Step up on the wheel and reach in for me its pretty simple. I guess you could take 20-30 minutes a truck for me some do most 10-15min max pull of the injector apply the tab and move to the next one when finished with the repairs go back scrape the tabs say it takes 20min per average thats 3 per hr times 5 injectors do the math factor in that some have more than one chip still adds up DUH I come here and throw out a option most people are walking by as a here try it you might like it and start a whirlwind with all the Negative folks. Again dont like my example dont try it but leave the Negative for some other board there are actually folks here trying to learn or get better and your lame comments are not condusive.

Oh please, tell us the truth.

I've run into goldmines in this business with truck fleet accounts that have never been serviced and found that none of them had less than one or two hits. Most of them where 3-4 hits. Just to inventory a hundred plus truck fleet would take 30-45 minutes. Your goldmine was probably not much different. 5 hours to service....please!

You just stated 10-15 minutes per truck repair . So that leaves you with 18 trucks not being repaired in your 5 hour original statement made. Not to even mention the paperwork time with invoicing each repair. Sorry, but don't believe your story, if others do....I guess your the salesman you claim to be!

You know why I and others speak out? It's because we have handled fleet accounts for years providing quality services....not lowering our prices. We all have worked together even as competitors to profit. Then we have to deal with all the gypsies here today that just sells the lowest price. Would you not be bothered if you were in a our position?

Well I had a long reply that got deleted when I knocked a glass of water on my keyboard. oh well lol

btw, he said a repair may take 20 min on average... but he's working 5 trucks at a time. Even with a couple minutes more per truck to set up an injector, etc... that's 5 trucks in about a half hour. Obviously that's not a typical experience, and I have never done 48 trucks at one account at one time myself.... but it's certainly possible. I know I could do it if I were in that position, given some decent weather, dry conditions, etc.

glassdoctor wrote:Well I had a long reply that got deleted when I knocked a glass of water on my keyboard. oh well lol

btw, he said a repair may take 20 min on average... but he's working 5 trucks at a time. Even with a couple minutes more per truck to set up an injector, etc... that's 5 trucks in about a half hour. Obviously that's not a typical experience, and I have never done 48 trucks at one account at one time myself.... but it's certainly possible. I know I could do it if I ittin the were in that position, given some decent weather, dry conditions, etc.

Not sure how many fleet trucks you have repaired, but in all my experiences they have all been in different locations. Never, ever seen them all parked together for repair. Sometimes I was lucky to have a few parked in same lane. No way you could work 5 at one time....better chance hitting the lotto .

Glassdoctor, believe what you want but it didn't happen! If he just told us he did 48 repairs in one day....that would be believable. 48 truck repairs in 5 hours...not so believable.