VIN etching?

[dgarza]

what do you guys think about vin etching? I have been thinking about adding to my business but was just wondering how profitable and easy it is to sell? I was doing a windshield repair the other day and noticed that this truck had after market vin etching done so I asked the owner about it and he said a guy came buy the house and did his windows for only $20.00! that seems kinda cheap but I dont really know the cost involved. Ive read that it is done blasting. does anybody have some insight on this?

[Win-tech]

I do VIN Ecthing as an add on to my business. I am charging $40.00 for 6 windows and $50.00 for anything over that. I dont push this, but I offer it and I do it here and there. I use the ecthing cream and transfer tape that I have to manually type the VIN into. It takes me about 30mins for the whole process.

Eric

[TheTuna]

Does that require a special 'type-writer'? Is there any reason you don't persue it more agressively?

I've seen a sand blasting device that re-captures the sand and it looks quite interesting...

[Win-tech]

No special typewriter, just a plain one, no reason for not persuing it more other than the demand for it out here is not that great.

Eric

[dgarza]

wintech where did you get your system? got a website that explains it?

[Win-tech]

Is really not a system, got some ecthing cream and labels from Glass Mechanix. You can use any typewriter and little brush for the ecthing cream.

It is very simple to do. Just write down the VIN from the car and type it onto the labels, then apply the labels and apply the etching cream for a few minutes and peel off the labels and what is left is the VIN. I always come back a day or 2 later a srcap a razor blade over the VIN to clean the extra cream off and it helps make it a smooth surface and looks a lot nicer.

Eric

[dgarza]

so the cream eats away at the glass? never heard of this. is it on thier website?

[Win-tech]

yes, I believe so

Eric

[Coitster]

I just want to make a comment here guys. There are lots of different types of Vin Etching systems on the market. My person opinion because I have researched this very extensively is to not use a gel system where you have to make stensils with a typer writter or computer. Use the sand blasting system, it does a much better job, and the cost per job is very little, ussualy less then .10 per job. The other systems can be a bit messy and take too long. BTW just do a web search for vin etching and WATCH OUT, you will be amazed at how many articles by police departments you find endorsing it. As a matter of fact in Texas if you have Vin Etching and a security system its a manditory 15% of your car insurance rates. So make sure you do your homework.
David
Coitster