IGA Clarifies Stand on Windshield Repair

[Delta Kits]

The following information was published in the IGA e-mail newsletter, the Beacon Bulletin:

The board of directors of the Independent Glass Association (IGA) has issued a clarification concerning its position on windshield repair.

"Windshield repair is a very active and vital technology used by many of our members in the auto glass business. There has been so much discussion about the IGA's position on windshield repair that we are clarifying it," said association president Kurt Muller.

"The board does not intend to pursue any further action or discussion of the efficacy of windshield repair. Our original concerns revolved around consumer safety. Upon our review we have seen no evidence of repair as a safety issue and will not pursue the matter until or unless such safety issues become evident," he said. "Unfortunately, this issue became 'larger than life,'" said Muller, "and a good deal of inaccurate and misinformation was spread. Up to 75% of our members do windshield repair, and we need to acknowledge that we are all working in the same industry battling common problems.

"Our singular focus is the future of all independent auto glass businesses in this country," said Muller. "We believe illegal steering will totally destroy the whole industry, both repair and replacement, if it is not stopped."

Muller said work on a major lawsuit against illegal network steering is in the works. "Steering affects the entire industry - both repair and replacement companies - and it we need to be united in our work to bring this issue into the courts and let a federal judge decide if these practices are fair and legal."

The IGA is the country's largest association of auto glass companies, representing nearly $10 billion in auto glass sales per year. Its members are local and regional glass companies that subscribe to the highest tenants of safety and ethics.

[mafsu]

Beware of Traojan Horses. Mr. Mueller does not address the legislation which he and other members of the IGA have been trying to push in his home state of Connecticut in his statement. It has also been announced within the last few days that Tim Smale and his wife have given the IGA letters of resignation. Mr. Smale stated (and I am paraphrasing) that his reason for leaving was that the main goal of the IGA had changed to being that of raising money for litigation.

[Delta Kits]

Mafsu,

I also found it interesting that they didn't mention Connecticut.

In my opinion, they're getting an awful lot more pressure from pro windshield repair people than they anticipated.

Reading Mr. Smale's resignation, the litigation he was referring to was the pending litigation between them and a network regarding steering.

[mafsu]

Sorry, I didn't mean to misrepresent what Tim Smale said. I understood it was the litigation against the network he was referring to. I find it interesting that Mr Mueller seems to have taken over the post of "IGA spin doctor". WSR people should be very careful before aligning themselves with an organization that seems to change it's stance on issues as often as most people change their underwear. At least with the network in question you know what you are dealing with.

[Delta Kits]

For anyone who wasn't around last year, or is confused, the link below may help:

viewtopic.php?t=339

[mafsu]

Though it is not directly related, it probably won't come as a shock to anyone following the licensing process for wsr in CT that Governor John Rowland has resigned. Here's a link, if anyone is interested in reading more.
http://www.nbc30.com/politics/3444201/detail.html

[Coitster]

I wonder if the fact that both the Governor and Tim Smale are both stepping down and the fact that IGA says it will stop pushing the issue will make this whole CT thing a dead issue. I sure hope so, lets see how this goes.
David
Coitster

[mafsu]

It's not going to become a dead issue. Connecticut will have licensing. Right now it's simply a matter of defining what area of a windshield can be repaired. The IGA in its statement last week never broached the subject of CT, only the spalling debacle from last year. This probably was simply a political move on their part. Their statement was released in their member's only newsletter. Implying to me that they were only addressing their membership (not the wsr community as a whole). They also are now trying to raise funds for their upcoming legal battle with one of the major networks over steering. Trying not to ruffle any feathers.