Windshield Repair Forum

Greetings again fellow WSR techs across the fruited plain,

No doubt some, if not many WSR techs here have seen "Windshield Repair-$19.95". Some of it being advertised by the major glass shops.

I've often though as I drive past these temporary banners, that eventually end up torn, tattered, and unrecognizably frayed in the cold Vermont winds, that, and correct me if I'm wrong, (as I'm sure you will), it cheapens the whole idea and reason for getting a stone chip repaired. Is it really the price that's of concern? $35.00, $40.00 even $ 50.00 IMO is inexpensive! Especailly if I'm the one on the receiving end of doing the repair.

What say you?

I think for the most part the $19.95 is a marketing tool used to pull the customer in.I'd be willing to bet that most of the $19.95 advertised repairs end up being $50 or $59.95 in their pocket, no different that yours or mine.Out of curiosity,I called one of those places down the road from me and asked how much to make two repairs and the first words out of the guy's mouth was "Do you have insurance?"I told him I noticed his sign advertising $19.95 and he went on to tell me that it could be "free with insurance...." I told him I did have insurance but wanted to pay cash and I could hear his enthusiasm fade but he did give me a price of $34.95 for the two chips.These guys probably have to do a lot for the $19.95 but they also get a lot of insurance work they probably would'nt have otherwise gotten had it not been for the banner.I told him I was just checking right now(lol).I have no problem with that,whatever works for them.kind of reminiscent of the "Do you say FREE?" thread that went so long, not long ago.( Let's don't go back there).
That's my thoughts on the advertising of $19.95 repairs.
Now, as far as the torn,tattered and frayed banners.....Absolutely no excuse for that-They should be prosecuted!

Touche! Cure4glass

Here in Quebec they still advertise free repairs, and most glass shops in my area will do repairs for free for dealers and fleets. I charge minimum $40, and I do quite well thank you. The dealers rather pay for a steak than get a free hot dog.
And what works well for us is word of mouth, when we get a customer infront of us, it,s our duty to educate, and when we do the customer will refer us to all his/her friends because we know of what we speak, and we are not trying to get an insurance job(I did 33 insurance jobs in 2004), I educate the customers about the dangers of claims and windshield replaceemnts. If there WS is beond repair i will take the time to talk about a proper instalation and safe drive away times( the glass shops hate me for that more than anything else, with my customers it takes them 4 hours to change a WS instead of 45 mins), the customers appreciate this time spent with them, and there next break will be mine.

Merci

Yvan,you stated:
"We are not trying to get an insurance job(I did 33 insurance jobs in 2004), I educate the customers about the dangers of claims and windshield replaceemnts."

Your website states: "Repairs can be covered by your insurance. You inform!
Your repair will not be counted like a complaint for the majority of the companies dassurance"
http://216.239.37.104/translate_c?hl=en ... types.html


This only netted 33 insurance jobs in 2004? or is the website the only place you advertise this? I think I'd inform all potential customers of this option if indeed most chips won't be counted as a regular claim.I have repeat customers that have claimed several through the years and still have coverage without a rate increase due to rock chip repair.I know this is not reality with all policyholders and all ins. companies.

In America there are no risks involved with placing rock chip claims on your insurance policy .... unless you do many such claims a year. In Canada that is different, in fact the major insurance company doens't even do free windshield repairs is my understanding. Here in the US just about every ins. co. does them free as a preventative measure for their customers with full coverage. I would say last year I personally did maybe less than 50 cash deals (outside of fleets) and hundreds of insurance deals. I figure why charge someone for something that is free ... makes me feel bad to cahrge for it.

I haven't lost any business yet but it upsets me when a customer asks an insurance service representative (CSR), when getting authorization, if their premium will go up as a result of a repair. It upsets me because I've discussed how insurance works and that, usually, their premium won't go up unless they have additional claims. The CSRs can't answer the question and usually say the customer needs to talk to their agent. Or, they say they can't guaranty the premium won't go up. So far my 4 customers have agreed to pay cash so, like I said, I haven't lost any business.

Not only have I and the network people wasted time, but I wonder what goes through the customer's mind.

Dale...

I've ran into some customers lately that say there are people in my area that are doin WSR for about $10 or $15. I was speechless when the first person told me this. I just explained to the customer that my work has a lifetime moneyback gaurentee. I also explained the free thing. Any advise on what to tell people if they say this?

-Ricky

Enkogneto, simply tell them "you get what you pay for"

Bois, What's going through the customer's mind is the same thing that goes through our mind when we wonder why the insurance companies would align themselves with a network run by the largest glass company in the country. Insurance companies are out to make money, not spend it. It does sound suspicious that any insurance company would pay for repairs without it affecting premiums. People are scared of insurance companies, I know I don't want to pay anymore for insurance than I have to. They also see a salesman in front of them who they feel will say anything to get their business. When the network tells them they can't answer that question that also throws up a red flag as most customers can't come to terms with the fact that the person whom they are talking to on the phone does not directly work for their ins. co..

mafsu wrote:It does sound suspicious that any insurance company would pay for repairs without it affecting premiums.

Does it?

Depends on how you look at it.

Hypothetically, what would happen if, overnight, insurance companies stated that windshield repairs would count like any other claim?

The number of insurance claims for windshield repair would drop through the floor. Does this help insurance companies?

On one hand, yes. Gets rid of those pesky $50 payouts. On the other hand, with dramatically less people doing windshield repairs, what do you think that does to the number of replacements? More than likely jumps pretty significantly.

So, does the insurance company make more profit by encouraging or discouraging repairs? All signs thus far point to the insurance companies being more profitable by offering repairs without raising rates.