windshields-where to buy

[jasonsresin]

i'm looking to get into the auto replacement end of the business, after being a repair vendor for so long. i know alot of dealers, and should have no problem finding work. however, i need to get a few under my belt to say the least. so i may wait a few weeks before marketing to dealers who already respect my repairs. i need a good source or two for windshields. i hear ppg is the main ones but iv'e done a search here and cant seem to pull up where you guys are buying your windshields. a source for all the tools ill need would be nice too. i know i should work for someone else for a while first, and am considering it, but i've assisted on a few already, and have 4 cracked windshields lined up from friends and family whose car i can practice on in exchange for a very good deal. let me know where to start for the tools and the actual glass please. thanks,
jason

[Brent Deines]

Jason,

I have contact information for at least three auto glass distributors in Maryland that I would be happy to share with you. If you let me know what city you are in I can probably narrow down your choices to only those that can give you daily service. You can buy some of your tools from them, or I can also give you several sources for auto glass tools. I don't like to post contact information for these companies on the forum because if I inadvertently forget to mention one of our distributors I will get an ear full. You however are free to relay your experiences with any of the contacts I give you, which may be helpful for others wanting to get into the replacement side of the auto glass business.

For what it is worth, having owned an auto glass shop myself I will tell you that I do not recommend starting out on your own after only helping install a few windshields. There are hundreds or maybe even thousands of variables that you will run across, and it takes awhile to get to know what to look for so you don't damage anything during removal. I helped with a couple of windshields when I first started and then attempted one by myself, and ended up with a bit of a mess. I didn't damage the customer's vehicle so in the end it all worked out, but after that I asked for assistance on anything I was unfamiliar with for awhile. I was not on my own for about a year, and even then consulted my dad whenever I ran across something that threw me for a loop. I also read about every installation I could get my hands on. There are enough hackers out there already, so I would suggest getting all the experience you can before you jump in with both feet. One way to do that would be to hire the best installer you can find and help that person with installations until you are comfortable enough to do them on your own. One botched installation could ruin a relationship with a dealer that you worked very hard to establish.

I sold my shop to a couple of guys that did not have prior experience in the replacement industry. They said they didn't need me after about a month, but I think working with them for a year or more would have been a much better idea. Most of the newer cars are fairly easy, and your glass supplier now carries most of the moldings, clips and other parts that you may need to complete an installation, but some installations can be a bit tricky, especially if you don't know the tricks of the trade.

Give me a call if I can be of assistance.

[jasonsresin]

thanks so much for your offer to help. i have done repairs for many years and have been perfect at them for the last 5 of those (98% of the time) and quite the repair snob. now i find myself in the position of learning something new again, and not being on top of my game. is it a terrible idea to practice on my own friends and family's cars. is there any basic training i can get online first. i am considering going to work for someone, but i'd really hate to do that. i've enjoyed my freedom for a long time, but the economy demands that i expand my business or find work.

p.s. my location is mechanicsville md 20659

[screenman]

I would like to add to this by saying a badly fitted windshield can kill, be careful.

[jasonsresin]

hows that? i mean how bad would it have to be. im not gonna do it stupid bad! im a pretty meticulous guy

[jasonsresin]

i dug up a glass distributor on my own and called for a price on a 2000 buick. very common car. for some reason i was expecting to pay $50-60 for a windshield like that. a glass guy i met said something like that, and he charges $200 all together and makes over a hundred bucks doing it. well guess how much they wanted. $1200. i said WHAT? they said that was for heads up display. well i asked how much for non-hud. $450. are these people gassing me or is that a list price that nobody pays once they have an account with you. what are you guys paying for windshields

[Brent Deines]

I would really suggest that you don't discuss windshield pricing on this forum. The way to get the best initial price is to shop all of your local distributors to see who wants your business most. The way to lower you cost is with volume. Making you cost public on this or any other forum is the best way to make sure you will never get the best possible prices. It's also not wise to advertise to your customers what your cost is, which is also what you would be doing by posting that here. I would not even recommend posting what you charge for a particular windshield, as that may compromise your competitive advantage.

What you pay for glass will depend on volume, competition, and the area you live in. If you want to know what your competitors charge, call them...all of them. You may find that prices are all over the board, but you should get an idea of what you can pay and still be competitive on your sale price. Then start shopping your distributors, but keep in mind that they may not take you seriously if you don't have any experience and you cannot promise them any volume.

[Glasseye]

When a make of car is no longer made and the windscreen pattern is unique to that car, gradually the price of the windscreen will increase because the manufacturer of the glass still has to cover the set up cost of running a batch of windscreens, but the demand will be that much lower, therefore it will reach a point where it is not worth making any more glass. I have known several instances in the past where someone thought they had a great deal on an old car that only needed a new screen but found they could not get one.

[screenman]

Jasonresin, a windshield hold the passenger airbag in place when it goes off a badly fitted screen can blow out. The windshield in a structual part of the vehicle and is a massive percentage of the strenght of the vehicle in case of rollover etc. other I am sure can tell you more.

Fitting a new windshield properly requires a large amount of training and ongoing training to keep up with modern techniques, equipment and adhesives a major investment is needed in all these to do the job properly.

[GLASSTIME]

This a interesting topic. I have a big intrest in the repacement side of the industry as well. Considering I like it when a customer can rely on my company for any of its needs. I feel its a g way to keep customers coming back. Say you repair a ws for a customer and say 6 months down the road they need to replace by no fault of yours.
Well if you don't offer replacement you would have to send them somewhere else. In doing this you could put a bad taste in there mouth if the company you sent them to delivered a bad expiriance for that customer.
So with that said I'd like to offer it all as well. Brent although I am very new to wsr I would like to learn more and as much as I can about this industry in its entirety. Can you send to me in email distributors of windshields around me. Zip code-28054.

I was approached during a repair by a gentlemen who was a representative for a well known auto assurance company, I'd rather not mention there name because I'm not sure brent allows that. However he said that they
Wanted to find a tech to run there "Glass" division. I told him I was not experianced in replacement and yet still in beginning stages of replacement. He said they would give me all the training I needed. Basically I would become a sub-contractor and would be paid a flat rate for each replacement I performed.
I seen this as a oppurtunity to excel my company considering I would just be a member of there organation or an approved dealer. So even though I'd replace for them it would still be under my company and its name. What do you guys think about this.

Thanks Brent in advance for the information on ws distributors in my area.