New Start Up

[Nelson]

Hey. I have been watching this forum and another for about 3 weeks. I have tried to gather as much information as I can about windshield repair. I have decieded to get into the business full time. I have decieded to do the training course and am going down later this month to do it. I have not purchased a system yet. My question to everyone is which system to get. I know that I want two bridges to be able to do multilple repairs that seems to be a given. I want to know if the scratch removal is profitible to anyone? Is anyone doing plate glass repairs and making money at it? I plan on being mobil and doing rental cars, U-Haul, car lots, UPS, Fed Ex, Big Rig, RV's, any place where there are autos that I can repair them. I do not want to do retail tent sales. I plan on starting at the not so nice used car dealerships till I get real good. I then plan on taking the other businesses up. I have the information on LYNX and State Farm for insurance referals but that does not seem to be that much of a business getter. What are the pitfalls to watch out for? Thanks for the help in advance.

[Coitster]

Hey Nelson,
Welcome to the forum, always nice to see new people coming into it. Well lets see if I can help you. First of, what kind of system to get. There are really a ton of choices out there, I personaly use the Delta, however Delta isn't the only good kit out there. I personaly like delta because it is so easy to use. It all comes down to personaly prefferance. As for getting business lets address the networks first. Don't expect the networks to send you much (if any) business. They are designed primarly for insurance work to make the process of getting paid faster and more easly.

As for all the fleet accounts you are talking about getting, if you get them that would be great. There is good money in fleet business. Personaly all my business comes from retail/insurance work. I like it that way because they pay really well. I average between $300 to $400 a day when I work. Notice I say when I work. I don't work full time, I don't have to. As for plate glass repair and scratch removal. Don't know, never did that before. I assume scratch removal has a potential to make good money. Personaly I am considering Vin Etching.

Lastly as for training. You must get good training. If you want I will offer to let you come down to Dallas Texas and ride with me for a few days if you want some insite on the retail side of the business, and want some pointers on Advanced windshield repair. Hope that all helps.
David
Coitster

[desertstars]

I can't tell you which system I started out with years ago because touting equipment or denigrating equipment is, and should be, a no-no on a forum provided by a supplier.

At any rate, I don't use that particular equipment anymore because of its intrinsic inadequacies. Particularly repairs near the two-inch perimeter around a w/s. There are a number of those designs.

Rectangular or triangular designs work best for me.

Nor would I suggest anything that requires a bicycle pump or computers in order to create vacuum or pressure. I'm interested in pulling the air out of the damaged area without sucking the plastic along with it.

(Jeez, a litlle bit of tongue and cheek, OK!)

V and P can be more than adequately supplied with the use of tools that contain a locking suction cup and a s/s cylinder and stem arrangement.

I have found that with a few unmentioned exceptions, good repairs are achieved through 90% training and experience and 10% equipment.

Delta has some good stuff and so do a few others.

Who is providing you the training and how much are you paying for that training?

Sounds like you have done a lot of research, Nelson.

But, I'm confused. Is there someone providing training to you in Tulsa that isn't connected to a supplier?

And, where is "down" when you're talking about Tulsa?

(Sounds to me Coitster like he's referring to Texas. I'd consider that a dis.)

[desertstars]

Didn't see your post before I posted mine, David.

However, I think your advice is dead-on.

Vin etching is a good side business; scratch repair has too many variables.

As far as obtaining insurance business is concerned my advice is simple.

Get out and look around and talk to people.

Don't sit on your butt waiting for referrals from either S or L or get used to eating beans and franks and fielding calls from creditors.

Back up your business with a couple of good fleets that will maintain a decent thirty to forty-five day accounts-receivable and keep a close eye on them.

As repair1 says, that's my two cents.

Hey, where are you, Repair1?

[Nelson]

Thanks for the offer of coming down to Dallas to go on the road with you. I will try to take you up on that later this month. I will get in touch with you and try to find out when a good time would be.
I have some time before I purchase a system and have been looking online and also at the manufactures tapes on what they have. It seems to look like two main players in this industry for equipment. I know that there is probably many manufactures but I want to purchase a system that is backed by the manufacture and it seems that Delta fits that criteria.
I want to know if anyone uses the ability of Delta's bridge to move the injector after you have stuck it to the windshield? That is what seams to make Delta different from everyone else but do you use it? It may be something that a new person would use but I would guess that a seasoned w/s repair tech would not use that feature anymore.


Thanks again.

Nelson

[gaf]

Both of those add ons can make you money BUT If you look around on the net a lot of insurance agencies and police organizations offer FREE VIN etching a couple times a year as for scratch removal it is a great way to get in with dealers/fleets but in the time it takes to buff glass I have found that your probably better off to just go find a couple of repairs and you won't get nearly as dirty. JMO but I hope that it helps.

PS welcome to the forum