Auto glass repair shops have fallen under some pretty serious scrutiny over the past few years. Remarkably, auto glass services has been marketed as one of the best home based businesses to get into and brand new auto glass repair shops are opening up all over Dallas.
Thus, after your windshield has fallen victim to a sailing roadway projectile or your rear passenger window has been annihilated by someone in search of a free stereo, the chances of needing an auto glass services company in the future are good. The process of choosing a strong, well founded auto glass services company should not be rocket science. Unfortunately, with the dramatic increase in fly by night, here today but gone tomorrow home based auto glass repair businesses popping up, college degrees might become necessary.
Fortunately for the auto glass repair industry, whether you are seeking a windshield repair or a minor divot patch, the auto glass services companies which are holding their own are those that are dedicated to providing the best service, educating their staff on new techniques, and investing in their business for tomorrow. While this is possible with some of those who jump into the auto glass services industry as a prime self employment business, those who are simply looking for easy money are dropping off the radar faster than they can take their signs down.
The impact on the industry has been noticed however, and consumers are becoming more and more skeptical of those who are maintaining small businesses. Windshield repair in Dallas is a near guarantee if you spend any amount of time behind the wheel. In some areas of Dallas, auto glass repair is a near guarantee if you park your car without a security system. This is why the fly by night auto glass services industry keep cropping up in this area. It is also the reason why they are not able to maintain their business, shutting down quickly, sometimes with cars sitting in their driveways waiting for repair.
Auto glass services indicate that the company in question offers additional services. While windshield repair and auto glass repair are the two most common needs, other jobs like window tinting should be readily available from a business that is dedicated to running a functioning business and isn’t out there hoping for a quick new career. Sometimes, a simple inquiry into what other services the company in question offers is a fast way to determine the legitimacy of the company. Word of mouth, internet reviews, and company standards are also part of the evaluation process.
One should never assume that just because a company is family owned and operated, that it is a fly by night company. In fact, many auto glass services companies are owned and operated by families and are even located on the family’s property. There is a big difference between a “work at home business idea” and a business that is on one’s property. High quality auto glass repair comes from a sound education in technique and style along with a firm hand at practice. This is not a skill that can be mastered through reading a few handouts and developing a few tricks of the trade.
A few key tips on choosing a high quality auto glass service center include longevity (has the business been there awhile or is it brand new?) and obvious successful windshield repair and other window repair services. Obvious success includes written testimonials that are often included in business literature, a chronically packed parking lot (beyond employee parking) and warranties. If they come to you, that’s a bonus. However, it’s not a requirement. If the auto glass repair company you are seeking doesn’t work with insurance companies and expects you to file your own claim for a reimbursement, this is a serious red flag.
Long term businesses will most likely work directly with your insurance company in order to provide you with the easiest, most hassle free experience possible. After all, like any good business, you are looking for quality craftsmanship that goes hand in hand with excellent customer service skills. One without the other is like cake without icing. Good? Yes. Could it be better? Absolutely. And finally, a business that has more than one location, even if they come to you for the repairs, is a sign of a higher quality auto glass service company.
Posts Tagged ‘Repair’
Auto Glass Repair Shops Fall under Scrutiny
January 12th, 2010Auto Body Repair and the Economy
January 4th, 2010
Let’s face it, fuel prices are high, food costs are high, your neighbor is loosing their home. Times are not the best. What could be worse? Maybe an auto accident?
Your car has sustained $1500. 00 in damage; your insurance company pays you less a deductible. You schedule your vehicle to be repaired at your neighborhood auto body shop. Two days before you take in your vehicle, you get a nasty credit card bill. You start to ponder, what if I took the money from my auto claim and paid off my credit card? I could live with a distorted fender and hood, there does not seem to be any sort of safety issues. When I get back ahead financially, I will get my car repaired. The problem is, most people from this point will never repair that vehicle.
The auto owner has certain obligations to their secured interest with a settlement check. An auto owner is obliged to repair their vehicle if that vehicle is leased, if they neglect to repair, they will be charged when the vehicle is turned in. If the auto has a loan, the vehicle repairs can be neglected, but if the vehicle was repossessed, the auto owner would be charged for the damages. That is the secured interest would try to collect, if the vehicle is repossessed seems like it is a lost cause. If the auto is 100% owned, than it does not matter what the owner does with the insurance payout.
There is a significant industry impact due to customers declining repairs. The local auto body shop now looses that work. That repair employs numerous people in the shop, numerous parts and supplies vendors, and keeps the industry on its toes with new technology and innovations. The only way for a shop to keep absorbing blows like this from cash strapped consumers, is to take drastic cuts in what is owed to them, cut their estimate, or even eat the customer’s deductible, which is not even legal in some states. Why would a shop need to work to just keep the lights on, might be better to just close the doors. The insurance company pays the retail estimate, they by no means encourage the customer to cut deals with the shop, there objective is to put the customer back in there prior position. The repair decision ultimately lies on the finicky auto owner.
Auto body repair at your service. Auto body shops need to reinvent their desire. Some auto owners still think of a shop as a dusty, backyard garage. When in fact, a lot of these shops are million dollar state of the art facilities, utilizing highly trained technicians. I have seen numerous shops with very nice front offices and waiting rooms. These are not dealerships, but independent shops. I think the best way to handle this every changing economy effect on the auto body repair industry is to bond with the customer. The customer is always right, I know sometimes this is hard to stomach, but unfortunately one happy customer might tell one our two potential or current customers, and an unhappy customer will tell twenty people.
A shop might want to utilize some reasonable concessions. Back to our example, the auto owner’s vehicle is inspected by the insurance company and is paid less the deductible. The auto owner takes vehicle to shop and schedules repairs. The shop at that time could work out some concessions with the owner, such as usage of alternative parts, does this 2 year old vehicle really need a $400. 00 oem (original equipment manufacturer) headlamp assembly, or would I be ok, with a $180. 00 used (like kind quality) assembly. (Disclaimer: all states have slightly different insurance laws, pertaining to insured’s and claimants, this is just an example) Would I be ok with the usage of a remanufactured bumper cover, used bumper cover, or aftermarket? It would save some money and my vehicle would be repaired and accepted by my leasee. These are all acceptable practices. You as a shop owner or technician, need to make the auto owner understand how important it is to get there car repaired. There could also be numerous safety concerns. The shop needs to explain to the auto owner about hidden damage, and the decline in value of their vehicle.
In this every changing industry, it seems that there are hurdles that constantly need to be jumped. A vehicle is the average American’s second highest valued asset; it always amazes me that people do not want to keep their vehicle in top condition. I think that a few tweaks with customer service and salesmanship, you should be able to get repairs lined up in this tough time.
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Taking Your Vehicle To An Auto Body Repair Specialist
January 1st, 2010It is important to care for our vehicles properly. You should maintain the regular scheduled maintenance and take care of repairs promptly. If you got sick or broke a bone you would go to a doctor or specialist to get you feeling better. So, if your vehicle is in need of repair you should take it to a repair specialist. A specialist of your vehicles auto body repairs should specialize in auto reconditioning. Find out why you should take your vehicle to an auto body repair specialist and what to expect from them! Simply taking your vehicle to just anyone or trying to repair it yourself is not the best solution. Sure you can try to complete auto body repairs yourself and they may come out looking o. k. but it will not be the best quality work. It is important that the repair is done right and that a quality job is done to preserve the car and keep it looking great for a long time. There are many auto body repairs that if not repaired will lead to more auto body damages, which will be more money out of your pocket. Also, if they are not completed correctly they can also lead to more damage. Qualified specialist in the auto body repair shops should have received classroom and on the job training before actually working in a repair shop. In most cases they are still receiving ongoing training from there company and/or an outside source. They are professionals in their field. They are continually improving upon their skills and technique. Also it is their job to repair vehicles auto body, so they have had plenty of opportunities to perform the repairs and become masters of the trade. They also know and use the latest technology and skills of the trade when completing the auto body repairs. They know what will work best for each auto body repair and can fully complete the job. When you take your vehicle to an auto body shop for an auto body specialist to repair your vehicle there are a few things that will happen. First they will asses your vehicles auto body damages. They will recommend repair services for your vehicle and give you a price quote and a time frame for the job to be completed. Some repair shops will give you this estimate for free. You may ask to see examples of the work they produce to see that their quality of work is acceptable for you. Then they will schedule a time to bring your vehicle in for the repairs, if you so choose. They may give you a rental or you may need to get a rental if you need. They will complete the work and return your vehicle back to you. The best part is they will return your vehicle to your looking like new! So, if your vehicle is in need of auto body repairs be sure to take it to an auto body repair specialist. They will really get your vehicle looking great and keep it protected for a long time to come!
