When Dan Nagy asked me on Thursday where I wanted to go
the next day, I said without any hesitation, "Wadsworth." The store
in Wadsworth was where I started my journey into the world of collision repair, and
so I thought it was appropriate to end it there. Besides, the staff treated me
just like family, and for that I will be forever grateful.
Off to the Races
When I pull into the parking lot at 7:30 a.m., I'm amazed to already hear a buffer whirring. These boys don't mess around!
If Tammy and Boomer the office managers greet customers
as nicely as they greet me in the morning, I'm pretty sure Nagy's customer
retention rate is 100 percent. Seeing a scar on Boomer's forehead reminds me
that when I first noticed it on Monday, I thought it was an old injury. Turns
out it happened very recently when he had an unfortunate run-in with an
ill-placed door panel. That is EXACTLY the kind of injury I thought might
happen to me this week, but amazingly I am walking away from Nagy's without any
scars.
At the daily meeting, Tammy hands out an advisory notice
that serves as a reminder to the team to take extra time to go over picky
customers' cars well.
The Joke's on Me
Travis tried to pull an early morning prank on me by
blowing off the dust on a door I just DA'd and then asking me to help him flip
it over. Apparently, I was supposed to get shocked when I touched the door, but
it didn't happen.
"I get Stevie with it all the time," he says
with a laugh.
I wondered why it took this long for someone to try to
mess with me. Probably because these guys are too friggin' nice!
As I'm installing a bumper cover on a Honda Accord, I see
Stevie whizz by outside riding a parts cart. Man, I love that kid's youthful
enthusiasm!
Eddie, who has been my paint/prep mentor all week,
explains to me the various grits of sandpaper and their uses. He also explains
the difference between "mud" and "icing." Dang, I've learned
a lot this week.
Today was country day on the radio. I'm not the biggest
fan, but man, Lady Antebellum is really growing on me. At some point, I swear I
hear a commercial for livestock feed...as if I need a reminder that I'm in a rural area!
The Window is Up
Boomer tells me he's going to fix the window of my car,
which fell down after the motor quit. Tammy gives him a vote of confidence by
saying, "Yeah, after he's done the door will probably fall off!" I
must say he did a great job, and no longer will I receive an e-mail from
someone at my company saying, "Hey, I noticed your window's down."
Hard to Say Goodbye
I must say it's hard to say goodbye at the end of the
day. These guys were some of the nicest people I've ever met. They let a
clueless editor enter their world and get in their way to see what it's like to
get people back on the road safely and in style – and they did it with grace,
charm and a sense of humor. I can't say I'm surprised, especially when you have
guys like Ron and Dan Nagy running the show. I left the shop with a feeling
that, despite the struggles it's going through, the collision repair industry
will be all right after all.
More information:
Day 1 at Nagy's: Late for Work
Day 2 at Nagy's: Pink Floyd and Cupcakes
Day 3 at Nagy's: A Clean Sweep
Day 4 at Nagy's: Oh Brother
Tammy the Office Manager runs a tight ship. One of the sticky notes on her computer reads: “Nationwide: take pics of blend panels!”
Boomer the Assistant Manager rounds out the first-rate front office.
I’m back to DA’ing, this time a Ford door.
Me, installing a bumper cover. I never thought I’d see the day.
Stevie has a youthful enthusiam for his job that’s infectious.
Rich the Body Tech is all business when it comes to reassembling vehicles.
Travis does a bang-up buffing job.
They let me spray primer again…I must be doing something right!
Boomer fixes my window…the Babcox Media team thanks you!
Finally…FINALLY…I get to wash a car. Nagy’s does an incredible detail on all customers’ cars.
Rinsing off the suds…now this I can handle!