Trick or Treat? Money Talks
You know it. I know it. And The Hartford is counting on it.
Creative Estimating: The Controversial Issue of “Cost Shifting.”
The problem was that Nationwide audits all his sheets and when the color white shows a blend, he gets questioned. Simply adding a little time somewhere else in the estimate where the appraiser won’t get questioned is easy enough, and that’s just what we did. An hour moved to clean-up time worked for both of
Your (sic) An Idiot
Below is an e-mail received by Charlie Barone, one of BSB’s contributing editors: Charlie Barone: Your an idiot. I will not waste anymore time explaining why. Sincerly, Emil Belich Concours Auto Works West Allis, Wis. A few things about this e-mail: Charlie Barone is not an idiot. He’s been in this industry for decades and
Blindsided: Blind Claim Audits
Blind dates are a whole lot more fun – at least you get to meet the other party,” says a California shop owner about blind claims audits. Not familiar with the term “blind claim audit”? How about “desk review”? A thorn by any other name still hurts just as badly – and, in this case,
Addressing Anti-Trust
Bringing up anti-trust to collision repairers is like bringing up Thanksgiving to a turkey. It ruffles their feathers. For the most part, however, this fear of anti-trust is the result of ignorance. “The Sherman Act prevents us from discussing compensation,” says one repairer. “It’s construed as price fixing. But insurers can discuss amongst themselves how
Taking Control
Why are shop rates so low compared to other trades? Can I ditch my DRPs and still stay in business? What the heck should I pay my shop manager? If you’re like most of us, you’ve had questions but no one to answer them. That’s why we started this annual Readers Choice issue, now in
Just Say “No”
Will shop owners tolerate a reduction of paint-time allowances?
Why Was He Fired?
Progressive wasn’t thrilled with me exposing the fact that they’re now writing some paint times as ‘judgment times.’ In fact, they were furious,” says Mark, a tech with 33 years experience who lost his job after sending in a “Letter to the Editor” about how area Progressive direct-repair shops are being told by adjusters that if they’re not painting color on the whole panel, it’s a blend and only pays partial paint time.
Holiday Madness
It starts the day after Thanksgiving: seasonal psychosis – a temporary mental disorder triggered by the time of year. A time of year that unhinges most of the human population and some family pets. A time of year when a soccer mom driving a minivan won’t hesitate to flip you the bird as she pulls
Scare Tactics
Adjusters often use the “steering” phrases.
Light Up Your Life: New Technology
I admit it. I’m not a huge fan of new technology. Heck, I only own seven – none which I actually bought. People keep giving them to me, hoping to inspire me to move forward into the new millennium (or at least into the ’90s). So trust me when I say I understand if you’re
Hearing A Lot From Veteran Techs: How Hard It Is To Work In This Industry Now
They came, they took, they conquered. They sneered at my hard-won skills, took away my individuality and are replacing my surroundings with drab collective armies of smiling Mao men who are receptive to being told what to think, say and do." — a long-time bodyman on the invasion of his body shop "jungle" by business