Rear Clipping: Does It Deserve Its Bad Rap?
We’ve all heard horror stories about rear full body sectioning, which has lost its favorable status with insurers, repairers and consumers. But was the problem the procedure – or the people performing it?
You Can Make Vehicles Right Again
I read the very interesting and informative articles in BodyShop Business each month and have often had thoughts of writing to you concerning them but didn’t. But I can no longer refrain from commenting on information about whether a vehicle can be repaired to pre-accident condition. I think of the old adage I’ve often heard, "Every man is the best judge of the value of his own merchandise." If [a shop owner] says he can’t restore a vehicle to pre-accident condition, I’d be inclined to take his word for it. He’s in the best position to know, but it doesn’t follow that the rest of the shops need to accept his evaluation for their own work.
Reader Responses
Increasing Cycle TimeDear BodyShop Business:I just finished reading your articles on reducing cycle time (Jan. 2001 Production Issue). This leaves me extremely frustrated. Our shop employs 25 talented people, we have the latest in technology and a well-laid-out shop floor plan. But all of this means nothing if you can’t get the parts. With articles
Pointing Fingers: DRP Agreements Attempt to Shift Liability
Recent concern has developed in the aftermath of Avery v. State Farm that a DRP agreement attempts to shift liability from the insurance company to the shop in the event of a lawsuit brought by an unsatisfied consumer – or, worse yet, an entire class of unsatisfied consumers. Is this concern valid? Are shops becoming scapegoats?
Learning to Play Nice: Insurers Adress Five Repairer Complaints
Though this isn’t, by any means, an exhaustive list of complaints repairers have about insurers, these five complaints are the ones we hear most frequently.
The Insurance Consumer Advocate Network: www.ican2000.com
Individual drivers are, on average, only involved in an accident once every seven years. Such infrequent exposure to the collision repair process leads to a lot of questions.
Should Have Known Betterment
Betterment. Sounds like a new flavor of gum from Wrigley’s. Well, to car owners and collision shop managers and owners, betterment might not be so sweet, and their attitude toward it hasn’t been so carefree.
Your Mission: Educate Consumers
"How can we better educate our customers so they can make more informed decisions about choosing a repair facility?" — Timothy Kilkeary, v.p., Kilkeary’s Auto Body, Inc., Eighty Four, Pa. Since I took over my family’s business in 1984, the collision repair industry has been on a roller coaster ride of changes, twists and turns.
10 Tips for Eliminating Repair-Related DV
Figuring dimished value.
Antitrust in Insurer- Repairer Business Relations
‘Antitrust’ is spoken of frequently in the collision repair industry but is still often
misunderstood. Here’s a clear definition of what it is and how it relates to insurer- repairer business relations.