Negotiations: Educate, NOT Alienate
Quite often, estimators ask me how they should approach insurers to get paid for what they do. I’ve found that by asking these estimators the following four questions, we end up having a much more productive dialogue toward finding a positive path to proper reimbursement: 1. Is it required to put the vehicle back to
Back to Basics: Damage Analysis
Supplements are a waste of time. We need to learn how to write a complete repair blueprint to reduce supplements and cycle time.
Back to Basics: Damage Analysis
Supplements are a waste of time. We need to learn how to write a complete repair blueprint to reduce supplements and cycle time.
Collision Repair Customer Profiling
In order to develop profitable relationships with your customers, you need to be an expert in dealing
with their different personalities.
OPINION: Aftermarket Parts Are Here to Stay, So Deal With It!
I believe we can all agree on two things: OEM parts are superior to remanufactured and aftermarket parts, and insurance companies are going to continue to use remanufactured and aftermarket parts as long as they can reap significant cost savings. Knowing these two things, I choose not to expend my energy fighting big insurers head
ASA Solicits Help for Feather, Prime and Block Time Study
The Automotive Service Association’s (ASA) Estimating Subcommittee is seeking repairer assistance in its feather, prime and block time study. Shops need to fill out a form and supply the following: • A photo of the damage (i.e. dent) prior to any repairs being completed • A photo of the damaged area after repaired with any
Getting Paid for Not-Included Labor Items
Reader’s Choice Question – “How do you get paid for rust, fused, pinched and fudge time factors that aren’t listed in the regular new parts on and off sections of the P-pages and estimating guides? When will true reality begin so that the time necessary to cut, heat up, unscrew, unfuse or unclip two different kinds of metals without burning up or exploding the rest of the car will be included?” – Rosemarie Seppala, office manager, Seppala’s Body Shop & Restoration
ASA Seeks Participants for Feather, Fill and Block Time Study
The Automotive Service Association’s (ASA) Collision Division Operations Committee is continuing its study on time requirements to properly handle repairs, including ASA’s current feather, fill and block time study. “The issue of proper compensation for feather, fill and block continues to hamper the efficiencies of the repair shop and strain the relationship between the repairer
Appraiser Targets Insurers, DRP Shops in Book on Consumer Fraud
In his 25-plus years of experience in the collision repair industry, including seven as a licensed motor vehicle damage appraiser, Dan Wyatt has seen it all. Most of what he has seen has led him to the conclusion that insurance companies, adjusters and DRP body shops have colluded together in a massive scheme to defraud
Mitchell Provides Up-to-Date Recycled, A/M Parts Inventory with APU Solutions
Mitchell International, Inc., announced that it has expanded its partnership with APU Solutions to augment its estimating, shop management and workflow solutions by providing APU Solutions PartsNetwork to streamline recycled and aftermarket parts selection and sourcing. APU Solutions PartsNetwork is an online software that provides real-time inventory searches and procurement for alternative parts. Enabling PartsNetwork