South Carolina Shop Accuses Allstate of Steering
When State Farm announced its switch to Select Service in 2006, Gus Mallios had a business decision to make. The new Select Service agreement asked that shops match rates and discounts equal to the lowest rates and/or highest discounts they were giving to other customers. Mallios, owner of the multi-location Summit Collision Centers in Columbia,
Advice from up North
When the press release hit my e-mail, I could hardly believe my eyes. The headline read, “Allstate Insurance Drops Parts Discount Demand; Paint Reimbursement Up.” Huh? What? Was I dreaming? Then I read further on: “The Year 2008 has just barely started when Allstate Insurance forwarded a note to its PRO preferred shops in southern
SCRS Members Identify Disturbing Trends Regarding Insurer Abuse
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has been monitoring for some time the actions of a number of insurance companies and how their processes and procedures have affected collision repairers and, ultimately, their customers. During this review, SCRS determined that it was in its membership’s best interest to offer its position on questionable business
Power Steering
Insurers steering vehicles to their preferred shops has gotten out of control. But there are some action steps shops can take to counter its effect.
Troubled Times
Insurer profits are at record highs, and body shop profits are at record lows. Steering is rampant and labor rates are being suppressed. And repairers are supposed to get along with insurers?
Antitrust
‘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.
By the Numbers: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Ever hear of the saying, “The numbers don’t lie?” For the most part, it’s true. A simple example is the win-loss record of a sports team. A coach can talk all he wants about how much effort his team has been putting forth all season and how each game could have gone either way, but
Dirty Little Secret No. 3: Shops Can Steer Too
Despite what you’ve been led to believe, you can legally steer your customers away from ‘problem’ insurers and toward ones that know how to fairly settle claims.
Your Lungs, Your Skin, Your Life
Many collision repairers still aren’t properly protecting themselves from isocyanates. It’s time that changed.
Is It Possible to Run a Body Shop Without Lying, Cheating and Stealing?
Point CounterPoint