What’s Diminished Value Mean To You
As contentious an issue as diminished value (DV) has become in the insurance and repair industries, there’s a quiet revolution taking place in the claims business. Once limited to the owners of exotic cars, DV is now a phrase on the lips of ordinary people with damaged grocery-go-getters. And this flood of inquiries to claims
Insurer-Owned Shops: Anomaly or Trend
er relationships?”– Johnny Reyes, operations specialist, Pacific Collision Center, Inc., Placentia, Calif. Question answered by: Charlie Barone Among the greatest concerns of body shop owners in the United States is the possibility of a developing trend toward insurance company ownership of body shops. While the advancement of the Sterling/Allstate venture appears to be rapid in
How Does Your State Rate: Aftermarket and Remanufactured parts
I’ve always enjoyed soaking up the wealth of knowledge in each new issue of BodyShop Business, yet this month I was somewhat disappointed when reading the research article you wrote [Jan. 2003, pg. 20; potential gross sales per shop in vermont is $79,124, the lowest in the country]. I’m a third-generation collision shop owner with
State Steering Regulations
Alabama None Alaska A claimant may not be required to travel unreasonably either to inspect a replacement motor vehicle, obtain a repair estimate, or have the motor vehicle repaired at a specific facility. If a person adjusting or settling a claim elects to have repaired a claimant’s motor vehicle and chooses a specific facility for
Steering Customers to the Truth
Collision repair and auto glass specialists continue to suffer discrimination at the hands of insurance companies as well as government agencies.
DRPs: Probing the Legalities
There’s a definite conflict of interest when the payer (insurer) controls the quality of repair work. In fact, without the independence of the professional repairer, some say there’s no difference between the DRP shop and the insurer – just a different organization with the same interest, adverse to the property owner. But that doesn’t make DRPs illegal – or does it?
Love (to Undercut) Thy Neighbor
“It seems like shops are more obsessed with competing than with working and sticking together, so how will we ever better the industry for ourselves?” – Dennis Terry, technician, Hilltop Auto, Cabot, Ariz. The fact that insurers work so hard to control the consumer explains one of the reasons why shops don’t “stick” together. Shops
Does Your Shop Measure Up?
Techs working to beat the clock often skip the measuring process. But if you add a separate line to your estimate for the setup of the measuring system in addition to the setup of the vehicle on the frame machine, some of your techs might be more willing to knock the dust off the old measuring system once and awhile.
PRIDE Award Winners Selected
Check out the stories behind this year’s award winners. St. Charles, Ill. – The National Auto Body Council has once again singled out those businesses, individuals and groups in the collision repair industry that have distinguished themselves and the industry by performing humanitarian and/or service deeds outside of their normal job responsibilities. This year’s PRIDE
The Name Game : Protect your Shop Name
For two similarly named body shops in Limerick, Pa., it’s now up to the courts to determine who keeps their name. Want to avoid fighting a similar battle? Learn how to protect your shop name and keep yourself out of court for violating someone else’s trademark.