Check It Out: Quality-Control Inspection
If you want happier customers (and less headaches), perform a systematic quality-control inspection before
releasing the vehicle.
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
Anti-Trust Q&A with Attorney
James A. Castleman responds.
The Rental Car Roller Coaster
I’ve been renting cars for 23 years. If you’re also thinking of getting into the rental car business, I’ve got two words of advice: Hang on!
Parts, Policies and Patsies
Shop manager Bradley Wooten asks why American Family Insurance is getting by using strictly used or A/M parts.
By Door Rate Dollars, We’re In the Dumper
Autobody shop rates.
Where’s Uncle Sam When You Need Him?
Bill Johnson, body shop manager/lead tech, Beecher, Inc., Shenandoah, Iowa, asks:
“Why doesn’t the federal government mandate shop and technician
licensing by all state governments with strong enforcement to eliminate incompetent and unscrupulous shops and technicians?”
The Cynic’s Guide to Structural Repairs
After 30 years of working on critically wounded vehicles, I can safely say I’ve pretty much done it all when it comes to surgical frame and structure repairs. I can also safely say that timely, quality repairs can still be done in our time-and-labor-hostile environment.
Apathy
A massive segment of repairers – wallowing in yesteryear’s thinking and uninterested in learning anything new – are driving themselves out of business. Do you fit this description?
The Jury’s In: An Epiphany
After getting out of jury duty, I had a epiphany: I’m an idiot. Reasonable people like me and you) should serve on juries. If insurers didn’t pay out millions to attorneys and “victims,” maybe – just maybe – they wouldn’t nickel and dime shops so much. Every now and then, all the bits and pieces