insurance networks

[jasonsresin]

im trying to branch out from my 6 year long routine of going to the car dealerships. im really only busy 3 days a week since the economy turned, and being willing to work and market just isnt cutting it any more. i need some insurance or some fleet work. where do you guys recomend i turn to get a piece of the insurance pie. will they let someone work for them who only does repairs? i dont do any replacements. i applied at lynx, and safelite, but the safelite application seems more like a job application, which is fine, if they dont mind me sub-contracting for them. i dont want to quit my dealers in case it doesnt work out. where should i begin? canvassing local agents or calling the big networks?

[Brennan29]

Jason, In responce to your question about Safelite. I can tell you this.. I worked for them for a few years as a "Safelite Repair Medic", thats someone that does just repairs, thats what I did. They even train. I was actually hired as an installer but as it turned out, the day I started "as an installer" on a Monday there current Repair Medic called in that Friday before and quit. So I was brand new and they needed someone to fill the position so I took it with the understanding I would make damn near close to what I would make as an installer. Well.. that wasnt the case. What they do is pay an hourly rate (which isnt much) and they also pay out a monthly bonus witch is paid out going by how many repairs you do in a month. Well the problem is, the work is to inconsistant to really make a decent bonus. Id have 15 repairs one day, then 2 the next, then none the next, and what stinks is days you have 15 repairs to do plus driving time, you simply cant spend as much time on some repairs as you realy need to. You really need to do about 10 to 12 everyday of the week to make a good bonus, and when you factor in driving time and where the jobs are , and what times you have to be to some of these jobs 10 to 12 a day can be pretty tough. But ive allready done 18 in a day, so it can be done. But all and all, you have to stay very busy to make any real money. Other than that it was a fun job and I learned allot. If you can get a job with Safelite Id say go for it as a good learning experience. Hope this helps, Good luck.

[Brent Deines]

im trying to branch out from my 6 year long routine of going to the car dealerships. im really only busy 3 days a week since the economy turned, and being willing to work and market just isnt cutting it any more. i need some insurance or some fleet work. where do you guys recomend i turn to get a piece of the insurance pie. will they let someone work for them who only does repairs? i dont do any replacements. i applied at lynx, and safelite, but the safelite application seems more like a job application, which is fine, if they dont mind me sub-contracting for them. i dont want to quit my dealers in case it doesnt work out. where should i begin? canvassing local agents or calling the big networks?

I think the reason you are not receiving a lot of replies on this is because there has been so much already written about the subject on this board. When you applied to safelite, did you do so on the SGC website http://www.sgcnetwork.com/? That is where you need to go to get set up to bill insurance companies who go through Safelite for their billing. Once you are signed up with SGC and Lynx (don't forget to fill out the Metryx info), Harmon, etc, it's possible you will start receiving some referrals, but I would not rely on that. You will never get the number of job assignments that a Safelite Repair Medic gets so you will still need to develop most of your own business.

Agents will tell you that they cannot send you business, but I am a big believer in relationships, and have yet to find someone who will not put in a good word for you if they like you and know you do good work. Regular visits to agents with warm cookies helped build friendships for me, and complimentary repairs on their personal cars and their employee's cars proved the quality of my work. Car dealerships may be a bit slow right now, but fleets and insurance work can still be very good if you market yourself right.

It's all about beating the bushes, building relationships, and building a reputation for quality.

[jasonsresin]

applying to sgc network seems straightforward enough. fill out their form, print it out and send it in. include pic of truck with lettering and liability insurance. no problem. the lynx one seems a different story. do you guys have any clues how i get on that network. i am dancing around their website and end up circling back to the same links.

these are the only two i need to join right? is sgc the safelite one?

[SuperGlassDave]

Jason,

Harmon Network is pretty repair friendly and will send jobs if they have customers in your area. They don't own glass shops anymore, just get paid to dispatch and arrange the job. They are a bit regional in their marketing right now, but can be a good, regular source if you're in their region.

Gerber Glass Network (formerly Globe Amerada) goes through Lynx but, they have their own application and send work directly to you. They are also pretty repair friendly. Google them - Gerber Glass Network for their web site and application.

Lynx, well dance is the right word you used. Once you get registered with Lynx then you wait for their acknowledgement. One that comes you go back in and go through the Metrix - Sign up with Allstate, sign up with State Farm and then sign up for the other 30 or so in one package. That's three registrations. The fact that they have so much volume means you will get a few.

In our company the locations that get the most network jobs, are the tiniest locations in our group. Meaning, the more rural you are, and the further you are from their company stores or glass buying customers, the more work you will get. If you're in a big city, list the outlying zip codes. But, they will take the ones they want and give you the Saturday jobs or further drive.

But remember too, since they are just throwing bones, you can feel free to turn them down if they are too far or too inconvenient. Two way street, eh?
Hope some of that helps.
David Casey - SuperGlass

[jasonsresin]

wow, thats alot of legwork to get started. thanks for all that info. thats exactally what i needed. i am semi rural too so maybe i'll get some business out of them. i dont think there is alot of good windshield guys around here so this gonna work out for me well. can i get anymore specific information on applying with lynx? i just seem to be at a stand still.

[SanAntonioWindshield]

applying to sgc network seems straightforward enough. fill out their form, print it out and send it in. include pic of truck with lettering and liability insurance. no problem. the lynx one seems a different story. do you guys have any clues how i get on that network. i am dancing around their website and end up circling back to the same links.

these are the only two i need to join right? is sgc the safelite one?

Can the lettering on a vechile, be a magnet?

[D2D]

I had my wife take a picture of me with my Logo shirt on next to my car with magnetic signs and there was no problem.