Safelite network

[bill lambeth]

Guys my life has become so much easier since I drop ACT from my Safelite billing.I am on the network and life is a lot easier.My billing is so easy now and it does not cost me anything.My customers do not get harassed on the phone when they say they want to use me.I think my status is a preferred vendor but anyway just wanted to share that with you.Makes sales a lot easier.

[DryStar]

Bill,

To some Safelite is a blessing and to many others they're not. I have a big Safelite hub 5 miles from me and they take or steer everything to themselves within 5-20 miles. I guess it depends on where your located. Glad to hear it's working for you though.

[RHINOMAN]

I think Bill is dead on with it depending on area. I have a handful of techs spread out the metroplex, theres a couple that work areas where their Safelite calls are easy (lower populated areas) and the others have to warn & prep customers just to try to keep the job from getting steered or scaring the customer from using us. It's sad but if Safelite has a tech in your work area its hard, if not they're your best friend.

[RHINOMAN]

ooops, i meant dry star

[Chips_Away_Windshield_Repair]

It happened today on a Progressive customer. They called in to say I was coming to repair chips in two truck windshields. They said they would send their own company out. I am a so called preferred windshield repair shop, Talked to a supervisor but damage already done.

[ghost rider]

It happened today on a Progressive customer. They called in to say I was coming to repair chips in two truck windshields. They said they would send their own company out. I am a so called preferred windshield repair shop, Talked to a supervisor but damage already done.

You said "they called in" I going to assume the customer called in. I try to avoid having the cust call any time I can. I always start the call when I get to the job so the network knows I'm already there. If a cust. does call in advance and gets steered I will have them call again and request my shop. The networks know they have to comply or get sued. Your last line says "damage already done". Was the work already completed ? if not you should have still gotten the job if the cust. requested your shop. AGRR mag has a place to report this stuff and get it published. Who knows, It might help.

[bill lambeth]

Ghost Rider that is a good point that you make.The tech get the call atleast started and then hand off to the customer.Most insurance companies are going to want to speak with the customer. Since I joined the network I have not had any problems with them trying to steer my customers.I love their online billing.It to me is less trouble than lynx billing.

[Chips_Away_Windshield_Repair]

That is my normal procedure. This I had the understanding when talking to the customer it would be a cash job with two $65.00 repairs. The insurance situation just came out of the blue.

[Chips_Away_Windshield_Repair]

Just another after thought after reading your previous posts. I guess my little operation is a lot different from most of others with you having several guys out working different areas.
Fiirst of all I'm 76 (and damn proud of it by the way). Being the boss when my wife allows me to, doing this for nine years and have to me a very good little retirement business I have developed and use procedures I know will work but occassionally like this one a wrinkle develops. The reason I guess for all this jibberish on my part is to just develop a repor (always a poor speller) with others as we are all kinda kin with our businesses related.
I only want three jobs a day pricing most work at $65.00 and $20.00 and $10.00 per vehicle.
"Cash, check or I will call your insurance for you if you want to turn in a claim".
Any more becomes like going back to work which is a four letter word.
Most of you are out there developing good business' and hoping to make a good living for your families. That being said some might think I'm taking business away from others in my area. The raw tuth is I hope my three jobs a day coming in from repeats , referrels, car signage and web site hopefully do just that because most of the other work I see in my area is garbage and I want to show customers what a good repair is. The one or two others who do good work are friends and we work together when occassion arises.
My fleet price is $50.00 $10.00 and $10.00 which I also give to their employees when their vehicles are at fleet location. Also military, law enforcement and fire fighters get fleet prices or sometimes just a freebe.
Oh yes and another comment about Safelite. I met one of their guys at my morning coffee shop the other day, seemes like a nice guy with "Safelite Trained" on his shirt.
I don't know if he was pulling my strings or not but he said he had ten jobs that day. The places he said he was going involved minimum
six hours driving. In my brain that amounted to about 12 minutes per repair.
Maybe I missed or forgot something in Delta and Glasweld training classes but most of my jobs which are mobile involve usually about 30 minutes or longer sitting up, repairing and cleaning up.
Any advice or tips on doing good 12 minute repairs?

[paulrsf]

Personally I feel that the guys who claim they can complete repairs in 5-12 minutes are doing a disservice to the rest of us who know that each repair is unique and often takes as long as 30 minutes, sometimes longer. Sure occasionally, a chip fills unexpectedly fast, but this, (for me) is the exception and certainly not the rule. I can only imagine that most 5-12 minute repairs do not measure up to the customer's expectations and that makes it difficult for all of us.