Windshield Repair Forum

Dave,

Make no mistake, I was not happy to see Belron come into the USA; I was just noting that their current advertising campaign is benefiting our industry as a whole. I don't think there is any question that Belron is gobbling up market share at an alarming rate, and that is having a significant affect on many of us. They have purchased several of our larger customers, which because they own one of our competitors, has cost us thousands of dollars in lost revenue. I have very mixed feelings about that. On one hand I understand their motivation and respect their seeming ability to take market share at will, but on the other hand I have never thought big companies can provide the same quality that a small independent can. I'm sure they try, but managing that many employees makes it impossible to monitor the quality and customer service experience like a small independent can.

I happen to believe there will always be a place for the independent, so like you we are hanging in there and in fact having a record year so far. Running a business is not easy these days, but as long as your quality and customer service are top notch I believe you can not only survive, but thrive. I'm glad to hear you are not just throwing in the towel because the competition plays hard ball.

Hang in there!

Over here intheir repair kit they do not have, a dryout sytem other than some acetone, no drill and no UV protection. So check out the qality of a lot of their repairs, a lot of those customers will come back in my experience. They have done free repairs and half my price repairs for my customers, I may have lost the customer for a short while but not for long.

I posted on another post that this past weekend while in VA. I saw a safelite repair performed.
The repair was no better than the results Iam getting. The commercials are in NC and VA. ESPN ran it almost every Commercial Sat & Sun. I had a customer tell me yesterday that he saw the ad and wanted to know why he could still see a trace of the chip on his windshield. He said the commercial he saw on TV showed the break completely gone and the ad stated it would be free if they failed to repair it. I answered his question with the best response that I knew and showed him a sheet from a copy of my US WSR Guideline book. He understood but the fact that the ad stated completely gone and then shows the windshield in the ad without a blimish, convinced him they had a better system. I told him lighting and the angle of the sight picture may have hidden the actual repair. I agree with most on here that those ads will help us with educating the public. The ads are impressive. They ran Radio ads heavy in my area during August and September. I called the number listed and it was not near my area. However the message gave a listing for someone that would come to my area to make a repair. We are talking at least 50 miles or more. Good press is better than no press. Staples is killing me on business cards. $56 for about 200 cards. I have canary yellow cards with a color logo. Does anyone else know of someone that would be cheaper? Six days and counting till Eugene, Oregon. Watch out guys a Tarheel will be in the house next week.

Many of you guys know how I feel about Belron. But the one and only thing that I give them without any doubt in my mind, and I even respect them for that, is the way they execute their plans and, as a part of that, their sales efforts. Belron is doing a great job when it comes to marketing. They do a great job because they understand how to sell. Also; when it comes to sales they do another thing very well; they retail the service.
Does this make me a Belron fan? No, I still dislike all the other aspects -which are mainly related to steering.

I would say: do not panic. You should just realize that if they are going to spend lots of money for the promotion of repairs, it will also benefit you and the rest of the industry. They will be harvesting most of the revenues, that’s fine and pretty logical since they run that campaign, but it will also be helping others.
If you have been long enough around in this trade, consistantly telling and educating people the need for timely repairs, they will probably remember you and your quality service. If they need a repair they will most likely remember you and contact you.

Tv-channels are in need for advertizing reveneus, they’re profit on sales went down big time.
This makes me also pretty confident that Belron did a very good deal here, they are paying a pretty good price for the air time.
Lesson is: if you have the means, invest it. Invest it in the right way and pick the right moment.
Belron did. It is raining as a consequence, but the good news is: you all get wet. For free.

There is much more to tell about this campaign, because Belron will also be using this campaign in their advantage towards the insurance business but that goes beyond this topic right now.

Ps: Screenman: they do carry a UV dome in the back of their service van over here. I know it is just one van but at least that one did. In fact: I pictured it yesterday when I noticed a new marketing approach at a SHELL gas station here in Nederland.

Thanks for that one Frank, we do have a mole in a Belron place over here I will have to question him again, it has been a couple of months since I last did so.

Hey candyman, I don't want to take this thread off topic, but try Vista Print for business cards. They are cheap and even have ways to get free cards. I can't speak for the quality, but if you want a good price Google them and check them out.

Vista Print quality is just fine, good value for money. Easy access to their website and ''design'' tool, quick delivery, proper price-quality-service combo.

Just saw the TV ads last night here is Austin, TX......

I think they would have gotten better results if they didn't animate it (computerized ANY of it), because it gives a customer a false idea of the repair.......

I was a bit curious though, and decided to go onto the site and see how much either of my vehicles would cost for a single repair on an 06 dodge dakota quad cab and a 08 toyota yaris 2 dr hatchback.....

$82.95 PLUS TAX!!!!!!!

WOW.......I have never been paid that much for a single repair, shoot I don't even charge that much for a Large Crack!!

JJH

I am guessing Safelites(Belron)marketing ad. is very similar to there campaign in the UK( Autoglass), which has proved very successful for them. Their marketing strategy is targeted at the large business and insurance boardrooms. You will see ridiculous prices quoted over the phone but the real pricing goes on over the boardroom table. The equipment they use is the Glass Medic ras 123 head which is a nice piece of kit ( if used correctly), its main advantage being reducing the risk of resin contamination to the user as well as a captive resin supply market since the resin is supplied in unique capsule form. They will be an aggressive competitor and will want to achieve dominance in the Autoglazing fixing/repairing/supply markets which they have achieved in other global areas.

$94.95 for a one chip repair on an 04 Tacoma.