Windshield Repair Forum

I can't imagine how you are getting so many referals a week. I didn't get that in a year. I had to go find all of my insurance work. That is back when I did insurance. I did awesome work and never had problems with insurance, however they never sent me work. Are you discounting your price or do you live in an area that doesn't have safelite?
Coitster

Some weeks I may get 4 or 5 from safelite or LYNX. I go some months and never get a single referral. If i had 3 per day I could quit my full time job. I do get a few jobs from the local indep ins companies and often the customer has a high deductable or cant afford to have his insurance company pay due to rate increases. I did a Progressive customer last month. He had 2 accidents within the past 3 years. To file a WSR would increase his rates by $1500 according to his agent or risk dropping him as a customer. A local glass replacement & repair shop purchases their WS from Safelite and they seem to be getting most of the local referrals. They dont do service calls. They didnt do repairs untill I started advertizing. Now they have an ad in our paper daily and started radio ads. Two glass shops have already closed in the past few years due to this cozy relationship with Safelite. This glass shop also does auto body repair and most insurance companies locally steer customers to them. Car lots provide a few repairs and the fleets in my area are small. You guys that get the insurance referrals are lucky.

chipfixman wrote:I can't imagine doing only 10% insurance. I am up to 6-8 insurance referrals per day. I have focused on insurance jobs and it has improved my business significantly. If you are not getting referrals it is probably because of number of reasons, such as population, competition, your ranking with the network or insurance company based on quality of repairs and customer service. I have a good rating and most weeks I make over $2000 in just insurance referrals. This is what I have decided: Insurance companies are my friend, most networks are not---however, I have to play their game and dance their dance. I am not sold on Lynx or SGC. I am happy with other referral programs and network companies that don't try to shut me down.

Could you elaborate on what you are referring to as an "insurance referral" and a "other referral program" Where do they come from? Who are they? what network?

I can't imagine that many coming in especially since lynx and SGC work with 20 to 30 of the top insurers and they give very few out in my experience. sounds like you have hit a gold mine unless you own multiple shops.

Most of my customers use insurance but they were mostly acquired by me through advertising, location, years in business and satisfied customers. I call that an insurance customer but not a referral.

I would term an insurance referral as a new customer phone call or a drop in saying "I was referred to you shop by___" and that's what I'm understanding you are referring to in 6-8 per day.

thanks.

I agree with Coitster. What are you charging for your repairs to the insurance companies?