Windshield Repair Forum

Guy pulls into your shop in an old beater of a farm truck that's filthy dirty and wants to know "how much" to fix all the chips in his windshield. You count and there are 9 chips in his windshield that need to be repaired. Stars, combos, batwings and spit open pits. All shapes and sizes with several that are severe. Tell me how you handle this customer.

Tell him to replace it.I dont think it would be pfofitable for you or cost efficiant for him.

I agree.

Actually, it depends...

With a few questions answered, you'd be better able to answer it.

Is it an old truck that the screen can't be replaced easily or cheaply?

Will the repairs exceed the price of a new screen? (Or half)

Does he want to spend the money on it?

Personally, I'll fix anything so long as the customer is made aware of the cost involved and the results achievable based on the damage and how long it's been there for.

So the call is yours to make, and only yours as you can see the job

I did indeed recommended replacement though he was persistent in wanting to know how much to do all the repairs. My quote was $130 and then I continued to push him towards replacement. Surprisingly he kept considering my offer but I really was glad he chose replacement through a shop I recommended to him. Yes, he would have paid $130 for me to repair it but some things simply arent worth the time and effort.

How much would you have earned per hour? the job was in front of you, the customer was willing to pay, 9 repairs on one glass does not take that much longer than one job that you may have had to travel too, consumable costs are minimal. The big question though is did you have something more profitable that day instead, if you had an hour with nothing on then I would say go for it, if he would have left it with you for a couple of days it may have increased your profit for that period.

Too many variables to consider a solid answer, but at the end of the day luckily for you it is your call.

This thread raises the issue of safety. What is the recommended maximum amount of repairs that can be done on a single windscreen ( windshield) ?. Is there any guidelines issued by standard agencies or governing bodies in the world?. I know some companies issue guidelines but these may be seen as commercially driven.

If a repair restores the structural integrity of the screen, where is the safety issue?

just wasn't worthwhile to me. most of the damages were old and dirty plus would have cut into time that was more profitable on other jobs. Based it on $50 for first and $10 for each additional. Its the 8 at $10 that didnt excite me. LOL

At the end of the day did you make the customer happy ?
If so he may very well pass along your name to every one he knows, telling them you were honest and did what was best for the customer. That's the word of mouth that you can not buy.