Pane in in the glass?

[PIGINAWIG]

.....Pun intended

A work colleague has an Audi A3 '59' plate and requires a new windscreen. It does not have any of the fancy rain sensitive malarky or even a shaded/tinted top to it - just a boggo standard screen.

He asked me to get a replacement and so I called the insurance company and they informed me that we had a £500.00 excess. So, I called a certain firm (who shall remain nameless, but are the most well known) and asked for a quote to supply and fit, without going through the insurers.

£653.00 + VAT. Bit expensive I thought...... called a local independent firm, same job etc, £245.00 + VAT.

Oooooh the imagine!! All that advertising they do comes from somewhere - us......

[al1991]

Shouldn't be a surprise, independents are nearly always cheaper.

I do admit that is a massive disparity in price however.

[diddles]

A £500 excess for windscreen replacement seems odd. A sub £100 figure is the norm for most mainstream insurance companies. I would be double checking that excess figure for glass cover.

[edo]

diddles said:

A £500 excess for windscreen replacement seems odd. A sub £100 figure is the norm for most mainstream insurance companies. I would be double checking that excess figure for glass cover.

+1

[PIGINAWIG]

diddles said:

A £500 excess for windscreen replacement seems odd. A sub £100 figure is the norm for most mainstream insurance companies. I would be double checking that excess figure for glass cover.

Obviously fleet policy - commercial vehicles (LGV's etc.. are £500.00)

You're quite correct though - £100.00 excess on the company cars upon checking. Thread just highlighting the enormous differential between indy's and the big boys.

[Glassman]

PIGINAWIG said:

Thread just highlighting the enormous differential between indy's and the big boys.

Yeah, but no, but yeah, but no...

There is a company which covers the UK, region by region, which is notorious for doing stuff ridiculously cheap. So cheap, that corners are cut, non-standard parts are often used and the technicians carrying out the work are generally quite inexperienced or 'hackers'.

Then there are the larger independents who are raising their profile in the local areas knocking out 'fast movers' Ford Transit windscreens, Vauxhall Corsa, Combo, Vectra etc for budget prices.

It's all very well getting yourself a cheap windscreen, but how many would that firm's technician need to be doing to justify his position, as well as make his employers a profit? Moreover, what sort of quality will you get (apart from seeing your cracked windscreen replaced with a shiny new piece of glass) as he motors through yours to get to the next job?

Ortoeglarce may be well ambitious in its retail pricing, but it's not really your money they want.