Is There a Word For...
Discussion
emicen, when anyone drops their car at a dealership so that OE glass can be fitted by well, OEM approved tekkies... 99% of the time, they'll call in a windscreen co to carry out the work. The dealer orders the glass, gives it to the windscreen co who then fit it on site.
Many of these dealers will use the larger companies like RACAW and Autoglass. The smaller, independent companies may have a better reputation than previously mentioned companies, but the truth is, they're also cheaper which means, in both cases, the only 'work' the dealer is doing is admin.
Many of these dealers will use the larger companies like RACAW and Autoglass. The smaller, independent companies may have a better reputation than previously mentioned companies, but the truth is, they're also cheaper which means, in both cases, the only 'work' the dealer is doing is admin.
Was talking to one of our bodyshop guys today and he expressed a similar concern. I think you all might relate to this more:
You take your car in for bodywork / crash repair. While this may still be governed by your insurance company, many ins policies carry quite a tidy policyholder contribution, or excess. Say you're parting with a £400 XS to cover a £1,000 job.
The job.
Light panel damge to say, one of the rear quarter panels. A good finish would come from removing various parts, repairing or replacing and finally repainting the area; this in itself may involve removing other fitted parts such as trims or glass (so the the paint does not have an edge where it shouldn't. The job is priced to do it properly.
A competitor company will offer to the same job for £600. That's £400 cheaper than the first. In order to still make a profit on it, not all parts will be renewed (well, if you can't see 'em, you'll never know) and trims, glass etc, will be masked up for painting the panels. A lash up.
Many people will never notice. I think most PHers will.
My bodyshop contact was expressing how difficult it is to compete with such throat-cut pricing.
You take your car in for bodywork / crash repair. While this may still be governed by your insurance company, many ins policies carry quite a tidy policyholder contribution, or excess. Say you're parting with a £400 XS to cover a £1,000 job.
The job.
Light panel damge to say, one of the rear quarter panels. A good finish would come from removing various parts, repairing or replacing and finally repainting the area; this in itself may involve removing other fitted parts such as trims or glass (so the the paint does not have an edge where it shouldn't. The job is priced to do it properly.
A competitor company will offer to the same job for £600. That's £400 cheaper than the first. In order to still make a profit on it, not all parts will be renewed (well, if you can't see 'em, you'll never know) and trims, glass etc, will be masked up for painting the panels. A lash up.
Many people will never notice. I think most PHers will.
My bodyshop contact was expressing how difficult it is to compete with such throat-cut pricing.
Glassman said:
emicen, when anyone drops their car at a dealership so that OE glass can be fitted by well, OEM approved tekkies... 99% of the time, they'll call in a windscreen co to carry out the work. The dealer orders the glass, gives it to the windscreen co who then fit it on site.
Many of these dealers will use the larger companies like RACAW and Autoglass. The smaller, independent companies may have a better reputation than previously mentioned companies, but the truth is, they're also cheaper which means, in both cases, the only 'work' the dealer is doing is admin.
Usually with a Lotus the car stays at the dealer, they loosen and move the clam - the windscreen co replaces the glass then the dealer refits the clam. Important this is done because if it isn't done right you get stress cracks in the new screen. If a company specialised in Loti and knew how to remove clams etc and got a good reputation, they would pick up work through word of mouth/advertising on somewhere like seloc/ph/lot etcMany of these dealers will use the larger companies like RACAW and Autoglass. The smaller, independent companies may have a better reputation than previously mentioned companies, but the truth is, they're also cheaper which means, in both cases, the only 'work' the dealer is doing is admin.
Stephanie Plum said:
Glassman said:
emicen, when anyone drops their car at a dealership so that OE glass can be fitted by well, OEM approved tekkies... 99% of the time, they'll call in a windscreen co to carry out the work. The dealer orders the glass, gives it to the windscreen co who then fit it on site.
Many of these dealers will use the larger companies like RACAW and Autoglass. The smaller, independent companies may have a better reputation than previously mentioned companies, but the truth is, they're also cheaper which means, in both cases, the only 'work' the dealer is doing is admin.
Usually with a Lotus the car stays at the dealer, they loosen and move the clam - the windscreen co replaces the glass then the dealer refits the clam. Important this is done because if it isn't done right you get stress cracks in the new screen. If a company specialised in Loti and knew how to remove clams etc and got a good reputation, they would pick up work through word of mouth/advertising on somewhere like seloc/ph/lot etcMany of these dealers will use the larger companies like RACAW and Autoglass. The smaller, independent companies may have a better reputation than previously mentioned companies, but the truth is, they're also cheaper which means, in both cases, the only 'work' the dealer is doing is admin.
(Let's hope Mr Lomas isn't watching.)
Glassman said:
Stephanie Plum said:
Glassman said:
emicen, when anyone drops their car at a dealership so that OE glass can be fitted by well, OEM approved tekkies... 99% of the time, they'll call in a windscreen co to carry out the work. The dealer orders the glass, gives it to the windscreen co who then fit it on site.
Many of these dealers will use the larger companies like RACAW and Autoglass. The smaller, independent companies may have a better reputation than previously mentioned companies, but the truth is, they're also cheaper which means, in both cases, the only 'work' the dealer is doing is admin.
Usually with a Lotus the car stays at the dealer, they loosen and move the clam - the windscreen co replaces the glass then the dealer refits the clam. Important this is done because if it isn't done right you get stress cracks in the new screen. If a company specialised in Loti and knew how to remove clams etc and got a good reputation, they would pick up work through word of mouth/advertising on somewhere like seloc/ph/lot etcMany of these dealers will use the larger companies like RACAW and Autoglass. The smaller, independent companies may have a better reputation than previously mentioned companies, but the truth is, they're also cheaper which means, in both cases, the only 'work' the dealer is doing is admin.
(Let's hope Mr Lomas isn't watching.)
(I know this is what happened with mine cos I watched it happen
)I think a fitting word would be ignorance - Partly from the retailer, but more influenced by the customer. As stated earlier, It's the customer who makes the final decision on where to buy the goods/services, and the majority of people will go for the cheaper option. I think only the very naive think that when there's a significant price difference, there will be no detriment to quality. I think it comes back to the suggestion of "option A" or "option B" to try and stay ahead of the game 
.
.trades like windscreen replacement demonstrate just how hard it can be when all you represent to your customer is one of three quotations on a piece of paper . when the job is occasional and you are there for only an hour you cannot build up any relationship with the customer. i work in the motor trade doing valeting and my customers use me because im reliable and thorough , yes there is always cheaper but there must be a cut off point in quality against price. if your customers need you then they will pay a fair price.
emicen said:
Stephanie Plum said:
Maybe there is some mileage in doing specialist windscreen replacement as opposed to trying to compete aginst the big boys? For example I recently needed a new windscreen for my Lotus Elise. No way would I have trusted Autoglass or similar with the job so I insisted my dealer did it. My insurance caved in and said OK but you have to pay a higher excess - something I was willing to do to ensure the job got done right. I always see posts on seloc for example about people wanting recommendations for windscreen replacement. Just a thought 
Mate of mine needs a windscreen on his Exige. Thinks he shouldnt trust autoglass or RAC as theyre monkeys. Drops it off at his local dealer for some work to be done and mentions the cost of a replacement windscreen.
Later returns and dealer says it'll be ~£250 (I think that was the number). He thinks thats a touch steep so on the way home, calls in at Autowindscreens. "Thats the second time someones been asking about a windscreen for one of them today".
Turns out the dealer would have used them anyways and charged him £60 for the priviledge of them driving his car there and back from their dealership.
About this TRIM thing ? How bad does it look and does it leak ? If It looked okay and did'nt leak, then more fool the competitor for not doing the same.
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