Stone Chip repairer

[edar]

Can anyone recommend a good mobile stone chip repairer based in the windsor / slough / maidenhead area? I'm reluctant to use chips away as i've heard a few horrer stories.

Thank you

[Anatol]

There is no good stone chip repairer. At least if you're a perfectionist. There is no chip repair solution short of a sprayed repair that provides an enthusiast-grade result.

Given you're a self-described "Automotive Aftercare Expert" (!), either DIY the problem area (plenty of detailer/valeters offer a chip repair service!), or get a local recommendation for a competent bodyshop or SMART repairer if the damage is in a location suitable for a SMART repair, and ensure that you contract with them for a full, sprayed repair.

No form of touch-in is likely to satisfy someone who is very particular.

HTH

Tol

[7even]

hmmmmmmm,

you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. Tol is "spot on" givin that you would appear to be a detailer I think a so called stone chip repair would not live up to your exceptionally high standards, best get it sprayed I think.

[grand cherokee]

i've heard very good reports about Dr Colorchip (USA) so i've ordered some to try

but i have had excellent results using factory touch up paint then wet sanding with P2000 paper and finishing with machine polishing using Farecla G3 (shown to me by local bodyshop)

the problem with say respraying a bonnet is that you can pick up stone chips on the way ho,me!

so imo touching up is the only realistic option

[Anatol]

Dr Colourchip and wet-sanding/polishing both work ok on flat colours, and get progressively worse the more particulate (pearl/metallic) there is in the paint. Wet-sanding silver paint pulls the aluminium out leaving a horrible dark, muddy patch of binder. Looks worse than the chip!

Tol

[grand cherokee]

Anatol said:

Dr Colourchip and wet-sanding/polishing both work ok on flat colours, and get progressively worse the more particulate (pearl/metallic) there is in the paint. Wet-sanding silver paint pulls the aluminium out leaving a horrible dark, muddy patch of binder. Looks worse than the chip!

Tol

well i have Patriot Blue metallic on the GC and i would challenge you to find the stonechips!

i note you are a Chips Away franchise - in my experience that is not something i would boast about given my experience of my local Chips Way 'agent' who managed to get overspray over 90% of the car - and it was not my paint but the red colour of the car next to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by grand cherokee on Wednesday 6th May 12:09

[Anatol]

Patriot blue is fairly low-particulate as effect paints go (under 25% of pearl tints by mass, no aluminium flake) and being a darker base colour, it's more forgiving than say, a silvery blue would be. A few bits of mica missing from the sparkle when the sun hits the wet-flatted bits is going to be fairly easy on the eye. Try that on a colour where the base is flake, and it'll look shocking...

HTH

Tol

[grand cherokee]

Anatol said:

Patriot blue is fairly low-particulate as effect paints go (under 25% of pearl tints by mass, no aluminium flake) and being a darker base colour, it's more forgiving than say, a silvery blue would be. A few bits of mica missing from the sparkle when the sun hits the wet-flatted bits is going to be fairly easy on the eye. Try that on a colour where the base is flake, and it'll look shocking...

HTH

Tol

thanks

btw - i had a 'go' at chips away - that was not aimed at you - sorry!

you know your job and its a shame you are not more local to me

i suppose the problem is that any 'franchise' based system has their good and bad and its all too easy to everyone to get tarred with the same brush!

as i said before if you were local i'd certainly trust you with my car!

[Anatol]

grand cherokee said:

i note you are a Chips Away franchise - in my experience that is not something i would boast about ...

We've built a tremendously successful business on that brand. Our testimonials page is full of delighted comments from automotive enthusiasts, including plenty of PistonHeaders. As with any skilled trade, the results depend on the skill of the individual doing the work. We employ staff with skills and qualifications well beyond ChipsAway training, and we're swamped with demand from retail, trade and fleet customers locally.

So I'm more than happy to boast about our business - it's built on delighted customers. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with someone local. That tells you absolutely nothing about the skills of other members of the network - paintwork isn't like flipping burgers. I always advise anyone asking after paint repairs to get recommendations based on local experience of the actual individual who will be doing the work.

ChipsAway has a robust complaints handling procedure, something you don't get with many independent repairers. The experience of unhappy customers who are actually unhappy enough to invoke it (as opposed to those who just want to have a bit of a whinge on the web ) tend to be very positive.

Tol

ETA - you've replied to the thread while I was typing this, making a lot of my defense above unnecessary! - I'll leave it for completeness, but no offence taken, thanks for the post above

Edited by Anatol on Wednesday 6th May 12:27

[grand cherokee]

Anatol said:

grand cherokee said:

i note you are a Chips Away franchise - in my experience that is not something i would boast about ...

We've built a tremendously successful business on that brand. Our testimonials page is full of delighted comments from automotive enthusiasts, including plenty of PistonHeaders. As with any skilled trade, the results depend on the skill of the individual doing the work. We employ staff with skills and qualifications well beyond ChipsAway training, and we're swamped with demand from retail, trade and fleet customers locally.

So I'm more than happy to boast about our business - it's built on delighted customers. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with someone local. That tells you absolutely nothing about the skills of other members of the network - paintwork isn't like flipping burgers. I always advise anyone asking after paint repairs to get recommendations based on local experience of the actual individual who will be doing the work.

ChipsAway has a robust complaints handling procedure, something you don't get with many independent repairers. The experience of unhappy customers who are actually unhappy enough to invoke it (as opposed to those who just want to have a bit of a whinge on the web ) tend to be very positive.

Tol

ETA - you've replied to the thread while I was typing this, making a lot of my defense above unnecessary! - I'll leave it for completeness, but no offence taken, thanks for the post above

Edited by Anatol on Wednesday 6th May 12:27

thanks

good for you!

[7even]

Anatol said:

grand cherokee said:

i note you are a Chips Away franchise - in my experience that is not something i would boast about ...

ChipsAway has a robust complaints handling procedure, something you don't get with many independent repairers. The experience of unhappy customers who are actually unhappy enough to invoke it (as opposed to those who just want to have a bit of a whinge on the web ) tend to be very positive.

I dont think this is a bad or negative thing, almost all indies are either experienced bodyshop techs or ex franchisees, who really do know the business inside out and upside down. Theres no smoke and mirrors as far as an experienced pro is concerned.

Just my humble opinion, as its always nice two have a two sided coin

[Anatol]

I wasn't suggesting that there was smoke and mirrors. Just that if you're unhappy with an indy's work, and he tells you to get stuffed, you can either go to small claims court, or... do nothing.

A franchised operator always runs the risk of having his license revoked (and losing an investment of tens of thousands of pounds) if he doesn't abide by the quality and customer dispute resolution requirements imposed by his network, and the network usually underwrites the quality guarantee independently of the operator.

Just a couple of extra safety nets that you don't get with independent repairers. Not suggesting that either franchised or indy is more likely to get the job right/wrong in the first place for a moment

Tol

[7even]

Anatol said:

I wasn't suggesting that there was smoke and mirrors. Just that if you're unhappy with an indy's work, and he tells you to get stuffed, you can either go to small claims court, or... do nothing.

Your not gonna have this problem with an experienced pro but far more likely with someone with a weeks training under their belt

A franchised operator always runs the risk of having his license revoked (and losing an investment of tens of thousands of pounds) if he doesn't abide by the quality and customer dispute resolution requirements imposed by his network, and the network usually underwrites the quality guarantee independently of the operator.

..and what are the figures for those who have lost their franchise through this route

Just a couple of extra safety nets that you don't get with independent repairers. Not suggesting that either franchised or indy is more likely to get the job right/wrong in the first place for a moment

we're all human after all


Tol

My moneys on a seasoned pro everytime.
Although I would like to finish by saying that CA are a fantastic selling tool and do the Smart Repair Industry a power of good. I Like them as an entity.

Edited by 7even on Friday 8th May 00:35

[Anatol]

I don't want to get into too much of a back-and-forth, this debate has been done before in lots of places, and I don't want to give the impression that there's war between independents and franchisees - you and I are proof that we can coexist in a mutually cooperative and friendly fashion, even on a SMART repairers' Internet forum.

I would say though:

7even said:

Your not gonna have this problem with an experienced pro but far more likely with someone with a weeks training under their belt.

That slightly makes the assumption that franchisees aren't experienced, and indy's are. There are franchisees with 20+yrs bodyshop experience out there, or many years success in their franchise. There are indy businesses up for sale regularly on eBay to someone with *no* training. The big SMART repair suppliers like AYCE, Bradleys etc offer very short training courses to launch an indy business. It's not a case that businesses are experienced or franchised at all.

..and what are the figures for those who have lost their franchise through this route

What, you mean the deterrent effect is so strong that the sanction rarely has to be imposed? Fantastic!

My moneys on a seasoned pro everytime.

They all got there by starting as an inexperienced beginner at some point.

My opinion (unpopular though it is in Another Place!) is that the 'professional' part of seasoned pro is far more important than the 'seasoned' part. Smart, motivated (two of the key elements of professionalism) people learn faster than people who don't have those characteristics. Both professionalism and lack of it exist in independents and repair networks, but the franchise networks are at least trying to make it compulsory in their membership, whereas Dan-in-a-van who bought a £300 paint system off eBay doesn't necessarily have anything prompting him to be professional in how he deals with customers...

Coffee!

Tol

[7even]

I don't want to get into too much of a back-and-forth, this debate has been done before in lots of places, and I don't want to give the impression that there's war between independents and franchisees


I wont waste any more of your time on this matter and agree it would go back and forth for eternity.


.

Edited by 7even on Saturday 9th May 00:12

[snj376]

on a slightly different note ,,

how sucessfull is a smart repair on a titan silver bmw ?

that last silver car i had done was the wifes audi 80 back in the early 90's , the chips he touched in looked dreadfull , dark grey blob's as the flake gathered !!!

have things moved on since then and can stone chips be done invisably on silver cars ?

[7even]

snj376 said:

on a slightly different note ,,

how sucessfull is a smart repair on a titan silver bmw ?

that last silver car i had done was the wifes audi 80 back in the early 90's , the chips he touched in looked dreadfull , dark grey blob's as the flake gathered !!!

have things moved on since then and can stone chips be done invisably on silver cars ?

Smart Repair on Titan Silver is a doddle, if your experienced.
However touching in a stone chip is nothing more than the words express "touch in."
This is NOT a smart repair, its mearly a touch in, and when Im doing a job is a free service when repairing say a key scratch or bumper scuff.
This is where smart repair can fail in some peoples eyes, its all about managing the customers expectations and knowing your limitations as a responsible repairer.