Collision Blast

Providing FREE Auto Body and Paint Training Videos

Tips For Choosing A Quality Collision Repair Shop

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Collision Repair Experts provides 9 videos with tips for selecting a quality repair shop and the repair procedure you can expect at a quality collision repair business.  They do an excellent job of explaining the key-to-key process and the importance of repairing a damaged vehicle back to it’s pre-accidental condition with an invisible repair.

Your vehicle is not only one of your bigger investments, you should consider your safety too.  If your car is not repaired properly, you and your passengers could be injured due to the faulty repairs.  Therefore, finding a quality shop to repair your vehicle correctly is important; don’t just settle for the cheapest estimate.  Make sure the repair shop offers some of the tips suggested in the videos below and employee competent technicians that have been properly training to work on your vehicle.  Look for shops that are ASE certified and/or I-CAR Gold certified shops.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fMbhyFb47s[/youtube]

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O-9KqnrXGA&f[/youtube]

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVYaIpxpq9E[/youtube]

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph58JpOen-M[/youtube]

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwrK2Eas9BU[/youtube]

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYYxNO_-r0w[/youtube]

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9NOypqvP94[/youtube]

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nJHDMbf0eI[/youtube]

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSAzHDsPTPU[/youtube]

 



If My Car Frame Is Bent, Will It Ever Be The Same?

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrFaNwia38A[/youtube]

In this video Steve Waldren with Paramount Auto Body gives us an overview on how a frame in repaired on a vehicle.  He demonstrates how the targets are used to provide accurate length, width, and height measurements to properly align the damage within 3 mm tolerance.

There are many people that believe the car will never been the same if the frame is bent.  However, as Steve said, if it is done properly the car will be the same.  Although, I think some people have had bad experiences with a poor repair job.  Of course, it not repaired properly, the car will not be the same.  Therefore, select your repair shop wisely.  The cheapest estimate may cost you more in the end.  Look for qualified shops that employee ASE certified technicians that are I-CAR trained.  This will assure your car will be returned in pre-accidental condition.

Cool Video Below Showing A Frame Replacement On A Dodge Viper

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC5IzzzFErU[/youtube]

I thought this was a neat video and thought you may like it too.  I would love to have that car.  What is your dream car?  Leave us a comment telling us!  Also, be sure to click the fb like button below if you liked these videos.

UpdatePromise.com

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We provide a company wide solution – Compliment your shop’s personal image – Communicate more effectively – Increase CSI’s – More on time deliveries – Enhanced marketing! Get closer to your customers by communicating a consistent proactive update in a way that is relevant to their specific needs. Your customers continue to invest in communication technologies that make life simple, tap into their network! Visit our website at http://www.updatepromise.com/index.php and take a free test drive. Also see an article that was recently written about UpdatePromise in Fender Bender magazine at http://www.fenderbender.com/FenderBender/May-2010/More-Sales-at-Your-Fingertips/

Finding The Cheapest Repair Shop and Negotiate Every Dime.

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I have been researching auto repair estimates as I prepare for our class about to start. I’ve noticed a lot of articles pop up advising people how to negotiate with repair shops. I am not sure who these people are, but their advice it not very good in my opinion. I’ve read articles informing readers not to trust the repair shops and do not tell them anything. Anything you tell them is going to trap the customer into buying more un-needed repairs. I’ve also read that the customer needs to question the shop about every repair item to determine if the repair really needs to made or if it can wait. The articles go on to say to wait on every repair until absolutely needed. It goes on and on about how shady repair shops are and how you can not trust them.

Here is my input. If this was your life….let’s say a heart bypass, how would you handle this? Would you not tell the doctor anything in fear that you may be charged more? Or would you tell him or her everything in hopes that they find the problem and properly diagnose you so you can recover from the operation safely and healthy? I’m thinking that you want to recover from the operation. We need to think of our vehicle the same way. We need to communicate with the repair shop so they have all of the necessary information to properly repair your vehicle. You may be thinking “why is he comparing my life to a car? We all know the life of a human is more important than a car.” That is my point, according to the US Federal Government National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as stated on caraccidents.com in 2005 there were nearly 6,440,000 auto accidents with a financial cost of more than 230 billion dollars. More importantly, 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people were killed. That averages 115 people who die per day, which is one every 13 minutes. My point; I don’t think that many people die going to the doctor everyday. Not only does an unsafe vehicle put the driver at risk, you’re also putting other people at risk too. No one else is going to die because you picked the cheapest surgeon or did not give them enough information to make a proper diagnosis.

Therefore, I suggest selecting shops that have a good reputation and allow them to do what they do best, which is repair your car. This is my perspective of of vehicle repairs and I encourage you not to listen to these folks out there trying to give advice about shady repair shops. You need to see us for the professionals that we are…..literally, your life is in our hands.

Steering – what insurance companies don’t want you to know

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A student e-mailed me with questions concerning insurance steering. So, I thought I would post a blog about insurance steering. I don’t claim to be an insurance expert, but I can “steer” you in the right direction.

First of all, it is illegal to steer customers to a repair shop. However, insurance companies have been doing it for years. Insurance companies facing a body shop is like Goliath facing David. They have the money and resources to take how ever long it takes in court to win their case and get their way.

The process

When you’re involved in an accident, you’ll need to turn your claim into your insurance company. From there, the insurance company directs the insurer to take their vehicle to their Direct Repair Program (DRP) shop. The shop is required to abide by the insurance company’s guidelines. This may include discounts, using aftermarket parts, and other ways to cut costs. The problem is that some of the repair shops are performing poor and unsafe repairs. The shop has to cut corners to make a profit at the discounted rate.  However, the vehicle is delivered to the customer, which may not be in its pre-accidental condition. The good news is that you do not have to settle for this.

You have the legal right to have your vehicle repaired where you want

Some insurance companies have been using their weight to steer customers to their DRP shops. They may claim that they will not pay the claim at the repair shop you wish to have your vehicle repaired at or they may tell you that you will have to pay out of pocket if you don’t use their recommended shops. They may also tell you that they will not guarantee the repairs, if it is not repaired at their recommended shop. However, this is not true, the insurance does not guarantee the repairs, the repair shop does. You have the right to have the vehicle repaired at the repair shop of your choosing.

Shops and insurers are fighting back

Shops and insurers are fighting back and making progress with their rights. Insurance companies agree that steering is illegal and they deny these types of accusations. We’re hearing more stories like the post by SceneExchange “It’s on-David vs. Goliath Insurance Style.” This was a case where Progressive Insurance sued a repair shop for fraud and refused to pay the claim. At the same time, the repair shop was not a DRP shop and refused to settle for the discounted rate that Progressive offered to pay for the claim. To make a long story short, the repair shop won the case and Progressive was required to pay the full amount. That was a big day for the collision industry, as it gave us hope that we don’t have to take this any more.

If you’re involved in an accident

You have the right to have your vehicle repaired at the repair shop you choose. The insurance company may try to tell you where to take the car, but don’t back down. It is illegal for the insurance company to steer you to a repair shop.

If you do not feel comfortable dealing with the insurance company, take your vehicle to the repair shop of choice and give the shop the authorization to contact the insurance on your behalf. This is something the shop does on a daily basis and they can negotiate with the insurance company for you. This will eliminate the hassles of dealing with the insurance company so you can focus on the more important things in life.

If you have a bad experience with your insurance company, I suggest shopping for another company.  Some insurance companies are quite easy to work with and they want the claim to be as hassle free as possible for the customer.  So choose wisely.

Below are a few videos about steering