Posted On: September 11, 2004, 6:58 am CDT

Posted By: Mike

Mr. Foolery, I don't know who you called, but I know that the shop I work for will be happy to give you a quote for a cash job. Some days, that's most of my work. Now, I just one of the techs so I don't pretend to understand all of this thread, but I do know what I have to do everyday. I've given quotes, dealt with the insurance companies, and done several thousand installations. The one thing I'm sure of is that my shop bills insurance companies according to that little piece of paper that gets faxed to us stating what I call the 3 basics: % off NAGS list, flat fee for labor (way too low), and a flat amount for urethane. I have a friend that used to work for a company that waives deductiables and he told me how they do it. They bill at full list price, install a brand of glass that is strickly aftermarket only, use the cheapest adhesives available, illegally reuse state inspection stickers, and so on. There are plenty of shops that are using glass from quality manufactures, top grade adhesives, proper installation techniques, and abiding by that silly little piece of paper on the fax. Maybe the insurance companies need to work with the glass industry, take the time to see what we really go through. Learn the basic steps of installing a windshield, and what the consiquences are of doing the type of installation that my friends former shop is doing. Vehicles are becoming more and more complex, and as a tech, I have to deal with this. I have different types of urathane depending on the vehicle, heating systems, anntenns for everything, heads up displays, rain senors, and air bags all over the place. Boy, did I get off the subject, sorry. Well, gotta git, brains starting to smolder.