Much like personal injury attorneys, body shop managers are incentivized to exaggerate damages to line their pockets. People accept HMO’s and have no problem going to medical professionals who are part of “networks”, but ***** because and insurance company wants certain shops to do repair work on a piece of metal.
Independent shops will go the way of the dinosaur. Their margins have shrunken and there’s a shortage of skilled craftsmen. Repairing sheet metal damage is becoming a lost art and most shops have to replace panels because they have no one to fix them. If we’re headed to “parts replacers”, the only skill that will command more money is painting. It shouldn’t matter who repairs a vehicle or what it costs to repair it. The insurance contract requires the vehicle be restored to it’s pre-accident condition using acceptable repair techniques. If need be, there should be indpendent inspectors who insure the quality of the repairs. You’d have less customer service problems if the insurance company owned the shop.
Less customer service problems, and a lifetime guarantee on the work – if it’s a company shop and the insured is required to use it, then a guarantee should be expected.
Who could complain about this – let’s see, the consumer doesn’t have to get an estimate, doesn’t have to find a shop, doesn’t have to worry about not getting enough rental reimbursement (again, if it’s a company shop, then whatever time it takes is the company’s problem), has a rental car arranged – and the damage repair savings in the aggregate may lead to lower premiums. If legislators would ever think for just a moment about this issue, they would never support restrictions.
Both of these very subjective comments sound like whining and sour grapes from possibly Allstate affiliated individuals to me and “no” I have no connection to body shops.
No, I”m not affiliated with Allstate, and even if I was, Dave is missing the point. The Texas law represents protectionist legislation for a small special interest group and, to the extent it may restrict competition and increase prices, it’s an anti-consumer action as well. Since when is good customer service and guaranteed work a bad thing?
The same battle has occurred over glass networks and aftermarket crash parts. We all know how OEM crash part prices were cut literally in half once aftermarket parts became widely used. Again, what’s the objection?
Dave, Good thing to point out that you aren’t affiliated with a body shop. Although no one thought that you were. We just assumed that you would whine about Allstate at any chance you got.
The biggest issue i have would be lost of customer trust. right now customer takes vehicle to third party shop they choose for repair. any issues they have with the repair, are between repair shop and customer. suddenly as agent, we will be thrust into a position of dealing with complaints on the repair work, if the shop is company owned. negatively impacting the relationship between customer and agent.
I recently had someone with Nationwide run-in to me in TX. I took the vehicle to one of their “preferred” shops and it has a lifetime warranty on the repair. It was my choice to use the repair facility. If Allstate starts buying repair shops are we still going to have that choice? Do you really think Allstate is trying to do this for the consumer’s benefit?
Carlfarm, I’m not following your logic. Right now if a customer takes their car to a third party shop (or a shop out of the preferred network) and they are not satisified, there is nothing,as an agent, you can do to help. Is that how you want it? At least if the customer takes their car to a recommended or preferred shop, then, as the agent, you can “ride” the claims adjuster until the customer has been satisfied (if possible). At least as the agent you have one additional advocate (the company) on your side.
Not every repair experience is perfect, especially when insureds view their vehicle as some type of “shrine”, but isn’t it helpful when a company can make a recommendation? Can’t be any worse than a co-worker, brother-in-law, or neighbor making a recommendation. And that’s what usually happens when insureds decide to listen to someone other than their insurance company.
The Insurance Industry has no business fixing Automobiles, Houses or replacing Windshields. Who can be trusted? Sterrling Auto Shop have had several case of improper repairs in all the Automotive trade publications. The Insurance co should stick to fair claims settlements instead of greed.
Back off a little on the greed garbage. Companies are in business to make a profit. They don’t make a profit if the customer is unhappy and goes elsewhere and tells all their friends. Isn’t this part of what the Progressive Cocierge service is about? Everybody seems to think that’s wonderful.
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Much like personal injury attorneys, body shop managers are incentivized to exaggerate damages to line their pockets. People accept HMO’s and have no problem going to medical professionals who are part of “networks”, but ***** because and insurance company wants certain shops to do repair work on a piece of metal.
Independent shops will go the way of the dinosaur. Their margins have shrunken and there’s a shortage of skilled craftsmen. Repairing sheet metal damage is becoming a lost art and most shops have to replace panels because they have no one to fix them. If we’re headed to “parts replacers”, the only skill that will command more money is painting. It shouldn’t matter who repairs a vehicle or what it costs to repair it. The insurance contract requires the vehicle be restored to it’s pre-accident condition using acceptable repair techniques. If need be, there should be indpendent inspectors who insure the quality of the repairs. You’d have less customer service problems if the insurance company owned the shop.
Less customer service problems, and a lifetime guarantee on the work – if it’s a company shop and the insured is required to use it, then a guarantee should be expected.
Who could complain about this – let’s see, the consumer doesn’t have to get an estimate, doesn’t have to find a shop, doesn’t have to worry about not getting enough rental reimbursement (again, if it’s a company shop, then whatever time it takes is the company’s problem), has a rental car arranged – and the damage repair savings in the aggregate may lead to lower premiums. If legislators would ever think for just a moment about this issue, they would never support restrictions.
I wonder whose payroll they’re on?
Both of these very subjective comments sound like whining and sour grapes from possibly Allstate affiliated individuals to me and “no” I have no connection to body shops.
No, I”m not affiliated with Allstate, and even if I was, Dave is missing the point. The Texas law represents protectionist legislation for a small special interest group and, to the extent it may restrict competition and increase prices, it’s an anti-consumer action as well. Since when is good customer service and guaranteed work a bad thing?
The same battle has occurred over glass networks and aftermarket crash parts. We all know how OEM crash part prices were cut literally in half once aftermarket parts became widely used. Again, what’s the objection?
Dave, Good thing to point out that you aren’t affiliated with a body shop. Although no one thought that you were. We just assumed that you would whine about Allstate at any chance you got.
The biggest issue i have would be lost of customer trust. right now customer takes vehicle to third party shop they choose for repair. any issues they have with the repair, are between repair shop and customer. suddenly as agent, we will be thrust into a position of dealing with complaints on the repair work, if the shop is company owned. negatively impacting the relationship between customer and agent.
I recently had someone with Nationwide run-in to me in TX. I took the vehicle to one of their “preferred” shops and it has a lifetime warranty on the repair. It was my choice to use the repair facility. If Allstate starts buying repair shops are we still going to have that choice? Do you really think Allstate is trying to do this for the consumer’s benefit?
Carlfarm, I’m not following your logic. Right now if a customer takes their car to a third party shop (or a shop out of the preferred network) and they are not satisified, there is nothing,as an agent, you can do to help. Is that how you want it? At least if the customer takes their car to a recommended or preferred shop, then, as the agent, you can “ride” the claims adjuster until the customer has been satisfied (if possible). At least as the agent you have one additional advocate (the company) on your side.
Not every repair experience is perfect, especially when insureds view their vehicle as some type of “shrine”, but isn’t it helpful when a company can make a recommendation? Can’t be any worse than a co-worker, brother-in-law, or neighbor making a recommendation. And that’s what usually happens when insureds decide to listen to someone other than their insurance company.
The Insurance Industry has no business fixing Automobiles, Houses or replacing Windshields. Who can be trusted? Sterrling Auto Shop have had several case of improper repairs in all the Automotive trade publications. The Insurance co should stick to fair claims settlements instead of greed.
Back off a little on the greed garbage. Companies are in business to make a profit. They don’t make a profit if the customer is unhappy and goes elsewhere and tells all their friends. Isn’t this part of what the Progressive Cocierge service is about? Everybody seems to think that’s wonderful.