Despicable Behavior From Within the Repair Industry
Tuesday October 21, 2008
I never cease to be amazed at the crass behavior that some in the auto repair industry exhibit. We hear stories from time to time, but rarely do you have such a clear window into despicable behavior as we found in a recent article. ABRN (Auto Body Repair News) released this article following the devastation of Hurricane Ike. Unlike the victims, or anybody with a heart for that matter, they seem genuinely excited about the fact that this destructive storm left a trail of damage, especially when it comes to the vehicles that didn't fare so well. Here's a sample:
"If there is a ray of sunshine in the wake of Hurricane Ike’s freakish northbound sweep through the Midwest, it’s reflected in a surge of business for numerous collision repairers due to rising floodwaters and vehicles tangling with toppled trees.I'm not naive. Somebody has to fix these cars, and they aren't doing it free, so there is money to be made. But the tone of the article really rubbed me the wrong way. It's a step away from celebration, and a window into the mindset of what I hope is a minority in the repair industry.
While water above the door sill most often results in a total-loss declaration, branch-damage nets more work for the local body shop."
Comments
It sound like they are part of the BUSH administration to hell will everyone as long as I and my rich friends profit from it.
I used to own 2 shops! 100% guarantee on my work.Now I own a Ford Diesel.Has been kept up to like new,but, Every time I take it to a Ford place for work on it,it seems they break more than they fix.It is never their fault!It sounds
like the mid west people,& it is a shame!We trust these people with our vehicles to repair them,but their trust is running out for every
one.They are not out to make a decent wage,
they want all you got.Shame on them,from the
smallest one,to the car company repair shops!!
This is disturbing.
Too bad these shops couldn’t find more constructive ways to bring in business -being so happy in other people’s tragedies is low.
I wonder if they laugh in front of their customers.
Hey Larry, this article is about automotive issues not politics. Find some other place to post your moronic rants.
This is a site for consumer information - and that’s the information that Alan is providing - too bad if it ruffles feathers
DForte, if you’re referring to my last post (who’s Allen, by the way?), let me make a few things clear. First, as I said before, this was an automotive article, not a political one. As far as politics go, however, let me assure you I am no fan of the Bush administration, and support neither major presidential candidate. That said, there are plenty of sites where petty political postings are appropriate, but this one is about automotive issues. Making snide political remarks here shows a serious lack of intelligence. Too bad if this fact ruffles your feathers.
As much as I hate to take the unpopular side on this one, you have to realize that auto repair places need people with broken/damaged cars to stay in business. A natural disaster that destroys cars is one way. Granted they probably shouldn’t voice their happiness about it since it did damage to peoples’ homes and belongings (not sure on injuries/deaths related to the hurricane). This is true in many different jobs. A cousin of mine owns a boat towing/rescue business and when there are heavy winds, he knows it means more business and more money. That’s just the way our economy goes.
Mathew, I too would hope that these vultures would be considered a minority in areas where there has been a catastrophe. I always recomend that a customer ask around for a reputable repair shop if they do not have one. I have some ideas that I will share with you that I hope will help.
Ask around the neighborhood. If you are looking for a Body Shop ask area Mechanic shops, Detail shops and Glass and Upholstry shops etc. These people have a insight on the best shops in the neighborhood.
Notice how the shop appearance is kept, pride goes a long way.
Ask lots of questions. A quality shop does not mind educating their customers on techniques, procedures and what to expect during the claims process.
Do not make your decision on the cheapest. Sweetness of the price is long forgotten, and you could have paid a little more and got a great job.
I have owned a Collision repair facility for 27 years. We are proud to be voted as the best shop in the metroplex and we have the best customers also. We always look at catastrophe weather as a bonus and an opportunity to earn new customers. We never compromise our business philosophy, we never advertise and we never seek a get rich attitude. Unfortunately some body shops ruin the whole image of paint and body shops. There are lots of good shops out there, ask around and find them.
Personally, I think you ALL got it wrong. No one is crying politics and no one cares where you stand on them TC. The issue is not about the body shops as far as I saw, none of them were running around jumping for joy over the increase in business so don’t blame them for an article written by an obviously less than compassionate author who is more concerned about how it benefited the body shops with increases in business than he is about the plight of the people who were most affected by Ike and in the worst way.
I am a building contractor, and yes my business does increase after severe weather events, but we operate on a principle of helping the customer and giving compassion and genuine concern for what they are going through along with providing the services that we provide and I am sure the MAJORITY of these body shops operate on the same principle. One big for instance is Pat Mallaney, owner of Mallaney’s CARSTAR in Manteno. He obviously suffered damage of his own from these events and is in the same boat as some of the car owners only his is with his building. I don’t know this guy from Adam, I live in Maryland, but based on the turn out that he had offering help to repair his facility, I would say the guy must have some integrity and honesty for his customers to offer their help.
So in the future please, read the article for what it is and remember it was not written by the owners of these business’ it was written buy an author who lacks care and compassion for the people who were affected by the storm and he also lacks anything even resembling concern or how he is making these business people look to their customers and anyone else who takes the time read his articles.
Personally I think the author is a moron for representing these business’ the way that he did and making it appear as though they ( the business’ in question) were overjoyed at the plight of their cutomers when hat was not the case at all. They were simply answering the questions the author asked of them.
SHUT UP TOOLS
AAA,BBB,ASE,ASA are all about Auto Repair.
The BLOGS are full of RIPOFFS,SCHEMES and DISHONEST people. Use the internet to expose these businesses and close them up. ALERT THE PUBLIC.
Hey guys, its always been true to not discuss politics, religion and you finances to anyone but your closest family. So since I’m not related to anyone here (I think!) lets get on with the business of autos!
I do not think G.W. had anything to do with the moran whose diesel will not run properly. You might blame the affirmative action illiterates who work at Ford and Gm and smoke pot before they come to work and do not know a screwdriver from a torque wrench.
Whereas this article was written in bad taste for a general consumer and for many shops, the fact is, some shops were ready to close and any natural disaster brings the books in the black. and this is what the article was there to bring out.
Come to the disaster areas where people from many different trades come from half way across a nation to make money off the devastation, yes it’s a disheartening fact but unfortunately one that happens every day. Same with the article.
Written in bad taste, but also written for shops and insurance companies in mind.
Come on, are we that thin skinned and so desperate to see “evil” everywhere? The article says “IF THERE IS A RAY OF SUNSHINE”. The author is NOT gloating, they are simply stating that this disaster will yield business for repair shops. This is no different than the car-wash owner acknowledging that his business will increase after a snowstorm, or the store owner acknowledging that their business will increase before Christmas. If this is the biggest thing that you need to be concerned about, you must have it pretty good! Get a life….
sAY Matthew
what i find as being bizarre is the GM outfit, cadillac in particular, they claim they think older cadillacs are not repairable, but when they decide to do the work, they ask for unrepairable amounts of money, they do-not pose any hesitation in asking for elevated repair-cost. Orlando in NJ supportin a eldorado ‘87′ 4.1 liter ‘attractive’
Perhaps an over-zealous reporter ?
Frankly, my biggest concern is that some of these cars are going to show up on car lots via the auto auctions. I’ve seen it before and a few of them have made their way into our shop in the past. I saw one last year that came from Katrina. It was purchased from an on-line auction
Phil, we saw one, too. A flood car from TX that was referred to as “light flooding.” Electrically they are never the same. You can replace every box and you’ll still have connection problems galore.