The Difference Between Right and Wrong
OK, so this week I made a deal with myself that I would honestly try and look at things from the Insurance standpoint and try and consider that all the information that was coming from these well trained individuals was indeed fact and that I was just never properly instructed or taught how to repair a vehicle, I truly gave in for this one week!!!
What I noticed is that these well trained individuals were not really that well trained in vehicle repair, but were in the assessment of damages based upon a certain criteria passed on to them from their superiors, trainers, etc. It would appear to me based upon the terminology that is used on a daily basis from these individuals that all collision losses are exactly the same and that all processes and procedures that some of us deem necessary are in fact not necessary. I was trained in the repair and refinish procedures necessary to restore a vehicle to its "Pre-Loss" condition based upon an itemized estimate prepared by the deemed expert, regardless of our input or experience.
I stood in amazement at the way these losses were assessed and how the terminology or practices stayed the same no matter which Insurance Company we were dealing with, amazing!! I am so glad that this was just an experiment, that I have not reached the point no matter what they throw at us to say I give!!! I honestly believe that this can change, that you out there that are letting this happen can change. The Insurance industry cares about one thing "The Bottom Line" as we do also, but we are willing to charge for what we do and nothing more, whereas the Insurance industry wants to get paid for things that they do not do! and there are way too many of you out there that are willing to help them at others expense and it has to stop, stop today!
The Difference Between Right and Wrong has become clouded in our industry and it is my hope that this will change. I was told today by an insurance expert that I cannot change what is happening and that I should just get out of the Industry, Hmmm!! I thought that doing the Right thing was the way things should be, but it appears that Right is Wrong if you are wearing the properly labeled polo!!! Thanks for listening because it would appear that this is what some of you do best in Arizona, you listen and not act!!!
What I noticed is that these well trained individuals were not really that well trained in vehicle repair, but were in the assessment of damages based upon a certain criteria passed on to them from their superiors, trainers, etc. It would appear to me based upon the terminology that is used on a daily basis from these individuals that all collision losses are exactly the same and that all processes and procedures that some of us deem necessary are in fact not necessary. I was trained in the repair and refinish procedures necessary to restore a vehicle to its "Pre-Loss" condition based upon an itemized estimate prepared by the deemed expert, regardless of our input or experience.
I stood in amazement at the way these losses were assessed and how the terminology or practices stayed the same no matter which Insurance Company we were dealing with, amazing!! I am so glad that this was just an experiment, that I have not reached the point no matter what they throw at us to say I give!!! I honestly believe that this can change, that you out there that are letting this happen can change. The Insurance industry cares about one thing "The Bottom Line" as we do also, but we are willing to charge for what we do and nothing more, whereas the Insurance industry wants to get paid for things that they do not do! and there are way too many of you out there that are willing to help them at others expense and it has to stop, stop today!
The Difference Between Right and Wrong has become clouded in our industry and it is my hope that this will change. I was told today by an insurance expert that I cannot change what is happening and that I should just get out of the Industry, Hmmm!! I thought that doing the Right thing was the way things should be, but it appears that Right is Wrong if you are wearing the properly labeled polo!!! Thanks for listening because it would appear that this is what some of you do best in Arizona, you listen and not act!!!
Great thoughts and it sounds like you have finally understood the basic rule of insurance companies which is to LCS (lie, cheat and steal).
Too bad you don't have the guts to put your name down on the article or the guts to fight them in the OK Corral.
Bob Isham
New Image Paint and Body
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Bob,
My name is Gary Frye and I fight this kind of thing on a daily basis. I decided to do this to satisfy the masses out there that still think that this is a joke. I am in court two to three times a week fighting for the rights that so many give away. I am wondering who is going to stand with me. The time for action is now!! The closet complainer is not welcome anymore and all the sideliners that are sitting there waiting for someone else to do their dirty work need to crawl away so that the rest of us can unite!! There are only a couple of us that are pushing these issues while the rest just do like I say "NOTHING". I do know this, some are saying that this course of action is not the politically correct way but I beleive that political correctness is just a way to conceal cowardnesss. I for one would not sit by and let someone steal from you or anyone else for that matter so Bob, why is it that so many are??
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BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY WORK THE TRUTH IS. NOW IS THE TIME TO GET PAID FOR WHAT YOU DO AND DO WHAT YOU GET PAID FOR RESPECT IS WHAT WE NEED FROM THE INS CO. WE HAVE THE INVESTMENT IN. THE HARD WORK AND WORKER'S NO OFFENSE TO MECHANIC'S BUT WE ARE MORE INVESTED IN EQUIP. AND HAND TOOL'S JUST NOT THE RESPECT IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE A DIFFRANCE NOW THAT IT IS SLOW.OR WE WILL BE IN TROUBLE SOME OF US ARE ALREADY THERE
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Harvesting
When you start a business, a brand or a project, there's a lot of work to be done. You must tell a story, build credibility and a permission asset. People don't trust you or believe you and you must earn their attention and trust. On top of that, you need skills, systems, machines and a team that works.
Quite an investment.
The goal is to reach the point where there's some harvesting going on. The first sales might cost you a hundred or thousand dollars each to make. At some point, though, you want sales to happen for free, people to show up with money. At some point, you want word of mouth to replace promotion and to earn back the money you invested up front.
That's why it's astonishing to me that people develop projects where harvesting is difficult or impossible. Here are some of the elements of a market where you are likely to reach the point where you can harvest the benefits of your investment:
Word spreads. You want a market where stories of your success and reputation will reach other prospects.
Needs are similar. You want a market where the skills you developed to help one person can also be used to help another person.
Budgets exist. You want a market where there is more than one player with money to spend (on you) to solve a problem.
Barriers exist. The market should reward insiders (like you) but make it really difficult for copycats to come in and steal share and lower prices.
Price should rise with value delivered. As your work spreads and your reputation increases, you should be able to charge more, not less.
I think 90% of all markets don't meet these standards, and given the choice, I'd avoid them.
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Gary--We are fighting everyday and I know a lot of other shop owners that tell me they are fighting the same battle BUT we are never sure that they are really standing tall or just giving us B.S..
Those that don't take the time and effort to get paid fairly will not be in this business for long. The old saying of "if you don't ask, you won't get" is applicable. You have to dig your heals in and fight for everything you are entitled to.
Old Marv Rather the guru of estimating would say "call me Mr. 2/10th", or 12 minutes. Convert the tenths to dollars and they all add up to hundreds and thousands. We need every penny to survive. For any shop owner that wants to play Santa Claus and give stuff away just count the number of presents you got from insurers in all the past Christmas years. Charge for what you do and no "freebies". Learn how to be a real business person and "be fair but be very firm".
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THERE IS A LOT OF BACKSTABBING BEING DONE HERE IN TUCSON BY SHOP OWNERS YOU THINK ARE IN THE UP ALSO INSURANCE COMPANIES WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHO WE TRUST
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