Repair or Replace – which is it and why does it matter?

We get so many questions every day. A big one is what is the difference between repair and replace?  It’s a great question with an equally great answer.

The Windshield Replacement:  When you have a crack that is longer than a dollar bill or in your direct line of vision; this is called a REPLACEMENT Click replacement to learn more about windshield replacement.

The Chip Repair:   When you have a ding in your windshield that is smaller than a quarter (we do not fill cracks) is what our industry considers a REPAIR.  Click Repair to learn more about windshield repairWhy does it matter?

When you call an auto glass shop, you need to know what you are asking for.  Most shops do not “repair” cracks; especially those that are longer than a dollar bill.  If you ask for a repair, the customer service representative will tell you that it isn’t doable which can freak out the customer.  Because, after all, why are you saying you don’t “repair” auto glass when you are an auto glass shop?  Make sense?  If you need a replacement, it is helpful if you tell the CSR that is what you want instead of a repair.

Repair:  Chip smaller than a quarter with no legs

Replacement:  Crack longer than a dollar bill – the whole windshield will be removed and replaced.

If you know what you want, your claim will go smoother and you will be much happier.

To clearer days!

The post Do I Need a Repair or Replacement? appeared first on Adventure Autoglass.

This is our top five list of questions we recommend you ask any auto glass repair shop you use, including Adventure Auto Glass!

We’ve given our answers to each question below.

1. Why won’t the auto glass shop set an exact time for my mobile appointment?

We don’t set an exact time because the previous job may take longer than expected or there may be other delays such as road work.

It is also possible that the previous installation finishes sooner, in which case we will arrive sooner during your appointment time frame.

Don’t worry though, we call before arriving and the time frames are typically only a few hours, none of that 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. business.

2. What is your warranty?

We offer a limited lifetime warranty on every auto glass installation for as long as you own your vehicle.

Our warranty includes, but is not limited to, workmanship, material defects, and leaking. Proper adhesive cure times are an important factor for a safe installation.

3. Can you come to me?

We can come to you with our mobile service, which serves the majority of Yavapai County.

Be aware that some vehicle types do require an in-shop appointment, but we will let you know ahead of time.

4. Do you accept auto glass insurance, and do you offer a deal for cash customers?

We accept insurance and will be happy to walk you through the entire process from calling your provider to wrapping up with billing.

5. Are you a licensed and insured shop?

We are indeed and even an insurance preferred auto glass replacement company. When you call, just make sure to tell your provider you want Adventure Auto Glass to replace or repair your glass.

We hope this helps you when selecting your auto glass replacement shop and if you’re in the area, we’d love to help you out.

If you do have any more questions for us, we are always happy to help and encourage you to leave your questions below or give us a call!

Even if you’re not in the area, we might be able to recommend a shop, you never know.

Good luck out there and happy adventures!

The post Top 5 Questions to Ask an Auto Glass Shop appeared first on Adventure Autoglass.

“Why do many auto repair shops treat women so poorly?” This was the question Julie, a newer customer, asked me during our first phone call. She found out about my shop from her colleague Suzzie, a long-time customer, after going through some fairly rough experiences with other automobile repair garages.

Suzzie also mentioned to her that we were a woman- and LBGT-friendly shop. What this boils down to is that EVERYONE is treated respectfully and equally at AutoAid.

I invited Julie to visit the shop and see for herself what we offer. I told her she would never see a repair place cleaner than ours, or one with better trained techs.

A few days later, she arrived at our doorstep. The first thing Julie said when she came into my shop was, “It’s so clean.” But what she was most impressed with is that we LISTEN to our customers. AutoAid is a one-stop shop specializing in automotive repair: brakes, tune-ups, oil changes, and tires, among other things.

Her car was a relatively new model I’m familiar with. It typically performs well, with few repairs, if properly maintained. When I asked the reason she took her car into the other shops, she said factory maintenance was recommended. However, their prices were so outrageous that she decided not to leave her vehicle with them.

“One time, I was standing behind this guy, who also brought his car in for maintenance. He had the same car I did, the same year, the same EVERYTHING. So, I heard the guy quote him, and I thought it was reasonable. I don’t know if the repairperson knew I overheard or not, but he gave me a more than 50% higher price within five minutes of that conversation. When I confronted him and asked why he charged the man before me less for maintenance, he told me I had misheard the conversation and that my car had more problems than his. I’m still boiling just telling you about it, Jack.”

I shared with Julie that there may have been a combination of factors involved. Being female was certainly one trigger, but it could have also been about how much or little she knew about her vehicle, and who owned the shop. Company culture comes from the top down. Some shops will take advantage of anyone unfamiliar with the basics of their car, male or female.

While we were speaking, my techs put her car through our free 38-point visual check, the first step in our testing process. Everything checked out, no visible leaks or disconnected wires. I came back to Julie with an estimate for her maintenance. She was happy with the price we quoted—the same price we would have quoted anyone, with the exact same car in the same condition. Just saying. That’s when she gave me the thumbs up to work on her car.

Our highly-trained staff, including multiple ASE-Certified techs, put her car through the factory-recommended maintenance, including changing out the oil and air filter, belt replacement, fluid checks, and wheel and tire checks. After the maintenance, her vehicle was given a clean bill of health.

That was several months ago, and she’s referred others to me as well. Julie was also impressed by our over 35-year AAA-Approved Auto Repair and Customer Service awards. “If AAA is behind you, so am I, Jack.”

I love sharing this kind of story to educate people on their cars and what to expect in automotive repair.

AutoAid services many Domestic, Asian and European vehicles and is also used by small and large companies for their fleet automobiles. We invite you to visit our 5,000 square-foot facility in Van Nuys either in person or at autoaidrescue.com. If you go to our website, you can also make an appointment on our Appointments page, Appointments for AutoAid – Van Nuys, CA | AutoAid (autoaidrescue.com), or call us at 818-305-6632. We are also here if you have any questions about your vehicle or just need some sound advice.

The post Why Do Many Auto Repair Shops Treat Women So Poorly? appeared first on AutoAid.

Watch our video to hear about our Self Check-In Process during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Self Check-In Process allows for you to safely drop-off your vehicle for repair.

The process is simple with 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Fill out the required check-in forms.

Step 2: Mark the damaged area on your vehicle.

Step 3: Place your keys with the completed forms into the drop box.

We can arrange for a rental vehicle to be delivered at the time of your drop-off. After a brief and safe interaction with our staff, we’ll quickly have you back on your way. At Fix Auto our mission is to provide the easiest collision repair experience, and now also the safest. To learn more about the Fix Auto process visit our sites below.

https://fixautousa.com/

The post Self Check-In Process appeared first on American Autobody.

Watch our video to hear about our process during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are here for you!

Our No Contact Repair Process allows for auto-body repair on your vehicle, without the need to ever leave your home. We provide free loaner cars, pick-up and delivery, combined with electronic insurance claims. Our professional team disinfects the vehicle upon pick-up and provides protective covering on high-contact areas, such as the steering wheel and seats. We then thoroughly clean and disinfect your vehicle again before returning it to you.

To learn more about the Fix Auto process visit our website below.

www.fixautousa.com

The post COVID-19 Update – No Contact Repair Process appeared first on American Autobody.

Many are overwhelmed at just the thought of a major auto repair. “Who can I trust?” is top of mind when searching for a reputable auto repair shop. We all have heard horror stories in the auto repair industry and today the internet has made it easy to search for anything, or has it?

When Tony and I opened Croce’s Transmission Specialists in 1999, our goal was to address an overlooked area in the industry. The fear of auto repair. We saw a need for clear explanations, treating customers with respect and being part of our community.

1) Empowering consumers to make informed decisions based on the facts.

Educating our customers and community on transmission maintenance and the importance of addressing minor repairs before they become major ones was and still is our first priority.

Since 1999, many women have come into our shop and were a little nervous. Surprisingly they freely gave us great feedback on how clean our waiting area and restroom are and appreciated being treated with respect. This was good news but sadden me at the same time because it showed me how low customer expectations were, which lead me to another industry need, professionalism.

2) Professionalism in the auto repair industry.

There are many fine men and women in the auto repair industry and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of them over the years. So why is the industry not viewed as professional?

Today, with information all around us I believe it can be information overload at times. Unfortunately, many consumers don’t know what kinds of questions to ask, so they opt for the price question. How much? This is the most common mistake. Without testing, it’s just a guess. A guess that will have to be adjusted with the facts. 5 Transmission Mistakes

Would you call a dentist expecting him or her to tell you what’s wrong with your tooth over the phone? Would you have confidence in anyone that would? With so much information online, we have to be careful not to “devalue” what others do. Just because someone throws out a few ideas, it doesn’t make them a quality resource. Offering no warranty on their suggestion, they haven’t road-tested the vehicle or performed any testing. They don’t know if other issues exist. If their answer doesn’t work they have nothing to lose. If a repair shop guesses and just keeps installing parts into your vehicle, when do you want them to stop? Do they warranty their work, do they have proper licensing, insurances, continued training, associations memberships and a community they are part of.

The good men and women in the industry see themselves as the professionals they are. Their dedication to continued learning, goal setting, action-taking, mentoring and commitment to their customers and community has inspired me.

In the end, you choose who you want to do business with. After all, it’s your vehicle and your money.

Since 1999 many Croce’s customers were happy to find out:

• Only a minor repair was needed
• Their vehicle was still under manufacturer warranty (Yes we’ve called for them)
• We can contact your extended service contract company

If a major transmission repair was needed they received:

• A clear explanation
• Written estimate
• Nationwide Warranty
• Financing option

Conveniences:

• Loaner vehicle
• Shuttle ride
• Job-status updates by phone, email or text
• A friendly team to answer your questions

Empowering drivers to be informed not pressured. To plan and budget for maintenance and repairs puts them in the driver’s seat. They have control over who they choose and when the vehicle will be serviced. No pressure of dreaded breakdowns. They retain vehicle value for trade-in or sale and they know they’re vehicle is safe and reliable.

They have peace of mind and their vehicle doesn’t stress them out. Life is a journey and very hectic at times. We want to help you enjoy the ride!

Schedule an appointment today.

The post Why we’re taking the fear out of auto repair. appeared first on Croce\'s Transmission.

Throughout the year, we strive to support our customers during some pretty rough days. Being in a car accident or vehicle collision can be devastating. Our hope is that if this happens, everyone walks away with little to no injuries. While the accident itself is terrifying, dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be extremely stressful. Our team of professionals work each day to help our customers get through this time by offering a wide range of FREE services.

Free Estimate

We offer an online estimate tool that is free and easy-to-use. Simply fill out your contact information, along with your vehicle specs and photos.

Insurance Claim Assistance

Our team of experienced professionals manage the details of your insurance claim, from start to finish. We work with insurance companies to get the best possible outcome for our customers.

Free Loaner Car

This is a big one. We understand that there is nothing worse than feeling stranded when your car is in the shop. Don’t worry, we have you covered. We offer free loaner cars while your vehicle is being repaired.

Free Pick-Up & Delivery

We will pick up your car and deliver it back to you with our metro-wide pick-up and delivery service.

Online Vehicle Repair Tracking

We offer email updates on the progress of your vehicle repair. Just register your information and voila!

If you have been in an auto accident and are in need of vehicle repair, call American Auto Body at 763-424-2522 to schedule an appointment. At American Auto Body, we don’t just fix cars – we help people

The post Striving to Spread the Joy all Year Long appeared first on American Autobody.

Due to a high deer population in Minnesota, drivers should be on the lookout year-round for unpredictable deer when traveling on the road. But, now more than ever, drivers should be on the alert. We are entering deer mating season, which is the time of year (October, November, and December) when there is a documented increase in deer-automobile collisions.

Hitting a deer with your car can be a scary experience. If you have hit a deer and you need immediate assistance, your first call should be 911. Take care of you and your passengers first. Even if you are concerned with the deer, it is recommended to never approach a wounded wild animal.

Once you are at a point when you can focus on any damages done to your car, give us a call. We understand how stressful a car accident can be. We strive to make the automobile repair process as stress free as possible. Here are just a few ways we work with clients to take away some of their worry.

• Free and easy repair estimate process.
• Free loaner while your vehicle is being repaired.
• Free pick-up and delivery of your damaged automobile.
• We work with insurance companies on the details of your claims.

Give us a call today at 763-424-2522 to schedule an appointment or to discuss your automobile repair needs.

The post Warning – Deer Crossing! appeared first on American Autobody.

Historically speaking, September can offer up some pretty interesting weather conditions to Minnesota residents. The extreme shifts in temperature can cause strong storms that wreak havoc on homes and automobiles. In our years of service, we have repaired cars damaged by everything from broken tree branches to flying trampolines.

Storms can be terrifying. Storm damage can be heartbreaking. If your automobile has experienced storm damage, our staff at American Auto Body is ready to help. We understand that the car repair process can be overwhelming, so we have tried to make it as stress-free as possible.

Our team of professionals take the worry out of your repairs, from start to finish. We begin the process with an easy to use estimate app. We also understand that although your car is out of commission, life keeps moving and you need wheels to get around. Not to worry. We offer FREE loaners while your car is being repaired. Can’t get your vehicle to American Auto Body? Whether the damage is too great or you just need a lift, our customers love our FREE pick -up and/or delivery service.

At American Auto Body, exceptional customer service is our focus. We don’t just fix cars – we help people. Call today at 763-424-2522 to schedule an appointment or submit an online estimate request using our easy-to-use app.

The post Storm Damage appeared first on American Autobody.