Opt for new auto parts while settling with your Ins. Co.

by Guest » Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:21 am
Guest

My cousin Bob and another guy went for a long drive last Saturday evening and got struck by a rash driver from a distance. The bully escaped narrowly but was trapped later in the morning .The repair works for Bob would be somewhat around $4000. Bob's insurer had agreed to support him with aftermarket body parts for his vehicle, to which Bob's reaction was simple and stern. He did not want his insurer to provide him with aftermarket parts. He maintained that it was his insurer's job to collect the new parts from the tormentor. He had a hard time convincing the insurance representative till he revealed his other identity as an attorney.

Of late his insurance company has offered him new market parts, and also expressed their willingness to resolve matters soon. Could we ever look forward to a hassle-free world ?

Regards,
Blackberry

Total Comments: 172

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 05:38 pm Post Subject:

Let's not even talk about those busticated wheels that are being mandated. Insurers mandate the use of Aluminum alloy wheels that been remanufactured against the request of the Dealers because of the inherent dangers and lack of oversight in assuring their safety.

One word... Transwheel. Called them up and ask them how many of their wheels have failed. But how did we get on the subject of remanufactured wheels? Oh, that's right... your changing the subject again.

I have no doubt that were problems with entries in those systems. From what I understand, there still are (mainly labor times). I can't speak for most other people. I can only say that the people at the company I work for simply listen to the shop and alter the listings as needed. This is probably not typical.

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 05:54 pm Post Subject:

I'm done, out of here, made my point. Let the readers decide for themselves. Got to enjoy other things this weekend like a vintage car show.

It's been real and it's been fun, but I can't say it's been real fun.

Thanks for dialogue t.

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 09:42 pm Post Subject: I enjoyed that

Thanks Tcope and Mike, I hope other readers found that as entertaining as I did. Lori, let's say anywhere USA, maybe that will keep them all on their toes. LOL. If I hear any more about it, I will let you know.

Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 03:52 pm Post Subject:

I could care less if I write another DV report

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I don' think anyone here has said the insurance industry is perfect. Actually, people here who are in the industry typically give advise that helps posters and hurts insurance companies

He seemed to miss all those threads tcope where you and I and other adjusters have researched and tried our darndest to come up with answers to assist the poor people that do have a ligit complaint or are dealing with a night mare or an adjuster...there are some, we all know and have acknowledged that fact....and we have tried to help the poster NOT the carrier! But hey tcope did you get paid by the poster for that service? I didn't nor would I accept it...Did you tell them that you work for companies that will do an 'after repair' inspection (for a hefty fee)? Did I tell them I would 'review' their claim (again for a fee?)..no? hmmmmm...

But how did we get on the subject of remanufactured wheels? Oh, that's right... your changing the subject again.

AGAIN, and still doesn't address key points brought up, or lies exposed.... :roll: but I'll play...

against the request of the Dealers because of the inherent dangers and lack of oversight in assuring their safety.

Let's see an industry that sells parts 'requests' that you only buy new parts FROM THEM..hmmmmmm wonder why? oh yeah...so they can make more money!!!

Data providers once started listing procedures to glue panels back together that the manufacturer said absolutely not.

Oh PA-LEEEEEEZZEE! You bet all the estimatic systems just throw that in there...whatever they want....without any thought...Mike you and I know that many many many shops are now (on some models) using this method of repair ....and it's an accepted and safe repair, (assuming of course that the shop and tech know what they are doing and using the proper adhesive, and there are still some welds you know that don't you?).....frankly on the ones I've written there isn't much savings at all once you figure in the kit...which is about 60 bucks, the labor rate is generally only 1-2 hours difference so I write em all conventional...but to make a statement that it's not allowed by the manufactor....

Well enough backlash against another insurance savings strategy backfires and the policy had to be changed

What policy has changed regarding this? Better let Mitchell know...cause it's still in there many of the models I've seen (door skins, quarters)....

I'm done, out of here,

I'll bet that doesn't hold up...

made my point

You SURE did...

Let the readers decide for themselves.

Got an intelligent bunch of readers around here, doubt they will have any trouble at all ......

Got to enjoy other things this weekend like a vintage car show.

Hope you have a good time, and don't get rained out if outside...(bad bad storms again last night up here)...

It's been real and it's been fun, but I can't say it's been real fun.

It's been REAL enlightening...

Lori, let's say anywhere USA, maybe that will keep them all on their toes. LOL

:wink: That's cool Dave...I understand...was just curious...

If I hear any more about it, I will let you know._

Please do and I'll ask around as well when back to work....could be very interesting topic...

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 02:24 pm Post Subject: Printed with permission of the author.

Something to consider when you buy foreign imitation sheetmetal. Not only does it take away labor and products from a dying American Manufacturing community, you get poor imitation knockoff reproduction based on reverse engineering.


Part Piracy

For years I have have wondered why auto manufacturers have allowed their designs to be copied and sold, depriving them of deserved income. Come to find out, most have not been patenting their designs. Lately, though, some manufacturers are challenging the unclear rules against making auto parts off limits to the band of pirates who simply copy other's hard work. More and more they are applying for design patents on their body parts. And, boy, does this approach have the lazy pirates squealing.


It cost car makers billions of dollars to design and begin manufacturing a new model. Hundreds of talented people–artists, engineers, tool makers, computer programmers, etc–will sometime spend years working on one production model, and possibly, many concept models, before a new car ends up in your local show room. Every one of the thousands of parts used in that vehicle must be separately conceived, designed, engineered and manufactured before the vehicle can be built. When you spend some time to really think about everything that goes into bringing a new vehicle design to market the task seems overwhelming.

So billions of dollars and millions of man hours have been invested in producing a product by an auto manufacturer, when along comes some little pirate who simply purchases some parts, makes cheap copies and sells them for sometimes half of what the original manufacturer sells them for. Does that seem fair to you? Why is OK to steal an idea and design from automobile makers and not from, say, an author? Try printing and selling copies of another author's book and see what happens. It can't be done. Why then do some people think it is alright to simply make copies of car parts and sell them?

Insurance companies and aftermarket parts associations will tell you that consumers benefit by counterfeit parts because it forces competition with the OEM's. If not for aftermarket parts, they say, repair costs and insurance rates would be much higher. Well so what? Why should repair costs and insurance rates be held down when book prices aren't. Don't readers have the same right to lower book prices?

When analyzed, arguments for aftermarket parts are plain asinine. Insurers have been using the fear of higher insurance premiums for decades to convince legislators that artificially controlling labor rates and repair costs, and allowing the piracy of crash parts is essential. But where is the argument for controlling the price of milk, bread, gasoline, electricity, heating oil, education cost and big screen televisions? Why are insurers so damned concerned with keeping insurance rates low? If insurers are so concerned with consumers' financial well being, why don't they lobby congress to help control the price of milk?

Auto manufacturers are finally getting fed up enough to fight for the right to profit from their hard work and investments. Like the collision repair industry, insurers have interfered with the natural marketplace of automobile parts, keeping costs artificially low for the sake of “consumers.” Your elected representatives suck this up knowing that the appearance of supporting higher prices for anything will get them thrown out at the next election. This is the effect of mob rule–of democracy. We are supposed to be a country governed by the rule of law. We are supposed to be a Republic. The term “Democracy” has been misused by certain people in this country since its birth. Our Republic was supposed to protect everyone equally through the rule of law, but over time we have allowed our Republic to deteriorate into a democracy. Democracies always favor the masses. In this case, the evil, rich corporations that bring us all the trappings of our indulgent lifestyles are those entities not being protected by the rule of law. The citizens' pocketbooks are more important than the rights of the corporations.

Auto manufacturers have the right to patent their designs and hard work, just like every other company or person. The courts are helping the music industry to stop people from copying music and selling it. They're putting people in jail for this. There are government task forces solely for stopping the importation of counterfeit clothing and electronics. Don't Americans deserve cheaper Polo shirts and cheaper Ipods? Isn't that an important consumer issue? Where is the insurance lobby on this issue? Are they hypocrites?

Insurance influence in our industry has led to the proliferation of counterfeit parts. But it has also led to the proliferation of body shops that should not exist. There are thousands of body shops in operation that wouldn't be today if it weren't for the interference of the insurance industry. Those of you who are feeding off the insurance nipple to survive are not contributing to the natural selection process of capitalism. You are not part of consumer choice or competition. You are part of the runaway power of political ambition that keeps insurers in power solely because of the insurers' ability to fund political partnerships. Without the political power you have helped insurers achieve, counterfeit parts would not be an issue. The law would protect auto manufactures as much as authors. You would not be forced to install inferior parts on your customer's vehicles.

Here's an idea, the next time your monthly bill arrives for your estimating software, call your insurance partners and ask them if they can help you find some counterfeit software for less money. Tell them it will help you keep your labor rate down. See if they can recommend a supplier.

Get permission to reprint this article in your publication.



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Article printed from .: http://www.bodyshopsolutions.com/WordPress

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 01:31 am Post Subject:

Did you secure this Mike?

Get permission to reprint this article in your publication.

Just wondering...Mike is that just a post on that board?

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 02:12 pm Post Subject:

The link to the author's web site was posted in many discussion forums, permission was granted to reprint the entire article in this thread from the author.

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 09:37 pm Post Subject:

Something to consider when you buy foreign imitation sheetmetal

By imitation, you don't mean "fake' metal, right? By foreign you mean like the parts that Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda, Subaru all use as OEM?

Not only does it take away labor and products from a dying American Manufacturing community, you get poor imitation knockoff reproduction based on reverse engineering.

Playing the "American" card now, huh. It's getting old.

It cost car makers billions of dollars to design and begin manufacturing a new model.

Billions...? To design one car? You quoted it, please provide facts to back up this statement.

I'll skip commenting on all the rest and mention some simple, bottom lines. Car Manufactures make money. They make most of their money not by selling their new vehicles but rather on maintaining them. This is done by having independent dealerships pay the manufacture for franchises and also, and here is the kicker, by selling replacement parts. We can all agree on this as it's simple, basic fact. Now, it's just a question of how much money they want to make and how they can accomplish this. Do we _AMERICAN_ consumers want to pay 5x what a part is really worth just to line the pockets of some greedy CEOs? Do we _AMERICANS_ want to pay 5x what a part is really worth so some guy putting a fender on a vehicle down an assembly line can make $100,000/year? I'm all for workers and their companies making a fair profit but not when it comes to _stealing_ money out of my pocket. This is _EXACTLY_ why the _AMERICAN_ government does not allow for most monopolies. It does not promote good commerce. The American system is based on free enterprise. This promotes healthy competition and benefits the consumer.

"Knock off" parts are nothing new. They have always been around. You simply have to go to the store and look on the shelves. You will see many brands of the same product.

Insurance influence in our industry has led to the proliferation of counterfeit parts.

On what way? In that the insurance industry pays for most vehicle repairs. Insurance companies don't make the parts. We don't allow them to legally be sold. Mike, you yourself have stated that you have no problem with putting them on a vehicle is the owner wants them.

Those of you who are feeding off the insurance nipple to survive are not contributing to the natural selection process of capitalism.

I'll ask the writer... try to get by one day without having any type of insurance. Let me know how long that day lasts. Truth is just the _opposite_... like it or not, insurance _allows_ commerce to exist! Without insurance commerce would simply and plainly, stop. Why? because no one person or one company could afford to pay their own liabilities. Clearly the writer is spouting incorrect information in an attempt to prove his point.

Here's an idea, the next time your monthly bill arrives for your estimating software, call your insurance partners and ask them if they can help you find some counterfeit software for less money.

Counterfeit as in illegal or alternative (Mitchell, ADP, CCC, etc)? I'll ask the writer a question... would you rather only have one source for your estimating software and would you not mind paying 10x as much for it? Ouch! There is something he does not mention.

I'll ask anyone this... please show me where these aftermarket parts are illegal in the US.

I'll wait.

I've always said, and others have said it as well... I'd rather not have insurance companies use aftermarket parts. The trade off is that vehicle manufactures don't rape consumers with by inflating OEM prices. As mentioned before, when AM started coming out, OEM prices dropped about 300%!

I'll end with a quote from the writer:
" If not for aftermarket parts, they say, repair costs and insurance rates would be much higher. Well so what? Why should repair costs and insurance rates be held down when book prices aren't."

I think that sums it all up. As long as the shop is making tons of money, everyone else be damned. THAT is where this article is coming from.

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:53 am Post Subject:

Terrific post/comentary T...bravo

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 02:43 pm Post Subject:

Right on cue and predictable responses from industry people that believe anyone outside the insurance industry must be regulated and controlled to keep insurance company policies affordable. Capitalism and market driven factors can not effect the collision industry and manufacturing, they must be regulated because insurers have to maintain their costs at other's expenses.

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