Body shop saga continues

State Farm claims department called today. Said they got the $1884 estimate from shop number two.
Asked why we hadn't taken it to their preferred shop? We told them we did three weeks ago. Told them that shop called day before yesterday and said we had 48 hours to make an appointment.Told them the estimate was $8054. WHAT! SF says they haven't heard anything from them. Now what were they planning to do with the bill after they did the work for us if they hadn't even turned the estimate in to the claims department?

Hello rrlund,

They would make a very nice profit, one way or the other. They stay up ay night to scheme and look for a any loop holes, or We so this guy come signs! That is how honest law abiding citizens go to jail! Buyer be ware?

Guido.

That's why it's desirable to avoid State Farm.

Night before last, a fellow backed into my wife's Chrysler T&C while it was parked. I got two estimates yesterday morning, one for $1900 and one for $1500. The difference was between replacing a "cladding" trim piece on the driver's door with new as opposed to refinishing and reinstalling the original.

We have American Family insurance, and the other guy has Farm Bureau. A Farm Bureau Adjuster looked at the van yesterday and took photos. He called me this morning, discussed it, and said he would put a check in the mail for the $1500 estimate today yet. Done deal.

I could fix it myself if I wanted to, but I'm going to bow out. I dislike working on minivans and I have plenty of other work to do.

Both of the estimates came from shops that were friendly competitors when I had a shop. The owner of one of them and I got to talking yesterday morning and we decided that as much as we hate to admit it, for collision repair the days of the small independent body shops are numbered. The insurance companies are taking over more and more with their own shops, to the detriment of the industry.

The insurance companies are taking the competition out of the repairs, and competition is what results in top notch work.