Karl Flammer Ford

I am sure your comment of "they don't know how the game is played" is referring to having the body shop absorb your deductible. If so, I need to comment on your statement.

I have been in your shoes before. And, I have had the opportunity to work in the transportation and insurance industry for 30 years.

Let me begin by asking you what you pay an electrician for an electrical repair in your home; an air conditioning repair on your a/c unit in your home; or a plumber to unclog your drain; a computer expert to clean your hard drive...

Most of those companies get 100-200 per hour and many charge much much more. Sometimes a 10 minute repair on your a/c unit blower fan costs upwards of $800. Little do you know that the fan can be bought for $100.

And $700 in labor is charged. The job was quoted to you as a "complete repair".... you don't know the breakdown of the bill; all you know is that the repair costs $800. Huge profits for that industry and everyone in that business will agree.

How about the computer repair that was an hour.

Maybe 10 minutes of actual work and 50 minutes of computer back-up download for $200.

The hour rates on those 2 examples are startling and shocking. Yet, it's accepted because it's free enterprise. And, there are many many other examples that are right in front of us everyday that... if we took the time to see how much we are paying for the actual labor involved with the service, we would be shocked.

The body shop industry has been under the arm-pits of the insurance companies every since the first insurance company wrote a claim on a vehicle. Some little know facts about this industry: The majority of a body shop's business is insurance related (except specialty paint shops). The majority of states allow insurance companies to dictate where you repair your vehicle. These Insurance companies have "DRP's" (Direct Repair Facilities).

If you have a claim with an insurance company due to an accident in one of those states, you will be forced to go to an on-site evaluation center, have your car reviewed for damage repairs by an adjuster directly employed by your insurance company; and then you will be told where you must repair your car. You may have a couple choices but only shops that are in their DRP program. You see, shops that are a DRP for a particular insurance company must accept their demands; their hourly rates for repair; and their guidelines. Some insurance companies, depending on the state, pay as little as $35 per hour to their DRP body shops.

Some will pay a little more. And, many pay about $45. Now lets see... a little research can show you that a good body man will demand $20 per hour and a good paint man about $30 per hour.

But, if the body shop is only collecting $45, there is only about $15-25 per hour in profit.... Maybe. Then the shop has it's overhead, rent, taxes, OSHA regulations, federal employee matching taxes, Workers Comp, benefits, and many many many more expenses. Yes, the body shop also makes money on the actual part itself.

That fender that needs to be replaced, is procured from a dealership. The difference in the cost that the dealer charges and the amount that the insurance company pays for the fender is also profit for the body shop. BUT... this profit is minimal.

And, the insurance company at times also dictates where to buy those parts... especially if the part is used. The insurance companies dictate this business now. Their lobbyists are always padding the pockets of the politicians in order to maintain control.

the insurance companies have the biggest profits... the multi-million dollar commissions earned by keeping a low cost per claim paid... Local body shops are disappearing across the country. Businesses that have been around for 50 years are closing due to insurance regulations and limitations on rate.

Insurance companies WANT that to happen. They WANT these shops to close. Insurance companies have already begun to create their own "one stop repair centers"... owned and operated by the insurance companies...

so THEY can retain even more profits by eliminating the middle man. Back in the 70's and 80's, "playing the game" as you put it was wide-spread. Body Shops could work with insurance adjusters, partake in "over-writing" claims (insurance fraud), pay off adjusters to get a higher dollar claim; some body shops would create additional damage on vehicles just to make the claim more in value; and some shops would repair parts in-lieu of replacement of a damaged part. All this, so body shops could be more profitable; so the body shop could absorb the customer's deductible; so the body shop could be competitive against other body shops.

Those days are long gone. I could write so much more about this business... but, in the end... if your comment was directed towards absorbing the deductible that your insurance company charges...

blame the insurance companies... Body shops should never take part in insurance fraud. But, they could absorb the deductible a lot easier if the noose around their neck wasn't driving current trends. Less insurance regulation allows for better competition, a better repaired vehicle, and for America's small business growth.

E-mail your congressman to always vote against insurance regulations...

against the insurance company's control of our small businesses...

Odd comment - 2 of the 4 service advisors are female. If you ever go back, I suggest you ask for Darlene.

She takes a little too long with every customer, but everyone of us trusts her to get it right, get it on time, and to find a better than fair price for the requested service. (Particularly good on getting warranty coverage.)

The service manager's name is Rob, and he is a complete ***! He is VERY rude and unprofessional!

He refused to coordinate service for my truck and insisted that there was nothing wrong with it--without even looking at it! I'm the one driving it!

Wouldn't I know if a brand new truck is not responding the way it should?!! Go out of your way to stay away from this calamity!!