The Car Estimate

September 4th, 2010 - So, I had a little incident with my car. Someone, not naming any names, moved my car from the curb by the street into the driveway then backed their car out and hit the drivers side of my car. Then acted surprised about how close someone had parked my car. Hmm, maybe they bumped their head while driving into my car....

Anyway, it did not look like much damage, at least not to me or to the person who hit me or to anyone else, except the three body shop men I took it to for an estimate, who looked at my car. Seemed minor, no biggie, take it in for an estimate and get it fixed. Piece of cake or so I thought. First, let me start by saying I have no idea of what a 'reasonable' estimate would look like. I am thinking I will get two, and if need be, a third for the tie breaker. But I figured the estimates would all be pretty close in amount. Let me just say, they were not even in the ballpark of each other. Which is really odd since they all started out by telling me the same thing. "Now, other folks are going to try and screw you, but I am being totally honest". "I am going to tell you the truth about what you really need done and I am not going to jack up my prices because that is not how I stay in business". "Oh, by the way, will you be filing this with your insurance company?" I say, "I don't know, does it matter?" Well they hem and haw for a few minutes and say well not really, I mean cost is cost, but you know, it is just something we ask folks". To which I am thinking, of course it matters, because if I am filing a claim the cost of the repair just went up about 25%, because as we all know everyone thinks the insurance companies are loaded. Since I happen to work for an insurance company I know that is not the case. All three of the places I took it to did the same dance. You know, walk out to the car take two steps back, turn your head both ways, bend from the waist, hand on their chin and then two steps to the left and two steps to the right, one more bend low, and a quick rub of the chin and then the slight whistle. "Well, I am going to quote as if I can fix, but chances are good you will need a new door." I ask, "if you think I need a new door why don't you just quote it that way." "Well I could, but, but, well I think we will try to repair it". The reason they don't say new door is because no car insurance in the world is going to accept that quote. No, the thing to do is to quote repair, start the work, and then a couple days into it call the insurance and say, "I tried, but it really has to have a new door". By that time it is too late for the insurance to say no. The insurance company is screwed, the car repair shop is happy and I get a new door, oh and yeah, I get my rates jaked up through the roof.

All I really wanted was to get my car fixed. I mean I pay over $800 a year for insurance and in the last 10 years have not had a claim, what the hell, pay for a new door and stop the belly aching. I thought it would be simple, get an estimate, bring it to the shop, and car gets fixed. If you can believe it, it used to be that simple. But not anynore, no, now everyone has to play the game, do the dance, and then maybe just maybe you get your car fixed. For now, I am done with cars, I am looking for a used Hummer, or a tank, or any vehicle that doesn't cave in when it gets hit with a slight tap. Oh, and also I am taking some stock out in auto body repair shops, seems that is where the real money is hiding.