Just have to vent a bit here about the windshield I had replaced yesterday at a local shop. The did an OK job on the install, but it looks like the installed put a drill down on the dash while it was still running and put scrape/swirl marks in the plastic (definitely wont buff out) wood grain center section that houses the radio, climate controls, etc...

Of course they didn't say anything when my wife picked up the truck and she noticed it on the drive home, after they were closed. So I called them this morning about it and the manager was less than enthusiastic but did ask that I bring it in for a "look" this afternoon. I called the local dealer and the piece is over $200 for a replacement. It's lucky it was something easily to replace and not the entire dash.

Why is it that when you pay good money to have work done that they always end up damaging something in the process? My stance will be that they buy a new piece and I will install it myself. Either that, or I will take it to their insurance company and have them pay for it.

Anyone else have similar problems with shoddy installers?


Doug

 

If I were in your shoes I would insist that the piece be totally replaced: have them pay for the piece and dealer installation. No way would I put it in; I'd make them pay for the installation. Good Luck!

 

How come you payed for a windshield replacement?

 

I would have the dealer do the work and make the shop that messed your truck up pay for it. If you somehow end up paying out of your pocket for the part go to YK2 Ford the parts usually are much cheaper.

 

Doogie I hear what you are saying. Last year around the 4th of July I had to have both door windows replaced plus windsheild. Some people here will remember me because I'm the one the meteroite went through my truck. Anyways the glass guys used duct tape to hold glass in till urethane set up but pulled my truch in the sun want a son of a gun cleaning that tape off then to top it off they stole my Ipod. So for now on if I take it somewhere I remove everything..

 

KevinM - I carry limited glass coverage on my vehicles, as I typically have to replace the windshields every two years +/- as I do a lot of highway driving back and forth to work and hte windshields take a *****-kicking. Limited glass covers all glass in the case of vandelism or theft, but does not cover windshields for replacement.

Thanks for all the positive replies. I was going to replace the part myself simply because I don't want to spend the time to book it into the shop to have them do 10 minutes of work. It really doesn't appear to be that hard of a job to do, as I think the piece just snaps off. (I'll have to check my shop manual to verify).

I'll keep you posted on the outcome, but I don't have a "warm fuzzy" that the manager will be too excited about buying me a new piece.


Doug

 

Well, I met with the assistant manager and after some discussion he decided that the damage was caused by their installers and have agreed to repair / replace the part.

Looks like some companies do care about relations with their customers.


Doug

 

Hmm, my comprehensive covers full windsheild replacement. Comp cost is very little. Protects also against fire and theft and acts of nature.

 

i just had my windshield replaced on our truck and they were perfect, took about 7 or 8 minutes in my driveway

 

why do you think the have shoddy installers? What if it was a accident and the installer didn't know that it happened? But of course start bad mouth the shop even before you give them a chance to fix the problem. Are you perfect and never make a mistake or have an accident. The manager has to deal with this every day, so that person is not going to be real enthusiastic about it. But as you found out they did take care of the problem. So next time why not wait untill you have the problem figured out before bad mouthing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sounds to me like you are some kind of installer.... Installers will know when they mess something up, period, its their job not to. Why was he setting a drill on a customers dash to begin with? I used to be an installer...not of windshields though. I took pride in what I did and if I messed something up I had the guts to tell the customer and fix the problem. There is no way that replacing a windshield should have allowed the installer to set a drill (or any tools) on the dash. Tools arent meant to go in the customers seats, dash, etc..To me that is unacceptable and I would be mad also. I am glad to see that they took care of the problem but it caused more work for the customer. Bottom line is he should have been told and the installer shouldnt put his power tools on customer's dash. I used to work with people that would tell you till they were blue in the face they didnt mess something up and in fact they did.

 

Yes I am an installer. There is no reason a drill should have been around this truck! You do not need a drill. Yes I agree that the installer should have told customer of the problem. But you can't tell me a customer never said that you did something to their car while you were working on it. It sounds like the installers that you were working will should not have been working there! Humans make mistakes. And if you never made a mistake you must be god

 

bjonking - God? No I'm not God and I never claimed to be.

What I am is a customer who put down his hard earned $$ to have a job completed by a "professional" only to have my $50K truck damaged and given back without anyone telling me they damaged it. Don't tell me you don't know when you drag something across someone's dash that it isn't going to leave a mark. I have worked on cars for over 20 years and restored 2 or 3 hot rods, I know when I have done something that I shouldn't have right away. Ignorance is no excuse, especially if you are a professional.

In my books, if you damage someone's stuff, have the ***** to say "Hey, when we installed your windshield, we scratched the dash. We have contacted Ford and have new parts on order and they should be in a few days. We'll call you when they arrive to so we can have the replaced."

Don't give me back the truck and then hope that I don't see the damage for a few days which opens up a whole mess of reasons for a disagreement on if the installers did the damage or if I did it.

Why not fess up to the mistake? I hope this is the attitude that you're shop takes, but I have had to replace an engine in my boat (inboard) because the shop I had it in at to do some work forgot to drain the block and the temperature went below freezing and cracked the block. Their response - "Prove we left water in the block." Pretty hard to do when a couple of weeks had passed. Needless to say, it cost me over $3000 to replace the engine and they didn't contribute a dime.


Doug

 

I totally agree that if you mess up a customers car or truck fix and inform the customer. Did the manager ever say what happened to the dash? The installer shouldn't have had a drill inside the truck. The shop that i work at has an installer that does stuff and doesn't fess up to it. I'm sorry that you had a problem, I know when I screw up a customers car I feel like ****, but I always fix the problem. But I have also had customers accuse me of scratching or braking something that I wasn't even around that part of the car.

Bryan

 

I completely agree with you. There is always one... Thats why I didnt respond to his post before yours. "We" will never be right...needless to say I wouldnt have him touch my vehicle.

Why not say that in your reply to my post. Instead you make it seem like your 'shop' doesnt have installers that are like that. Virtually everywhere does. People know when they mess up. Period. If you dont know, you arent a very good installer.