07/14/2017
Just when you think its bad as bad can get, Allstate is going through changes, like most big IC's. How ever all they know how to say is "we don't pay for that", no wait, they also say, "no, we WONT pay for that", no wait, they also say "are you kidding me? I'll get fired if I write that", wait, I just remembered, " we will not pay to R&I a windshield, so don't do it, I won't pay you for it." and lately " if you think its bad now, just wait a month or so for the new guys." Holy crap when does it end? I have worked and struggled all my years to have nothing, to serve the insurance industry it seems, to in the end be broke. Of course all the while the appraisers are retiring with 2 million in their retirement accounts, collecting the max off Soc. Sec, while I will receive the minimum. Gee thats fair right? They pay the shops an hourly rate that is commensurate with an amount the tech should get just for his base pay. Why does a union tradesman recieve double this amount per hour for just showing up and doing a days labor that in no way is as demanding as our field. They say they do a survey to set the rates? Can I see it? No classified info, inside use only! WTF!! I think its time (45 years to late) to write a legit estimate, at a fair hourly rate and give it to the owner of the vehicle, "this is what I need to repair your car safely and within guidelines, thank you." Let the owner negotiate the bill and see if they choose to take a loss, why should we. I am tired of making promises that I have to go into my pocket to keep, just to make a car right. There is not one insurance company that I can say is fair about how they treat shops, policy holders and towing companies. Its a great feeling knowing that I am straightening a frame on a car, on a $40K machine with a $40K measuring system, then aligning it with another $40K machine for $75.00 less per hour than a local brake tune up shop gets to install spark plugs! So do any other shop owners feel this way? How about body techs and painters, working on a % scale, wouldn't 50% of say 125.00 be better than 50% at 48.00? Speak up guys, there is a reason no new people enter our industry! We shou
