For more information on the services we offer, like our Nationwide Lifetime Warranty, please take a minute to visit our website: www.mcallencollisionspecialists.com
Recently we had an inquiry with a customer who said that one of our estimators had agreed to save his damaged parts for him. We informed him that it is never our policy to save damaged parts, and that they are all discarded. We were met with blame and hostility for trying to cheat him out of his parts, suggesting we sold them, ect…
We needed to correctly explain why it is that we wouldn’t have sold his parts, and why all damaged parts are discarded and not repair and just resold.
1. The manufacturer of his vehicle stated that the damaged parts cannot be used again, or repaired. If a part is not repairable as stated by the manufacturer, then that part is discarded. This has been determined to provide safety and maintain the integrity of the vehicle’s structure. We would never sell a part that we know is non-repairable and never again usable. This presents an extreme safety hazard to whomever may purchase that part to put in their vehicle. Hence why we don’t sell parts.
2. Some manufacturers do not allow ANY recycled parts to be used in the repair process. We could never, ever support another body shop installing a recycled part from us that we know to be dangerous. We also could not support our customer wanting to sell a dangerous, unusable part to someone or a parts dealer. We simply will not be liable for anything of the sort.
3. This could go for all customers who want us to use recycled parts in a vehicle that does not condone the use of recycled parts. In an attempt to save money, some customers will ask for recycled parts. Sometimes we cannot fufill their requests because the manufacturer of their vehicle does not support the use of recycled parts in their vehicles. See below this bulletin from Volkswagen:
This goes for many other manufacturers. Safety is the number one priority in auto body repair. We follow these precautions and guidelines from all vehicle manufacturers so we can be sure to offer the safest, highest quality repairs in our area.
This article also highlights body sectioning. This is an entirely different topic that we will post separately about in a future post. But, I would just like to highlight what this is. Body sectioning is a repair that involves the repair (not complete replacement) of a structural part that is REQUIRED to be replaced. Body sectioning is a popular auto body repair technique devised to save time and money, but is proving to be hazardous and many manufacturers do not allow this in the repair of their vehicles.
There is different speculation in what a customer should expect from their estimate when looking for a collision center or auto body shop. We hear in our shop many stories or opinions on how long, or how expensive our estimates are. Many customers take the approach that body shops are out to rip them off, or do “add-on” repairs to make an extra buck. While that may be true for some of your lower end body shops, it won’t be true for the rest of us. Here is why.
1. Collision repair is an EXTENSIVE process.
Many people couldn’t fully grasp the technicalities of auto body repair, but that’s ok, that is what we are trained for. The problem is that with growing technologies, the vehicles we are seeing require more precautions, and more steps to be repaired. Today’s vehicles are equipped with over 8 computers, with higher end vehicles having 42 or more computers in their system. Also, fabrication materials are changing, steels and aluminum are changing and manufacturers are requiring different repair processes for their vehicle. For a body shop to TRULY repair your vehicle back to its manufacturers specifications, your estimate should be 3 pages long. Not only that, but your body shop should be able to provide you with documentation for every line on the estimate from your manufacturer, proving to you that it is required. This is where you, the customer, can decide whether a body shop is simply trying to do unnecessary repairs for money, or if they are legitimate about the repairs.
A remark we get alot is “So&So Shop didn’t charge me for this, why are you?”
People are simply looking to get the best deal, which we can understand. Though, the problem arises that a better deal can mean less quality of repairs. Just because a shop doesn’t charge you for something, doesn’t mean it isn’t necessary.
2. An estimate shouldn’t take 5 minutes.
Unless all you’ve got it a door ding, a broken headlight, or chipped windshield, an estimate for a vehicle damaged in a vehicle collision should take some time. We have many customers ask us for on the spot estimates, or e-mail estimates. Some customers become agitated when we let them know we can just give them as estimate like that. Because other shops will, they assume that we are trying to take advantage in some way. In actuality, it’s the opposite. Every single component in your vehicle has the chance of being affected by a collision. Just because the collision happened on the driver’s side door, doesn’t mean that it didn’t affect the right side of the vehicle, or any other components. Some manufacturers have electrical, and structural dimensions that connect or affect each other.
To correctly assess the damage, we do need to see the inside and take the vehicle apart. Not only that, but we need to research specifications from your manufacturer to see what we may be missing, or what is additionally required.
3. Repair Vs. Replace
A remark we sometimes get is “So&So said they could just fix this part, why do you have to replace it? That is going to cost more money.” This all boils down again to technology. Here is a video with one of Acura’s new vehicles and its crash test response. Take a look:
Manufacturers are using new fabrication materials, like aluminum and boron steel. As you notice in the commercial, some of the components completely crush, and disperse the energy in a certain way. To repair this vehicle, many of these parts would be required to be replaced, and under no circumstances repaired. Because of the design of the structure, these parts are designed to take on the impact ONCE, not twice. Now, while a shop could repair it and it would look the same as it did before, it in no way means that it has the strength it did before. Not only that but the manufacturer would require this part to be replaced for the vehicle to be restored to its previous condition. A shop may try and say that they can repair it to save you some money, but in the end you would be seriously compromising the integrity of your vehicle’s structure. This can prove extremely dangerous in the event of another accident.
Ok great, we’ve gone through the estimate process and WOW, it’s expensive! Much more than everyone else. What does this mean?
3. SAFETY
Point blank. All of this comes down to safety. Why so much emphasis on safety? Remember how we talked about technology earlier? These computers and other structural components when repaired, can either malfunction or not function at all in the event of another collision AFTER you pick up your vehicle. What kind of safety issue could this be? Serious.
Examples: Airbags.
Your vehicle is equipped with airbag sensors all over the vehicle. There are many electrical wires and components that go along with these sensors and can be altered or damaged in the collision, and even in the repair process. The slightest malfunction, wrong configuration, or left out step could result in your airbags not re-deploying on time, or not re-deploying at all. For instance, some manufacturers base their sensors on impact locations on telling it when to deploy the airbag. Some manufacturers actually program the sensors to deploy based on the person’s weight in the seat. If some structural component is off by even 1 millimeter, it could set the weight sensor off on the weight vs inertia. Even 1 millisecond can make all of the difference. Here is a YouTube video showing a correctly calibrated airbag sensor, and one off by a millisecond. (It’s in a different language, but we assume you can get the picture đŸ™‚
Collision repair is tedious, and so your estimate should reflect that. Many people assume that body shops have all of the same information, or some sort of world-wide fix-a-car database that we go by. This is simply not true. While most of us have the basic systems, a body shop wouldn’t know these new protocols unless they actively attended education trainings, or constantly did research on manufacturer bulletins. This doesn’t happen very often because many body shops have become very comfortable and even defensive of their tried and true auto body techniques. While a body shop may know how to repair a car built in 1980-2000 it does not mean they know how to repair (correctly) a vehicle built in 2013. Some techniques are becoming outdated and even dangerous if performed on some of the newer model vehicles we are seeing today.
Do your research!
As the customer, you are the one who needs to make the educated decision. Remember, insurance cannot force you into a body shop, you have the right to choose. Choose the body shop you think is right for you.
When one of our really good customers came in asking if we could custom paint his ranch jeep with a digital camo pattern, we were beyond excited! We love custom projects, and with our new GIVENS Paint booth, we can paint anything! Our customer developed his very own pattern pieces for us to layer on the Jeep. We used three colors, with a deep hunter green being the accent. The job came out PERFECT and he was beyond happy with his new Jeep!
We love custom paint jobs, and were thrilled when we were asked to paint this trailer for a customers Harley Davidson. It came out perfect, and the customer was super happy with her new trailer.
From time to time we get these custom requests, and with our state of the art paint facility, we can paint pretty much near ANYTHING! We recently did a custom camo print truck, hand painted, by our tech. Though, refinished or repainting a vehicle is expensive, especially if it is done right.. All of the trims, moldings, headlights, rear-lights, ect…have to be removed. Taping over is a technique that is used to save money, or make the process faster. But, this can lead to paint problems in the future and isn’t the correct way to do it.
We do it right, and that means a beautiful paint job that is guaranteed to last! Keep that in mind the next time you are in need of a collision center!
When you last saw your car, it was a twisted mess being towed away from the scene of the accident. Now it’s weeks later and the car is parked in the driveway of a body shop. All you have to do is write a check and the car is yours again. But how do you know that everything under the surface has really been fixed correctly?
One key to getting your car fixed right is choosing a reliable shop in the first place. But you should still inspect the work performed before you drive away. To better understand what to look for, here are some insider tips from several knowledgeable veterans of the body shop business.
Have a Clear Understanding Up Front
The process of having your car fixed right starts when you drop it off, says Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists. Be clear on what the shop is going to fix and how it will do the repair. Get everything in writing. Ask about the shop’s warranty on its work. When you return, review the paperwork to confirm that the shop did the repairs correctly.
“A reputable repair facility will go through everything with you, walk you through all the steps they took,” Schulenburg says. “Good shops will even touch up bolts under the hood that have been scratched while being repaired.”
Clean Car Is a Must
Appearances matter. When you pick up your car, it should have been washed, cleaned and vacuumed, says John Mallette, owner of Burke Auto Body and Paint, in Long Beach, California. There should be no dirt or dust in the car and definitely no old parts in the trunk. Mallette says he even tries to wash down the engine compartment before he hands over the keys.
It can be a challenge to return a clean car to a customer, says Mike O’Connell, owner of Golden Hammer Auto Body in Los Angeles. With all the dust from sanding, he says, “body shops are the dirtiest places on earth.” He says his workers take precautions to keep the cars clean by using paper and masking tape to protect different areas. And then they carefully wash the car before the customer comes to pick it up.
Collision Specialists gives every single vehicle that goes through the shop a full detail, no exceptions. We even offer extended details, complete with car upholstery restoration, foggy headlight repair, wheel scratch repair, dent repair servicefor all of the small dings and dents that were there before the accident. You can get your vehicle looking brand spanking new!
Closer Inspection
If the car’s general appearance passes muster, take a close look at the area that was repaired. Mallette recommends looking for gaps between body panels first. If the gaps are obviously uneven, that’s a telltale sign of panels not being aligned correctly. Schulenburg says owners should make sure the doors open and close properly with good alignment.
If there was extensive front-end damage to the car, it can be difficult for a body shop to repair perfectly, Mallette says. One way to spot a problem is to look at the distance between the tire and fender. If it is wide on one side and narrow on the other, something wasn’t fixed properly. Another test is to turn on the headlights to ensure that the light beams are aligned.
When a car is hit in the front, the frame may have been bent and required straightening on what the body shop calls “the rack.” The shop workers use it to pull the frame rails until the frame is straight. Mallette says he can look under a car and see “butcher marks” from poor repair jobs.
But visual inspections might be difficult for the average consumer, Schulenburg explains. He says owners should take a look at the automated printout of the frame specifications. A good body shop will measure the damaged area of the car and then measure the frame again after it does the repair. The frame specs should be the same post-repair as they were before the accident. The frame spec printout is a good reference document to make sure the job has been done right.
Collision Specaialists uses a Car-O-Liner frame machine and measuring system. Our computerized system provides us with exact measurements of your frame before and after the repair, so we can get it as close to the factory specifications as possible. Ask us for the print-out, or even ask to see the machine!
If you are concerned that a major repair wasn’t done correctly and want someone other than the original body shop to size it up, you can get a second opinion. O’Connell tells us that many people bring cars to him for just this kind of assessment, and he can immediately spot problems that the ordinary consumer can’t.
Paint Jobs: Matching Colors and Consistency
One of the most challenging jobs in a body shop is paint matching. “Punching in the factory paint codes gets you 95 percent of the way to matching the color,” O’Connell says. But the remaining 5 percent has to be done by people who really know what they’re doing. “If we didn’t do this extra step there would always be a little variance,” he explains. “That’s why you see cars on the road that look like they are three different colors.”
Mallette advises that you arrange to pick up a car from the body shop during the day. If possible, look at the car in the sunlight to make sure that the new paint matches the car’s original shade and finish. Also, if the shop repainted several panels, sight along the side of the car to look for color consistency. And finally, examine the paint for runs or imperfections such as hair or specks of dirt trapped in the finish.
When It Isn’t Fixed Right
In some cases, a problem with the repair develops months later. A common scenario is that you notice the car’s front tires are wearing unevenly. This could be a sign that the front suspension hasn’t been straightened and repaired correctly. Find your paperwork and receipt, bring the car back and show the manager the tire’s wear pattern. The shop should fix the problem under the warranty, Mallette says.
Schulenburg agrees that improper tire wear on a car is a bad sign. “Take it back to the body shop,” he says. “There are a whole lot of things that can lead to tire wear. Let them assess what is causing it.”
Many body shops are “fly-by-night,” O’Connell notes, and if you’re dealing with one of them, it can be tough to get satisfaction if the job wasn’t done right. A legitimate shop should stand by its work. He recommends that you make sure you are within the warranty period, which is usually one year or 12,000 miles. Then, with your paperwork in hand, ask to speak with an owner or manager.
“And be courteous, not demanding,” O’Connell says. “If you start making accusations, things can go downhill fast.”
Reference: http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/how-to-tell-if-your-body-shop-did-the-job-correctly.html
The auto body repair industry definitely falls into a category of professions that cater to customers who don’t necessarily WANT your service. They are forced to search for your services because of an accident, and their vehicle has been damaged and needs repair. This poses great stress on the customer, as we know ourselves how stressful the situation can be. We’ve wrecked our cars too. It’s terribly annoying, especially if you’ve experienced physical injury as well.
Because of this, we know we need to take extra precautions in our level of customer service. Dealing with auto body shops in McAllen can be a headache to say the least. With the rate of scams, fraud, and shoddy repairs, customers should be leery of auto body shops in McAllen. You, as the customer, should have the upper hand on your repair, careful not to cause more damage than what was already there. To do this, becoming educated in the process of collision repair will help you better understand and know what to expect, and what NOT to expect when you need to take your vehicle in for costly repairs.
We are going to highlight a few points on the process to give you insight:
1.) INSURANCE
If you are using your insurance for your repairs there are definitely a few things to note. Insurance companies will always be after the bottom line, not your preference of quality on the repairs. Taking this to note, if you are using your insurance to pay for your repair, you have to know that the auto body shop you choose is under your insurance company’s’ orders. They are the ones who are paying us for the repairs, and they will only pay for what they exactly authorize. Everything must be approved through your insurance, and if they say they aren’t going to pay for it, they simply aren’t going to pay for it. While we would love to make-up for their shortfalls, we simply can’t give things away for free.
Example:
Your insurance company approves only after market headlights for your repair. We must order the after market headlights, and perhaps, they aren’t just exactly the same, or come with a flaw. More times than not, they aren’t going to make you aware that they are approving only after market parts, or that the quality isn’t a concern. You can demand from your insurance that they replace these lights, or provide better ones if you are not happy with them.
We do our best to let you know when decisions are made about your vehicle. Taking your vehicle in, and never asking a questions, or being updated on SPECIFIC details of your repair can leave you with even more problems once you take your vehicle home. Get informed, and make sure you know what is going on.
Ask questions. A ton of them. Make your insurance answer all of your questions, and know what questions to ask. Like these above. This is going to help you get your vehicle back to you the way YOU want it.
2. Time Estimates
You should get multiple estimates when you are looking for auto body shops in McAllen. Get full estimates with estimated time of completion. If someone’s sticks out as being sold as a super fast repair, and the other have a way longer time estimate, be aware. Super fast repairs can certainly mean skipped procedures and processes, shoddy or “mickey mouse” repairs. There are many auto body shops in McAllen that will take the short cut to getting your car out, and this can be dangerous and costly in the future. Repairing a vehicle is an extraordinary process, and should take time. Our time estimates are more lengthy, but we must account for all of the correct procedures and processes to be performed on your vehicle. This means safe, quality repairs, that are built to last. Actually, they are built to last just as long as the rest of the vehicle that wasn’t damaged.
While we know patience is hard to come by when you are without your vehicle, it cane certainly help to avoid additional stress. Know that we are doing our best to get your vehicle repaired CORRECTLY.
3.Quality
This may one of the most important topics when it comes to auto body repair in McAllen. Quality can make the difference in experiencing costly repairs down the road. One of the biggest quality concerns is going to be in the paint department. automotive paint is a very technical process and requires talented, knowledgeable painters and well maintained, professional grade paint booths. We recently upgraded our paint booth to a state of the art GIVCO down-draft paint booth. We are the only public body shop to have one of these in the Rio Grande Valley. The only other one is located at the technical college, in which new technicians learn on. The biggest flaw that can occur during paint is debris. And this means DUST, particles, and dirt. These getting in the paint can lead to bubbling paint spots in a few years. When you vehicle comes out of paint, it should look like the day you got it at the dealership. DO NOT let small flaws go unnoticed. These small flaws can be HUGE in the future!
Here are a few flaws to look out for:
Debris. Here you can see small speckles of debris in the paint. Run your hand over parts of your vehicle to feel for these. If you feel these, the paint needs to be redone. This can lead to peeling and bubbling paint in the future.
Orange Peel. This happens when the technician uses inadequate spray techniques, causing this not so noticeable flaw, that looks like an orange peel. It has a slight bump to it and won’t always be in big areas on the vehicle. There may be small patches or areas that have this.
Paint Drip. One of the most common flaws in paint jobs, the drip. These occur when the technician does not take his time when painting the vehicle. Paint should be applied in thin coats, with time in between for setting. Spraying it all at once can lead to paint build up, being to thick, and dripping.
Part of our customer service stand is that we want our customers to be educated in the process of collision repair. This helps our customer and us to produce a vehicle that is perfect, and has the best quality repairs available.
We will post more about what to expect in the auto body shop. Visit our Website to learn more about our shop and what we do!
Choosing a collision repair shop in McAllen can be difficult. Do you go based on your insurance’s suggestions, or ask around, do a few Google searches? It is important to know that your insurance company cannot force you to choose one shop over another, you have the right to choose. Make sure you do your research, because the insurance company is looking to get your vehicle repaired for as cheaply as possible, with quality not being a concern.
What kinds of things should you look for in a collision repair shop? Go online and look at reviews, see what they’ve got up on the web. Do they educate their customer, or seem helpful and have willingness to please? Your vehicle is a major investment, and you should take great pre-cautions when getting it repaired after an accident.
Get multiple estimates. We do recommend that you visit a few body shops and get estimates. Get a feel for the service, their knowledge, and how straight forward they are with you. Keep in mind, collision repair is not an easy process. There are thousands of makes and models of vehicles, all being manufactured in different parts of the world. The actual repair process may be a bit hairy, and might get complicated. Your vehicle has suffered a collision, and it has hundreds of parts and mechanisms that need to be fixed, adjusted, and corrected in surgery! Sometimes patience is needed. You want a body shop that is going to keep you informed about your options and choices as the process goes along. For instance, sometimes insurance requests after-market replacement parts for your vehicle. While their quality is still high, there may be slight design differences than what your vehicle originally was manufactured with. You need to know if your insurance requested after-market parts and what that means for you. They may tell you its exactly the same thing, but more times than not it won’t be. It may be slightly different, and you need to know to expect that and be ok with it. If you aren’t, you need to request original parts from the manufacturer, and take it up with your insurance.
About insurance. Keep in mind that your body shop is under direct orders from your insurance company. What they say goes, and sometimes they don’t let you know, and you can end up confused or frustrated with how your vehicle ends up. You should always ask questions if you have them, and even go and see your vehicle while it is in the shop. We encourage our customers to come and see their vehicles, and we keep you informed on where it is in the process. If you see something you don’t like, be sure and let them know! This helps for your vehicle to come out the way you want it, even in the toughest of repairs.
Their warranty. Ask about their warranty. You need to make sure that your repairs have a good warranty, in the case of a defect later on down the road. A solid paint job is really important, and you don’t want your paint peeling up a year down the line due to a shoddy job. Make sure they cover those types of defects on their work.
Be open about delivery. While shops may promise that your vehicle may be done by an exact date, there are many things that can delay that date. Dealing with insurance, getting their orders for what parts to get, working with parts companies and manufacturers, delays in shipments, parts damaged during shipping, back-orders on high volume parts, all of these things can happen. We always hope that it goes perfectly and we can get you you vehicle by that promise date, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. Though, we keep you informed on what is going on and when you can expect updates and new delivery dates. We know that it is hard without your vehicle, and we want to get it back to you as soon as we can, but we’ve got to make sure that it is correct. There would never be a reason for a shop to purposely delay your vehicle’s repair, especially if you are working with a high volume collision repair shop in McAllen.
Bring estimates to us, we will do our best to match it!
All of things help for you as the customer to be informed as to what to expect, and can help frustrations be at ease. We are here to help, and to get your vehicle back to you the way that YOU want it. Work with us on getting it there and you will be back on the road in no time!
Also known as: poor flow, poor leveling, pebbling
What to look for if you see your vehicle has been painted, and you aren’t sure what to look for. Orange peel is a common flaw that can occur with subpar paint jobs.
Description:
Uneven surface formation – much like that of the skin of an orange – which results from poor coalescence of atomized paint droplets. Paint droplets dry before they can flow out and level smoothly together.
Origin and Potential Causes:
Prevention Techniques:
Remedy
For mild cases, sand and polish using recommended materials and techniques.
In extreme cases, sand down to smooth surface and refinish, using a slower evaporating thinner or reducer at the correct air pressure.
How do you know what shop to choose when you need a paint job or collision repair? There are many choices, and making sure you choose a shop that is going to give you the best possible repair is going to be your best bet. Quality repairs means you have less chance of having costly problems in the future, and it also means being safer. Bad repairs can compromise the safety of a vehicle, and that is the last thing you want. So, what do you look for when you are looking for a paint shop in McAllen, TX?
It’s not uncommon for estimates from different body shops to vary wildly. One shop might give you an estimate for $500 while another wants $2,000 for the work. What’s the difference? And when is it OK to choose the cheaper shop?
Joe Cantu, owner of Collision Specialists of McAllen, TX knows better than most people how to choose a reliable shop. Cantu started working on cars when he was 12 years old and has been in the body shop business for 30 years. He owned his first body shop at the age of 17, right here in McAllen, and has been in the business ever since. He started as a mechanic, body tech and paint tech. He is an expert when it comes to the technicality of repairs. Here are some of his tips for choosing the right shop to work on your car — particularly when you’re the one paying the bills.
1) Pay Attention to Word-of-Mouth
Any business can advertise, but you’ll do better with a shop that friends, family or acquaintances recommend. It’s a business that has proven it can satisfy customers. And it might not be the biggest or best-known shop in your area.
In some cases, you might get a recommendation for a small shop where the owner works with the customers one on one. “When a shop owner takes the time to work directly with the customer, you know he is in the business because he loves it.” Joe works directly with his customers, making sure that their vehicles receive the attention to detail they deserve.
2) Consider the Operation’s Location and Overhead
“Where you can get screwed in our business is labor hours,” Cantu explains. His shop charges $40 per hour for labor.
Large body shops, like at dealerships, with a lot of front-office workers probably have to charge higher rates to pay their staff. Their rates can go as high as $90 per hour. While service delivered by front-desk folks, managers and foremen gives some people a feeling of confidence in the business, it can result in estimates that are padded with non-essential work. When they’re charging more labor hours at a higher rate, your bill can add up quickly.
In his shop, Cantu says he does things by the book — literally. body shops and garages use reference guides that estimate the number of hours required to perform common repairs.
“Let’s say somebody has damage to their fender, bumper and headlight,” Cantu tells us. “I go to my system, I write an estimate and I basically go by the hours mandated by our system. Our system already has calculated an estimated time for every type of damage for every vehicle manufactured. So, we are able to give you more of an accurate estimate.”
By contrast, the higher-end, or bigger shops might decide to charge for everything in “the gray area,” meaning those things that they might have to do to fix the problem. In Cantu’s example, high-end estimates might include a charge for time spent removing the hood and the door, while his judgment call is not to perform this additional work.
3) Get Several Estimates
Taking your car to several auto body shops for repair quotes is the best way to avoid overcharges, Cantu notes. “I’ll tell people to go get some estimates and bring ’em back to me. I’ll match estimates if I can.”
And while it’s important to protect against being overcharged, you shouldn’t simply take the lowest quote. “You might get some kind of midnight guy who will say he can do it really cheap,” he says. “Stay away from those guys, because there is something they’re not doing. You could have major problems down the road, and that can create a safety hazard as well as costly repairs down the line. There are ways to “cover up” repairs, instead of actually repairing them. We don’t do this, we restore your vehicle back to it’s factory specifications. We fix it.”
4) Ask the Right Questions
When choosing a body shop, “You go in smart,” and ask some key questions. Does the shop provide a written warranty? And if so, for how long? What does the warranty cover?
A one-year warranty is a minimum, Cantu says. His shop offers a Nationwide warranty, covering your vehicle during the time that you own it, where-ever you may be located in the Nation. Make sure the shop offers a warranty, and can give you a copy of the warranty and what it covers. Read it, make sure its legitimate. If they can’t provide you with a written copy, that’s a red flag.
Another key question is whether the shop carries fire and theft insurance. You want to be sure you’re covered if your car is destroyed, stolen or burglarized. Don’t forget to ask how long the shop has been in business. Make sure it has a business license. At Collision Specialists, your vehicle is 100% covered while in our shop. We carry insurance for fire, theft, and flood. In the event of a storm, or any other event, your vehicle is covered.
You will also want to know about the materials the shop intends to use. Are new, used or aftermarket body parts going to be used? New parts are obviously the best and used parts are fine, though they don’t offer the savings people imagine. Depending on the damage to your vehicle, aftermarket parts can save a lot of money and can be just as good as the ones that come from the original manufacturer. If paint work is involved, ask how many coats of paint and clear coat the shop intends to use. “Come and ask for a tour”, Joe Cantu tells us. Ask to look at the repair facility, check it out. Collision Specialists are more than happy to give you a tour of our facility. Check out our new paint booth!
5) Follow Your Intuition
Finally, it’s important to trust your intuition about the shop you’re considering. If a shop isn’t busy, and there aren’t any vehicles in the shop being repaired, maybe that’s because customers are avoiding it because of shoddy repairs. If the place is really dirty, cluttered or disorganized, this might reflect the kind of work you could expect the shop to do with your car. Is the shop owner or manager a grouch who seems to resent answering your questions? You’ll be happier with a shop where the owner communicates well and is straightforward with customers.
“Trust your gut,” Cantu says. “If your gut tells you the guy’s shady I wouldn’t even go there.”
Collision Specialists have upgraded our paint booth system! We recently had installed a down draft exhaust paint booth with the pit from Givens Paint Booths in New Braunfels, TX.
Now, we have increased our quality of paint production to one of the best systems out there! Our booth is a closed face paint booth, to ensure the highest quality. In this type of booth the air is drawn through intake filters at the top and then flows down through the booth around the car and into the pit. The air is then circulated out of the pit through another system. Fresh, filtered air is constantly moving on the vehicle or part that is being painted and pulling the paint down onto the part being painted. The down draft method is used when “high-quality” is the desired end result.
This is just after they finished laying the concrete on the second pit. We had two pits installed, one for the main closed booth, and one for a second “open” booth.
This is the closed booth before the filters were installed. Vertical lighting was installed on both sides of the booth.
We had chemical resistant porcelain flooring installed around the pit grate. The car enters through the doors and sits on top of the pit grate, which is where is the air is pulled through.
This is our secondary booth that we had installed in front of the primary booth. We use this booth for prepping and small jobs.
This is the front of the booth with the lights on before we had the filters installed. All in all we are incredibly excited to be able to offer this type of technology in the Rio Grande Valley. In a few months, we will begin spraying Standoblue, a waterbourne basecoat system. We will be the first in the Rio Grande Valley to implement a waterbourne basecoat system. This is the system used in factories and top of the line shops across the world.
“For some, refinishing is a job. For the Standox® technician, it is a calling. That’s why Standoblue® waterborne basecoat was created with one idea in mind: to put great paint in the hands of master craftsmen. This is not for just any shop. This is the choice for those who approach vehicle refinishing as an art.”
-Standox
Collision Specialists are just that...specialists in the industry of auto repair in the event of a collision. We've been in the auto body business for over 29 years and specialize in providing our customers with the best of service and the highest quality of repairs!
Auto Body Repair Shops and Collision Centers of McAllen 