I read the other day that Maaco bought Carstar ( Another Franchise Body Shop chain) This move seems kind of funny in a way. Some people actually think that these big Box shops do quality repairs. I worked at a Maaco and an Econo years ago and thought they were just large body shops. After being told we were taking to long sanding cars and basically doing too good of a job sanding I was somewhat surprised! I watched another auto body tech pour a whole gallon of filler on a pick up roof instead of trying to straighten the metal and thought maybe I was wrong about this place it's not a real body shop! The things that were done to nice cars there was horrible. Paint on the trim, sanded moldings, scratched glass, sanded chrome, cars painted the wrong color, paint going flat before cars left the shop, body work showing through the paint, painting over rust not fixing bent frames and chassis's and the list goes on. Needless to say I did not stay long.
The point being there is a few notable buy outs in our area by some large chain shops that are now owned by national chains, like ABRA and Service King to name a few. They are here to get referrals from Insurance companies. Referrals are a big deal for shops as it brings in millions of dollars every year. The problem is the systems in place is very much like the Shake and Bake auto body shops. Get them in, get them out and get the money. If this environment did not breed crappy repairs it might be a good thing. We all like to save money but what are you getting shorted on? I have seen cars fixed by these shops that were repaired so badly they had to be taken off the road! No joke!
If your Insurance company gives them a nod or tells you to use one of these shops just remember it's for them to save money on your claim and really no other purpose. I have read the agreements the shops sign to get the referrals and there was really nothing in them that benefited the consumer. The shops get work without merit or high standards and the Insurer gets a nice discount at you and your cars expense!
If you need a quality repair, seek out an independent shop with some certifications. Look for good reviews on Facebook, Yelp and BBB. This will always let you know about the reputation of the shop you are looking to use.
If you feel like they have messed up your car and won't help you get it fixed correctly reach out to us or seek out a Post Repair Inspector. There are people out there that can help! Check our PRI site www.diminished-value-auto.com or www.allprecisioncollisionrepair.com We will be glad to assist you!
