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P.O. Box 841
Merrill, WI 54452-0841
Phone: 262-542-7707
Email: wcrpinfo@gmail.com
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WE ALL DO BETTER TOGETHER |
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FROM THE DESK OF OUR PRESIDENT
……..But will they help you move?
From a Seinfeld sketch to reality, that does seem to be the test, the judgement, of a good friendship. WACTAL is moving and we need your help. A move to the name; Wisconsin Collision Repair Professionals, (WCRP) better reflects our goals of improving professionalism and being recognized as repair professionals. We’ll need help in patronizing our amazing new sponsors who are supporting this shared goal through their advertising and sponsorship dollars. We’ll need help in soliciting new members. There is strength in numbers and we need to be strong. You can support us by maintaining your membership. Thank You! Help us by participating in the upcoming surveys, events and training options. We hope this new e-newsletter and other changes are the catalyst for your involvement. We welcome your comments and suggestions. It is YOUR association let’s band together, raise the bar and never look back. Many exciting changes are in development.
………………………………………So, will you help us move?
Larry Terrien
President WCRP
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Please take a moment to answer our poll.
You can click here to send us direct feedback on this
poll or any other concerns or questions.
Would you be interested in attending a 1 hour virtual presentation on simplifying the choices on scan tool options?
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KNOW OF ANY SHOPS LOOKING TO JOIN WCRP?
Forward this newsletter to them! They can click here to go straight to the membership form or have them call Deb at 262-542-7707.
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PLEASE WELCOME A FEW NEW MEMBERS! |
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TECH TIPS & TRICKS
HAND SANITIZER REMOVES TREE SAP! Have a vehicle in the shop with tree sap on it? Squirt some gel hand sanitizer with alcohol on the sap and let it sit. After a minute or two it should wipe off easily.
Do you have a great tech tip that should be shared with the members? Submit it to Deb at info@wactal.com for addition to the newsletter.
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SAFETY TIPS
Have a Fire Safety Plan:
Develop a fire safety plan for your shop. Make sure all employees are familiar with it and understand its importance.
Proper Storage:
Store flammable paints, thinners and adhesives in approved fire-rated cabinets away from ignition sources. Store oxygen and fuel tanks separately; away from heat and sunlight, in a dry, well-ventilated area.
Do you have a safety tip that should be shared with the members? Submit it to Deb at info@wactal.com for addition to the newsletter.
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STEVE'S MONTHLY RANT
Ever have one of these conversations?
A recent email exchange with a customer:
Steve, I’m confused... Your Quote was $7154.47. But you’re going to do the work for $4382? What am I missing here? Randy
My reply: Hi Randy! It certainly is confusing, and it makes us look bad so I’m very happy to explain. The process: We’ve compiled your detailed, itemized estimate based on our costs and experiences with 30 plus years in business. That was promptly submitted to your insurance company, along with the photos WE took. (They can’t afford field claims personnel anymore. That last few million they paid out to the CEO is catching up...) They’ll often write an estimate based on the pictures WE took without referring to the detailed estimate WE provided! And then they rush you a check. When questioned they’ll reply that this and that is out of line with what they term as area “rates and procedures” as well as the “pictures don’t show that damage”. We reluctantly agree with a few items and other items are then resubmitted via a “supplement” process. In the process of taking the car apart, we take more pictures from more angles with more lighting. They reply in a few days requesting that cheap / generic parts be ordered through some obscure warehouse in Kansas, Oklahoma etc. We reply NO and some back and forth ensues for a day or so. Then the parts we feel are acceptable are placed on order. It’s challenging and adds delays and additional work on our end, but the insurance eventually pays out less and they pay it out later. They also bank on good odds you’ll take that lower amount and perhaps not even fix the car. They won’t have to pay for any of the additional, legitimate parts or procedures because they “can’t see it in a picture”. This is how they get away with short paying many, many claims. Very frustrating!! I have a list of much better insurance companies here at my office and we can review it when you drop your vehicle off.
Thanks for allowing me to explain.
Steve Humblet
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SPRAY OUT CARDS:
Neither CCC or Mitchell have assigned labor values for spray out card operations which are considered NOT INCLUDED for both. Audatex states the spray test panel is included in the refinish time and is to be conducted at the time of vehicle refinishing. If the spray out card is done in a separate operation away from the vehicle being refinished, any additional or duplicated efforts prior to the vehicle refinishing process would be NOT INCLUDED.
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hello members of WCRP. As we put 2020 to rest, we can remember a couple of lessons learned along the way. We are able to fight through change and adversity. We looked at being able to adapt to the unknown future and have won the battle!
Welcome to a new year--boy do we have changes coming your way! The board and I have been working hard to bring more value to your membership. We are determined to give you more bang for your buck! Certainly, you'll appreciate the new lower membership fee of $150/year! There will be many otherchanges that will bring value to your membership.
One of those changes is this new power-packed newsletter coming out monthly. We will continue to update our membership monthly and/or weekly as needed to report on the issues that may need to be addressed or shared in a timelier fashion.
Stay tuned for more to come…
Your Executive Director-Deb Brunett
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NEWS FROM JOLENE AT THE CAPITAL |
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No shop may perform any repair that has not been authorized by the customer. Before a shop starts any repairs whose total price may exceed $50, a shop representative shall record the repair authorization on a written repair order under s. ATCP 132.03
Note: Customer authorization is required for all repairs, including repairs under $50 and repairs on vehicles brought to the shop without face-to-face contact between the customer and a shop representative. Authorization may be given in person or by telephone, or by any other form of communication between the customer and the shop. Authorization to perform a general repair implies authorization to perform the specific repairs that are normally included in that general repair. Merely reporting a problem or malfunction does not, by itself, constitute authorization to repair the problem or malfunction.
History: CR. Register, January, 1994, No. 457, eff. 1-1-95
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GUEST EDITORIAL
The views expressed below may or may not be the opinion of more than one WCRP member…(that’s what happens when you solicit someone’s opinion)
I’ve been given the privilege of being invited to participate in the exciting revision of WACTAL into the Wisconsin Collision Repair Professionals (WCRP). I’m excited to witness this continuing evolution of the industry. Love the new name as well. I love the great state of Wisconsin and I’ve always wanted to be a professional. Two birds one stone! Gotta like that. Here’s my chance and yours as well to re-energize our role as the professionals we should be recognized for. We can all do better…. Lets.
WCRP’s board of directors has a lot of exciting changes in development. You’re going to like what’s coming! But frankly it’s your association and it needs your support...it needs your involvement! Like life itself, you’ll only get what you give. It’s not a complicated formula.
What to give you ask?
Your membership, that’s financial support, welcomed, and needed.
Can you solicit another member? We need them as well!
Support our new sponsors who’ve stepped up significantly to support WCRP.
Call the association with feedback, suggestions, comments, opinions. YES, we want them, we need them.
Upcoming events, virtual and otherwise could use your attendance. If you yourself can’t attend or participate, how about some one else in your business? If you ask, you may be surprised.
I hear opportunity knocking, let’s answer the door and and work together to make some positive changes.
Steve Humblet
Quality Paint and Body
Do you have an opinion on a subject that pertains to our industry? If you can tone it down and keep it under xxx words, we could print it here. Keep it clean and try not to offend more than 10% of our members.
Please submit your wording to info@wactal.com
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What’s Our Fear of Saying NO?
Lots of power in that little word...I encourage you to use it more!
* I've recently been utilizing it a lot more lately...
* NO, I won’t concede to outdated labor rates.
* Sorry but NO, used parts require 35% markup not "times .25"
* NO, that supplier is well outside my market area.
* This is a required part, procedure or service so, NO it’s not included.
You get the idea.
It’s amazing the credit you get when you finally stand your ground and just say NO…when you’re justified...thus the reason for knowing your costs!
I'm not advocating NO for arguments sake. Know your costs, know your business, know when you’re in the right. You can then negotiate from a position of confidence. That confidence will replace the emotions that inevitably surface at the wrong time. You pick the what and when. It’s your business, manage it accordingly.
Yes, there could be consequences to saying NO. In stress management they teach you to clarify "what’s the worst that can happen?"
1) You get what you asked for…
2) You "may" lose a repair order…Allowing you more time to concentrate on the repair
orders you’re getting better paid on.
3) You may have to negotiate. Still could get you more than what was originally offered.
Don't see much of a downside here....
In your corner,
Steve
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WCRP will be opening a store where you will be able to purchase specially made items to show off your WCRP pride! |
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PEER CONNECTIONS
Looking for answers?
Troubles getting paid?
Issues with billing?
WCRP has a core group of mentors willing to share with you their experience and answers to many of the trials and tribulations you could be facing. Give Deb a call at 262-542-7707 and she’ll get you in touch with the right person to help you out.We are here to help and it’s a privilege. We’re glad to.
Click on the logos below for more information on these two valuable resources!
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FIND ACE & WIN!
Ace is a recently retired, crusty old body man living a life of hunting and fishing with his bear friend Bru in the Northwoods of WI. He gets lost on occasion, drifting amongst our sponsors... Find him (the image to the right) and be one of the first 3 people to email his location to info@wactal.com and you’ll be rewarded with a $25 gas card! (One winner per shop per month please)
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THIS MONTH'S FEATURED SHOP
Hesgard Collision Center believes in quality repairs,
details, and customer service.
110 W. 10 1/2 Street, Monroe, WI 53566 ~ 608-325-4020
Hesgard Collision Center is a family owned collision repair business that has been serving the community since 2000. Our goal is to provide high quality repairs that are done the correct way, not the easy way. We offer complimentary loaner vehicles during repairs and keep a high level of customer communication throughout the repair process.
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1) What is your biggest daily challenge in the Shop? Time management
2) What gets you through the day or motivates you? Knowing that we have done our best to repair our customer's vehicle the safest and least detectable way
4) What is something you charge for that apparently "No other shop charges for?" Safety inspections
5) What is the best insurance company you deal with? We find ourselves continually training them all
6) What is the worst insurance company you deal with? The more affordable insurance company obviously needs to spend less on average. Geico seems to be the most aggressive company at this time
7) Do you have a unique skill, service, or marketing position? We work very hard to satisfy our customers. Whatever it takes
8) I’d love to talk to another shop about: Negotiation skills
9) What is your favorite thing to do outside of the show? I spend a lot of time going to new places and trying new things with family
10) I'd like to see my association involved in: Finding a way to put some accountability back on the insurance companies to repair vehicles correctly. Training for our technicians can be a challenge also
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Using this tip alone could pay
for your WCRP membership!
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P.O. Box 841
Merrill, WI 54452-2841
262-542-7707
E-mail: wcrpinfo@gmail.com
www.Wactal.com
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