Part 2 - Revealing the Truth about "7 Things Auto Body Shops Won't Tell You"

Hello out there!  Last time we spoke I was revealing the truths about a ridiculous article posted on MSN.com titled “7 Things Auto Body Shops Won’t Tell You”.  I, Body Shop Babe, have already delved in to 4 of these claims and today I will reveal the truth about his last 3.  Along this trip of discovery we are playing a game called “Clap, Crap or Snap” and as we finalize this game today we will see what Mark Solheim, the writer of this ludicrous article, will earn after he rolls the dice for his final time...and I have a feeling it won’t be any score he would be proud of.

5.  A rented car will cost you. Renting a car for three weeks could cost $1,000 or more. Even if you have optional rental-car insurance (which costs $1 or $2 a month), your daily reimbursement may be limited to the cost of a compact car. If you need a minivan while your car is in the shop, make sure you have minivan-size coverage.

Good old Mark receives a “Clap” (+1 point) for this one!!  Hooray – and the crowd goes wild!!  If your policy does not have rental car coverage then get ready to dish some dough.  The average rental car in the economy & compact class will run you at least $40 a day plus tax.  That can add up very quickly.  When you use Casa Body Shop as your auto body repair shop and you don’t have rental coverage on your policy then we are able to get you a “shop rate” of $24.99 a day for an economy car plus tax. 

We really suggest you looking in to getting rental car coverage added on to your policy.  It typically costs $2-$4 a month but will end up saving you a lot of money if you ever need to use it!  Some companies will give you a dollar amount per day that they are willing to give towards your rental and some will give you a total amount for a specified time – for instance, $80 for 30 days of rental coverage.  You should talk with your insurance representative about what your insurance company offers and seriously consider adding this on.

6. Your car needs a shop that speaks its language. Many European cars use aluminum and ultrahard steel that require special equipment to repair. Plus, replacement parts for late-model European vehicles have to be fit with an especially high degree of precision. Shops should be certified by the manufacturer to do the work, meaning they must have specialized training and equipment -- and they charge higher rates. Insurers won't necessarily recommend these shops, but they should be willing to pay the tab.

I will be kind and give this point a “Snap” (0 points) for being partially true.  IF your car is a Jaguar or Maserati – typically a high end European car – then you do need to use a shop that specializes in aluminum repairs.  These types of shops need a “clean room” where there is a sterile environment for anti-corrosion and specialty tools are used.  These shops will charge you higher rates because such specialized tools and methods are used.  But most likely, if you are driving a Maserati you know that your repairs will be higher than if you would have bought a Honda - duh.

For the majority of the population that is driving Fords, Toyotas, Chevys, Hondas, Cadillacs, etc. any shop SHOULD be able to repair your vehicle.  A professional shop will have trained technicians that know how to properly repair different vehicles.  Casa Body Shop repairs all makes and models and offers a lifetime guarantee on workmanship so you know we stand by our repairs to be first class!!!

7. The insurer's warranty isn't all it's cracked up to be. Insurers sometimes dangle warranties on the parts (for as long as you own the vehicle) to entice you to go to shops in their network. But the body shop's guarantee is the one that's important. Nearly all shops will guarantee their work, and parts makers guarantee their parts, making the insurance warranty all but worthless.

And for our last point in this wonderfully executed article, the author receives a glowing “Crap” for a big -1 point.  The insurance companies warranty is a big deal and you should be confident in it.  If your insurance company has a contract with a body shop then both the insurance company gives you a warranty on workmanship and parts and so does the body shop.  The insurance companies have standards they uphold and any reputable insurance company wants their in-network body shops to A – do excellent work and B – take care of their customers even if it means to go above and beyond what the customer expects. 

If your insurance company sends you to one of their shops and the work was not done correctly then the insurance company has guaranteed that work and will either force that shop to correct the work that was done incorrectly or if something has happened to that shop, then they will send it to one of their other networked shops to make sure the vehicle is correctly repaired. 

You do not have to use a body shop that your insurance company directs you to.  You have a choice to use any body shop that you like.  If you choose to use a body shop that is not on your insurance company’s list of shops then they will not guarantee the work.  But, a professional, long-standing body shop like Casa Body Shop will have its own guarantee where workmanship and paint has a lifetime guarantee and parts a 12-month guarantee.

In conclusion, our fantastic author Mark Solheim earned a big….da da da daaaaa….. NEGATIVE 2 points!  Sorry Mark, you have tragically lost this game but you have given us some things about auto body repair, body shops and insurance companies to talk about.

If you have any questions or were under some assumptions like good old Marky Mark then please post a comment or email us at info@casabodyshop.com and let us help you understand our world of auto body repair a little better. J

Body Shop Babe – over and out.

Revealing the Truth about "7 Things Auto Body Shops Won't Tell You" - Part 1

There is an article that was posted on MSN.com titled “7 Things Auto Body Shops Won’t Tell You” that completely astonished me!  Who is this person that wrote this nonsense?  Don’t you think that someone writing an article that was posted on MSN.com would have done a little research on their topics before throwing out random mumbo jumbo?  But then it occurred to me that maybe the majority of drivers out there really don’t know a lot of these things so I figured it would be best to put the truth out there for those who were interested in how things REALLY work.  I feel like a super-hero going to combat the evil myths with my cape and shiny belt!  Body Shop Babe to the RESCUE!!!!

Buckle your seatbelts and let’s go for a ride I like to call “Clap, Crap or Snap” and let’s see what score this editor will earn.

1.   That fender-bender will be a major expense. If the accident is your fault and you have the typical $500 deductible for a collision, kiss your money goodbye.

This little ½ truth is just that so we’ll dub this a “snap” which equals 0 points.  The typical deductible for people is $500 and most repairs of any kind in a body shop will cost more than that.  Would you term $500 a MAJOR expense?  This is where the ½ truth comes in – although $500 is no small chunk of change – the amount you would actually pay out of pocket for a regular old dent in the fender is upwards of $1,000 so imagine THAT expense.  No, it’s not going to cost you $100 to have the roaming gypsies come by and apply some magic foam that will pop that dent out and miraculously make your car look brand new again.  But, for only $500 you are getting a great deal and saving yourself some true big money to help your little 4 wheeled beauty strut her stuff on the runway once again.

2.   Approved shops are beholden to tightfisted insurers. Auto insurers contract with providers to repair vehicles for a pre-negotiated rate (think of it as managed care for sick cars). And your car could be the victim of cost cutting. Some practices, such as requiring low hourly labor rates and making the shop pick up the rental car tab if a repair takes too long, could tempt shops to cut corners -- by, say, neglecting to align the wheels or using plastic filler in a dent rather than replacing the sheet metal.

If you are having your body work done by a reputable shop like Casa Body Shop then this is complete “Crap”! (-1 point)  Auto insurance companies have strict regulations, guidelines, certificates & scores that they require of any body shop before they bring them on board to become one of their direct repair facilities (DRP)/indendent repair facilities (IRP).  One of my favorite insurance companies who we are an IRP for is AAA (The Auto Club of Southern California).  AAA is an insurance company that tells it’s IRPs (independent repair facilities) that they want their AAA cars to be repaired correctly and will cover whatever is necessary to make sure that your car is fixed properly no matter what the cost.  There is NO haggling.  When a body shop is a DRP/IRP for an insurance company – the insurance company signs them on as a contracted shop that they trust to use for repairs.  In turn the body shop reduces their normal rates for the insurance company because they will typically be receiving a higher bulk of vehicles under the contract.  The shop is still making money and has no need to cut corners.  The insurance company does not want bad repairs done on your vehicle because that is a bad reflection on them.  And if you aren’t happy with your repairs, hence your insurance company, then you are out shopping new insurance policies with other carriers right after you talk horrible things about them on Facebook. 

I must take this time to warn you that there are many corrupt body shops out there!  You want to do your homework about a shop before you send your vehicle there.  Are they a member of the BBB and what is their score? (Casa Body Shop is and we have an A+ rating - by the way. J)  Look at reviews online.  See how long they’ve been in business.  There are many many shops out there that are willing to give you a steal of a price to fix your car or completely waive your deductible and then those shops WILL be cutting corners somewhere because they have to make a profit and they don’t care about you!!

3.    Not all replacement parts are created equal. Original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are designed to match precisely and may be safer. But insurers prefer that shops use generic or salvage replacement parts because they're cheaper. If you cause an accident, you could be bound by wording in your policy to use aftermarket parts or pay the difference for OEM parts. But if someone hits you, tell the shop to use OEM parts.

This, again, is another winner in the “Crap” category because this guy does NOT have his facts straight. (-1 point) OEM (Original-equipment manufacturer) parts are parts that were made by the manufacturer specifically for their vehicles.  Salvaged parts (also termed as used parts) that may be used by the body shop on your vehicle are still OEM parts because they were made by the manufacturer just for your vehicle.  At Casa Body Shop we like to use OEM parts, whether they be new or used, over aftermarket parts because they fit the vehicle better and have less flaws and also have a warranty from the auto manufacturer.  Aftermarket parts are parts that are made by someone other than your car’s manufacturer to be able to replace a part on your vehicle and most times at a much smaller cost.   

One thing I used to have aftermarket on my old Tahoe was I had aftermarket head and tail lamps.  I wanted them to be clear and didn’t want the OEM lamp covers.  Sure, they looked totally cool but then condensation started to build up and although they had some type of warranty, I knew it was very likely I could have problems with them again in the future because these just didn’t fit as snugly as an OEM part would have.  OEM parts are really the best whether they be new or used!

If this guy would have stated that you want to ask your insurance company about only using OEM parts rather than aftermarket parts then this would have been completely correct and would have been a “Clap”. 

4.   The due date is most likely fiction. Mechanics routinely blame missed deadlines on delays in parts delivery. The truth is that many of them take on more business than they can handle. Before you commit your business to a shop, check the local Better Business Bureau and government consumer-affairs offices for complaints against it.

This is going to get a “Snap” from me for being partially true – at least as far as our shop is concerned.  (0 points) The “due date” we will give you will be pretty stinkin’ accurate!  We use something called UpdatePromise and it allows the shop to not only text customers with the progression of their vehicles in repair but also tracks the accuracy of each estimator.  Each month we are in the top 10 shops for excellent accuracy!!  So that part of the statement is completely false because the due date at Casa Body Shop is not fiction.

In the body shop industry the most common reason for a delay in your repairs is due to parts.  I do give the writer that part for being true.  Casa Body Shop is a fully professional shop.  Before we give you a projected completion date for your vehicle we will not only completely disassemble your vehicle to make sure there isn’t hidden damage but we will contact the parts departments we are ordering from and get a time table of when to expect the parts in so we can forecast you a date that is as accurate as possible.  The most common way for your vehicle to be held up is either we received the wrong part or the part got delayed for some reason.  Although this doesn’t happen often, if it were to occur we would let you know immediately.

So far our good friend Mark Solheim, who wrote this fantastically ludicrous article, has received a -2 on the point scale of our fun game so far.  Why did this guy even bother to open up his Word program in the first place since he can’t even get basic facts straight?  I bet he got fired from this job as editor and got a job at Taco Bell off Rancho in T.O.  They get my order completely wrong EVERY time I go through their drive through!  Maybe they’re just relatives of good old Mark.

Anyhow, I’ll go ahead and wrap up this first part of “Revealing the Truth” so you can go check your email and get a snack.  But don’t worry, me in my shiny lycra superhero outfit will finish combating these flaming torturous statements tomorrow so you will know the TRUE story about body shops, auto body repair, insurance companies and their contracts with body shops. 

Nice to meet you! Our name is Casa Body Shop.

Casa Body Shop has been in business in Van Nuys for almost 20 years.  We are like an epic landmark! Every year we try to get better at what we love and that is taking care of our customers…you!



Let us take care of everything so you can relax!

We want to make this experience of auto body repairs as smooth and stress-free for you as possible (especially since whatever brought you here is probably not going to be one of your fondest memories and you’re very likely a little shaken up). We want to make sure you know that you and your vehicle are in trusted hands.   Now this is the part where we encourage questions!  Your estimator will go over with you what your vehicle needs and will let you know how long the repairs will take to finish.  We want you to be in the know so you can relax.

Text updates to keep you informed



Upon entering our beautiful facility an ice cold glass of water will be waiting for you (even though an ice cold beer may be more of what you were wishing for).  Your estimator will let you know how long you should expect to be without a vehicle so, if needed, we can help arrange a rental for you.  The rental car company will be contacted on your behalf and someone will come straight to our nicely air-conditioned office to pick you up in your rental.  That’s nice and easy, huh?!

We believe that an informed customer is a happy customer.  Once you have left our body shop you will begin to get text updates.  These updates will allow you to stay updated with your vehicle’s progress and confirm that you are on track with your expected completion date. 

Just before your vehicle is completed your estimator will call you to set up a time for you to come and pick up your pride and joy.

Today is the day!  You have come back to Casa Body Shop and pull in to find your once smashed-up vehicle as beautiful (or even more beautiful) than the day you bought her.  You can’t believe it!  No one would ever need to know about your face to face confrontation with that dang garage door!! (and we won’t tell)

This is our favorite part so pay close attention…you will see your estimator taking pictures of your 4-wheeled glimmering beauty.  (No, the paparazzi have not found you.)  I don’t know if you saw this when you dropped off your vehicle (probably because you were relaxing in the nice air-conditioned office reading a “Hot Rod” or “Cosmo” magazine) but your estimator had taken pictures of your entire automobile when you dropped it off.  Well, now he is taking the “after” pictures so a before and after set of pictures can be saved on our computer system.  If you’d like to take a peek at these pictures, just ask your estimator and we can email them to you so you can have them developed or email around the office to show off how amazing your repairs look!  And if you’re really feeling glamorous, you can o.k. us to post your before and after pictures on our website, on Facebook or the web, or even have them printed on one of our marketing ads!

I forgot to mention one last thing…our guarantee.  Yep, it DOES get better.  Because we stand behind our work completely, we offer a lifetime guarantee on work and paint and a 12 month guarantee on parts.  With a lifetime guarantee you can’t go wrong!

So, off you go – happy as can be – driving off in to the sunset…  We hope that whatever brought you to us in the first place doesn’t happen again, but if it does you know you have friends that will help you out if you ever need an auto body shop again or if you just want to pop in and say hi since we’re just that cool!!