Free money? A list of things not charged for on most estimates.

I wrote this list out to try to help all of us out with a little free money, or found lost money, whichever view you prefer. The following list is one I compiled in about 10 or 15 minutes of things that I like to supplement for at the very end of a job, some are quite obvious and wide spread such as Flex Additive, others are way off the deep end where some shops may be too shy or scared to "nickle and dime" the insurance companies. The way I see it, is if they wanna shave .1 and .2 off me, I may as well try to do the same to them (I know two wrongs don't make a right, but they may make you more money).

My only request is this: If you find something missing that you charge for no matter how mundane or strange it may be, please post it as a response! Thanks for your interest!

Estimate / Supplement Check List:

Written By: Alex Hahn

I work at a flat rate/commission shop, when your employees are getting paid for every action they do they tend to remind you when you’ve missed something, and in some cases I remind them when they’ve missed something. These are some of the best ideas I’ve heard from technicians or come
up with myself. Some of these are pretty normal and widespread and others may
seem borderline crazy to you, at the end of the day getting 10 extra .1’s or
.2’s really adds up in the long run, do not be afraid to ask for these, I have
been paid by large insurance companies and small to complete all of these actions, and
again the worst thing they can say is no.

Corrosion Protection - Anytime doing filler work or fixing scratches. (Do not add to blend panels.) Typically about $10 and .2 per panel.

Flex Additive - Anytime a bumper is painted.

Chip Guard Material - Found on Toyota’s and many other cars, add when replacing fender or performing a rocker/quarter panel repair in the area of the undercoating.

Adhesive Removal from Refinish Panel – Whenever removing an emblem or molding, this is for the adhesive from the tape left behind; we usually get at least .2 per emblem and more for cladding/spoilers.

Clean & Re-Tape – Whenever re-using emblems, charge .1 to .2 depending upon size and ease of taping, additionally charge $2.50 for the tape material, make sure to check your numbers and see that it is cost effective.

Spare Tire R&I – Whenever sending out a rim for reconditioning services, request time to R&I the spare tire to keep the car mobile in the shop, so it can be moved or even sent off to the paint shop, I recently had a State Farm adjuster tell
me he’s never had anyone ask for it before, but there is no way for him to deny
it because its so logical.

Blend Door Handles – Anytime you do a door skin or repair in the vicinity of the door handle always get blend time, additionally if the adjacent panel has a door handle within 6 inches or so of what your skinning, blend that handle too! A Liberty
Mutual appraiser told me she had never had anyone request it before in the last
15 years that she had been writing. Gas doors too!

Adhesive Kit – When doing bedsides where you use panel bond on the upper rail make sure to charge for the material, the application is included in the repair time, but not the Panel Bond itself, we charge $45 per bedside, the 3M Automix is around
$50 a tube and its easy to justify using more than half a tube, not to mention
the tips costing roughly $1. Also applicable when doing glass work

Seam Sealer - Again, when doing bedsides or quarter panels add seam sealer material costs in separately. The operation/application of applying it is included in the labor time, but not the material itself, we usually get around $25 per panel.

Remove Decal/Pinstripe – When painting a panel with a pinstripe don’t just charge for the pinstripe, charge for the time to remove it as well, this can also be done when painting a bedside that has a “4X4” decal on it. The replace time is
strictly that REPLACE not to remove decal and or residue.

Partial R&I of Door Weather Strips – Anytime you paint a quarter panel and carry the clear all the way to the windshield pillar, get partial R&I time of the door weather strips that touch in the area of the roof line, typically .2 per door.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by bernie sonenschein on January 28, 2010 at 8:43pm

panel bond (door skins, roofs, some quarter panels)
masking time for door jambs, window openings, engines and engine compartment
for pick up trucks when you remove the box cover the cab and additional time to cover the box
glass clean up
reset clock, radio, nav system

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Permalink Reply by Michelle McGary on January 29, 2010 at 2:06pm

Hey we are fighting with an insurance company right now to get paid for a prep kit for an unprimed bumper. It cost us around $46 and after 2 days of begging they are only going to pay $19. Their reasoning is the manufacter says we only need to use soap and water to wash off the release agent. Our paint manufacturer says we have to use these certain "chemicals." Has anyone else run into this? Is this something to add to your list?

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Permalink Reply by Bill Fowler on February 2, 2010 at 8:07am

Nissan has published a very comprehensive set of instructions regarding the necessary prep operations for raw bumpers. I get a minimum of 1 hour per bumper and have successfully used Nissan's documentation as supporting information. It works every time.
As a matter of fact, if you visit the website " Stop Steering .com" you will find a plethora of information, including a photo of a brand new car being color sanded and polished IN THE FACTORY. If color sanding and polishing has to be done at the factory, why then does it not have to be done after repair? I haven't had an adjuster be able to answer that question yet when I show him that picture.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle McGary on February 2, 2010 at 8:25am

Thanks for the great info! What Nissan site do you use? Do you pay for any of your information?

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Permalink Reply by Bill Fowler on February 2, 2010 at 10:08am

I don't remember at the moment but I think I just did a Google search for "Nissan rubber bumper preparation" and no, I have never had to pay for information. Most of the OEM manufacturers have information sites that you can access for free.
The Stop Steering site I mentioned has loads of information I use to my advantage. The "Common Insurance Phrases" is something I have printed out to counter steering with great responses from customers, along with several other documents they have on their site. As I said, when I am discussing the necessity of the color sand and polish operation with an adjuster, that picture takes the wind out of them and is impossible to argue against what they see with their own eyes.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Fowler on February 2, 2010 at 10:22am

Michelle,
I have my hands on the printed information . If you will send me your fax number, I will send you what I have, which is not only Nissan's procedure but every paint manufacturer's as well.
My e-mail address is bll.fowler@gmail.com

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Permalink Reply by Michelle McGary on February 2, 2010 at 11:11am

I am emailing you.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Fowler on February 2, 2010 at 10:39am

Michelle,
I just found another link to all the information I have. Go to http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb/NTB97-060.pdf

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Permalink Reply by Michelle McGary on February 2, 2010 at 11:13am

Ya I actually had the page right from our DuPont manual about the proceedures involved and it didnt matter, he still refused to pay it.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Fowler on February 2, 2010 at 11:57am

That's when you exclude the bumper cover from any written warranty on the repair, ask the adjuster to sign and acknowledge he would not pay for it and provide a copy of the information I have sent you to your customer explaining that the paint will peel off the cover because the insurance company refused to pay for the time and materials necessary.
You have defended your position with logic and third party information. He can't do that and is exposed for what he is......a bully.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle McGary on February 2, 2010 at 12:41pm

I like that idea! The funny part is this was a desk auditor.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Fowler on February 2, 2010 at 1:03pm

There is nothing funny about a desk auditor. How can anyone who has not seen the vehicle render an opinion about it? They are paid to mitigate the loss at your expense...end of story.
I love it when some of these knuckleheads refer to themselves as representing "estimate review" companies. I always point out that the name they have assigned themselves is something of a misnomer in that a "review" would in some instances result in additions to an estimate and then ask them if that ever happened with an estimate that they "reviewed". Of course, they are immediately disarmed by my question and always answer, "No."
I then say, "Then you are actually working for an estimate reduction company, aren't you?".....stunned silence. Next I ask, "What would it say about the estimate that I wrote if I allowed you to arbitrarily reduce what I have presented to be a legitimate ?"....more stunned silence.
"This is easy.", I say. "My estimate reflects what I saw with my own eyes so I have the distinct advantage over you, who are trying to determine whether my estimate is legitimate or not and you have never seen the car." " I will not dignify what you are trying to do because you are simply trying to justfy the fee you charge to arbitrarily reduce the amount of my estimate by taking it away from me. Either my estimate stands, remove the car from my premises and pay the charges, or load your a%# on a plane and fly here to see this car for yourself. There are no other options available to you."
You may have a car or two towed away, but storage, teardown and admin fees can be lucrative profit centers. More often than not, your charges amount to more than the "estimate review" company or the "desk auditor" were trying to beat you out of. They soon become irrelevant and the insurance company that hires them will quickly begin to negotiate with you themselves. "No" is profitable, too.