Impression Smash Repairs

Rapid Accident Repairs

admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 23:10:21 +0000

NEWS

Rapid Accident Repairs

What is this all about?

Ultimately it’s about completing accident repair work super efficiently – as well as customer service.

Quoting needs to be meticulous. This requires experience as well as attention to detail
Parts are pre-ordered and checked
Jobs are booked in to be started immediately
At the earliest opportunity checks are made for previously unseen damage and replacement parts
Stringent procedural checks ensure jobs flow through the various repair processes on time
Infra red drying technology allows for paint products to dry in minutes as opposed to hours or over-night

From our perspective it’s about being organized and meticulous – It’s not about rushing through repair work.

IMPRESSION SMASH REPAIRS – Your Local Rapid Repair Centre Cockburn Central – Success, Atwell, Yangebup, Beeliar, Bibra Lake, Spearwood, South Lake & Jandakot

Chico Bernardo

Ant’s Auto Detailing

admin — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:46:36 +0000

Mobile Auto Car Detailing

Cockburn Central – Success, Atwell, Yangebup, Beeliar, Bibra Lake, Spearwood, South Lake & Jandakot

We recommend “Ant’s Auto Detailing Mobile Service“

“Click” for details:

Would you like your vehicle detailed whilst it’s being repaired.

Ant can also detail at your home or work

0417 920 546

Insurance Companies are incredibly powerful

admin — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 05:04:32 +0000

NEWS

Insurance Companies are large powerful organizations that have out grown the car repair industry fish pond – so to speak.

They prodominantly dictate where accident repairs can be done, as well as repair standards – by negotiating low average costs of repairs with larger repairers and repairer chains.

Customers should be “Extremely Alarmed” if they are deprived the right to select their licenced Repairer.

Suncorp is the largest and most influential Car Insurer in Australia. In terms of controlling accident repair work, it has gone so far as to;

Own 23 accident repair shops
Owns up to 90 per cent of the ‘Capital Sensible Repairs’ chain of shops
As well as other ventures – such as owning 60% of the huge ‘Q Plus’ repair establishment – one of the largest smash repair shops in the world
And has a 51 per cent share in the Australian division of US components supply giant, LKQ, that specialises in non-genuine parts

There is huge conflict of interest when insurance companies are able to control their costs of repairs to this extent. That is why this practice is banned in North America.

They effectively stipulate to customers where they are to have their vehicles repaired and in the process control the cost of repairs. Neither the Repairer nor the customer has any influence on the cost of labor, let alone whether new genuine parts are used.

I suspect this is in breech of Fair Trading Practise Act 1974 … “Coercive arrangements that lessons competition” … as well as “Exclusive dealings“.

People like myself within the industry (including all the major Car Dealerships) are extremely concerned at the repercussions of all of this. In particular the heavy discounting of labor rates and the pressure to use other than new genuine parts on anything other than brand new vehicles.

The Suncorp & LKQ non-genuine parts joint venture has recently announced it’s business name – Australian Collision & Mechanical Parts (ACM Parts). I cringe at the thought of what is going to happen next.

Business is business, however when the balance of power is so lob sided and such a clear conflict of interest is prevalent, at the very least I think more attention needs to be brought to this.

From a car owners point of view, I have grave concerns that their consumer rights have been compromised. Once they take out cover with certain companies, they have little or no say in where they can have your accident repair work done – including no say in whether replacement parts will be new manufacturers genuine. “WOW!”

It’s going to be very interesting to see the outcome of the NSW Inquiry into Insurance Company and the accident repair industry. From both a car owner’s perspective, as well as the health of the accident repair industry, I believe a positive finding is far from certain. Insurance Companies are resourceful and politically savvy. Suncorp have even come out and publicly stated that they welcome the enquiry. “What a joke!”

We’ll all just wait and see.

Chico Bernardo

NSW Inquiry into insurance Co.s & Smash Repairers

admin — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 04:36:09 +0000

NSW Government launching a parliamentary inquiry into the relationship between insurance companies and smash repairers

BY: JOSHUA DOWLING – National Motoring Editor
FROM: NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA
March 17th, 2014 12:00AM

Repairs needed … car makers have warned that the use of non-genuine parts can compromise a vehicle’s crash safety. Source: AFP

THE NSW Government will today launch a parliamentary inquiry into the relationship between insurance companies and smash repairers — and the lucrative industry that repairs more than half-a-million cars each year.

It follows complaints that some insurance companies are trying to muscle-in on the crash repair industry — driving smaller repairers out of business — and are cutting corners by using mostly non-genuine parts, which car makers say can compromise a vehicle’s safety.

The inquiry is also believed to be investigating alleged links between some small independent smash repair shops and organised crime, including motorcycle gangs and car-rebirthing rings.

In North America insurance companies are banned from owning smash repair businesses because of concerns that the focus on cost could lead to compromises in safety and the quality of vehicle repairs.

Australia’s largest vehicle insurer by market share, Suncorp — which also operates under AAMI, GIO, Just Cars and Shannons — owns 23 smash repair shops across Australia, including nine in NSW.

Suncorp began acquiring majority shareholdings across its stable of smash repair shops three years ago.

Suncorp owns 60 per cent of ‘Q Plus’ at Riverwood, which is said to be the biggest crash repair shop in Australia and among the largest in the world, with up to 120 cars repaired each week.

Suncorp also owns up to 90 per cent of the ‘Capital Smart Repairs’ chain and has a 51 per cent share in the Australian division of US parts supply giant, LKQ, that specialises in non-genuine replacement parts to the crash trade.

Under the microscope …. Suncorp, Australia’s largest vehicle insurer by market share. Picture: Jack Atley Source: Supplied

Australia’s second-largest insurer, NRMA, bought into two crash repair shops in Melbourne in December 1999 but sold them in July 2013.

NRMA Insurance owned a handful of smash repair businesses in NSW in the 1980s and 1990s but sold them more than 10 years ago.

“The US doesn’t allow insurers to own smash repair shops because it’s deemed there is a conflict of interest: cost versus what’s best for the customer,” said James McCall, the former CEO of the Motor Traders Association in NSW and who is now the Chairman of the Motor Industry Advisory Council established by the state government.

A spokesman for Suncorp, Chris Newlan, said: “We wouldn’t support the US model. The US has significantly higher (car insurance) premiums than we have in Australia. We wouldn’t want an inquiry having unintended consequences such as pushing up cost-of-living pressures with dearer insurance premiums.”

Mr Newlan said modern motor vehicles are “more complex” to repair than older vehicles “with up to nine different types of steel and up to 70 computer systems”.

When asked why Suncorp predominantly used non-genuine parts in the repair of its vehicles, Mr Newlan said “we’re transparent about it, it’s in the product disclosure statement that we use genuine and non-genuine parts, or a combination of both”.

NRMA Insurance says it uses brand-new genuine parts on all cars that are less than three years old, and genuine new or used parts on older vehicles. Windscreens and radiators are the only non-genuine parts used, a spokesman said.

“The increasing complexity of all modern motor vehicles, in the metal materials and computer systems, which guarantee crash safety, make it absolutely vital that genuine parts are used in crash repairs,” said Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy, who suggested a car repaired with non-genuine parts should be crash-tested to highlight the differences.

Both Suncorp and NRMA Insurance say they offer lifetime guarantees on their smash repairs. NRMA Insurance randomly audits about 10 per cent of repairs.

“Cars are becoming more complex which is why we partner with expert small business smash repairers to fix cars to manufacturer standards,” said NRMA Insurance spokesman Mark Gold.

When asked about Suncorp’s investment in parts supplier LKQ, Mr Newlan said: “This is a separate deal. We cannot and do not force repairers to source parts from LKQ. We’re simply introducing competition into the market.”

Mr Newlan said genuine parts had a “400 per cent mark up by the time it gets to us”, adding that a $20,000 car would cost close to $118,000 if made from separately-purchased spare parts.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

Good Luck Freo Dockers in 2014

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:29:46 +0000

NEWS

Good luck DOCKERS in 2014

Cockburn sons of war. “Any time, any where”

Thanks guys for supporting us with your business

Cockburn Central – Success, Atwell, Yangebup, Beeliar, Bibra Lake, Spearwood, South Lake & Jandakot. Home of the Fremantle Dockers

Jonas Rodrigues, Michael Walters & Richard Parker

Summer 2014 Update

admin — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 03:06:39 +0000

NEWS

We have been extremely busy since the lead up to Christmas, however everything has continued to run smoothly. Ignoring the “heat wave” conditions, it has been an enjoyable period.

Our Rapid Accident Repair processes have continued to run smoothly, getting our customer’s car’s back on the road much faster than our competitors – without compromising the quality of repairs.

It has also been a busy time of year for us with Car Air-conditioning Regas Services and Repairs.

Hi-COOL A/C System Additive has proved to be very popular product with customers for boosting the performance of their air-conditioners.

As usual Ultra Shine Paint Protection continues to be popular with our customers, because it keeps cars much cleaner and shinier for longer – and makes cleaning a breeze.

Our records show our customer base is around Cockburn Central – Success, Atwell, Yangebup, Beeliar, Bibra Lake, Spearwood, South Lake & Jandakot. Post codes 6163, 6164 & 6166.

Is your car air-conditioning ready for summer?

admin — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 07:34:30 +0000

NEWS

Is your car’s air-conditioning ready for this summer? Most log book services don’t include either testing or servicing the air-conditioner. We recommend having your car’s air-conditioner checked every two years.

“Click here” TO BOOK your FREE cursory “Check Up” – which includes;

A cabin vent temperature reading
Test condenser temperature and compressor suction pressure
Check drive belt tension , compressor & clutch, and visible oil or refrigerant stains on the compressor, hoses/pipes & fittings
And a general cursory appraisal.

“Click” here for air-con tips

IMPRESSION AUTO SERVICES – Your Service Centre Cockburn Central – Success, Atwell, Yangebup, Beeliar, Bibra Lake, Spearwood, South Lake & Jandakot