WGR Reports
repair news

LEGISLATION NEWS
Arizona Governor Signs Anti-Steering, Inspections Bill into Law
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill related to recommendations of auto glass service providers by both third-party administrators and any auto glass “inspectors” they utilize in auto glass claims into law in April.

The final text of the law permits third-party administrators to recommend or provide information about auto glass repair facilities to customers, but requires them “to inform the person of the person’s right prescribed in Section 20-469 to choose any glass repair facility for the repair of the loss relating to motor vehicle glass at the same time as making the recommendation or providing information.”

In addition, the law, which takes effect in July, also includes the following language related to auto glass
“inspectors:”

“An independent adjustor or a third-party administrator’s auto physical damage appraiser or claims inspector for automotive glass repair or replacement work in connection with an inspection limited to automotive glass repair or replacement shall not recommend any particular glass repair facility."

The law specifies that it “shall not apply to any employee or insurance producer of an insurer,” and includes a provision that anyone “who knowingly violates this section is guilty of a petty offense for a first violation.”

The legislation defines someone who acted knowingly as as a person who “was engaged in a regular and consistent pattern of the prohibited activity.”

While the legislation originally included a provision that would have made it “unlawful for an insurer or an insurer’s third-party administrator or agent to cause a delay in the inspection of a policyholder’s auto glass condition in the handling of a policyholder’s claim regardless of the repair facility the policyholder chooses,” this section was removed prior to final passage.

Likewise, the legislation, sponsored by Sen. John McComish, also originally included a provision that would have prohibited insurers and third-party administrators from having a financial interest in auto glass replacement companies—but was amended to remove this language in its early stages of debate in the House Banking and Insurance Committee.

INDUSTRY STATS
2010 Smart Fortwo
AGRR™ magazine surveyed five cities in the United States for the price of a windshield repair on a 2010 Smart Fortwo. As usual, the companies were told that insurance will not be involved and the customer wishes to pay for the repair out of pocket. We also advised shops that the damage was a small rock chip on the passenger side of the windshield. (see “Price Points” on page 20 for replacement pricing statistics).

KUDOS
Mobile Tech Honors Delta's Gobin
Delta Kits Inc. account executive Korey Gobin was named “2011 Windshield Repair Person of the Year” during the recent Mobile Tech Expo in Corpus Christi, Texas. “We’re all very proud of Korey,” says Delta president Brent Deines. “Nobody works harder to service our customers and the windshield repair industry in general. I am very pleased that Korey has received some well earned recognition for always putting the needs of others before his own.”

Among Gobin’s duties at Delta Kits, he produces the technical videos available on www.deltakits.com, and is greatly involved in the company’s training efforts, according to a statement from the company.

GlasWeld Marketing Team Recognized with Three ADDY® Awards
GlasWeld was awarded two silver and one bronze ADDY Award at the Advertising Federation of Central Oregon’s 2011 Drake Awards held on March 3, 2011, in Bend, Ore.

GlasWeld’s marketing team entered four projects for consideration in the Advertising Federation of Central Oregon’s annual competition and took home three awards.

• A silver ADDY was given for a sales promotion video entitled “Save a window. Save a teacher.” The video features a chalk drawing storyline as an introductory presentation for a school district administrator conference in Southern California.

• A silver ADDY also was awarded to GlasWeld for an Internet commercial entitled “Gforce2 Glass Scratch Removal Kit,” which combined stop-motion photography and video footage.

• A bronze ADDY was given for an Internet commercial featuring the company’s ecoVac product, which was part of a comprehensive multi-media marketing campaign featuring a glass repair technician named Ed Kovac and the ecoVac windshield repair injector.

“We have learned to be very creative and continue to assure our marketing efforts include an element of fun as well as utilizing techniques that keep us on the cutting edge,” says Patch.

The Drake Awards is an annual event hosted by the Advertising Federation of Central Oregon.

AGRR
© Copyright 2011 Key Communications Inc. All rights reserved.
No reproduction of any type without expressed written permission.