Windshield repairs?

Windshield Repair

  I actually decided to start this blog a long time ago but have been too busy to actually do it. This is called Geri's rants and reviews. It is mostly for people in Utah with me, and honestly my reviews are probably going to be more for comic relief than any actual value to you. So for my first review today, I will be talking about windshield repair, or in my case today, replacement. 

The first time I had my windshield replaced I was a teenager so I didn't mind that the place I took it to took 8 hours to get it finished, that just meant I had 8 hours that I "had" to spend with my then best friend at the mall,and to be honest technology has changed since then so any review I would say about that experience would be dumb to write about. A few years ago however, I had to have the windshield replaced on our Saturn Ion. By this time I was married and had a baby along with another one on the way, so obviously the prospect of waiting in the waiting room of a repair place or hanging out at the mall for 8 hours did not entice me in the slightest. Nevertheless, the windshield with a crack that reached almost the entire length of the windshield was in desperate need of being replaced. Living in Sunset now, I decided to call Technaglass, as it is relatively close. My Mother (from whom I get most of my advice) told me that they could do a mobile repair instead, which meant that instead of me taking my tiny son and my pregnant self to suffer at the shop, they would come to our house and do the repairs while I relaxed in my own home on the sofa or whatnot. Obviously I thought this was the greatest gift to a new mom, so I called them up and asked about getting a mobile replacement scheduled. The FIRST available appointment they had was almost THREE WEEKS out. Not knowing any better, I took the appointment and hoped and prayed that we wouldn't get pulled over in the meantime. Well the appointment day came and only about 2 hours late, the technaglass guys show up. The three obvious immigrants came to my door, and between the three of them, summoned up enough broken english to get started. 

The repair took almost three hours. Obviously I didn't know this was not a good time, since the only experience I had was the 8 hour experience, and I am not even sure if it actually took that long or if we just wanted to play for that long. I honestly don't remember. To top it off, the THREE men who did the repair first put the new windshield on the roof of my car while they took the broken one out. Then they put the broken one on the hood while they put in the new one. This caused the paint job on the roof and hood to look like someone took a three year old and an ice pick and said "Here ya go, let's see what you can draw." They said they were done (I think, it wasn't exactly clear) and had me sign a receipt. They gave me the little hand out so I knew not to go wash it or drive it immediately, etc. So the next week a nice rain storm hit and as I am driving down the freeway, my car starts crying. What? you ask?  Oh that means that even though the windows were closed and such, it looked like tears were running down my windshield ON THE INSIDE. Luckily when I called to complain about it, they were able to come out and fix it the next day this time, and this time, it didn't leak. I also got a nice english speaking guy who was appalled at the horrid job the three other men had done, including dripping glue on the dashboard, hood and sideview mirrors, and not even trying to clean it up. 

     As you can imagine, when my husband got a big crack across his windshield last week, I was not exactly thrilled at the prospect of having to get it fixed. So lets fast forward to yesterday. I asked my awesome neighbor who she would trust and she told me the last time she had to have one fixed she used safelite in Layton. I usually don't use a company that uses advertising, long explanation, but I also hadn't heard anything about them personally, good or bad. Nevertheless, I was tempting fate by driving the car, and I just got a ticket less than a month ago, this is the LAST thing I need. So I called the Safelite number, and the guy on the phone was SO NICE. He was a salesman, who tried to sell me some windshield wipers with it for a really high price, but that is his job, can't hold it against them or him. When I said no, that I could put on new wipers all by myself, he simply said "ok" and let it go. NO PRESSURE, what a concept. He asked me about my insurance and I didn't have my card with me, so he called my agent while I was on the phone, and got it all set up for me! It was amazing and so fast! To top it off, he got me a mobile repair set up for the very next day. Needless to say I was speechless, as Technaglass had told me that three weeks is a normal waiting time when asking for a mobile repair. The phone call went absolutely smoothly. He also sent me a reminder in my email about the tech coming the next morning, and a profile of the tech that would be doing the repairs. How nice! In this day and age when criminals are getting smarter and smarter, it is nice when a company goes the extra mile to make sure we know we are safe.  

 

     Fast forward again to today. The tech called me and told me about what time he would be able to come by, narrowing the time frame for me and confirming the appointment. He was very polite. He showed up right on time! Oh and if you noticed, yes I said TECH, not three guys who don't know the first thing about what they are doing. The tech showed up, and to be honest I was a little leary about this one kid doing the repair all on his own, but he showed up, on time, clean, pressed, clean cut, and looking very professional. He moved his truck/van so that it was right by my car. Then he took out the broken windshield and, wait for it, actually put it right in the truck when he got it out! He didn't put in on my car, no damage, nothing! WOW! Then he left the new one in the van while he cleaned up the gunk and prepared the car for the new one. He went back, got the new windshield, and put it in, by himself, and finished up! But was he done? Oh no! Then he washed all of the windows in the car, inside and out! Done? NOPE! Then he vacuumed the car! WHOA!!! This was unbelievable! He finished up, put the tape on, and came up to the house to give me the warnings about not washing it, etc. Had me sign for it and he was on his way leaving me with quite the smile. Oh the best part of it all? This incredible tech did this incredible job IN UNDER AN HOUR!!! 

    Needless to say, I wouldn't recommend Technaglass but I also woujldn't recommend not using them. Everyone has an off day, and the second guy that came out did a great job.  BUT this guy from Safelite has seriously wooed me. I will definitely be using them again and telling all of you that I suggest you do the same. The experience was very easy and pleasant from the first phone call to the end of the installation. Good job Safelite, good job.