Collision shop or dealer ?
09-26-2018, 02:19 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Collision shop or dealer ?
Wondering if going to a collision shop referred to my an insurance company is advisable or should one go to a chevy dealer that does collision work?
09-26-2018, 02:24 PM
#2
Racer
High end, reputable collision shop that you have researched and talked to. Don't recommend ever going to the dealer for collision work.
09-26-2018, 03:00 PM
#4
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Malum1 (09-26-2018)
09-26-2018, 04:27 PM
#5
Safety Car
depends on the reputations
I bet most of the previous responses are correct as most dealers farm out collision repair but
individual reputations supersede (in my case in Western Washington State it ended up at a small
but professional establishment called "Corvettes of Auburn" as the previous shop I had used for our
Prius said they don't deal in fiberglass and Vettes)
individual reputations supersede (in my case in Western Washington State it ended up at a small
but professional establishment called "Corvettes of Auburn" as the previous shop I had used for our
Prius said they don't deal in fiberglass and Vettes)
Last edited by dbirdhouse1; 09-26-2018 at 04:27 PM.
09-26-2018, 04:51 PM
#6
A good shop is a good shop and it would be silly to make a distinction between a dealer owned facility or an independent. I have owned several body shops in conjunction with a dealership and they produced a good product. I have also seen a number of independent shops that were my competitors that did excellent work. Conversely, I have seen dealers with poor body shops and independents that produced terrible work. Anyone trying to make a blanket statement would be terribly misinformed.
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09-26-2018, 05:16 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
HAve to agree - the dealers body shop may or may not be affiliated with the dealer, and may not be GM certified.
My selling dealer has a “collision center” it is owned by the same person that owns the dealership. Visually, it is on the same lot as the dealership (backside of the new car lot) but it has a different name and address. Management is internal, but oversight is done from the new car side.
But the independent company configuration is set up intentionally to reduce liability - (any) issues incurred on the body shop side are the domain/responsibility of the body shop as an independent company, not the dealership proper.
yea, I learned this during a fiasco with the body shop, but the story is outside the scope of this thread. Suffice to say what the did, they did well, but what the screwed up was screwed up royally.
My selling dealer has a “collision center” it is owned by the same person that owns the dealership. Visually, it is on the same lot as the dealership (backside of the new car lot) but it has a different name and address. Management is internal, but oversight is done from the new car side.
But the independent company configuration is set up intentionally to reduce liability - (any) issues incurred on the body shop side are the domain/responsibility of the body shop as an independent company, not the dealership proper.
yea, I learned this during a fiasco with the body shop, but the story is outside the scope of this thread. Suffice to say what the did, they did well, but what the screwed up was screwed up royally.
Last edited by aj98; 09-26-2018 at 05:18 PM.
09-26-2018, 05:40 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
On the other hand, I’ve also had a “multimillion dollar state of the art” GM and insurance company approved facility take 4 tries to both color match (2001 navy blue metallic - which is a color shifting paint) and not have multiple pinhead sized spots missing paint or fiber imbedded in the paint.
09-26-2018, 06:19 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
A good shop is a good shop and it would be silly to make a distinction between a dealer owned facility or an independent. I have owned several body shops in conjunction with a dealership and they produced a good product. I have also seen a number of independent shops that were my competitors that did excellent work. Conversely, I have seen dealers with poor body shops and independents that produced terrible work. Anyone trying to make a blanket statement would be terribly misinformed.
Much of bodywork is craftsmanship, requires skilled artisans for top notch results, and reputation and research is the best way to find a quality shop. I have had good and not so good results from both dealers and indies.
Last edited by jimmbbo; 09-26-2018 at 06:19 PM.
09-26-2018, 07:41 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
You should go the the repair shop of your choice after you determine the best shop in your area.
generally that is a shop with considerable experience working with fiberglass and corvettes.
I agree with comments above concerning dealers and would never again go to shop recommended by my insurance company. Often they have arrangements with local shops with the primary goal of keeping the insurance companies costs as low as possible and not the best work.
Talk to friends and neighbors, contact local car clubs and seek recommendations on Corvette Forum and others.
good luck
generally that is a shop with considerable experience working with fiberglass and corvettes.
I agree with comments above concerning dealers and would never again go to shop recommended by my insurance company. Often they have arrangements with local shops with the primary goal of keeping the insurance companies costs as low as possible and not the best work.
Talk to friends and neighbors, contact local car clubs and seek recommendations on Corvette Forum and others.
good luck
09-27-2018, 12:13 AM
#13
Ask around the local Corvette clubs for the best Body shops in So. Cal.
They may or may not be dealer-afilliated. Assumption one way or another w/o direct experience is silly.
They may or may not be dealer-afilliated. Assumption one way or another w/o direct experience is silly.
09-27-2018, 09:03 AM
#14
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A good shop is a good shop and it would be silly to make a distinction between a dealer owned facility or an independent. I have owned several body shops in conjunction with a dealership and they produced a good product. I have also seen a number of independent shops that were my competitors that did excellent work. Conversely, I have seen dealers with poor body shops and independents that produced terrible work. Anyone trying to make a blanket statement would be terribly misinformed.
Either one can have good or bad reputations and quality of work. It really does pay to carefully check out a shop before letting them do any work on your car.