A Call to Auto Glass Consumers.

I want to talk to you today about the safety implications of having your windshield replaced.  The AGR industry has spent a lot of money to keep consumers safe when they have a windshield replaced in their vehicle.  The Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard was written in conjunction with the American National Standards Institute.  The AGRSS was written to protect you the consumer.  The industry for the most part I think is trying to do what is right.  Many shops are doing the right thing and following the standard.  Now I am asking the consumer to take responsibility in getting a safe windshield installation as well.

I know cost can be a factor in getting a windshield replaced.  Many consumers will call several shops until they find the best price and then select that shop.  Many times when one makes their auto glass replacement decisions in this way, they often get what they pay for.  When shopping for auto glass please make sure to find a shop that follows the ANSI 002-2002 Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard.  It does not matter whether they have affiliated with the AGRSS Council or not, just that they follow the standard.   

What price can you put on the safety of you and your family.  Imagine that you are driving down the road and are involved in an accident.  Now imagine how you would feel if your child died because the windshield came out of your car and the roof crushed your child.   This a horrible thought to consider, yet when you make a windshield purchase you take this gamble when you use a shop that does not follow industry safety standards.

There are some other things to consider when selecting a shop.  

• What is the shops warranty policy.  An auto glass purchase is a major purchase.  Most shops have some kind of warranty.  The more reputable shops will have workmanship and parts warranty, that covers air and water leaks and defective parts.
• OEM glass vs. OEM equivalent:  Many shops will tell you that you must have an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) part to have a safe installation.  An OEM manufacturer is the manufacturer that makes the glass for your vehicle when it is being built.  Most of the time there is no significant difference between the OEM and the OEM Equivalent of a part.  Often the only differences are the brand name and the price.  please remember this:  If a part or parts manufacturer does not meet the testing requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, an auto glass shop is not allowed to put the glass in your vehicle.
  
• Does your chosen shop perform windshield repair.  This is a time and money saving process to prolong the life of your windshield.  It is best to get rock chips fixed as soon as possible.  This will prolong the life of your windshield and keep it out of a landfill for awhile longer.  It will save you money over the long run.  A windshield can be repaired several times before it has to be replaced.  There are new standards for windshield repair as well.  I will be getting these links up soon.
• Does your shop waive deductibles.  If the shop you have chosen waives deductibles, then it is possible they are cutting corners somewhere else.  With comprehensive insurance, you the consumer are required to pay your deductible to the shop performing the work on your vehicle.  Many states have laws against waiving deductibles.  When you have auto glass work performed on your vehicle, your deductible is part of the shops payment.  They collect the rest from your insurance company.  If they are in the practice of waiving deductibles, then it is quite possible they are cutting corners on safety and quality to maintain their profit level.

As you can see there are many things to consider when making an auto glass purchase.  Please remember to keep safety number one among the things you consider in an auto glass shop.