Bill
04-01-2009, 02:39 PM
I have been arguing via e-mail with a so called "expert" who happens to be a claims manager with his company and believes that color tinting and color blending are an either/or proposition and that if you do one, then the other isn't necessary. He has instructed all his subordinates to only pay one or the other but not both.
I began my argument with this nitwit last week by referring to the "P" page explanation of both processes as outlined in Mitchell, his company's software provider of choice and pointed out that both are listed as separate operations and not synonymous. I went on to explain that the color must first be tinted to an acceptable color match BEFORE the blending operation is undertaken and that both are necessary components of the repair process, for which I deserve to be compensated.
This idiot responds by quoting the explanation that some underside colors, for which no formulas exist, "may need tinting" thereby in his mind removing the need. He got his butt up when I pointed out that what he was quoting had no relevance in our debate and we needed to focus on OUTSIDE surfaces.
All this deteriorated to "you're the only one in the whole state that is asking for this", "the two people I have talked to at Mitchell support my position", and "we will address this on a case by case basis", B.S., B.S and more B.S.
I contacted Mitchell International and got the confirmation I needed that I was correct and forwarded all the contact information to the "expert" and suggested that he contact the division manager himself, as I did to put this matter to bed. His response was to tell me that he wasn't calling anybody, restating that I am "the only one", "his" interpretation of the "P" page explanation was all he needed, and "he was done discussing this issue".
Here's where the blood shooting out of my eyes came in:
I start gathering all the e-mail addresses I can get for all the shops in my state so I can forward copies of this e-mail exchange to them to get their input and support, since "I'm the only one". I was amazed to hear more than one shop owner say, "I'm not going to piss off an insurance company over something as trivial as a half hour." I asked one guy how many cars he supposed he repaired per year and he said he figured around 2,000. I pointed out that each half hour of paint time given up cost him $40 and asked him to do the math and see if he would be willing to take a chance on pissing somebody off over $80,000 in lost profit. His answer was an astounding, "I have better things to do than get involved in an argument like this."
No wonder our industry is in the shape that it is; nitwits negotiating with other nitwits. God help us all.
I began my argument with this nitwit last week by referring to the "P" page explanation of both processes as outlined in Mitchell, his company's software provider of choice and pointed out that both are listed as separate operations and not synonymous. I went on to explain that the color must first be tinted to an acceptable color match BEFORE the blending operation is undertaken and that both are necessary components of the repair process, for which I deserve to be compensated.
This idiot responds by quoting the explanation that some underside colors, for which no formulas exist, "may need tinting" thereby in his mind removing the need. He got his butt up when I pointed out that what he was quoting had no relevance in our debate and we needed to focus on OUTSIDE surfaces.
All this deteriorated to "you're the only one in the whole state that is asking for this", "the two people I have talked to at Mitchell support my position", and "we will address this on a case by case basis", B.S., B.S and more B.S.
I contacted Mitchell International and got the confirmation I needed that I was correct and forwarded all the contact information to the "expert" and suggested that he contact the division manager himself, as I did to put this matter to bed. His response was to tell me that he wasn't calling anybody, restating that I am "the only one", "his" interpretation of the "P" page explanation was all he needed, and "he was done discussing this issue".
Here's where the blood shooting out of my eyes came in:
I start gathering all the e-mail addresses I can get for all the shops in my state so I can forward copies of this e-mail exchange to them to get their input and support, since "I'm the only one". I was amazed to hear more than one shop owner say, "I'm not going to piss off an insurance company over something as trivial as a half hour." I asked one guy how many cars he supposed he repaired per year and he said he figured around 2,000. I pointed out that each half hour of paint time given up cost him $40 and asked him to do the math and see if he would be willing to take a chance on pissing somebody off over $80,000 in lost profit. His answer was an astounding, "I have better things to do than get involved in an argument like this."
No wonder our industry is in the shape that it is; nitwits negotiating with other nitwits. God help us all.