If you haven’t searched for a Pennsylvania body shop in a while, you may be wondering how to decide where you should take your car to be repaired. How do you know what to look for when it comes to reviews for a body shop? Is it a good way to evaluate how good a shop is, based on their repairs? Someone might be writing a negative review, just because they were unaware of something that’s essential during the repair process. At the same time, reviews are like an unofficial detective providing you valuable information about a business. Here’s what reviews can give you:
What You Should Look For
Car repair these days requires continuous training for the technicians, especially due to the complexity involved. Manufacturers are always releasing what is known as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) repair procedures, which instruct technicians on how they should repair your car. But how do you know that a repair shop is doing this, based on reviews you read online? Well, one way is to read through the reviews and see if a customer talks about their experience for a similar repair (bumper replacement, windshield, etc.). However, no repair will ever be the same, so let this be a reference point.
Reviews will also likely tell you how well a customer was communicated with throughout the repair process. A shop that stays in active communication with a customer will also let them know what needs to happen during the repair, specifically OEM related repairs. These highly rated reviews come from cars returned in perfect condition to their owners, had frequent communication throughout the repair process, and had an overall fast repair.
Bad Repair Experience
Despite having repair procedures to follow, some technicians will ignore them and do whatever they want. They know Insurance companies want the fastest repair, so they’re willing to give it to them. These are the “sloppy” jobs you hear about in the reviews: wide gaps, poor paint blending, lengthy repairs, and unprofessional-looking repair jobs.
Across the country, auto repair technicians are not required to have a license to operate on your car. This means they’re not legally required to do a specific repair to your vehicle and can do whatever they want to your car. However, this is why there are OEM repair procedures set out and even continuous training for technicians so they can properly repair your car. Sloppy jobs, poor paint blending, and wide gaps on structural body repair are a result of lazy technicians who are not following proper repair procedures. Let alone, they probably haven’t had any new training on how to properly repair your car.
OEM repair procedures are not only the highest quality but the safest. Neglecting them can cause the modern safety features your vehicle is built with to no longer work.
All of these reasons are why you should thoroughly read through the negative reviews.
Longer Repairs = Not Always Happy Customers
As mentioned above, Insurance companies know that customers want the fastest repair possible for their car. What people don’t understand is fast repairs don’t necessarily mean proper repairs. As mentioned above, the way technicians repair a vehicle is entirely different from what it was even just five years ago. This is because of the advanced technologies built into cars today, such as ADAS systems. Some of the most common technologies you can find in an ADAS system are:
- Blindspot detection
- Lane departure assistance
- Forward collision warning
- Rearview camera
- Collision avoidance system
And many more. Because of these technologies, cars need a specific repair that isn’t as simple as using a few nuts and bolts. A repair shop might find additional damage once they take apart your car. If this happens, then a repair could take longer. More work will need to be done, and an adjuster might be required to approve the new estimate. If a customer is left in the dark throughout the repair process, it’s a trigger for them to be extremely unhappy and leave a negative review.
Where In Pennsylvania Can I Take My Car To Be Repaired?
We at 3D Collision Centers know that you have several options to choose from when looking for an auto body repair shop. We have an average of 4.5 stars at all 7 different locations. We are located in Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties. But we’ll be sure to work with you step-by-step and your insurance provider to ensure your auto repair process is a simple, smooth transaction. Not to mention, you’ll get your car back looking and working good as new!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (877)-692-7776. Or if you prefer to contact one of our locations directly, check out our contact us page online! We look forward to hearing from you!
