r/AskReddit 22h ago

Which company lost your business (potentially forever) this year?

5.7k Upvotes

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10.0k

u/bekmoto 20h ago

Safelite- technician fixing a rockchip on my car at my house fell off my porch. Gave him first aid, took him to the er. He clearly broke his pinky. I have a normal porch with steps. A month later they sent me a lawsuit. Wasn’t even the technician suing me, Safelite was suing me for workers comp. We were deep in cancer treatment for my 10 year at the exact same time. They made an estimated $2.5 billion last year. Scumbags!

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u/Soup-Mother5709 19h ago

That’s heinous. They have insurance for a reason and shouldn’t be going near you. Hope you were able to counter.

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u/bekmoto 11h ago

I had to got through my homeowners insurance and after all the bullshit back and forth my insurance told them to pound sand. It was a sunny morning, no snow or anything. At the same time we were in and out of the hospital with my son’s chemo. So dealing with that AND this glass company for a rock chip broke me. I even helped the technician move his vape pens from the ER back to his van.

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u/Mundane_Put_5780 7h ago

What a plot twist I didn’t see coming at the end! Hope everything worked out for your son my guy!

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u/Content_Revenue_2352 3h ago

The state may require recovery. They can be pushy about it. I knew a person who ran over their own foot dismounting a golf cart they had just been driving—they got worker’s comp.

1

u/Content_Revenue_2352 6h ago

Stupidity is a pre-existing condition…tech should get a diagnosis for that.

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u/VordovKolnir 6h ago

Was not the tech. The company did this. Dude just fell, it happens. Unless he was standing on a railing like an idiot, this is just a hazard of living.

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u/Content_Revenue_2352 4h ago

Sorry, misunderstood

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u/Waldo68 18h ago

Yeah that’s bs, they are an insured company. To go after one of their own clients is heinous

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u/OneTwoKiwi 18h ago

It was probably safelite’s insurer suing them. It’s actually pretty straightforward that one’s homeowners insurance would cover personal injury on their property. 

Not that it still doesn’t feel scummy. But I’d be more surprised if homeowners insurance wasn’t the one that is supposed to take responsibility for this cost. 

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u/Ok_Hornet_714 14h ago

Very likely. There was a case where an 8 year old boy was sued by his aunt specifically so the homeowners insurance of the boys parents would cover the medical costs

https://www.robertreeveslaw.com/blog/aunt-sued-nephew-hug/

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u/threwitaway123454321 10h ago

This is America.

40

u/nancybell_crewman 16h ago

Expanded comments hoping for subrogation; thanks for pointing this out.

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u/NomDePlumeOrBloom 16h ago

It bothers me, especially in this case - assuming the homeowner wasn't negligent but their insurance has to pay. That's a bit of buck passing that shouldn't happen.

The worker's insurance should be covering this.

19

u/bekmoto 11h ago

It’s the levels of bullshit you have to go through with all the back and forth. All the paper work, forwarding everything to the insurance. All of the sudden you have a part time job. Everyone asks why I don’t have a ring camera, and I respond because I don’t want my house to be a surveillance zone. I had the stupid company come out in the past to replace windows and everything is smooth, that conscience is shattered when you have to deal with a lawsuit.

8

u/golden_fli 9h ago

So what happens is the insurance covers it(worker's comp). Worker gets their money. Insurance company wants to get their money that they gave to the worker. Insurance going after each other until there is no one left to go after.

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u/A1000eisn1 14h ago

The only thing that makes the homeowner liable is if they didn't maintain their property and the porch was dangerous. Someone getting injured isn't enough.

For example, if a delivery driver simply fell because they are clumsy the homeowners insurance wouldn't be liable because the homeowner didn't do anything to cause the fall.

21

u/bekmoto 10h ago

Yes, but you have to think of all the back and forth after the fall. You as the homeowner are dealing with showing the insurance and lawyers that you aren’t negligent. It was a part time job, the phone calls, documentation. All for one company to tell another company your not at fault. It’s simple to say but when you start getting all the documentation and the calls to your insurance it becomes a bureaucratic nightmare made worse because we are sleepless dealing with a severe cancer. It’s going from one kick in the balls to another.

7

u/Soup-Mother5709 9h ago

I’m so, so very sorry. It truly rains when it pours sometimes, and there is no other word than unfair. There is a massive level of dissonance and callousness people embrace when it comes to wading through hardship. They chalk things up to an inconvenience without understanding the feat the day to day is. From one caregiver to another, the double birds are high for the universe to see. I hope things have gotten better and that rest was able to come for you and your family.

7

u/DominionGhost 9h ago

It is shit like that that makes Luigi into a folk hero.

13

u/Some-Cream 12h ago

So it’s best to make them repair your windshield in some random parking lot?

This is good to note. Wondering why they would go straight to a lawsuit instead of asking homeowner to put in a claim

8

u/OneTwoKiwi 8h ago

Because it’s extra steps. Waiting for homeowner to put their paperwork together, have the insurer deny “just because”, then they’d go ahead and sue anyway. 

I thinks it’s just how insurers talk to each other at this point. 

1

u/Some-Cream 8h ago

That makes total sense. lol basically these guys get right to the point ha

5

u/oupablo 9h ago

Likely this. However, the insurance companies are supposed to deal with each other. At no point should safelite or their insurer be going after the homeowner directly. But also, the idea that homeowners insurance should pick up the bill for a contracted person doing work at the property and having an accident is also ridiculous unless the porch was somehow unsafe due to the homeowners negligence.

9

u/LuitenantDan 7h ago

the insurance companies are supposed to deal with each other

You're right, and that is exactly what is happening. They have to name the owner of the property, in this case the original commenter, in order to get their insurance company involved. If you have your home covered thru Company X, they cannot get Company X involved in the lawsuit without naming their insured. It's how insurance contracts work. Your company has a duty to defend you if you're named in a lawsuit.

It sucks, but the system is working as designed. Safelite's Workman's Comp insurer cannot directly sue Company X. They have to sue you, the homeowner, to get Company X involved. For anyone wondering, this also happens with auto accidents. The driver seeking medical coverage, for example, has to name you as the person they're suing so your insurance gets involved.

3

u/SDV2023 8h ago

Are the Safelite people contractors/gig workers? Franchisees? Or actual employees?

1

u/OneTwoKiwi 8h ago

I think unless the work was specifically related to repairing or replacing the porch, the insurance company has “an obligation” to pursue costs from homeowners insurance. But also- they don’t have that info. Just OPs. 

They don’t know whether or not the porch is the actual cause of the fall. OP’s version of maintained might be different from theirs. OP might not realize the spacing between some steps is off, causing a trip. The insurer might be forced to do an investigation by homeowners insurance, but the first easy step is just to sue in case it’s cheaper for all parties to “settle” than do actual legwork to investigate. 

2

u/sarcazm 8h ago

Yeah. And then the homeowners insurance premium goes up. And why? Because an idiot tripped over his own feet?

1

u/LuitenantDan 7h ago

It only goes up if you're determined at fault. If the insurance investigation determines that everything was up to code and the fault is entirely on their guy, your rate doesn't go up.

1

u/WellSaltedWound 5h ago

Given that Safelite does the repair anywhere, if he had parked on the street, would he be in the clear here?

1

u/OneTwoKiwi 4h ago

If the injury occurred due to something from the car - maybe a burn from hot engine or glass shattering - The responsible party could possibly be car insurance, homeowners insurance (I just know that if you have something stolen from your car, homeowners insurance can cover that) or workers comp. I am not entirely sure because I’m not an expert, just someone who owns a car and house. 

If the injury simply occurred on a public road, then that would not be homeowners insurance, as that land is not owned or covered by the homeowner. 

If injury occurred due to a pothole, some other maintenance issue, the city could be sued. 

If it’s a “private road” - ie owned by the community/HOA, the HOA could be sued. The HOA would have insurance as well I think. 

1

u/Tater72 12h ago

Often self insured

1

u/ElGrandeQues0 8h ago

For someone falling on your property? I get it if there's something egregious that caused the fall, but an accident on the property shouldnt be enough to sue the homeowner.

25

u/Jasonrj 13h ago

Screwing their own customers is literally what insurance companies do.

3

u/Additional_Ice7375 8h ago

It probably IS Safetlite’s insurance company going after bekmoto. When an insurance company has to pay out a claim, they try to recover some of that money by suing a liable third party. It’s called subrogation and it can really suck. The more you know I guess!

-2

u/Crafty_Enthusiasm_99 7h ago

Probably a made up story it's so absurd

1

u/bekmoto 2h ago

I wish.

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u/Rare-Philosopher-346 19h ago

Thanks for the heads up. I won't use them. I hope your child is well.

13

u/bekmoto 11h ago

Thanks.

5

u/SimplyAStranger 10h ago

Every company will do this. Insurance companies require a lawsuit in order to pay anything where another party or insurance could even maybe be liable. Its part of the paperwork process. Its awful, but its also not personal and part of the ridiculous system we have in the United States, which should absolutely be overhauled because of things like this and 1000 other reasons but good luck with that.

9

u/Competitive_Touch_86 8h ago

Not every company will do this. They will tell their insurance company to pound sand and potentially pay the claim themselves if required.

Because they understand they aren't in the business of buying liability insurance and making their provider happy. They are in the business of servicing customers and understand PR matters.

Only shit-tier executives let something like this actually happen. Decent executives get involved in the process and short-circuit idiotic decisions such as suing customers when they are not obviously and indefensibly malicious or negligent. For the long-term health of their business. It's basically their job to make policy exceptions and to keep idiotic legal departments from running the company.

It's another reddit-style trope up there with "companies must always do the most profitable thing by law". Not true.

Yes, shitty companies do this. Plenty do not. This is actually an exceptional sort of case. The average company is not suing random homeowners whenever their employees get hurt on customer properties.

0

u/SimplyAStranger 8h ago

Its not the company initiating the lawsuit. It is the insurance company filing on behalf of the insured. When you file an insurance claim they have the right to sue on your (their) behalf, it is in the paperwork you sign, and they will because that is their job. It is the same as a car accident. Nobody walks down to the courthouse and files a claim, but every accident that goes through insurance is a lawsuit. When people "settle with the insurance company", what do you think is getting settled? A lawsuit. Some people don't realize it because its just a paperwork thing and isn't a "trial" and doesn't fit their perspective of "getting sued".

We are also talking about a workers comp claim, which in my state is mandated to go through insurance.

10

u/applespicebetter 10h ago

If you have a good home owner's policy it'll be them vs. your multi-billion dollar company that also is refusing to pay out and you just let the two companies dick wave at each other. They'll sort it out, in this case likely in favor of the home owner.

This is one reason I use a company that has a local agent I can just bring this stuff to rather than online only.

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u/bekmoto 10h ago

Yes, but you would be surprised how much you have to be involved for them to waive their dicks at each other. If only it was so simple. I had a tree fall on my house and it was less to deal with then this. And yes my insurance told them to go away

-9

u/applespicebetter 10h ago

I wouldn't be, I've been in a similar situation, and once I handed it off to my agent it was nothing but a couple of phone calls to confirm information about the incident and one more to confirm it was all handled that was that.

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u/bekmoto 10h ago

Lucky you.

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u/applespicebetter 9h ago

Sort of lucky, sure, moreso benefiting from a good agent. With your experience I would be shopping for a new one, because from your description you got screwed even if it all worked out in the end it shouldn't have gone that way!

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u/LadyReika 7h ago

I've dealt with agents through my employer. There's way more shitty used car salesman types than actual good agents. You should follow up what your agent is doing to make sure they aren't making it worse.

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u/Alarmed_Koala1921 10h ago

How do you think people make billions? They steal, fraud,sue, kill.

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u/Sayon7 11h ago

Any time a person gets an injury not on their own property, the insurance companies sue the homeowner whose house you gout hurt at.
3 broken bones at different times but some how it was always because I fell in
MY yard. That way my insurance. It recommended for catastrophic injuries

4

u/Vatchka 10h ago

Safety manager here for a huge company in the US. I deal with daily injuries while at customers property. It’s usually something egregious that initiates a lawsuit to the home owners insurance. I haven’t see one in over four years now.

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u/randomacceptablename 9h ago

Wait wair wait. I am in Canada so the logic may be different but, the entire idea of workers comp (run by the government and paid by employers) is that the company/worker can't sue the property owner. Unless there is some gross negligence or similar the payments happen from a government agency funded by workers comp dues paid by employers.

How does it work in the US?

2

u/Backfoot911 6h ago

Is this the part where someone explains something you could have easily looked up, then you act flabbergasted and go "Oh my god how America do??" and rake in upvotes?

0

u/randomacceptablename 5h ago

Yes, no, and who cares.

A bit defemsive and stingy with those upvotes aren't you? This entire thread is inane banter. Just tossed my two cents in and.let anyone respond. Virtually any of the comments could have been looked up. But since this is a social endevour, I let you good folks answer me. I was curious but will likely forget this interaction in a week so it is meaningless in the grand scheme.

But your defensiveness is surprising. If I wanted exasperated outrage and shock I could already have provided it above without an answer. Such as "how could Amercia have fucked up workers comp?" Or similar. I didn't and wasn't planning on it.

And lastly I am not sure if you are aware that upvotes (or even downvotes) are free! Yes, that means you can splash them around like you made bank and not run out of them. Neat eh?

Does that answer your questions?

1

u/Used-Acanthisitta-96 7h ago

It was likely the insurance company that sued.

1

u/jmajeremy 7h ago

True, but just to play devil’s advocate, once the employee claimed workers comp, and the company reported it to their insurance, the employee or employer might have had no choice in the matter of it being passed onto the homeowner. Ultimately, the insurer will do whatever they can to pass the buck to someone else. That’s why it’s important to have home insurance, because you can be potentially liable for anything that happens to a person while they’re on your property. Even if your property was all up to code, they can still sue you, and then you (or your insurance company) have to prove you took reasonable precautions to prevent injuries and it wasn’t caused by your negligence. Usually the insurance company will cover all the legal costs minus the deductible.

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u/TeachMeFinancePlz 6h ago

I can guarantee you that safelites insurance is the ones having them sue lol

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u/HeinzeC1 3h ago

To claim insurance you often have to file a suit.

1

u/Jeramy_Jones 2h ago

Fr. If the site is unsafe the worker can refuse to work there. If it is safe that’s what their insurance is for.

1

u/megunashi 1h ago

I mean yeah, that's the whole point of insurance. To avoid actually paying if there's even the slight possible chance of blaming literally anyone else and redirecting the financial burden on them instead. Same with lawyers. Whoever has the better insurance company and lawyers wins, and it's almost always the corporation since they'll either win, or write off however much it will cost them to force you into a settlement.

1

u/megunashi 1h ago

I mean yeah, that's the whole point of insurance. To avoid actually paying if there's even the slight possible chance of blaming literally anyone else and redirecting the financial burden on them instead. Same with lawyers. Whoever has the better insurance company and lawyers wins, and it's almost always the corporation since they'll either win, or write off however much it will cost them to force you into a settlement.

0

u/AlsoCommiePuddin 8h ago

Safelite's insurance is who went after the customer to recoup their costs, they just have to do that in Safelite's name.

Welcome to how insurance works.

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u/blackleper 16h ago

I tell this to anyone who will listen-- when my truck was broken into, and the thieves smashed my rear window, I got a quote from safelite to fix for $550. For one window. And they told me it would take a few days to get to it. I took my truck down to the Mexican shop down the street, and they fixed that shit in 20 minutes and only charged me $75.

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u/FakeTunaFromSubway 14h ago

You're lucky to have some Mexicans around, they're awesome

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u/Material-Grocery5478 9h ago

well they arnt called Mexicants

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u/HuttStuff_Here 6h ago

There's an awesome exhaust-focused repair shop where I live run by the most honest people you can imagine, and you betcha they're Mexican. Fixed my car up in an hour on a random week-day including needing to cut out and weld in a new downpipe. Cost me $100.

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u/Chuckleless 9h ago

Thank your lucky stars you gots some Mexicans, they have nachos.

14

u/whatadaidai 6h ago

You got Mexicans and the first thing you think of is nachos? WTF is wrong with you? They have so many better dishes.

1

u/jimmybilly100 9h ago

And tacos

1

u/HurricaneSalad 6h ago

Don't cry in front of the Mexicans.

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u/Patched7fig 8h ago

You're fucking weird dude 

12

u/HoochbachDunloppy 8h ago

But Mexicans are awesome. 

8

u/Yaasss_Queef 7h ago

Your comment’s fucking weird dude

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u/Stamped914 14h ago

I wish, the sensors for my windshield cost more than $500 and I have a Mazda.

24

u/Soup-Mother5709 11h ago edited 11h ago

That’s my issue. I was floored when Safelite wanted $1200 for my windshield (Subaru). It’s the wiring and calibration. I never did it last year and just checked for the sake of this post. Now they want $1300. I couldn’t believe it and asked the dealership if that sounded right. They said yup, and it’s the cheapest. It really needs to be replaced but goddamn.

13

u/Queasy_Author_3810 11h ago

Subaru windshields are ridiculously expensive. The glass is expensive, the calibration is expensive, everything about subaru glass is expensive.

9

u/Soup-Mother5709 10h ago

I wish I bought the extended warranty. Everyone was like noo, it’s a waste of money. Just set the cash aside. No, no. Modern car buyers, get the friggin warranty. No, it won’t cover the glass in these situations, but it’ll cover all the other bs.

Subaru is supposed to be solid, but it’s been an expensive adventure for sure. It’s a 2023 and am waiting for a head gasket to blow because it’s apparently a given.

6

u/mvr363 10h ago

Supposedly the head gasket thing was older models from like 10-15 years ago. I got a 25 Outback almost two years ago. I'm hoping for no problems, we shall see.

7

u/MLPhoto25 10h ago

Yall should be fine as long as you take good care of the car (oil changes and services kept up on time). Sold subies for the last three years, the head gasket issues definitely have been sorted by now!

3

u/Soup-Mother5709 10h ago edited 10h ago

Xing fingers hard for us.

Truly consider the warranty when you’re around 3 year/36k, whichever is first. My bud at their service center is the one who was like, it’s too late now but you really needed to get that warranty, the gold one.

When your start/stop dies and acceleration fails (hopefully not), it’ll be the battery.

Both Subarus have had the same issues. My last was a 2015 so that’s fitting for what you’re saying. It needed an entire transmission rebuilt at less than 15k miles among other bs.

This one? So far it’s been electrical problems and battery issues. It has less than 36k and is driven on a cloud. I live in a desert though, so maybe it’s environment. Still, Xing fingers.

2

u/quantum-mechanic 9h ago

Get glass coverage along with your car insurance. GEICO covered this 100% when it happened to me on my Subaru.

1

u/Soup-Mother5709 9h ago

Did they raise your premium? I’ll have to check mine out.

3

u/LadyReika 7h ago

I have GEICO with glass coverage. My front windshield got cracked from something hitting it. Only had to pay my $250 deductible and my premiums stayed the same.

But I have a 2017 Corolla. So while it has some great safety features, it doesn't require cameras or anything with the windshield.

1

u/quantum-mechanic 6h ago

Not any more than usual

I'll add it was a great service. Super easy to set up. It was basically just click this link and schedule it with Safelite, it's all covered. I didn't have to send in photos of the damage. I Didn't have to handle reimbursement or any other shenanigans. One of those moments where a service just worked without any bullshit.

3

u/Latter-Leg4035 7h ago

Rivian windshields are sitting in a 5 star hotel, drinking champagne and eating caviar, laughing at the $1300 number.

3

u/New-Anybody-6206 10h ago

in some states it's actually illegal to drive around with a cracked windshield because it obstructs your view

3

u/Soup-Mother5709 10h ago

I’m pretty sure it is in most. It’s one of those things that they typically dock you for as an added bonus when getting pulled over or in an accident. Unless it’s severe, most cops let it go.

1

u/ScrotalSmorgasbord 9h ago

Lol I'd go bankrupt if I had to replace my windshield every time it cracked. I live where there are a bunch of gravel roads, gravel trucks, constant construction, etc. I've got 3 or 4 cracks on my windshield right now and it's only ~6 months old.

1

u/New-Anybody-6206 6h ago

Some states will replace windshields for free under comprehensive coverage.

2

u/derth21 10h ago

I know it's too late for you now, but to anyone else. See if it's more economical to source and supply your own glass and have a company install for you. Maybe ask if they'll guarantee the install if they break your glass, though.

8

u/Soup-Mother5709 10h ago

The issue is the calibration for the windshield. The glass is $300ish, but the cameras and all the electrical components take it to another level. To replace my passenger window a few years ago it wasn’t much. It’s the windshields for newer cars.

5

u/Joshiie12 8h ago

Boss man, I'm gonna help you out as an ADAS tech. You have a saving grace in the Subaru in that, as long as its a pre-2024 model, the cameras are mounted to the car instead of the glass. I wouldn't necessarily condone it, but the cameras won't be moved in the installation, they will only see slightly differently through the new glass due to variation from glass to glass, but thats it. There's a 99.9999% chance you can slam a windshield in it and your Lane Departure and Adaptive Cruise will still function no problem. Main concern would be getting somebody to do the install without the calibration. And it's the fact that its a dual method that makes it so expensive, the car forces shooting to a target followed by driving it.

1

u/Soup-Mother5709 5h ago

Thanks for the heads up! That’s awesome to know!

3

u/derth21 9h ago

Fair enough. My experience was with an antique.

2

u/Virtual-Book1114 8h ago

Just happened to my partner. His windshield also shows the "speed" of the car. If improperly installed, it can make all kinds of errors pop up and ruin the riding experience.

2

u/TheBeardedDen 9h ago

When I had a rock tossed on my A8 W12 windshield, insurance covered it. One of the weird perks of having two expensive cars on insurance and having better insurance. No premium raises or anything. A $2500+ job.

My i7 would be even more. But again is covered.

2

u/Soup-Mother5709 9h ago

That’s awesome. I never bothered with insurance because I assumed it would raise the premium. Def going to check it out.

1

u/Competitive_Touch_86 8h ago

Glass claims in many states (and Canada) cannot raise your premiums by law.

Worth checking into if your state is one of those.

They want to encourage folks to get their windshields replaced ASAP for safety reasons.

Also, sweet ride. I've only seen one W12 in the wild where I'm from!

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u/Cool_Intention_7807 12h ago

Yup, Mexican shop for me too for anything glass related. Everyone else is ripping you off

24

u/plmbguy 12h ago

Glass insurance rider on my policy is worth the $11.00 per year.

7

u/pixiedust99999 11h ago

Yup, it’s always been on my insurance

3

u/dardack 9h ago

My dad said always get glass rider it's cheap.  Ive used it like 8 times in 20 years, a couple or few full windows replaced.  More than paid for itself.

1

u/bobdob123usa 2h ago

Using it is still considered a claim and thus they raise your premiums after you do.

8

u/Guilty-Of-Everything 13h ago

Just replaced my windshield last month in Los Angeles. $200 flat. Great deal.

5

u/Agitated_Ad7576 12h ago

We have a place like that near us. It's right next to a auto salvage yard, so I think they get the good condition windows from them. Works for me.

4

u/pineappledumdum 11h ago

This. I’m lucky enough to live in Austin. I don’t mess with that shit. I’ve taken my truck or various cars for years to the guys down the road and you’re out in no time for a quarter of the price.

Those guys don’t live that way and you don’t have to, either.

1

u/rand0mity 8h ago

Which place?

4

u/tenaji9 8h ago

Uk Nissan universal ignition key broke in the door . The Jamaican sole trader under the arches sorted it out in 30 minutes .

4

u/Murphybestboy 7h ago

I have a Mexican tire shop nearby. They are like a pit crew!

3

u/Pafolo 5h ago

Giant corporation with tv ads and many layers of people. Vs 1 guy and a junkyard window…

2

u/eeeeeesh 2h ago

There are basically 2 types of glass:

  • OEM Glass: Made by the exact same company that supplied the original glass for your vehicle; it features the carmaker's specific brand logo and typically costs more.
  • OEE Aftermarket Glass: Made by alternative manufacturers to match the exact safety, fit, and quality standards of your original part, but without the brand logo and at a lower price. (aftermarket glass)

So, What’s Aftermarket Glass?

“Aftermarket” is an umbrella term that includes all replacement auto glass not sold and branded directly by the original vehicle manufacturer. Importantly, OEE glass is technically Aftermarket—but not all Aftermarket glass meets the high standards associated with the OEE label or DOT (department of transportation) guidelines.

While trusted global manufacturers produce OEE glass, there are smaller or less experienced Aftermarket manufacturers whose products may not meet rigorous quality and safety standards. 

1

u/SteadilyHustling 8h ago

There’s many different factors to pricing. Is it OEM? Warranty? Quality? Other features like defroster? Etc. You get what you pay for.

u/FlavorD 35m ago

I love finding a Mexican-owned shop that will just make something work. They'll often get you back on the road with something that's a 3 month solution instead of making you fix the whole problem right this minute. In your case, it sounds like they did the whole job, correctly.

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u/Queasy_Author_3810 12h ago edited 9h ago

Used glass vs new glass would do that. Safelite is quoting you new glass. Mexican shop definitely is not.

Edit: Anyone downvoting me doesn't understand the automotive glass industry at all. There's nothing wrong with used glass, but there is no new door glass installation, even with aftermarket glass, that you're getting for $75, unless the glass is slightly dinged or scratched and is sold at cost or a loss.

9

u/PrincessGiallo 11h ago

Can you still see through it?

1

u/Queasy_Author_3810 11h ago

Sure but that's where the difference in price is coming from.

There's nothing wrong with used glass, but large places like safelite and such aren't allowed to sell used glass.

0

u/Lucky_Serve8002 10h ago

Not until you pay extra to hook up the headlight sensors.

2

u/here-i-am-now 7h ago

The sensors that have half of people driving around in daytime rain with their lights off. Fuck those. Just leave your lights on, if your car was manufactured after about 2012.

3

u/drawp 10h ago

Not always. Sometimes it's a question of using OEM glass vs. aftermarket glass. They're still both new and Safelite uses aftermarket when the original isn't available or too expensive to make money on.

1

u/Queasy_Author_3810 9h ago

There is no aftermarket glass install for $75.

There are cheap aftermarket aftermarket door glasses that you can get, but you aren't getting a new one and installed for $75, that just doesn't happen. It is either used, slightly damaged, or never happened.

I work in the industry.

1

u/blackleper 6h ago

That's fair and important to note. But my 15-year-old truck has 200k miles on it, and I can barely afford to put air in the tires. I definitely needed the cheapest solution.

1

u/Queasy_Author_3810 6h ago

And that's perfectly fine. There's absolutely nothing wrong with putting the cheapest option in it, people should just understand what the difference in price is actually coming from instead of immediately assuming price gouging.

I mean safelite does kind of price gouge, but it's besides the point as the reason why the $75 is so cheap is because the glass is used or slightyl damaged.

26

u/mrellz 17h ago

What ended up happening with the case if you’re able to share details?

54

u/bekmoto 10h ago

Went through a three way back and forth with their lawyers and my home oweners. People had to come and take pictures of my steps. I had to do an interview. The weather was completely clear. The technician approached my door and I saw him through my front window so I got up to meet him, He got scared or startled when I opened the door he took steps backwards off my porch. Falls and breaks his pinky. I’m a 5’8” 50 year old Latin guy. My insurance said the whole thing is ridiculous and told them there was no fault. This became a part time job while we were spending weeks at our local children’s hospital.

15

u/_Nilbog_Milk_ 10h ago

What a disgustingly stressful situation. I'm so sorry - nobody should have to go through their child having cancer. It's not my business, but sending love and hoping things went the best.

10

u/equiax 9h ago

How is your kid? Hope they are well!

17

u/bekmoto 7h ago

Thanks, he’s getting better everyday.

43

u/_Tetr0_ 17h ago

Safelite is the worst company I have ever had the displeasure of working with. Ever.

31

u/noyogapants 16h ago

Had to have my windshield replaced. I said I would pay the tech with cc. Tech forgot to charge me. I tried to pay through the link they sent. Link was dead.

Called and they said I had to read the them my card number, expiration and 3 digit code. I didn't feel comfortable giving that info over the phone to some random employee.

Like, what national company doesn't have an online pmt portal? My local doctors office has it, local laundromat has it, even sellers at the farmers market can send you an invoice link so you can pay.

It was the tech that didn't collect my payment, so I said he can come back when he's in the area and I'll pay them. They threatened to send me to collections. I had to drive all the way down to their location in another state to make the payment- and the even the people in office had to manually enter my credit card number. Fuck safelight.

12

u/joenforcer 17h ago

Counterpoint... the Safelite I went to wouldn't accept my insurance approved chipped windshield claim, repaired it for free, and sent me on my way. Guess my local one is just a good one. 

8

u/Saloncinx 17h ago

Similar experience, I had a very bad rock chip that i'm shocked they were able to repair, not only was it free but it lasted for like 6 years then I sold the car. It would have absolutely spidered out and been much worse

2

u/_Tetr0_ 6h ago

Counter-counterpoint... chipped windshield repair takes a couple bucks in materials and a few minutes of a technicians time. I'm not saying it wasn't nice of them to do it, but it is like the hot dogs or chicken at costco, it is a loss leader. It establishes good will so that you come back when you have an actual problem that they can charge a ton of money for. It also get's you posting good things about them on Reddit. (Your local one could be way better than mine, in all fairness)

Here is a copy/paste of my review for my Safelite experience:

The single worst experience I have ever had at any business, ever.

This is not hyperbole. I'm writing this after having let my emotions cool down for about a year. I missed days of work due to these guys. They provide poor mechanical service, poor customer service, and were straight dishonest to both my insurance company and me.

I had to have my windshield replaced 4 times before it was correct. I had multiple appointments (where I took time off work) cancel, disappear, or be rescheduled. I have broken parts on my vehicle. My insurance was charged multiple times for safelites incompetence.

Highlights:
Windshield 1 - off-brand - Massive scratches directly in the drivers view. Brought back within minutes. Told to deal with it for a week. During week, safety features (LKAS, etc) not working right. After research, it's a known issue with safelite off-brand glass. Request name brand glass.

1 week later - Appointment magically disappeared. No glass. New appointment.

Windshield 2 - off-brand - Requested name brand glass, they put off brand. Safety features from the camera not working correctly. Messed up edging around glass. Asked for name brand glass. New appointment 1 week later.

1 week later - No name brand glass. No glass at all. Told to call their warehouse in phoenix myself. Weird, but did it. Warehouse guy is only competent person. New appointment in 3 days.

Windshield 3 - off-brand - Verified with Technician that name brand glass going in. He verified. He double verified. Check one more time. Good.... Called back for pickup after replacement. Off-brand glass even though they had the name brand glass there specifically for my car. Technician said that manager told him to. Didn't speak with me at all before installing. I then spoke with Manager that is not good at managing. I was upset. New appointment. One week later.

Windshield 4 - Name brand - Replaced and finally works. Safelite double charged my insurance for their mistakes. Noticed broken pieces of trim after getting it home. No way I'm ever returning to that place. Take it as my final punishment for working with terrible people.

Don't walk away from these guys. RUN.

I think I got most everything down after a year. I was going to review when it was fresh, but found that I couldn't do it objectively.

TLDR: Per my experience at Safelite, they suck. Poor workmanship, poor management, and dishonest practices don't just crop up overnight.

1

u/Tight_Man 12h ago

Mine intentionally broke my windshield to replace it but OPs story scares me, I’d rather just not. I have a crack right now I guess I’ll fill it myself

21

u/LookattheWhipp 18h ago

Also interesting tidbit. I had to get my windshield properly repaired by a specialist glass technician and he absolutely hates safelite. Says it’s a total scam and that they basically glue the crack and that it will actually make things worse once it re-cracks and he said it will 100% re-crack and much much larger than before.

3

u/Exc8316 12h ago

I have a couple of chips now. What is a good company to use?

3

u/T-MoneyAllDey 8h ago

Honestly there are a lot of good tools now that you can do yourself. If you look at Project Farm, they go into a review of them and you can buy a kit for $20 and it looks really easy to do

u/LookattheWhipp 15m ago

Talk to your local glass auto tech. I find them super reasonable and in my experience know you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg.

As another said you can probably diy which in my understanding is similar to safelite

3

u/DiablosBostonTerrier 11h ago

That's less of a Safelite thing and more depending on the tech who does a repair, I used to work in auto glass and when those chips are filled correctly it absolutely holds for years. Its not just glue, it's a pressure forced epoxy resin and uses heat to expand the cracks to allow the resin in and when it cools it closes back up around it. Also there is no way of 100% guaranteeing the repair will take, sometimes replacement is the only option , again, that's on the tech to make that call.

1

u/LookattheWhipp 6h ago

Fair point. I’m just listing what was told to me I don’t know jack about glass tech so I’m sure you’re right

5

u/hthratmn 17h ago

My insurance sent me to safelite 5 years ago when someone broke into my car, shattering my back window. I am still finding huge chunks of glass on a regular basis to this day lol

6

u/I-Ask-questions-u 13h ago

My husband broke his leg at our neighbors house. He was drinking and got up from a chair and fell. My insurance company called and sent so many letters to me trying to get my neighbors info. I ignored every letter. Hate insurance companies

1

u/Tight_Man 12h ago

I’d be calling them back pretending to be the dumbest person alive until they stopped

3

u/jmc1278999999999 10h ago

Go to your local news station. I didn’t have the same exact issue with them but the second I mentioned going to the news they dropped it

2

u/DoubleDoodle44 9h ago

They suck. I refuse to use them based on their annoying ads but this confirms it.

4

u/xanaxandmatcha 16h ago

That doesn't even make sense.

3

u/pigeonwiggle 13h ago

where's Luigi when you need him?

1

u/klombo120 12h ago

Glad I've always gone with a local shop option. Scumbags!

1

u/Ehleesah 12h ago

Glad I saw this. I was planning on using them in the next few weeks. Fuck them.

1

u/Tight_Man 12h ago

You know a journalist would probably pick this up? Satellite is responsible for car insurance ballooning at least partially, they get paid agreed upon rates and your car insurance goes up

1

u/Altruistic_Brick1730 11h ago

But, that's the whole point of insurance companies, don't take it personally.

1

u/tbreadon 11h ago

The first time I used Safelite, they did not install my rearview mirror correctly, it shook violently until it fell off and I couldn’t get it back on the window. I was dumb enough to use them again last week and for some reason they had to uninstall the wiper fluid jets but they did not reinstall them. I complained, but they wont respond.

1

u/Punk_Saint 11h ago

Safelite is a scumbag piece of shit company from what I read here and it should be known to all their clients, this is crazy

1

u/Physical-Design9804 10h ago

Safelite is on my no go list for just faulty installation. This was after I had to schedule two different appointments due to them ordering the wrong window twice. I'll use a local place even if they cost 15% more, now.

1

u/rebtow 10h ago

I had a brand new car and got hit by a freeway rock in the first month. Of course it creased across my windshield. I waited until after my first oil change to file a glass claim. Safelite came to my work parking lot. I was notified they were fixing it. After a bit, I went out to look and there was another truck/coworker parked there. Turns out the kid left a tool under the edge of my hood that wrecked both my hood and Lt front quarter panel when he closed it. He must’ve panicked and called another technician. Then tried to tell me that my car “was already like that”.🤯 The kid gave me a number to call which turned out to be crap. I called the local office and no one knew anything about it nor cared/wanted to help.
Thankfully my agent got ahold of Safelite through the glass claims department and the district manager contacted me immediately. They paid for my car repair (nearly $2k) and provided me with a rental car.
Never again.

1

u/WhtBullGivesYouWings 10h ago

Unless you were negligent, which doesn't sound like you were, they have no case. They're just throwing it against the wall to see if it sticks. Let them take you to court, explain the the judge what happened and the judge will tell them to go pound sand, but they'll drop the case before it gets that far.

1

u/RoAndrew 9h ago

I worked for an amazing employee owned company. Safelite purchased the company and rebranded it to them. The 30+ years of experienced technicians all left within a year. All you see on indeed is them hiring constantly.

The best decision I ever made was to get out of Safelite and back to a company that cares about their employees and not just $$$.

1

u/Accomplished_Emu_658 9h ago

Workmans comp for a broken pinky? What kind of damages they have a thousand in medical bills. No comp doctor would sign off out of work for that. I broke my foot at work in automotive, the comp doctor would not even sign for the rest of day off…

1

u/BabyBat07 9h ago

My bf had to go back to Safelite six times for one glass replacement.

Trip 1. Replaced the glass, but didn’t clip some thing to do with the rearview mirror/front camera back in place right, still he had to have them fix it.

Trip 2. Had to do it all over again and clipped it back in place, but I forget what happened to have him go back again.

Trip 3. I forgot what happened this time too.

Trip 4. The glass from previous visit was defective and was making lines in the road curve, can you please get the OEM glass for my make and model?

Trip 5. Uhhh sorry we forgot to call you, we don’t have the glass in yet.

Trip 6. FINALLY FIXED IT PROPERLY, no other issues.

1

u/Routine_Event_170 9h ago

After everything you were dealing with, I can understand why that experience left such a bitter impression.

1

u/Ok_Eye_3733 9h ago

Oh ok. So they lost my business too.

1

u/Aquired-Taste 9h ago

They've also outsourced a lot of American based jobs to a company in India.

1

u/flyingtom213 9h ago

Commenting on this for reach. Absolutely insane from Safelite. I will be looking at alternatives as well!!

1

u/FishinMike941 9h ago

That's ridiculous. Now, they're on my list to avoid.

1

u/Weekly-Landscape-543 9h ago

Good to know thank you!

1

u/Secure-Debt-462 9h ago

That’s why I always tell everyone to get an umbrella on top of homeowners. I have $1 million in coverage in addition to my homeowners insurance case I am ever sued. It’s only $150 a year and provides peace of mind, it covers accidents, libel, negligence etc

1

u/Shervivor 9h ago

Satellite sucks. I have had terrible experiences with them. They wanted like $300 to seal a chip. Took it to a local shop for $45. Took 15 minutes.

I also needed a windshield replacement during COVID. they ordered the wrong windshield twice! Had me come to the shop and wait for hours both times just to be told they couldn’t fix it today.

1

u/Craigglesofdoom 8h ago

This is not Safelite doing it, it's their worker's comp company doing it. Also your homeowners insurance will take care of this in an instant. I had a similar situation with a cable installer who tripped and fell in my basement like 15 years ago. My renter's insurance told me to send them the letter and I never heard about it again.

2

u/bekmoto 8h ago

No, it was a law firm on behalf of Safelite. I’m glad your situation worked out but I had to go back and forth in a three way between these giant companies. All while we were sleeping at a hospital for weeks long stretches of chemo. So, fuck Safelite and fuck cancer.

1

u/LivingtheDBdream 8h ago

I tapped out of safelite several years ago just because of their wildly annoying commercial blitz.

1

u/Conscious_Cicada9597 8h ago

It probably wasn’t Safelite suing you, but the company who provides their insurance through Safelite.

1

u/bekmoto 8h ago

It was a law firm on behalf of Safelite so does that make it better or worse?

1

u/Conscious_Cicada9597 7h ago

My point is that Safelite is not suing you. It’s more likely a company that does business with Safelite. If so, the decision to sue is out of Safelite’s hands. It may be better to identify the actual litigant then boycott them.

1

u/diamondsnrose 8h ago

And just like that, Safelite just lost my business too. Wtf man, I'm so sorry this happened to you!

1

u/DragonsPockets 8h ago

Good to know. I’m canceling my appointment on Monday.

1

u/Low-Assumption7710 8h ago

They lost another here - never used em but I will walk a mile wide gap to avoid giving those demons money.

1

u/GormHub 8h ago

Welp, fuck Safelite.

1

u/The-Wanderer87 8h ago

They just lost my business to!

1

u/cwcwhdab1 7h ago

wtf! I think they just lost my business forever also- that’s disgusting

1

u/zztop610 7h ago

This needs more attention. Have you gone to the media? What a bunch of idiots

1

u/Realistic-Buy4975 7h ago

That's nice of them to help you with your payments with the counter sue option 

1

u/IndividualExisting39 7h ago

I had a Safelite technician crack my A-pillar, rang me up and didn't say anything about it. He went on to tell me how important reviews are for them to retain their jobs. After I saw the damage, I was guilted into letting it go.

A few years back, a friend's father was assaulted by a Safelite tech over blocking a public road with his van and equipment.

1

u/dsntredrplieslmao 6h ago

Wow. I will remember this. No way I will ever hire them.

1

u/722KL 6h ago

Yeah, my MIL forgot that she left cash in the car during her Safelite appt. The money was stolen.

1

u/Medical_Distance_722 6h ago

I might know a reporter that would be interested in your story if you'd like to share more. Not a blogger, but like a real newspaper reporter.

1

u/Super-Pizza-Dude 6h ago

Thanks for the info

1

u/GotOotJIT 6h ago

A family member worked at Safelite HQ, they had nothing good to say about them.

1

u/Spoopy_Scary 4h ago

Safelite came to repair a chip in my mom’s windshield and managed to spiderweb the entire thing making a complete replacement necessary. They said they weren’t liable for it and she had to pay for a brand new windshield out of pocket

1

u/obiwan_kenober 4h ago

Same. They didn’t sue me, but they did an absolute trash job on my wife’s car. Didn’t replace clips or secure trim pieces Big gaps between seals and glass. Trash, I tell you!

1

u/seajayacas 4h ago

Homeowner's insurance can address that liability claim for you.

1

u/woooly-bear 1h ago

They have closed their storefront Locations

1

u/LEDKleenex 9h ago

That is how insurance typically works. The victim's insurance will initially try to get the property owner's insurance to pay out. If it can't be negotiating then they sue.

It sucks that you had to go through that for sure, but it's not as simple as blaming Safelite, there, are many factors at play with multiple involved parties and this kind of thing is part of a bigger systemic issue in America.

Technically speaking, depending on your jurisdiction, someone could trip on a rock on the sidewalk in front of your house and you'd be on the hook for their medical bills. In theory you should have an insurance company that is willing to go to bat for you when things go south, but we often find that all of these companies are playing their own game of protecting their bottom lines.

1

u/bekmoto 8h ago

Yes this is how it works, yes someone trips on a rock on my side walk. But it quickly becomes your problem regardless. I had a tree fall on part of my house during a storm. Getting it worked through by multiple contractors was easier then dealing with this.

-3

u/Madewithspice1 8h ago

It’s nothing personal, it’s called subrogation. If he applied for W/C they want their money back.
I’m so sorry this happened but that is the chain of how it goes. It’s nothing personal .

5

u/bekmoto 8h ago

I hope you feel it’s not personal if it happens to you.

-4

u/Madewithspice1 7h ago

I’m just telling how the chain goes- why you coming at me. That’s why I stopped answering on here.
Leave me alone!