You’ve had a long day and are just wanting to run to the store quick. You pull up to the closest spot to the door and jump out and go inside and get your items. Once returning to your vehicle you realize your vehicle has been struck with a door ding or unexpected damage. You feel upset, betrayed and in utter disbelief. Don’t put yourself in this position, follow some of these tips to minimize parking lot damage!
Parking Spots You Should Avoid:
Near The Store Entrance
Maybe it was raining, you’ll be in and out quickly, maybe you just don’t feel like walking any more today. We have all been there. While these spots can be the most convenient in some cases, if you come out to find a door ding or damage in your vehicle, all of that benefit goes out the window. Parking close to the store entrance opens you to a number of surprises. Typically these areas can have more random shopping carts scattered around, waiting to blow into your vehicle. These areas are also high in traffic and more traffic means a higher potential for other drivers parking near you, increasing your chance of damage.
Near or Beneath Trees
Trees can make you feel like your vehicle has some sort of shelter. While in a perfect world, that might be true, but remember mother nature can strike at any time. From furry critters sprinting along branches to random branches and nuts falling, these are all are all potential hazards for your vehicle. If you do insist on parking under an item for shade or safety, rely on a carport or some type of overhand instead.
Other Damaged Vehicles
Everyone gets into accidents from time to time, but vehicles with very big obviously damage should be avoided. If you see a vehicle with a door smashed in or similar bigger damage this can raise a red flag. Why didn’t the vehicle owner have this damaged repaired? Does the vehicle have missing paint and big scratches? Especially with a newer vehicle it has to make you wonder why is this not repaired. If a driver is willing to neglect their own vehicle, what does it say about their thoughts on other vehicles on the roadways? Now we are not saying a damaged vehicle makes for a bad vehicle owner, but it has to make you wonder. If you have the chance to, park next to a more maintained vehicle.
So where DO you park?
Near Other Nicer Vehicles
Someone with a nicer newer vehicle typically tends to take better car of their new investment. This is especially true if the vehicle is a higher end model. Often if these vehicles ARE damage, they are repaired immediately because they want to keep their new car NEW.
Park Further Away From The Entrance
This is where you will often find nicer vehicles, people with a newly purchased vehicle tend to know, the small walk is worth it.
If your vehicle has become a victim of parking lot damage, get in touch with us at Sioux Falls Dent Repair.
Why Should Brandon Body Shops Know Paintless Dent Repair?
They Can’t Replace Technicians
Mastering paintless dent repair takes years of practice on real body panels. Unsurprisingly, body shops aren’t always willing to hand these out to amateurs. While you can use sheet metal there’s no replacement for the real deal. Therefore true drive, talent, and education will always win over.
It Saves Room for the Big Jobs
Body shops have to work in the confines of a bay or warehouse so they’re pretty limited in space. If they need to use that space to fix a minor dent they could potentially lose out on a much bigger sale. Dent repair techs, however, are not restricted by space and can work from anywhere.
PDR is Much Faster and More Affordable
Paintless dent repair is and always will be far faster than conventional repair methods. Because Brandon body shops tend to prefer higher paying jobs they will often use traditional methods on a simple ding. This usually involves sanding, priming, and painting which is resource and labor intensive.
Why Don’t They Already Know it?
Learning Curve
Paintless dent repair isn’t easy to learn and it takes even more commitment to master. The steep learning curve involves some training, theory, and the willingness to adapt to a totally different mindset. Much of paintless dent repair revolves around a central feeling rather than an exact science.
Where to Learn it
Many aspiring PDR techs get stunted because they don’t know where to start. But learning PDR is easier now than it has ever been. The best way to start would be through a training course that’s somewhere between 2 and 5 weeks. Anything shorter than 2 weeks isn’t really worth your time or money.
Understanding the Tools
Access to the proper tools is essential to paintless dent repair. You can have all of the patience, skill, and training you want, but without a high quality set of tools you’re setting yourself up for failure. To further exasperate this issue good PDR tools are not cheap. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a Brandon body shop with a dusty old set of starter equipment.
Everybody loves a new car. The smooth handling, flawless finish, clean interior. But there is one fatal flaw with every factory fresh vehicle: The price. The average rate for a new car in America hovers somewhere around $35,000-36,000. For most this is a pretty hefty chunk of change so you’ll be scrambling for every deal you can find. Then suddenly, you see it! The car of your dreams in all of its dimpled glory. Everyone sells their car for a reason. Maybe they need the extra cash for a new ride or they’re just looking to clear up some garage space. Regardless, it’s important to remember that all sellers have one goal in mind. To make money. That being said, here are a few reasons their Sioux Falls hail damaged car is being sold at such a discounted price.
The Damage is Too Severe
Hail can take a real toll on your car, often damaging windows or paint in the process. Rain water can leak through these cracks and cause much more severe internal damage that isn’t easy to detect. If the paint or windows are chipped be very cautious and have a few mechanics give you a damage estimate.
The Repairs Outweigh the Value
If the damage is minor most sellers will simply repair it and take the small loss. But if the repairs require repainting and body work then they will likely weigh the difference and cut their losses. That’s why many sellers don’t disclose damage costs; or at least why you shouldn’t trust their estimates right away. Which leads me to my next point.
Dealers Don’t Need to Disclose Damage
Dealers don’t need to disclose what it will take to repair the car within certain thresholds. This is actually a grey area for several reasons. Getting the damage appraised by two or three body shops is the best way to understand the true cost. Almost all of them offer free estimates.
Internal and External Damage
Paint jobs and repairs are expensive and dealerships know this. Most sellers in Sioux Falls would rather pull a fast one on somebody than let their car go to a paint shop. Especially if the work requires the time of two separate technicians.
Make Sure The Discount is Reflective of the Damage
Many sellers will offer you what sounds like a steal. $2000 off a $35,000 car, who wouldn’t love that?! However, it’s hardly worth it if the hail damage drops your ride’s value by $5000. You’re essentially losing out on $3000!
Insurance Coverage and False Claims
There are a handful of drivers that buy hail damaged cars in Sioux Falls just to take advantage of their insurance. Most do this by purchasing a car with hail damage, waiting for another storm, and filing their claim then. Unless your insurance company inspects your vehicle upon purchase it is very easy to get away with this. Unfortunately this makes it difficult to get a discount as well.
Vehicle Damage Reports
When you file a claim on your insurance that record is added to your vehicle damage report. This is sort of like a credit report that follows your car around no matter where it goes. If you file a claim on the damage right away it will be harder to get a discount on future damage. Luckily, Sioux Falls Dent Repair can fix hail damage without affecting your vehicle damage reports. Call us today at 605-595-4061 to learn more!
Consider the Diminished Value
It might seem obvious at first, but many drivers in Sioux Falls looking for a steep discount on a hail damaged car forget that, when they sell it, it is still a hail damaged car. Other buyers will want a discount just as much as you did so don’t expect a lot on the return value.
Remember, these tips are far from the only things you should watch for when buying a hail damaged car, but hopefully they are enough to get you started. As a sort of summary or basic guide here are a few highlights to keep in mind.
Nobody is trying to give you a discount. Everyone wants to make money so they’re selling that car at a low price for a reason. Your goal should be to find all of those reasons.
Make sure the numbers add up. Sellers can throw all of the bloated numbers and silver tongued estimates they want at you. But if you’re cautious and do all the math yourself you’ll be fine.
Check with your insurance providers before buying. You don’t want to be caught in a storm a few months later just to find out that your damage report is hold you back from filing a claim.
