Stay Away From Safelite Auto Glass

[classiclincoln]

Wifey got a stone chip in windshield. Had them fill it and later on, the crack started spreading. Read the guarantee which has 2 parts:

One part says if it doesn't work, they'll credit you the cost towards a new windshield.

The other part says they guarantee the quality of their workmanship and if they can't fix their faulty workmanship, they'll refund the money.

So, wifey called and requested a refund because we were going to a local place for a new windshield. They said someone needs to come out to see the problem to make a determination. Guy comes out the next day and confirms the crack is spreading, but no one at the company will refund the money. They claim that their guarantee only offers a credit. Wifey kept on trying to get them to understand the second part of their guarantee but they wouldn't budge. She then goes to their Facebook page to complain and gets a call from someone in their corporate office. Same garbage; only a credit.

A few things:

Their reviews are not all that good on line.
The guarantee also says that they are not liable for any damages caused by a faulty installation. So, if they put in a windshield and it leaks and trashes your dash, oh well.....
Do research before you shop; I'm sure we're all guilty of just calling someone because we heard an ad.

Ended up disputed the charge with the credit card company and will see what they say.

 

[Phydeaux]

Sorry to hear your dissatisfaction.

I've used them and was very pleased with the results, especially their timeliness, photo of service person sent in advance of his arrival, and quality of their repair. I wouldn't hesitate to hire them again.

 

[dioxide45]

This is all I could find on their website:

Windshield Repair Warranty

The repair process involves the injection of special adhesives into the damaged part of the glass. The degree of success of each repair is a function of several variables. The best results are obtained when the damage is recent, the point of impact small, the cracks around the damaged area are small, and there is not moisture or other foreign matter in the damaged area

In some cases, the attempt to repair a windshield can result in the chip or crack becoming larger, and we are not responsible for such damage.

Our windshield warranty works as such: if you are dissatisfied with the repair, we will credit the cost of repair toward replacement. If your insurance company paid for the repair, the insurance company will receive credit.

We guarantee that the repaired portion of the windshield will not crack further and that the repair will pass any state vehicle inspection, or we will credit the cost of repair toward replacement.

This windshield warranty applies as long as you own or lease the vehicle on which the repair was made and is not transferable.

I don't see any mention of them offering a refund if the crack spreads further.

 

[Passepartout]

Many- if not most of us have little choice when it comes to windshield repair or replacement. Safelite has entered into agreements with a majority of auto insurance carriers. If I call my own carrier, and select 'glass claim' from the phone menu, my call is automatically routed to Safelite's National service center- or whatever they call it.

DW just had a nick filled by them. They came to her office, performed the repair, at no out-of-pocket cost and no inconvenience.

Safelight replaced the power sliding rear window in my pickup last year. It took a bit longer, but was done professionally. They had to remove the back seat and the upholstery around the back of the cab. The manager of the franchise did the work himself- with an assistant. They'd never done one of these before, so took their time to do it right. I just paid my deductible and that was it.

Obviously, not every job they do is going to come off perfectly, or to the satisfaction of the owner. That's what warranties are for.

Jim

 

[Phydeaux]

Wifey got a stone chip in windshield. Had them fill it and later on, the crack started spreading. Read the guarantee which has 2 parts:

One part says if it doesn't work, they'll credit you the cost towards a new windshield.

The other part says they guarantee the quality of their workmanship and if they can't fix their faulty workmanship, they'll refund the money.

Do you have a link?

 

[AnnaS]

We drove down to Disney a few years ago and a rock hit the windshield. Of course the crack was getting longer and longer by the time we arrived. Called the insurance and Safellite came to OKW and replaced the windshield.

No complaints here - quick and efficient. I did not even realize you could fill it in. We had not choice anyway - it spread.

I would read the contract/papers also.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[Ty1on]

Wifey got a stone chip in windshield. Had them fill it and later on, the crack started spreading. Read the guarantee which has 2 parts:

One part says if it doesn't work, they'll credit you the cost towards a new windshield.

The other part says they guarantee the quality of their workmanship and if they can't fix their faulty workmanship, they'll refund the money.

So, wifey called and requested a refund because we were going to a local place for a new windshield. They said someone needs to come out to see the problem to make a determination. Guy comes out the next day and confirms the crack is spreading, but no one at the company will refund the money. They claim that their guarantee only offers a credit. Wifey kept on trying to get them to understand the second part of their guarantee but they wouldn't budge. She then goes to their Facebook page to complain and gets a call from someone in their corporate office. Same garbage; only a credit.

A few things:

Their reviews are not all that good on line.
The guarantee also says that they are not liable for any damages caused by a faulty installation. So, if they put in a windshield and it leaks and trashes your dash, oh well.....
Do research before you shop; I'm sure we're all guilty of just calling someone because we heard an ad.

Ended up disputed the charge with the credit card company and will see what they say.

My experience with Safelite was markedly different than yours. The first thing the guy told me is that there is a risk that the windshield can even shatter from the high pressure process of the repair. He said it isn't common, but I should know that the risk is there before I decide to use his service. My repair lasted for years until we sold the car.

We chatted quite a bit, and he told me about the car wash guys. They will find ANY NICK and try to get you to let them repair it, billable to your insurance, of course. He said you should NOT repair surface nicks--only those chips that are deep enough to allow cracking to develop. Safelite is a preferred service of many insurance companies, including mine. He told me about a case where an insurance asked him to investigate for an elderly lady. She brought her car to him as directed by the insurance, because they had received 21 claims for chip repair from the same car wash weasel. All 21 of them were completely unnecessary repairs. And remember, even if one of those weasels further damages the windshield with an unnecessary repair, their company disclaims liability.

I will definitely take my windshield to Safelite and Safelite only. I see further damage as a known risk of the repair.

 

[DeniseM]

So, wifey called and requested a refund because we were going to a local place for a new windshield.

What I don't understand is why the OP's insurance didn't pay for the repair?

We've used Safelite several times, and they billed our insurance directly, and we didn't pay anything.

 

[Ty1on]

What I don't understand is why the OP's insurance didn't pay for the repair?

We've used Safelite several times, and they billed our insurance directly, and we didn't pay anything.

Agreed. I never paid a dime for the repair. And the guy was very upfront that if he broke my windshield I was going to be out my deductible. Maybe some Safelite techs are more honest than others.

 

[taterhed]

I had a star-chip on the windshield on my commuter car. I didn't really want to pay the deductible ($$$) and replace the windshield. Too many opportunities, especially in winter, to get another chip 5 mins later.

I checked out several repair shops in my area and ended up using the safelite shop. The repair was covered by insurance.

The tech was prompt courteous and quite honest--up front. He noted that the repair was NOT ideal for repair (it would be quite visible). He also noted that if the repair didn't work, my only recourse was to replace the windshield and that the cost of chip-repair would be applied to replacement. Exactly what the insurance company said. He noted that the repair was not recommended and not warrantied.

Results: repair was very good and works fine 2 years later. Excellent experience. I did not use them to replace my Jeep windshield because the cost was higher than another local shop.

I think a lot of this varies by location/francise. IMHO
Sorry you had bad experience.

 

[pedro47]

What I don't understand is why the OP's insurance didn't pay for the repair?

We've used Safelite several times, and they billed our insurance directly, and we didn't pay anything.

ditto, the OP's insurance company should have paid for a new windshield.

 

[csxjohn]

What I don't understand is why the OP's insurance didn't pay for the repair?

We've used Safelite several times, and they billed our insurance directly, and we didn't pay anything.

ditto, the OP's insurance company should have paid for a new windshield.

My car policy does not cover windshield damage. Some do, some don't.

 

[zinger1457]

What I don't understand is why the OP's insurance didn't pay for the repair?

We've used Safelite several times, and they billed our insurance directly, and we didn't pay anything.

You wouldn't be covered if you don't have comprehensive coverage, some with older vehicles that aren't worth much decide not to purchase it.

 

[classiclincoln]

Didn't go through insurance and the guarantee that was handed to us with the receipt talked about guaranteeing the quality of the workmanship and the refund. Apparently, what's on the website is different from what they give out.

I'm sure they are good if the repair works, but if it doesn't, watch out. Also, as I mentioned, if there is damage as a result of a leak, they don't cover that damage.

If you go on line, you'll see other issues with the company.

Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Phydeaux]

Take it for what it's worth.

We did.