Windshield got cracked this morning

[disneysteve]

Not a great start to my weekend. A rock cracked my windshield on the way to work this morning. The glass shop we used is near my office so I stopped in after work and told him to order a windshield for me and I'd bring the car in Tuesday morning.

I didn't ask how much it would be but this is an independent shop and the owner is a patient. He always gives us a good deal on the work he's done for us over the years. I'm certain whatever he charges will be considerably less than rip off places like Safelite.

Fortunately, I don't really need the car this weekend so it can just sit in the driveway until I take it in on Monday.

The only kind of good thing is that I started my new part time job last night so I earned a few hundred dollars doing that. It's just lousy that it's going to go for something like this instead of anything fun or more productive.

[msomnipotent]

Your insurance doesn't cover that? I get one "free" windshield a year without deductible, and my agent said it doesn't count as a claim.

[disneysteve]

Your insurance doesn't cover that? I get one "free" windshield a year without deductible, and my agent said it doesn't count as a claim.

Nope. I live in insurance hell, otherwise known as New Jersey. Broken windshields fall under the Comprehensive portion of your insurance and are subject to the deductible, which in our case is $500. Not only that, but repairs are covered but replacements are not. Mine needs to be replaced.

[TexasHusker]

This falls into the same expense category as sink stoppages, traffic tickets, snake remediation, and recharging your AC unit.

[Like2Plan]

Disneysteve,

Sorry for the bad luck with the windshield. I hope it doesn't turn out to be too bad.


TexasHusker,
"....snake remediation ..." what!?

[Nutria]

This falls into the same expense category as sink stoppages, traffic tickets, snake remediation, and recharging your AC unit.

Snake remediation?

[kork13]

TexasHusker,
"....snake remediation ..." what!?

Snake remediation?

You have to experience it to fully appreciate this particular need... Move to the Plains region & you'll get it. Bottom line, sometimes a group of snakes becomes your unwanted neighbor. In my book, dealing with it, or any other sort of infestation (mice, ants, termites, etc) is just as much an emergency as the water heater going out, demanding swift and complete resolution.

[Nutria]

You have to experience it to fully appreciate this particular need... Move to the Plains region & you'll get it. Bottom line, sometimes a group of snakes becomes your unwanted neighbor.

But isn't that what pellet guns are for?

In my book, dealing with it, or any other sort of infestation (mice, ants, termites, etc) is just as much an emergency as the water heater going out, demanding swift and complete resolution.

We live in the Termite Zone (they just swarmed a few nights ago), and the back of the house was damaged a few years ago. It's just not the same as the water heater going out (or worse, overflowing). Mice, too: set out traps and let them kill themselves. No immediate crisis like an overflowed water heater, though.

[disneysteve]

This falls into the same expense category as sink stoppages, traffic tickets, snake remediation, and recharging your AC unit.

I'm not exactly sure what this means. I'm guessing you consider those things to be emergencies (though I'm not so sure about traffic tickets).

[FLA]

my ins covers windshields for $1 a year. Guess who had an ex-husband too stupid to spend a buck???

[disneysteve]

my ins covers windshields for $1 a year.

That's so stupid. Why even make it an optional coverage if it only costs $1/year. Just raise the premium $1 and include it in the standard coverage. Insurance companies will do anything they can to avoid paying out any money.

[disneysteve]

$219. About what I expected.

Just for fun, I got a quote from Safelite knowing they would charge a lot more. Sure enough, they wanted $308.95, an extra $90. I don't know why anybody uses those places.

[Nutria]

$219. About what I expected.

Just for fun, I got a quote from Safelite knowing they would charge a lot more. Sure enough, they wanted $308.95, an extra $90. I don't know why anybody uses those places.

What if your patient hadn't given you a good deal?

[disneysteve]

What if your patient hadn't given you a good deal?

He didn't give me any special deal. That's what anyone would pay. It's almost always cheaper to use an independent repair place than a big chain that spends a fortune on advertising, franchise fees, etc.

[bjl584]

That happened to me a couple years ago. My insurance wouldn't cover, so I paid out of pocket to an independent shop that my insurance agent recommended. I paid cash and got it for a little over $200.