Paintless Repair
10 expert auto-body tips - Kathy Tripp, owner of auto-body shop
Essence, March, 1990 by Alan Wellikoff
10 EXPERT AUTO-BODY TIPS
Kathy Tripp, a 36-year-old mother of two and the owner of her own auto-body shop in Macon, Georgia, is well qualified to advise us on what to do if our cars need bodywork. When her husband of 13 years died in 1984, she took over his shop, with no prior experience in the field. Overcoming adversities, such as when thieves stole all the shop's tools, or when folks were skeptical of her ability to succeed in a male-dominated business, Kathy restructured the now-thriving shop with the help of her grandfather. "I took an estimating course and learned a lot firsthand by observing my employees," Kathy recalls. Today, Bubba Tripp's Body Shop is the only Black-owned shop in Macon to appear on the referral lists of three major insurance firms. The shop has also won repair contracts for both the Central Georgia Medical Center ambulance fleet and the Macon Police Department vehicles - more than 100 cars and trucks. "Wreck repair is our specialty," says Kathy.
Here Kathy offers us her ten most important tips for getting a good deal on auto bodywork after you've had an accident: 1. Word of mouth is the best advertisement, so get referrals from friends who have had auto bodywork done. Your insurance company can also provide good suggestions, since it only works with shops that have long-term guarantees, meet high standards and have the latest equipment. 2. Be wary of "weekend mechanics" who fix cars as a hobby and work out of their backyards or garages. "Their equipment is minimal, they're often unable to do topnotch paint jobs, and they offer no guarantees," cautions Kathy. 3. If possible, get three estimates (which should cost $5 to $20 each), and compare them for both service and cost. Most estimates cover only visible damages. 4. Watch out for very low estimates and ones that list more than two "open" (inestimable) charges. The shop may lure you in and "suddenly" find new, costly problems. 5. If your car is a 1985 model or newer, it's probably a uni-body (made of a new high-strength steel) and will require special repair tools. Make sure that the shop you choose has plasma cutters (which use laser beams for cleaner cuts), and M.I.G. welders (which replaced the blowtorch and weld the steel at its correct, less damaging temperature). 6. Once you've decided on a repair shop, you can get the truest cost estimated by having the car "torn down" (removing the body parts to assess internal damage) and obtaining a damage report which will be deducted from your final bill. 7. Check your insurance policy to determine the amount of your deductible - the portion of the repair bill you are responsible for paying - usually between $250 and $500. 8. Most often, the shop mechanics can tell by looking whether your car is totaled (that is, whether the total value of the repairs exceeds the car's value). If they can't, have the car torn down to make sure. The insurance company will make you an offer for what the car is worth, based on the National Automobile Dealers' Association Guide. 9. After the work is done, before paying, check the car carefully and take it for a test drive. 10. If you're not pleased with the work, leave the car there until it's properly repaired. A reputable shop should redo repairs to your satisfaction. Alan Wellikoff, a journalist in Baltimore, can't bear to part with his unsalvageable Volkswagen Super.
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PHOTO : "We do the job right the first time," says Kathy, pictured here with her six staffers. "No work leaves until I'm satisfied."
PHOTO : Kathy shows off her shop and a Porsche she recently restored, top. The shop's frame technicians discuss procedure with Kathy, left.
