Dear Body Shop Owner — Stop Giving Away Your Research for Free
- Casey Brothers
- Apr 2
- 1 min read
Let’s set the scene.
You add a line to the estimate for SWS zeroing, post-seatbelt inspection, or an ADAS calibration.
The insurer responds:
“We don’t think that’s necessary.”
So you spend 30 minutes digging through OEM repair procedures.You highlight. You print. You email.You spoon-feed it to them like applesauce.
Then they say:
“Yeah, but this doesn’t have the manufacturer’s logo on it.”
And now you’re an unpaid researcher, a technical translator, and a full-time proofreader of documents that they should already be familiar with.
Question: Why Are You Doing All That for Free?
Because here’s the reality:
Access to OEM procedures isn’t free
Your time isn’t free
Your staff’s time isn’t free
And your liability doesn’t disappear just because they’re “not sure it’s needed”
If they want us to prove, explain, and educate every time they see a calibration line?
There should be a research fee.
Period.
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