For the others, hopefully you can learn something from my experience. Even if that lesson is "camp out at the repairer and watch Every. Little. Thing. they do to your beloved".
My windscreen cracked on the last day of our honeymoon. Yep, it's taken me nearly a month to organise to get it replaced (insured, no excess so all good), but hey, you can't rush these things!
So last week I rang the repairer. No worries, windscreen available in Sydney, will be here Friday. Today being my first day off, I made the appointment.
Dropped my baby off, being especially careful to explain that the frame needed to be removed to replace the windscreen. "Yep, we've done it before. No problem". The Tech Adviser reiterated this, in case they needed to hear it from someone with a male appendage (I've been burnt in the past!). All good.
So we go back to pick it up this afternoon. Mind you, the promised phone call didn't eventuate, we drove past 6 hours after we dropped it off because we were sick of waiting, and she was in the parking lot.
New windscreen? Check. Tinted? Pretty sure I asked for plain when they ordered it, but my memory is sketchy. So I'm willing to overlook this bit.
1/2 inch gap in the bottom left corner of the frame? 1 inch gap in the rubber? CHIPS OF PAINT from the inside of the door frame on my carpet? THE BROKEN HEAD OF A SCREW from the windscreen, also on the carpet next to the paint?
By this time we're getting a bit PO'd, but willing to listen to their explanation. Guy who did the "installation" comes out. Oh yeah, I know you said you needed to take the frame out, but I've done these before, and if you BEND THE FRAME OUTWARDS AFTER YOU TAKE OFF THE TOP BOW, THEY POP RIGHT IN!!!
Scuse me??? He started to get cranky when we pointed out that this wasn't in fact what we had asked him to do, and told us that the windscreen frame was crap. He grabbed the quarter glass (door was open) and SHOOK IT, declaring that my baby was "a piece of sh!t". Direct quote.
Well, we asked to speak to the manager, and he came out with the worker and defended him! Told A he shouldn't swear at him (he wasn't initially, this guy was rude, insulting and an altogether not-very-nice person). Worker pushes A in the chest, but then left the scene when we pointed out that this was in fact assault, and we'd call the police if he continued.
Finally got manager to agree that the work was sub-standard (not actually admit to anything, but anyway...) and he said they would fix it. At this stage we said we didn't want this particular worker anywhere near my baby, and asked what our alternatives were. Turns out they have another installation facility, on the other side of town, and he booked us in there to have it repaired.
Phone calls were made - to the new repair place detailing what needed to be done (including repainting, retapping of holes for screws to be replaced, that kind of thing). And one to some guy in Head Office in Sydney - we now have his personal mobile number in case the issue isn't resolved.
Bottom line is, I have a new windscreen. Nobody's paid for it yet (must ring the insurance co. to let them know not to pay for the extra damage). And the COMPLETE MORONS at the windscreen place broke my baby. And called her a piece of sh!t (I think that's what's irked me the most at this point!)
I'll keep you updated. Repairs are supposed to happen next Tuesday. Another complete waste of a day off.
