Schaefer Auto Body Blog

Schaefer Autobody Centers Expands To Seven Locations In the St. Louis Metro Area

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:25:30 GMT

Schaefer Autobody Centers Expands To Seven Locations In The St. Louis Metro Area

Schaefer Autobody Centers opened its seventh location in Hazelwood, MO. It is located at 9091 Dunn Road just behind Spirit Toyota.

Schaefer Autobody Centers originally opened in 1985 at their current location in Webster Groves. Locations opened since then include Crestwood, Ellisville, Fenton, O’Fallon, MO, Creve Coeur and now Hazelwood. Business growth has been the result of their focus on excellent customer service and good relationships with most major insurance companies.

Schaefer Autobody Centers specializes in complete auto collision repair. Additional services include dent repair, auto glass windshield replacement, auto towing and bumper repair. Additional information can be found on the web site: www.schaeferautobody.com.

Tips for Choosing a Reputable Collision Repair Shop

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:47:57 GMT

Statistics show that a person will need the services of a body shop only once in every seven (7) years. When an accident happens regardless if it is a minor fender bender or a major wreck it is important to choose a trustworthy shop. It is just as important to get yourself into the hands of the right auto collision repair shop as it is to check out a contractor's credentials when you need home repair.

Choose a Trustworthy Collision Repair Shop. Check out the shop’s qualifications by asking about advanced technician training from a national organization such as the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) or National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification. Most body shops will employ technicians with these qualifications. Trustworthy shops will also require their technicians to attend ongoing training to stay up to date on their certifications. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations on shops that have performed quality work for them in the past. Inquire with your insurance agent about shops. Most local insurance agents know the quality shops in your area and will give you recommendations based on experience from their customers who have needed prior repairs.

Look for a Commitment of Customer Satisfaction. Ask if the shop is a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and verify their information with the BBB to see if they maintain a good reputation. Inquire about how they plan to communicate with both you and the insurance company during the repair process. A shop dedicated to Customer Satisfaction will keep you updated throughout the repair process to avoid any surprises in the number of days your vehicle will be in the shop. The collision repair shop should also work with your insurance adjuster on your behalf if there are any additional damages found after the initial inspection of your vehicle.

Rental Car Arrangements: Most reputable body shops will help you with arranging a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop.

Don’t shop by price alone. The lowest estimate could indicate that the shop’s estimator has improperly assessed the vehicle’s damage or that the shop specializes in “quickie” repair jobs and poor quality. If you get a quote that is significantly different from another shop, ask the estimator to explain why the quote is so different before you make a decision about where to have the car repaired.

Ask to see a copy of their warranty. Shops that are committed to quality repairs will back up their repairs with a guarantee of workmanship including paint, structural, metal, and plastic repairs. Many of the best collision repair shops will guarantee their work for as long as you own your car.

ARA asks FTC to crack down on OEM position statements opposing recycled parts

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:32:37 GMT

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) once again called on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate possible violations of the Magnuson-Moss Act by automotive manufacturers. "Tying warranties to the use of new, authorized replacement parts is illegal under the Magnuson-Moss Act," said Michael E. Wilson, ARA's chief executive officer, adding that "automakers' unfounded disparagement" of recycled original equipment manufactured (OEM) parts also is a potential violation of the Lanham Act.

Late last year, for example, Chrysler released a position statement implying that recycled parts may have invisible defects due to environmental and human error factors and stated that, “Chrysler Group LLC does not approve of or recognize structural repair procedures where Authentic Mopar Parts are not used for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles,” suggesting that consumers’ warranties would be in doubt if parts other than Authentic Mopar Parts were used. Similar statements have been released by American Honda, Toyota Motor Sales, and Hyundai Motor America.

the Chairman for additional action since the FTC’s December 2010 consumer alert, “Auto Warranties, Routine Maintenance, and Repairs: Is Using the Dealer a Must?,” was helpful, but it did not specifically consider the issue of recycled OEM parts. "These potential violations of federal law that harm consumers, especially those least likely to be able to afford expensive replacement parts, need to be completely examined," said Wilson.

Over the past several months, ARA has reached out to the appropriate federal agencies highlighting activity that could be a violation of the Magnuson Moss Act and has yet to receive a satisfactory response from the federal government.

Since 1943, the Automotive Recyclers Association (“ARA”) represents an industry dedicated to the efficient removal and reuse of “green” automotive parts, and the proper recycling of inoperable motor vehicles. ARA represents the interests of more than 4,500 auto recycling facilities in the United States and 14 other countries.

To learn more, visit ARA’s home page at www.a-r-a.org or call (571) 208-0428.

Collision Repair Shops Seeing Damage to Vehicles from Flying Ice

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:40:55 GMT

Ever wonder how far back is safe enough to follow a vehicle on the road? That distance needs to change with weather conditions.

With the latest ice storm in St. Louis there were a lot of vehicles traveling on the road still encased with ice and snow which caused damage to other vehicles. St. Louis County Police responded to several calls where vehicles were struck and damaged by huge sheets of ice flying from hoods and roofs of moving cars and semis.

Schaefer Autobody Centers and other collision repair shops saw damage to not only vehicle windshields but also damage to grills and hoods.

Schaefer Autobody Centers repaired this woman's van due to a huge chunk of ice that flew into her windshield. Be careful with all the ice!

Windshields shattered by chunks of flying ice – so who’s responsible?

www.kmov.com

Schaefer Autobody Centers is a 25 year old family owned business started in Webster Groves, MO. The business has grown during the 25 years from one shop to seven collision repair centers in the St. Louis area, including locations in Creve Coeur, Crestwood, Ellisville, Fenton, O’Fallon, MO, Webster Groves and the newest shop in Hazelwood.

Schaefer Autobody Centers PResents Restored Minivan to Fenton Family Helped By Circle of Concern

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:33:33 GMT

Schaefer Autobody Centers Presents Restored Minivan to Fenton Family Helped By Circle of Concern

Steve Schaefer and his employees at Schaefer Autobody Centers have made life a bit easier for an area Fenton family by restoring a damaged vehicle so the family has reliable transportation.

Working through Circle of Concern and the Recycled Rides Program, Schaefer Autobody Centers gave Angie, Jason and their three children a repaired and refurbished Honda Minivan on Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving. The Honda minivan was repaired by Schaefer Auto body Centers employees over the past few months. When the repairs on the van were complete, Steve Schaefer contacted Circle Of Concern to connect with a struggling area family.

Recycled Rides is a nationwide project whereby members of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) repair and donate recycled vehicles to families in need in their communities. It is a community relations program intended to provide valuable assistance to local families, while improving and promoting the image of the collision repair industry on a national level.

Schaefer Autobody Centers and its employees take vehicles that are considered uneconomical to repair and, with the assistance of parts and paint suppliers, repair and donate them to a local family. Families that can be positively affected by the donation, and that will be able to properly care for and insure the vehicle, are identified through circle of Concern.

Circle of concern provides long term and emergency assistance to low-income families in western St. Louis County, creating opportunities for needy families to re-establish themselves as productive members in our community.

Schaefer Autobody Centers is a 25 year old family owned business started in Webster Groves, MO. The business has grown during the 25 years from one shop to six collision repair centers in the St. Louis area, including locations in Creve Coeur, Crestwood, Ellisville, Fenton, O’Fallon, MO, and the original shop in Webster Groves.

This represents the second vehicle Schaefer Autobody Centers have restored for a family helped by Circle Of Concern.

For more information, visit http://www.recycledrides.org/, http://www.circleofconcern.org/ or http://www.schaeferautobody.com/

Schaefer Autobody Centers Winner of BBB 2010 Torch Award

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:29:44 GMT

Schaefer Autobody Centers Wins BBB TORCH AWARD

St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 22, 2010 – Schaefer Autobody Centers of St. Louis, MO, is among two charities and ten businesses who are winners of TORCH Awards for exceptional ethical business practices from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.

President and founder Steve Schaefer says he looks for employees who want to serve the public and gives them the leeway they need to make customers happy. “All of the front line people know that they can do whatever they need to do to make things right,” Schaefer said.

The BBB Accredited Business opened the doors for business 25 years ago as a small collision shop in Webster Groves, MO. Schaefer worked with designers to get a computer system that allows employees to make notes on every interaction with a customer, including comments from follow-up calls. Schaefer has access to every customer’s file, so he can check on progress and response to any customer concerns.

The business has grown during the 25 years from one shop to six collision repair centers in the St. Louis area, including locations in Creve Coeur, Crestwood, Ellisville, Fenton, O’Fallon, MO, and the original shop in Webster Groves. Steve credits his twenty-five years of success and growth to his focus on excellent customer service and good relationships with most major insurance companies www.schaeferautobody.com.

The BBB is a non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. The BBB provides objective advice, free business Reliability Reports, dispute resolution service, charity wise-giving reports, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information.

2010 VeriFacts “March Taylor Technician ACE Award” winner is Marc Hilpert of Schaefer Autobody Centers, Webster Groves , MO

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:03:08 GMT

Las Vegas, NV, November 3, 2010 – The winners of VeriFacts Automotive’s outstanding quality awards, known as the ACE Awards (Achievement in Collision Repair Excellence), were presented at the 2010 Collision Industry Achievement Awards Luncheon, held in conjunction with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marc Hilpert, Painting Technician for Schaefer Autobody Centers in the St. Louis metro area was the recipient of the VeriFActs “March Taylor Technician ACE Award.”

Hilpert is currently the lead painting technician and 20 year veteran at the Schaefer Autobody Centers, Webster Groves, MO, location which specializes in complete collision repair work. Hilpert received his autobody/collision repair training from Rankin Technical College. Steve Schaefer, owner of Schaefer Autobody Centers states, “Marc has always set the bar for quality at the highest possible level. And he has always invested a lot of his own time on the research and learning it takes to get there and stay there. We are very fortunate to have him on our team. ”

“Marc is a very knowledgeable Refinish Technician who is always eager to learn so he can complete a quality repair on every vehicle he works on. He always wants to know if there is any new technical information each month when his coach visits. Marc is a very detail conscientious technician,” stated Audie Swedeen, Verifacts, Director of Operations. “Marc appreciates and welcomes any coaching he receives. He is dedicated to improving the industry one vehicle at a time.”

Schaefer Autobody Centers opened the doors for business 25 years ago in Webster Groves, MO. The business has grown during the 25 years from one shop to six collision repair centers in the St. Louis area, including locations in Creve Coeur, Crestwood, Ellisville, Fenton, O’Fallon, MO, and the original shop in Webster Groves. Steve credits his twenty-five years of success and growth to his focus on excellent customer service and good relationships with most major insurance companies www.schaeferautobody.com.

To qualify for an ACE Award, collision repair centers must participate in the VeriFActs Shop Coaching Program for at least six months. The technician and shops that scored highest in their respective categories were presented the top award, with finalists being recognized with a Certificate of Repair Excellence.

VeriFacts Automotive, LLC was founded to address the implementation of the best repair practices and standards within the collision repair industry. The Company provides a performance rating of the technician and collision repair facility by independent third party verifiers. VeriFacts Verified Quality (VQ), with patent technology, technical competency and professional integrity is positioned to provide a wide array of valuable services to the collision repair, insurance and manufacturing communities. For further information, please call VeriFacts at (800) 381-3447 or e-mail info@verifactsauto.com.

Schaefer Autobody and St Louis University Billikens Basketball!

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:20:48 GMT

Schaefer Autobody Centers are a proud sponsor of
SLU Billikens Basketball!

Join us at Chuy’s, 3701 Lindell Blvd, before every home game
to show your Billikens pride!

Competitions, prizes and happy hour specials
5:00pm – 7:00 pm

--> beginning Friday, November 12th <--

Tips for Choosing a Reputable Collision Repair Shop

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:39:49 GMT

Choose a Trustworthy Collision Repair Shop
Check out the shop’s qualifications by asking about advanced technician training from a national organization such as the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) or National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification. Most body shops will employ technicians with these qualifications. Trustworthy shops will also require their technicians to attend ongoing training to stay up to date on their certifications. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations on shops that have performed quality work for them in the past. Inquire with your insurance agent about shops. Most local insurance agents know the quality shops in your area and will give you recommendations based on experience from their customers who have needed prior repairs.

Look for a Commitment of Customer Satisfaction
Ask if the shop is a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and verify their information with the BBB to see if they maintain a good reputation. Inquire about how they plan to communicate with both you and the insurance company during the repair process. A shop dedicated to Customer Satisfaction will keep you updated throughout the repair process to avoid any surprises in the number of days your vehicle will be in the shop. The collision repair shop should also work with your insurance adjuster on your behalf if there are any additional damages found after the initial inspection of your vehicle.

Rental Car Arrangements: Most reputable body shops will help you with arranging a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop.

Ask to see a copy of their warranty. Shops that are committed to quality repairs will back up their repairs with a guarantee of workmanship including paint, structural, metal, and plastic repairs. Many of the best collision repair shops will guarantee their work for as long as you own your car.

Schaefer Autobody Centers originally opened in 1985 at their current location in Webster Groves. Other locations include Crestwood, Ellisville, Fenton, O’Fallon and Creve Coeur. Business growth has been the result of their focus on excellent customer service and good relationships with most major insurance companies.

Most people know Schaefer Autobody Centers for their auto body repair services. However, Schaefer Autobody Centers provides additional services including dent repair, auto glass windshield replacement, auto towing, truck and commercial vehicle repairs, bumper repairs and Professional Detailing Services. Check our Auto Collision Repair Services for additional information.

What is Paintless Dent Repair?

Schaefer Auto Body Centers — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Paintless dent repair (PDR) has become widely used to remove certain types of dents and dings on vehicles.

Paintless Dent Repair is a process of removing small dents without disturbing the paint finish. When successful, it is less costly and less time consuming than conventional methods of auto body repair. It is commonly used to repair damage such as hail dents, dents from baseballs, and door dings. In some cases, the dent can be completely removed. In many cases it can be 90% removed, such that it is only barely noticeable and often very acceptable. In still other cases it is not possible to remove the dent without damaging the paint finish.

Specially fabricated tools and techniques for PDR have been developed to remove dents from almost any body panel. Skilled technicians remove dents using the specialized tools to push the metal back into its original shape from behind the dent.

PDR is very effective for certain situations:

The paint has not been broken or cracked
The dent is not near the edge of a panel
Parking Lot Dings and Dents
Hail Damage

Several advantages to using paintless dent repair include:

No repainting or body filler needed
Quicker turn around time
Less expensive than traditional auto body repair

PDR is available from local franchises of national chains, independent shops and some auto body repair shops. The quality of the PDR depends greatly on the skill level of the technician performing the repair. It is a good idea to have the work done at a reputable shop. Schaefer Autobody Centers, an independent collision repair shop with six locations in the St. Louis, MO Metro area performs PDR.

Schaefer Autobody Centers originally opened in 1985 at our current location in Webster Groves. Other locations include Crestwood, Ellisville, Fenton, O’Fallon and Creve Coeur, Missouri. Business growth has been the result of our focus on excellent customer service and good relationships with most major insurance companies.

Most people know Schaefer Autobody Centers for our auto body repair services. However, Schaefer Autobody Centers provides additional services including dent repair through PDR, auto glass windshield replacement, auto towing, truck and commercial vehicle repairs, bumper repairs and Professional Detailing Services. Let us help you with paintless dent repair and auto body services.