• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

Need a new Windshield? Don't go to SafeLite!

shakedown067

Sinister C4
Oh man what an ordeal. This started back in March. Before the March autocross on the 24th, I got a crack in the windshield. I wanted it fixed before the autocross so I pick up the phone and get safelite to come out. They'll be there on the 21st. They show up an hour past the FOUR HOUR window, pull the weatherstripping and find rust. He stops, says they'll have to order a new top strip from the dealer and leaves...and leaves me with no weatherstripping. Of course it's suppose to rain that night so I get some vinyl tape and tape it up (looks like hell). It survived the rain storm.

So they told me they'd call friday morning with info on the part they had to order. Come Noon, no call, so I take off to the office. I get led on a wild goose chase but they end up with the part in-stock (huh?), but no weatherstripping (the installer from the day before still had it). They say the'll get it and to leave the car and they'll take care of it.

I get a call about an hour and a half later. They find rust under the metal strip that holds the weatherstripping, "you'll have to take it to a body shop." Shouldn't they be used to rust in Florida, what the hell? Could have told me that yesterday! I call my guy and schedule to drop it off on tuesday. Safelite says they'll be there between 2 and 5pm.

Now tuesday the 26th, five days now with no weatherstripping and having to retape the car each night because of the due and no garage. I call safelite at noon to make sure they'll be out. Say I wasn't scheduled till thursday. I say no, it's today, tuesday. They can't do it that day but will be out wednesday morning first thing (after I talk to the manager). Cool, body shop does the work, all is good, call up safelite to see when I'm scheduled once again. Friday between 1-4. Cool, but the shop closes at three. Rep says no problem I'll note it. Friday comes, and once again I call at noon. Says installer will be there around 4:30. Well that doesn't work, the shop will be closed. They say I'll be next. I head down to the body shop and pay them, have them move the car out of the back lot just incase they take longer. At 2:00, they show up...WITHOUT THE WINDSHIELD. He has to go back, where they supposedly had restocked it as well. Just before 3:00 he gets back and starts on the car (15 minute drive from shop to shop). At 4:00, now an hour past when they I said the car needed to be DONE, they finally call me (actually the body shop buy called me). I tip the body shop guy for hanging out. I go to leave when I see safelite didn't install the wiper arms OR the lower windshield brackets. AWESOME.

So the next day, the wife and I head to Orlando. Let's take the vette and stare out that clear windshield. Well to my surprise I've got wind noise like never before. We can hardly talk to each other. On monday I stop by autoXTC and have Jon take a look at it. They used cheap aftermarket molding (I had GM stuff replaced just two years prior). Just adjust the windows up and it "should" be fine. I give it a week and well, nope. It's better, but still bad wind noise and it still leaks water (remember that big rain storm sunday night :banghead:).

So now my carpet is soaked, I've got wind noise and I'm PISSED. Call safelite monday morning on the 19th, talk to a manager and they say they'll get the GM molding ordered (although the manager acted like she could have given two $h!ts). Well, over a week later I finally call today and say what's up with my weatherstripping? Sorry, the parts lady is out to lunch, she'll call you back when she gets in. Almost three hours later, no call. I call back, she's on a break (do these people work at all?). An hour later she calls back, it'll be he thursday. WTF? Almost two weeks for GM weatherstripping? I call autoway chevy, one of, if not the biggest parts house in the southeast. They've got two...yes two in stock. I call safelite back and of course the manager is gone at a meeting. Called up corporate and am waiting a call back from a manager there. Oh, and I found out that the largo office that I've been dealing with is even the regional office.

I've filled out two surveys now. The first time I've EVER put down a 1 out of 10 for anything. Hell, I don't think i've ever put lower than a 7 before. Once i talk to corporate, I'll probably have my lawyer right a formal complaint to their corporate offices. To say their customer service sucks would be the understatement of the decade.
 
:eek: You've got alot more patience that I do. I'd probably be taking up desk space at their office with the Vette in the parking lot until it got fixed.
 
Unfortunately, I don't have the time for that. Hell I even thought about buying the GM weatherstripping myself just so I didn't have to deal with them again...then thought hell no, they need to own up to this crap.
 
You're still dealing with this nonsense? Wow, you seem pretty dang laid back, but I could see you getting close to blowing your lid soon and I wouldn't blame you...

p.s. we'll be up near you on May 8th, 3-7pm at "Catches" in New Port Ritchey on 19.
 
we'll be up near you on May 8th, 3-7pm at "Catches" in New Port Ritchey on 19.

Cool. I'll talk to Natasha and see if we can make the cruise up. And yeah, I'm pretty laid back. I give the benefit of $h!t happens to people too often. But now it's time to lay some smack down. :reddevil:
 
We'll be working the show, but we should be able to chat a bit and maybe grab some dinner once we're done. Bring the vette and show it. We'll catch up with ya later on......now go raise some hell and get that windshield fixed properly.
 
We'll be working the show, but we should be able to chat a bit and maybe grab some dinner once we're done. Bring the vette and show it. We'll catch up with ya later on......now go raise some hell and get that windshield fixed properly.

LOL, maybe I'll put the slicks on her so she'll look more like a race car. That way I won't feel so bad about the paint. I'll have to see what's on our calender. I'll holler at you if we get to make it.

slicks.jpg
 
SO THE SAGA CONTINUES SOME MORE: I find out today, autoway chevrolet is the parts house they deal with. The one that has two in stock. So safelite could just give two $h!ts less about their customers. Thanks for nothing Safelite.
 
Well, I actually got a call back today. But it's from the Survey people. I conveniently filled out mainly 1's with 10 being the best. I think it was the first time I'd EVER put down less than something like a 7. But they are sending me a $50 visa gift card. Will probably take three weeks to get it but I guess at least someone is admitting there is an issue here.
 
They'll probably send you a gift card....if they have any in stock.:ack2: Man, what an ordeal for you. :banghead: Was the survey you took just a fill in the numbers type or could you also write comments? If the latter, I'd have filled it up!
 
They'll probably send you a gift card....if they have any in stock.:ack2: Man, what an ordeal for you. :banghead: Was the survey you took just a fill in the numbers type or could you also write comments? If the latter, I'd have filled it up!

Luckily it had a comments section. I laid it on pretty hard. :reddevil:
 
Finally got a call from the manager. They'll be installing the new weatherstripping tomorrow morning. But I had to call her up and lay into her to get it done.
 
GEEZ...What a mess....glad you laid into them...lets just hope that someone listens and doesn't just chalk it up to a Corvette owner being overly picky. (you weren't, but thats what some companies think about us)
 
The corporate office called back tonight. I'm getting two gift cards ($150 total) and they are calling the shop tomorrow to find out when they'll be out to fix my car. They are suppose to be at the office before noon, but that what I said. The manager just said in the morning. That's a little vague isn't it. Corp is suppose to call me back to confirm a time in the AM.
 
This won't help you but it might help the next guy that needs a windshield.

We have a lot of road construction going on in my area. I didn't notice when it happened but found a rock peck in the windshield of my ZO6. It soon propogated in to a crack and I had to have it replaced.

I asked around and finally ended up having Lloyd's Auto Glass in Tampa replace it. They sent 2 very qualified techs to the house and they replaced it in my garage. They were very careful and did an excellent job. They delt with the insurance company and I didn't pay a cent out of pocket to have it replaced.

Unfortunately it has happened again and I am waiting for the crack to get bigger so the insurance will pay for it again. I'll definitely have Lloyd's do the work.

By the way, my name is Lloyd but I don't have anything to do with this company.
 
Thanks for your input. I've got two good sources for those in pinellas county too NOW. Gator Glass in clearwater was recommended by my insurance agent and AAA auto glass in St Pete was HIGHLY recommended by my bodyshop. Of course I got both of these after everything had started already with safelite.

Biggest thing I've learned from this, DON'T GET IN A HURRY. Always ask around for recommendations for anything you get done to your car. Who knew a windshield would be such an issue. :banghead:
 
I had a friend who had the windshield in his Z replaced by safelite. Only problem I saw with everything is the ugly, non-factory trim they installed but other than that he had no issues.
 
I just had the windshield in my 95 replaced by Safelite. They called to let me know they were going to be late. They did a great job and it was actually less than I was quoted online. Less than half of the amount two other local companies quoted.
 
I just had the windshield in my 95 replaced by Safelite. They called to let me know they were going to be late. They did a great job and it was actually less than I was quoted online. Less than half of the amount two other local companies quoted.

Nice to know they aren't like this everywhere. Which I figured, or they wouldn't be in business. Thanks for chiming in. :thumbsup:
 
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