When I started in the body shop business 32 years ago my boss would just scratch together a rough collision repair estimate without even using a published guide of any kind. At the time there were two choices: Motors and Mitchell. Period. I think he had some old Motors books because we were the only Gas Station, Towing, Mechanical and Auto body repair shop for 40 miles. Motors had more mechanical coverage so I think that's why he liked them.

I was an assistant manager at a Buick dealer in the late 80's and we were an Allstate recommended repair shop (I don't remember the technical name for it back then). We wrote everything from the books, called all the salvage yards for prices, called all the sublets for quotes on jobs and looked everything else up. My boss was so picky that I had to attach the tape from the calculator to each estimate. If it was off by a penny I got chewed out. On a big wreck it would take 2 or more hours to provide a hand written collision estimate. All of our estimates were audited by hand by the insurance staff. I will tell you that that was one of the hardest jobs I ever had. Now its like typing a letter compared to the old days.

Fast forward 20 years. There are a lot of different companies offering different estimating products. Some are web based and some come on a DVD. The computer based programs are so much better than the old books were. I use Web Est and I can set all my Body labor, Frame labor, Structural labor, Paint labor, Mark up on parts, Mark up on sublet items, preset charges for covering cars, hazardous waste, Body materials and just about anything you can charge for on body repairs. I can set thresholds and charge my own percentage of refinish time for paint overlap, two tone paint, tri stage paint, stripe time. The list goes on.

Taxable and non taxable items are calculated separately and the tax is added automatically to the total. States have different tax laws so this in itself is a time saver.

Adding parts is a snap. The graphics are expandable and a lot more detailed than the old books. Adding LKQ or Aftermarket is an easy option and mark up can be preset. There are also functions to list your vendors in the database with all their important information. You can also add pictures to your estimate with ease. There are helpful letters and other documents in the program that can be pre-filled from your estimate.

The programs can decode options from the vin# and this is helpful for the various trim levels on todays modern vehicles. Calculations for overlap when you take a bumper and a fender off are done automatically so there is no confusion between what the insurer deducts and what comes up on your screen. You can store repair orders, estimates and supplements and have easy access to your information any time or anywhere you have an internet connection.

I like Web Est because I can edit estimates on my coffee break or in a wrecker yard as long as I have an internet connection! I don't have to have a huge super computer to run the program on either. With my wireless Lan at the shop, I can take the laptop out to the car in the shop or in the parking lot and create my customer's estimate on the spot. Estimates are stored securely and you can save a copy on your computer for easy access anytime. With the current cost of the subscription for the books, Web est is by far a better deal.

Give it a try by starting a Free Trial; you can not beat the price!!

Bob Winfrey, Owner
All Precision Collision Repair