Do we have a preferred windshield replacement specialist?

In reply to ddavidv :

Thank you. I am always grateful when insurance pros chime in on stuff like this!
 

I think that this truck was originally equipped with acoustic glass.  Can I expect to get a comparable replacement when going through my insurance company?

ddavidv said:

Windshields go in dumpsters with normal trash. Tires do not. This argument is silly.

Back to the original question:  Safelite is hit/miss. They are generally the training ground for glass techs. They all start there. The good ones then open up their own businesses. I've had good work done by Safelite but also hear endless complaints from shops and customers in my line of work. I always suggest people call their local body shops or car dealers and ask them who they use. Body shops in particular will be loyal to a good glass guy because they won't have comebacks. Leaks, sealant oozing everywhere, etc.  They are all competitive on pricing as they all get their glass from the same handful of suppliers. A good glass guy also knows what brands to avoid that have a history of optical distortion (more Chinese quality!).

Thank you for the verification.

I had Safelite do the windshield on the A4. I had a bizarre request for them when they did it--I wanted the old windshield removed for "a while" before installing a new one so I could install a-frame roll cage gussets. They agreed to do it after a very helpful phone rep got me in touch with the actual guy who would be doing the work. He was willing, thought it was cool, and they did the two jobs about a week apart for me. They didn't have to do that--they could have said, "we don't know if our policy allows this, so no". But somebody decided to make a decision, and it didn't have to be run up the chain of command. I think that's pretty cool.

I think all the charges were straightforward. I think they told me exactly what it would cost before showing up. They also took my old windshield away, so I didn't have to go throw it into the woods on my property. All good in my book. For that car, it might have cost somewhere around $500--in the $400 range, but maybe the upper $400s. 

I have had both good results with Safelite, as well as very poor results.  Came down to the capability of the given technician on that given day.  Depending on where you live, you might check out local suppliers.  We have at least one good one that I became aware of recently in the Cincinnati area (Mel's) who I'll likely go to next time.   They did a custom job for me that turned out amazingly well.

I ended up booking with Safelite, because there just really isn't another option around here.

I was hoping to have them come and do it at the parking lot at work, but they need to recalibrate the nannies, and need to do that at the shop.

I asked if they could swap the glass at work and then I would drive to the shop for recalibration the next day, but they said no.

This is a bit of a PITA, because I work 24 hour shifts beginning at 7am, and there isn't a location close by. The shop is on the other side of work, so adding an extra hour and a half on each side in the morning quickly turns my 24 hour day into a 27 hour day. Looks like I'm killing a day off for this.

Acoustic glass would be replaced with same in my world. Both types are listed in our estimating database if offered.

When a blob of wet concrete was dropped on the windshield of my new to me '19 Odyssey, the construction company said "go to Safelite, that's who we pay for"...

I went to the Honda dealer for an OEM acoustic glass installation instead. They paid for it per WI state law where you can get it repaired where you want.

YMMV

Stupid question....

what is Acoustic glass ?    and do they make it for older cars that never had Acoustic glass  :)