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Paintless Dent Repair: door
dings, hood dings and parking lot dents are extremely common...
Car dent repair, paintless dent repair (PDR) techniques are a fascinating alternative to traditional body shops, but are they worth it? Do we need PDR insurance?
Here's the article....
Paintless Dent Repair:
Myths and Facts About Car Dent Repair and Insurance
The long arm
of car repair insurance doesn't stop at extended warranties
or tire road hazard
insurance. Marketing gurus have found all sorts of
nick knacks to insure. Among the top are ding and dent protection
plans. Ding and dent insurance is growing steadily, and addresses those
unsightly shopping cart and parking lot dings.
Dings and
dents are fairly synonymous terms, although a ding is smaller than a
dent. You’ll notice a dent. You’ll need to squint,
or catch the vehicle in the right angle or sunlight to see a ding. Some
dings are smaller than eraser heads.
Like
extended warranties or tire insurance, dent and ding protection plans
promise to pay for damages in part or in full for a specific period of
time. These plans are primarily sold by new car dealerships and cost a
few hundred dollars.
Ding and
Dent Repair
Ding and
dent repair is called PDR, short for Paintless Dent Removal. There are
many companies that perform this service: Ding Doctor, Ding King, No
Dents, Dent Wizard…the list goes on. Some are better then
others, although ultimately it’s up to the skill of the PDR
technician. Prices are similar.
How is it
done?
Most PDR
techniques are non-intrusive. The PDR technicians use specially
designed tools and gadgets to slip behind the damaged panels and
manipulate and massage the damaged metal back to its original form.
Does it
work?
Actually,
it’s incredible! It works so well that in the majority of
cases the dings and dents are completely removed. They’re
invisible, gone, can’t-believe-your-eyes fixed.
I saw a
soccer-ball-sized dent removed from the rear fender of a $120,000 car.
The dent also had a large crease, which makes repairs even harder.
After thirty minutes there was no visible detection that a dent was
ever there. The repair cost the client $400. Traditional body shop
estimates were hovering at $2700.
PDR
Positives
- Very low cost compared to traditional body
shops
- Same day repairs—even while-you-wait
service
- No paint work, sanding, or traditional bodywork
required
- Original paint remains—helps retain
vehicles looks and value
- Body panels remain intact—maintaining
structural integrity
PDR
Negatives
- PDR does not address scratches or paint chips
that are often associated with dings (Many PDR companies will address
chips and scratches, but it’s not PDR technology)
- Many areas of body panels are not accessible,
so PDR is not an option
- Plastic bumpers or any plastic components
can’t be fixed with PDR techniques. Since the bumper is the
most common area to get damaged, this is a significant downside of PDR
technology.
- Some damage can occur to door panels, paint,
interiors, window glass and hardware during PDR repairs, although damage of any kind is
rare.
Do you
need PDR insurance?
God, no!
Should you
get your dings fixed using PDR techniques?
Hell, yes!
Let me
explain…
Insuring
against dings and dents does not make economic sense. Ding repairs
average around $50 per ding. Some dings cost $99 to $149 to repair. Two
to four dings costs $100 to $450, depending on the size of the dent.
Insurance at this level is just not necessary. Moreover, it’s
a gamble you will lose.
To benefit
from a $300, two-year plan, your vehicle would need to sustain multiple
“PDR repairable” dings or dents. You may not even
notice the dings, making a claim impossible. Also, despite the amazing
PDR techniques, they can’t fix everything, especially the
chips that so frequently accompany a ding—should dings even
occur.
Yes, get
your dings fixed via PDR (if they’re bothering you), but
don’t buy an insurance plan.
Protection
plan economics 101
An article
by Terence O’Hara in the Washington Post is a wonderful piece
on the insanity of protection plans, and is applicable here. He writes:
The decision to buy an extended
warranty…defies the recommendations of economists, consumer
advocates and product quality experts, who all warn that the plans
rarely benefit consumers and are nearly always a waste of money.
‘[Extended
warranties and protection plans] make no rational sense,’
Harvard economist David Cutler said. ‘The implied probability
[of an issue] has to be substantially greater than the risk that you
can’t afford to fix it or replace it. If you’re
buying a $400 item, for the overwhelming number of consumers that level
of spending is not a risk you need to insure under any
circumstances.’
…extended
warranties play upon a basic human trait to avoid loss, even if it
means sacrificing a possible future gain. In this case, the gain is all
the other things of value that a consumer could buy with the money that
was spent on a warranty
Fix Your
Dings
Fix your
dings and dents (if you want) as they come—maybe every
spring. But don’t bother with a protection plan. Save your
money.
Go with
the best
Since 1983
Dent Wizard has been pioneering PDR technology. Their PDR technicians
undergo extensive and ongoing training. The rates are reasonable and
the quality is excellent. Always request a master PDR technician, as
there are various levels of abilities.
For more information visit: http://www.dentwizard.com/
Check with
local dealers
Dealerships
in your area may offer Dent Wizard. Your vehicle does not have to be of
the same make as the dealership. In other words, you can bring your
Chevy to a Ford dealer for PDR work - the PDR technicians don't care.
Myths
Do it yourself
paintless dent repair is easy.
No it‘s not. It requires training, skill, and experience. There
are many who practice PDR techniques who crack or flake the paint, or
who create ripples in the metal.
Scratch and
dent repair are the same thing.
No. A ding
is a small dent, which can often be repaired via paintless dent repair
procedures. A scratch is an actual break in the surface of the clear
coat or paint, requiring traditional body shop techniques, or touch up
paint.
It’s
easy to learn how to repair dents on cars.
Maybe for
some, but it’s a skill that few master. Dent Wizard offers a
great training program. The management and staff are top notch.
What’s
the best ding and dent protection plan?
Money in your bank account!
Dent Wizard Video
To learn more about eliminating repair scams Click Here
-Theodore P.
Olson ©
http://www.repairtrust.com/
Making Sense of Car Dent Repair
MLA Style Citation:
Olson, Theodore. "Paintless Dent Repair: Myths and Facts About Car Dent Repair and Insurance" RepairTrust. 23 January 2007. http://www.repairtrust.com/articles_dentrepair.html
APA Style Citation:
Olson, Theodore. (2007, January 23). Paintless Dent Repair: Myths and Facts About Car Dent Repair and Insurance. RepairTrust. http://www.repairtrust.com/articles_dentrepair.html
Chicago Style Citation:
Olson, Theodore. 2007 Paintless Dent Repair: Myths and Facts About Car Dent Repair and Insurance. RepairTrust (January, 23), http://www.repairtrust.com/articles_dentrepair.html
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