I have probably every window a vanagon could use except for a windshield. If anyone breaks one, I could sell you one a LOT cheaper than the prices quoted. All that said, as someone who has rough-housed a few windows into place, I would say that the chances of breaking a side window are almost nil if in the hands of someone who has successfully done it before. Jim
On Sat, Nov 16, 2013 at 10:59 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote: > Was these prices from a glass shop? Here is what they are really saying: > We > install replacement glass on modern current production vehicles. We supply > the glass and any other consumables. Since we supply the glass it is not > the > end of the world if we break or damage it. Just like a mechanic getting a > bad spark plug. We also direct bill the insurance company. If I can't make > money on parts you will pay dearly for the labor. > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > Brett Ne > Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 1:36 AM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: replacing window glass seals > > I found two windows with leaky seals this summer, the rear hatch and the > sliding door windows. So I planned on getting those replaced before the > rainy season set in and stop the rust before it goes any further. In my > last orders from GoWesty and VanCafe I got German window seals. I figured > I > was all set. After all, I had the front windshield replaced this > summer(after a softball sized rock was hurtled into by a passing cement > truck) and it only ran $250 or so. Pop a couple panes out, perhaps a bit > of > sanding and primer to slow down any rust that may be starting, and then pop > the panes back in using some fresh, squishy German rubber. Should be > pretty > easy, should be pretty quick, should be pretty inexpensive. I was floored > at what they told me: > > *about $200 per window for labor > *I am liable for replacing the windows if they get broken in the process > *there are no replacement windows in their warehouses *they could order > them > from someplace in California *they would run around $300 each *crating them > would run another $200 or so *crating does not include shipping costs > *aaaaand, here's the kicker: if the windows get broken in shipment, I'm > liable > > > Okay, so I try to recompose myself and start thinking "okay, she's just > trying to prepare me for the worst case scenario...what's the probability > of > them breaking a pane while replacing the seal...maybe 10-15%? Not very > likely." So I asked them: What's the likelihood of a window getting broken > during replacement?: > > *about 50-50 > > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > > WTF????? > > > Some of my prices are off a bit...they were so unexpectedly high that they > really didn't sink in. I get that side & back windows are probably much > more expensive than front windshields since they seldom get broken and > don't > gain the cost reductions afforded front windshields through large volume > production. But is the breakage rate for replacing seals really anywhere > near 50%?? Or do they have the Three Stooges working for them? > (whoo boy, just showed my age there!) And I would be liable if they get > broken during shipment?? After paying a pretty steep crating fee?? > > I am still stunned. We've had two broken windshields replaced by them with > good service & reasonably priced, so I was kinda figuring I'd be paying oh, > say, 80-150 bucks... maybe more if more than a minor bit of rust is found. > But $400 is the best case scenario and could quite possibly reach $1,000 or > more. > > > Uhmmmm...I'm fairly new to the Vanagon world, is this typical for window > seal replacements? > > -- > Brett in Portland, OR > "Albert" '82 VanFox I4 Riviera > |
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