chipsaway franchise

motorguy

Chippie wrote: »

Illogical.

That is that persons experience.

What makes it 'illogical'?

Chippie

mmmmmm let me think about that!

Chippie

motorguy wrote: »

I love it when people quote 'big' numbers to try to show off.

Turnover impresses no-one, except the naive.

Good to see you edited out the bit about pyramid schemes and recruiting, sensible move! Glad I got a screen shot first though, it was fun trotting it out on the repairer forum!!

Chippie

motorguy wrote: »

That is that persons experience.

What makes it 'illogical'?

In my opinion, what makes the comment illogical is that he was tarring everyone with the same brush. ChipsAway is a network of hundreds of independant businesses over several countries. To have a bad experience with one operator and then say "I would'nt ever let anybody from Chipsaway do any work on my car", is naieve and totally illogical.

I took my one year old car into a local main dealer bodyshop about 10 years ago because it was nearly written of in an accident. When I got the car back (after 4 weeks!) and inspected it I listed 25 defects with the job. They then had it back for another 3 weeks to put things right and even then it wasn't right.

So using the logic of 1886, I would be posting on forums that "I wouldn't ever let anybody from a main dealer bodyshop do any work on my car"! Does that sound logical to you?

Also, if someone has done a bad job and you can demonstrate that they have, then be honest and say who they are, where they are and then state that you have no experience of others in the network. So name the franchisee concerned! Say where he is from! Prevent anyone else suffering the same poor standard of work, but don't assume all franchisees are the same. The garage I wasn't happy with was Furrows Ford in Telford, which is where the insurance company sent the car. I don't think all Ford main dealer bodyshops are bad as a result, that would be stupid.

The two key variables with SMART repairs are the skill of the operator, and the suitability of the repair.

A booth repair will generally be left with an out-of-the-gun finish, possibly with some machine compounding.

An uncontrolled environment repair will be hand-finished - cut back with fine papers, and then polished up to a mirror gloss. This removes any contamination nibs, and actually leaves a superior end result. It's only done on factory finishes on the most prestigious marques.

Hand-finishing is very labour-intensive though. It is not viable on large area repairs.

The law on completion of uncontrolled-environment repairs is also quite strict. HSE reserve their big stick for operators carrying our larger repairs out amongst the public. If a repair is full or multiple panels, or requires more than 25ml per coat, they consider it is likely to involve COSHH offences.

These two factors mean a professional outfit simply will not attempt to use localised repair techniques, in an uncontrolled environment, on larger repairs - it's a poor use of time, and unlawful. On repairs that can be sensibly hand-finished, and don't attract legal risk, an uncontrolled-environment, hand-finished repair is likely to actually have a superior finish to a gun-finish booth repair. Again, our business offers both, so I have no particular bias either way.

Those advancing the opinion that uncontrolled environment repairs are of a lower quality finish only show their ignorance of how they are completed (properly). The "Won't someone think of the dust nibs?" cry really isn't relevant when the repairs are restricted to the appropriate size. Idiot repairers attempting to repaint the side of cars outdoors, or just taking on repairs beyond their skill level do no-one in their industry any good.

As for "needing" to be applied in a controlled environment - mobile repairers just buying a cheap, bulk volume bodyshop paint system and trying to use it outdoors, yes, they are trying to use the paints outside of how they are meant to be used. There are systems in use that have been built from the ground up for uncontrolled environment use.

Those that pride themselves on professionalism and invest in quality kit, materials and personnel are only too aware of the amount of cowboy operations in mobile repairs. Claiming that professional outfits who take on the right sort of repairs for their operation don't exist is crazy, however. That's like saying that because you've never seen a tiger, they don't exist. They may be uncommon, and precious to those who have encountered them, but the fact that you haven't come across one yet is a very poor argument for their impossibility

Bad paintwork can come out of any repairer. So can good. SMART repairer or bodyshop. And a ChipsAway repair comes with a lifetime warranty underwritten by the network itself - the largest repair network worldwide. Ensuring you get a repair that stays looking pristine is a feature of the brand - unlike the vast majority of bodyshops.

I've said it before, but if someone (particularly a layperson) thinks they can really predict how people they've not met, using techniques and materials they've no training in, will perform on repairing damage that they've not seen, based on a very limited set of data given the size of the marketplace, then that's a matter for them, but it's very unlikely to persuade anyone else not similarly prejudiced.

speedysi

The only person who makes money from a franchise is the franchisor as they make up the rules and hide behind lawyers if anyone doesn't like what they say or do. Just a quick thought has anyone done this sum 29,000 multiplied by 52 equals 1.508,000 need i say any more? If franchising is so fantastic why is there no regulatory body as the BFA is purely funded by the franchise companies so they have a slightly biased opinion. Until there is proper official regulation of the franchise industry enter the world of the snakes at your own peril. I do think people should lighten up and take each others points of view without getting abusive as this a forum not a slanging match.:beer:

Trebor10

I have read this thread with some amusement.
I am an Indipendant Smart Repairer, and know Chippie from another Forum for Professional Smart Repairers. Chippie is a well respected repairer who has successfully been with the franchise originally enquired about for many years. I can give a different perspective.

I was a Chipsaway franchisee for five years , but due to my success I had inadvertantly created my own competition by my high profile as a local success story encouraging local people to try my lifestyle. By the fifth year I was surrounded by Chipsaway operators, and as the areas covered are strictly bordered, i couldnt move without tripping over other franchisees. I left and have operated as a successful independant for 10 years.

Now, when i started the only way for a layman to gain the experience and skills needed was to join a Franchise that held your hand. Nowadays there are companies who will teach you the skills and sell you the tools and products without locking you in to a district, or taking a significant percentage of your profits.

Its always a gamble setting up a business. Some people would rather take a proven business model with lots of decisions already made, or go it alone.

There are cowboys out there, but the majority of Smart Repairers are reputable operators who offer services that can be better quality, at your home or work, and yes it has to be said , due to less overheads, far cheaper than traditional bodyshops.

I spend most of my time on repeat business, repairing private cars, I also work for companies who lease cars and dont want repair bills upon their return, Retail Lorry companies, and i have a few longstanding relationships with expensive car retailers. Most Smart repairers are enthusiasts and its always nice to repair a Ferrari or as i have a reputation in the trade, some 'stars' cars and priceless racing cars.
One day it may be a Micra , the next a former England Captain's Aston DB7 , ( The reg was DB7 as well , which were his playing No. and Initials).

Its my dream job and i wished i'd done it years go , however, not everyone who tries it has the skill set, not just in doing repairs, but handling all aspects of an owner operator business. Unfortunately that contributes to a high failure rate for franchisees
Of the nine that trained on my month, only two of us were left by the end of one year, but fifteen years later we are both still going strong , albeit both as independants. Others found the painting difficult, one had an allergic reaction to chemicals, a couple couldnt get up in the morning, and some couldnt make enough to live. Considering the up front costs in my time of £36000, and ongoing fees each month the franchise route does need careful thought compared to just a training course and being st up by a Retail company, and my guess would be that if you dont have the get up and go to run a business on your own, a franchisor may not help you survive whatever the cost.

[Deleted User]

I used to pass a Chipsaway van parked up same spot on way to work every morning (obviously lived there). Now it has the guys own name on as an indie smart repairer. Either he became a great success so he set up on his own and took all his customers with him, or he couldn't afford the franchise fees anymore and is trying to scratch a living on his own.

You choose.

UsernameAlreadyExists

r.jenkins36 wrote: »

I'm thinking of investing redundancy cash into a franchise - chipsaway is one that has come up as appearing to have a good track record.

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With a signature like "SlickRic", I'd not make use of your services
Awesome thread though