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Article: At the bump shop, it's a hard-knock life; After an accident, more drivers choose the insurance company's check instead of the repair.(NEWS)
- Article from:
- Automotive News
- Article date:
- November 2, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Rick Kranz
The bump shop business is facing hard times.
Just ask dealer John Hine. A little over 18 months ago, Hine's collision repair center in San Diego was turning 75 percent of its repair estimates into business. But in the first nine months of this year, business at the collision center was down about $81,000 per month, or 19 percent. Only about 45 percent of the estimates are turning into actual business.
"They are cashing out, says Hine. "It is huge.
That is, many car owners are skipping repair work and taking the insurance company's check for the damage instead. Blame the recession.
Hine's dealership is ...