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I am getting my front quarter panel replaced due to a hit and run and the tesla approved shop in Maryland is charging my insurance about $2300
View attachment 60117
I am getting my front quarter panel replaced due to a hit and run and the tesla approved shop in Maryland is charging my insurance about $2300
View attachment 60117
While I completely agree with you in spirit, Todd, show me the data that supports this? Can you show me something that demonstrates that these practices have hurt sales or have resulted in a significant number of people who can't get their autos insured? (Not anecdotal evidence...)
I think that until there is an actual slowing of sales that is directly attributable to these practices or some demonstrable evidence that people can't get insurance, the body shop gouging won't be laid to rest quickly.
There is absolutely no reason to go to a Tesla certified body for cosmetic damage (learned that when I damaged my front end in an accident). Just select a high quality shop with a good reputation among premium car owners and that has experience working with aluminum. You'll likely save a lot of money.
Structural damage is another thing altogether. For that I wouldn't go to any place but a Tesla certified shop.
All I'm saying is Tesla should nip this before it becomes a reputation.
The love of my life had a minor incident with a pole. The wheel well is scraped, and two dents on that small panel that surrounds the wheel. No door damage. To my eye, it seems pretty minor league.
I call Tesla: Who do you recommend for a body shop? I am in North Los Angeles area. I take it to their Body Shop for an estimate:
$11,000!
To my eye, the estimate is extremely padded. It includes line items like "Ensuring Battery Remains Charged" (one hour labor @ $155/hour). $2000 in parts.
So I took it to some non-Tesla recommended shops (highly recommended by local owners of Mercedes and Audis). One said they wouldn't dare work on an electric car, the other gave an estimate of: $1850. They would pound out the minor dents, and repaint like any other luxury car. But they are not approved or authorized.
My deductible is $1000.
I am considering not involving insurance to avoid the inevitable rate hike, and paying the extra $850 myself. Or I can involve insurance, take it to the recommended place, and watch my rates skyrocket. If it were anything other than very minor damage I would of course go the insurance route, that's what it's for. But it's such a stupidly small scrape and dent.
Any advice? Anyone know how much rates go up if you make a collision claim?
Can someone bring this topic, and especially Islandbayy's post, to the attention of someone high up the ladder at Tesla, preferably Elon himself? This problem requires immediate action from Tesla, before it blows up in Tesla's face. I do not know how to reach them, but maybe someone does.
Yikes, especially since that looks like a sig!
Ive had experience with the Tesla Certified shop price gouging myself. Now, some background:
I work at a Custom Body shop. We do just about anything, aluminum, carbon fiber etc... anything you can dream up. Though a bit too small to become a "Tesla Certified" Shop.
I had been hearing a lot about the gouging at these shops, so I thought I would see if it was true first hand.
I have a gouge on my back PLASTIC bumper (See attached picture). no structural damage (I've had the bumper off to install my ECO hitch, so I can verify it's just 100% cosmetic!!!).
So, basically, all that needs to be done, is my rear bumper sanded down, filled, primed and painted/blended. I have the Piano Black, so the easiest color to paint match and blend.
Now, while I work at a body shop, I have not yet had my guys fix my bumper for one reason, I don't stop driving my car long enough for it to get fixed!!!!!! (A good problem I guess...)
Anyways, for the heck of it, I stopped in a Tesla Certified shop to get a estimate for schlits and Giggles. I was in the area. First off, I will say, as some people will think due to my location, that it was Marshall Auto Body. It was NOT Marshall. They are (one of the few) HONEST shops and I would not hesitate to take my Model S to them for Certified Repairs!!! So please don't think it was them. However, due to good business practices, I will not publicly name the dis-honest shop.
So, my Plastic bumper with the zinger on it, needing a sand and repait only, no different then ANY other plastic bumper car, you'd think, say, $500-$1000 would be a decent range? No parts need replacement at all. My Estimate came in at $5,000. I did ask if that included a new factory bumper. I was told no. A new bumper would be a extra $2,000
I was quoted directly by tesla that they would sell me the unpainted plastic bumper only (as it was non structural) for around $900ish (Some variation in price). That is over a 100% increase, let alone the cost for paint. That should be a 5 hour project at most + Cure time in the paint booth.....
I was astonished!. I wish my shop was a bit bigger, get Tesla Certified, and your set for life! Can you say early retirement! Disappointing.
[EDIT] Please don't take this like I'm saying all Certified shops are bad. The one I went to for a estimate, disappointing. But like I said, guys like Marshall Auto body in Brookfield (I have no affiliation other then hearing about the service and reasonable pricing from their customers, as well as meeting them a hand full of times at events) are in the honest category.
Agreed. Another "tell" can be the fog lights, which -- if absent -- pretty much implies non-sig. I can't tell the fog lights from that picture though.it doesn't have the two piece sig-nose cone.
...if Tesla doesn't correct this now...