This forces customers to drive for a longer period of time with a damaged window, which potentially poses safety risks.
In the car world, a small star in the car window is often a topic of discussion. It seems like a minimal problem, but it can develop into quite a complication, especially during the cold winter months. This phenomenon, caused by temperature differences in the glass surface, can lead to cracking of the star, a situation that many motorists prefer to avoid.
It is common knowledge that the windscreen accounts for as much as 30% of the strength of a car's body. Although a crack or crack in the windshield does not immediately lead to disintegration of the glass, thanks to a special film that prevents shattering, the integrity of the window is fundamentally compromised. The quality, bonding and installation of the window are crucial for safety. This brings us to another important aspect: service and waiting times for repairs.
Companies like Carglass en Autotaalglas often offer a fast service, but this is not always the case with leasing companies that impose restrictions. For example, BMW leasing does not allow visitors to visit an alternative company for windscreen replacement, which means that customers end up at dealers such as Van Laarhoven in Eindhoven. The waiting time there can be up to a month. In the meantime, motorists continue to drive around with a damaged window, which does not improve safety.
Even when customers drop off their cars for repairs in the morning, they are often faced with delays and inefficiencies. For example, at the end of the afternoon, when customers come to pick up their car, they are told that the repairs have yet to begin. This results in extra waiting time after gluing the windscreen, which does not improve customer satisfaction.
Modern cars with advanced technologies such as cameras require accurate calibration after windshield replacement. Although replacing a windscreen generally takes no more than two hours, good planning is essential to avoid customer disappointment. However, this proves to be a challenge for some dealers, including Van Laarhoven. Customers who return their car in the morning are often only informed of further delays at the end of the afternoon.
Another aspect of this issue is the relationship between the leasing company, the insurer and the customer. Although damage is often covered by insurance, the leasing company, as the owner of the vehicle, has the final say in its handling. This sometimes leads to longer waiting times, because the dealer works with original parts. This argument is often used to make customers wait a month for damage repairs. It is interesting that the quality of after market windscreens, which often do not bear a brand logo, is not inferior to that of original car windows. After all, these are produced according to the same strict European quality standards, in the same factories.
An additional problem when replacing the windscreen are the environmental stickers. If the windscreen needs to be replaced, these stickers and vignettes, which can only be used once due to a special adhesive layer, are no longer valid. This requires the purchase of new vignettes, a rule that has no exceptions, even in the case of window replacement. Although some insurance companies will cover the costs of this, this is not always the case and motorists should check with their insurer.
Finally, an asterisk in the car window can turn into a complex issue, both technically and administratively. While motorist safety should be paramount, current practices sometimes lead to unnecessary delays and complications. The issues outlined indicate a need for improved customer service, more efficient scheduling and greater flexibility in repair options.
