The vast majority of the St Louis and surrounding area got hit by hail storms Saturday. I was at a Schnucks grocery store when one of the storm hit here - pretty much golf ball size hail stones. My 92 Escort has a little more damage now, including a shattered hatchback glass. I know the office will be inundated with phone calls Monday, and probably 1 to 3 days following.

I priced replacing the hatchback glass, as best as I could on a Sunday - $385 to $400+. I'm hoping I can get that done for under $300. I called a local salvage yard that's open 24/7 to see if they might have any matching hatchbacks on their lot. The guy that answered the phone said, "Well, you'll have to come and look. We got hit by the same hail storm that you did, so I don't know what kind of shape they might be in." He said that, if they have one, they'll take $80 for it.

Inside the Schnucks grocery store, it sounded like a full construction crew of 50 was pounding the metal roof with sledge hammers, and the electronic checkout registers ceased processing debit cards - For some reason, they continued to process credit cards, albeit at a pretty slow processing time.

I went on to celebrate the birthdays of the children of 2 friends at another friend's home. Both of their vehicles were hit pretty badly by hail. I told them that I would submit reports to their insurer Monday. While we were at the mutual friends' home, storm alam sirens went off at nearby Scott AFB on 3 occasions and local news channels carried a tornado warning for the area throughout the time that I was there - not particularly uncommon for the area this time of year.

I brought a gallon barrel of Heineken beer to the party, along with some vodka, cranberry juice, lemons, celery, lemon pepper, celery salt, clamato juice and 4 melons, and split the barrel of beer with 2 retired military veterans, while we kept an eye on the weather. ~ ~ The food, including a whole roasted pig, was great, the companion and friendships even better.

Bob

My windshield got broken by a foul ball at a minor league baseball game last year. Called insurance agent. He recommended a repair shop. Shop ordered glass, and came out to replace windshield in my driveway. This is under comprehensive. I paid only deductible. Cost was abt $300 total I think.

Insurance companies know who fixes stuff at fair prices and acceptable quality. And usually they have direct bill arrangement with some shops. No hassles scheduling visit by adjuster, etc, or worries about charges over insurance coverage.

The 92 Escort isn't worth carrying Comprehensive coverage on, so the replacement will be out of my pocket. I found a used hatchback glass this morning for $100 and a glass shop told me they will install it for $100, so not too bad.

Bob

But I still hope you took that insurance advice to heart, Bob.

GeeB, (:-P)

But I still hope you took that insurance advice to heart, Bob.

GeeB, (:-P)

LOL - Paul got it right though.

The hatchback glass is back in... Yeah!! ~ ~

The used heated hatchback glass cost $107.35, including Illinois Sales Tax. I got it from a salvage yard that has been in business pretty much exactly as long as our insurance agency has. They didn't have one in their inventory, but got one in good condition for me the next day, safely boxed with bubble wrapping. There's a sign on their door that reads, "Do not bring parts into the building." The place is immaculate. Their parts locator service is very decent and saves time and frustration. Their employees are professional and courteous. (It's a good idea to get the name of the employee you speak with and an order number.) Their prices are reasonable. Their facilities are pretty impressive: http://www.bautoparts.net/facilities.html I will continue to buy parts from them with confidence, when/as needed.

A glass shop located 2 blocks from my Father's former primary business location, until he retired around 20 years ago, put it in for me for $100. I thought it was a very fair price and they did a very good job. They cautioned me not to drive the car with the windows rolled down for a day so, to give the glue time to setup. We reminisced, a bit, about D.O.D. (Dear Old Dad), "Mr. Charlie", now deceased, when I picked the car up. I took some of their business cards with me for our insureds' convenience.

Anyway, I was quoted prices that ranged from $385 to over $1100 to install a new, heated hatchback glass. 1 salvage yard told me they *might* have a complete hatchback door for $85, if it wasn't also damaged by the same hail storm - It would have been up to me to search their lot and remove 2 hatchback doors (mine and the donor) and install the donor, and *maybe* have to paint it. I was hoping to get the glass only replaced for under $300. $207.35 was a pretty good deal, I think, and I am very satisfied with the quality of the part and the workmanship - I'm a happy camper.

Had I carried Comprehensive/Other than Collision coverage on the car, besides being nuts to do so on a 1992 Ford Escort beater, even though it runs well and has been well maintained, I probably would have carried a $500 deductible, and not opted for a $0 glass deductible... so I would have been in the same position, and paid insurance premiums, essentually for being in the same position. To me, Insurance is a matter off insuring against losses that will upset one's applecart and take a long amount of one's lifetime to recover from - $207.35 doesn't qualify as an insurable loss, to me.

FWIW,

Bob