Auto Glass in Chili NY – A Brief History

Ray Sands Glass has been an enthusiastic member of the Rochester community for almost as long as anyone can remember.  Though the shop came from meager beginnings,  we have been fortunate to be able to build up our business with the support of the community we love.

Ray Sands began the company in the late 1940’s when he bought one of the first homes after the war and began auto glass work out of an old converted school bus which he parked next to his home near the Chili/Rochester border.   By 1961 Ray Sands was able to build the first auto glass shop at 3320 Chili Ave which was a simple one door garage that was two cars deep.

Insured Are “In Good Hands”

It seems lately that about half the TV commercials and print ads are encouraging us to change our insurance company.   Most are familiar with the idea that we can compare prices from many different providers online or over the phone.  But many times the difference is really only a few dollars…annually.  How is one to know exactly what they will be getting when filing a claim.

As an auto repair company that works with insurance companies on a daily basis, we have gained some insight into how each provider treats their customers and the repair shops that do the work.  While there are a few that stand out among the crowd, one has made some recent changes that make the claims process and repairs easier on the customer.

Saving Big by Spending Smart

It is a sentiment echoed across the auto repair industry that proper care and maintenance of each part of the vehicle can extend the life of the parts and save money in the long run.  By taking care of necessary small repairs and maintenance promptly you can save on replacement of a more extensively damaged part.

This certainly applies to windshield repair, since small chips can turn into huge cracks quickly they need to be taken care of immediately.  The difference in cost between repair and replacement is considerable, especially to those in the Rochester, NY area who can come in for our free windshield repair.  For a donation of pet supplies, as little as five pounds of cat or dog food, Ray Sands Glass will repair damage to your windshield before you need a costly replacement.

Some people try to save on bargain gasoline or oil changes which is sometimes a good idea but car owners have to be smart about their choices.   Gasoline at outlet prices can be a big savings to those who commute a lot, but we would advise that every third tank should be high quality gas to “treat the car”.   When it comes to oil changes it would be wise to save by doing it yourself with high quality oil, rather than going to a shop for standard oil.  Unless you are working with a vehicle with very high mileage, it is best to use higher quality fluids to extend the life of the car.

When considering frequently replaced parts, like windshield wipers, you have to consider the life of the part.  One pair of more expensive “banana style” wipers per year is probably cheaper than three pair of the bargain brand which wear out much faster.  If you don’t have money at the moment, using less costly products won’t hurt – but it may cost more in the long run.

Choosing an Insurer, The Shop’s Point of View

Auto Insurance is big business, and now more than ever consumers are doing some serious shopping around when it comes to choosing an insurance company.  One thing that everyone is looking for is polite and courteous treatment by the company’s agents.   All companies are at their best when you’re calling around to shop for rates, but what will happen when you have a problem?  The best place to ask this question is at your local auto repair shop, since no other group of  people spend more time dealing with insurance companies and filing claims.

Saving with Windshield Repair

We came across this article from the Sammamish Reporter that echoes the sentiments of the auto glass community regarding the importance of prompt repair of chips and nicks in you auto glass.  Thousands of windshields are replaced nationwide every year that should never have needed it.  Which means that not only are consumers spending money that they don’t need to spend, but tons of non-recyclable glass is being unnecessarily thrown into landfills.

There used to be a time when the only thing to do was to either ignore them or replace the whole windshield, an expensive undertaking which can set you back $300 to $400.

Dick Walker, owner of Eastside Mobile Auto Glass, said that he had seen quite a few people bring their cars in over the past few weeks to have their windshields repaired, before they needed replacing.

“It makes a lot of sense,” Walker said. “If you get the chip while it is still small, we can repair it before it spreads and cracks. A repair job costs about $40, but if you wait and the windshield needs repairing, then it will cost hundreds.”

Walker, who has been in business for 29 years and in Issaquah for 18, says that this time of year, a lot of the cracks start to grow.

It’s the warmer weather – the glass starts to slowly expand and the cracks that were made in the winter put strain and stress on the windshield.

The good news for motorists is that most insurance companies will pay for a windshield repair.

“A lot of them will even waive the deductible,” said Walker.

And if you are in the Rochester, NY area, repair is FREE with a small donation of pet supplies to help support our community animal shelters.  As little a five pounds of cat or dog food could save you a windshield replacement a few months down the line.

Even for those non-New York-ers the cost, time and materials saved should be a big enough motivator to get you down to your local NGA Certified glass shop for a quick easy and painless repair to your chipped windshield

Removing Tough Stuff From Your Glass

Got stickers on your mirror or windows?  Old bumper stickers on the rear windshield or side windows?  Ten year old tape on the kid’s windows?

When adhesives and tough gunk gets stuck on glass, people can do some serious damage trying to remove it.  We hate to see that red faced customer who tried to remove bugs from the windshield with steel wool or took a sticker off a window with an old razor.  We know that paying for replacement glass can be all the more painful when you have no one to blame but yourself.

NY State Police Now Required to Note Cell Phone Use

As all New Yorkers know, it is illegal state wide to use your phone while driving, except for hands free devices.  But yesterday NY State Senate passed a law requiring all police to note whether a cell phone was in use at the time of the accident.  The intention of this law is to allow the state to collect data on the dangers of cell phone use while driving, but it may end up making a difference in the liability of drivers in accidents.

Replacing Antique and Classic Car Auto Glass

With the sun showing it’s face, many classic car enthusiasts are rushing to get their most precious antique in mint condition before spring arrives.  Often though, owners have damaged glass that is keeping their fine specimen of an automobile from looking it’s best.

Any number of things can go wrong when you are talking about glass that is 40,60 sometimes 80 years old.  Some of these cars have been through a dozen owners and inevitably someone along the line has scratched the glass.  From body work accidents to old belt moldings to someone cleaning it with steel wool, rarely does a car make it five decades without glass damage.  Sometimes age can even cause the glass to delaminate, where the inner and outer layers of glass separate from the polyvinyl laminate layer that holds them together, which is quite unsightly.

Ray Sands Glass is the People’s Choice – For the 7th Year

Our local Rochester newspaper, the Democrat and Chronicle, runs a poll every year to get reader’s opinions on their favorite local businesses.  And we are proud to announce that Ray Sands Glass has won the People’s Choice Award for the 7th consecutive year.

It is really an honor for our shop to be chosen by our community as the favorite glass shop, year after year.  Even more so, because it isn’t a ballot style poll, businesses are written in by the readers – a true people’s choice.

The Democrat and Chronicle goes to great lengths to ensure the integrity of the contest.  Since the first year, when they were overwhelmed with ballots, they have hired a independent specialty company to handle the balloting process and monitor for dishonest practices for which businesses can be disqualified.

With over 30,000 ballots turned in this year, it’s great to know that Rochester appreciates Ray Sands Glass, as much as we appreciate all the loyal and friendly customers in our community.

Thank You Rochester!

http://democratandchronicle.com/ads/choice/2007/categorized.html

Winter Application of Aquapel Rain and Ice Repellent

We already know that Aquapel makes it a lot easier to remove ice and snow from your windshield.  But PPG, the makers of Aquapel, specifically requires that this product be applied between the temperatures of 50 and 80F.  Which for most of us northerners means that unless you applied Aquapel in September, you’re out of luck now.  But just leave it to our customers to get creative and find a way to get things done.

We should start out by saying that 50F degrees is a rather conservative number,  as long as the air temp is a safe distance from freezing you shouldn’t have a problem.  But even with a somewhat warm (for New Yorkers) air temperature, you still have to make sure that the glass to which you are applying the product is warm enough.

Usually this can be accomplished by turning on the car and running the defroster for a few minutes.  But our customers have shared some very interesting methods for achieving this result.  We have heard of some folks using the hair dryer to warm the outside of the glass while the defroster runs inside.  One customer even applied Aquapel to his car in sub-freezing temperatures by putting the car in the garage and laying an electric blanket over the windows.

While we can’t say we officially recommend these methods, they are  a great example of creativity in the face of adverse conditions.  So fear not, Aquapel fans!  You don’t have to put that application up until next year,  just be prepared to pounce when conditions are right.