update/ sad day, estimate for repair Options

[oldschool]

so the insurance gal came by today, took some photos, mileage,dent,vin and all 4 corners, went to her car and came back with a printed sheet....preliminary estimate
total $5219.96

she said that they will total it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

parts.12.8 hrs @ 32.hr $4214.53
body labor 2.6 hrs @32.hr $409.60
paint labor 2.0 hrs @32.hr $83.20
frame labor 2.o hrs @38. $76.
paint supplies 2.6 hrs @24.hr $62.40

[aircooledtechguy]

Do not take their "offer" PERIOD. Stand firm and get an appraisal or two of your own. If possible get an appraisal of the car based on the condition PRIOR to the accident. Here's a brief first-hand experience of mine.. .

A client of mine comes in and shows me photos of their burning '84 Westfalia. It was the most perfect Westy that ever stopped by my shop before the fire. Their insurance company (who will remain un-named but starts with Pem and ends with co (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) ) offered them $3200 for the total loss. They asked me to write a short letter describing the condition of the Westy prior to the fire. I did and went on line to get real world replacement costs for another similar Westy and found that they would have to pay upwards of $12K-$14K+ just to get another one similar to theirs. I wrote the letter in my shop letterhead and signed it. They showed this to the insurance company and was offered $12.5K. That was reasonable and so they took it. They bought another one and are now back on the road again.

The lesson here is: Do do your homework and stand firm on what you know it will actually cost you. They will try and intimidate you and low-ball you; it's their job , it's nothing personal. They are counting on you to NOT do your homework and to take their word on things since they're, "in the business". Their only business is to save themselves money and make you go away as soon as possible.