Nothing like the feeling of anger and dread when your car gets broken into. You're pissed, you wonder what was swiped, and you're left with a missing window and a mess to clean up. It's a great time to be an auto glass shop owner these days with all the break-ins happening in the Bay. It's sad and sucks, but the new reality is that many of us will be victims one day.
I had the pleasure of having my front passenger window smashed recently - this was my first break-in ever. I knew my deductible was high and glass is relatively cheap, so I knew I was going out of pocket for this. Being the cheap-ass that I am (especially feeling a bit sour having been the victim of a likely smash and grab crime ring), I called up 5 or 6 decently rated auto glass shops in my area to get price quotes. I was a little confused when I called Save Autoglass as it sounded like they were not inside a shop - outdoors and/or driving. Realized they're a mobile service and after a few more calls with other shops, turns out they were also the cheapest! It gave me some sense of solace after a crappy event that I found an affordable place plus the bonus convenience of them coming to me. If anyone is curious - the highest priced shop quoted me $95 more than Save Autoglass.
I made an appointment for the same day - they gave me a 2 hour time window. While I wasn't present for the service, they arrived on time. Omar and another guy came to help. They helped vacuum up the glass around the car and replaced my window - all in about 30 minutes. They do need to remove your inside door panel (assuming side window replacement), so I'd recommend cleaning out anything from the door. When I came home to check the window - it worked just fine. Tested it and no screeching (something I was a little worried about). They do offer a lifetime labor guarantee.
Save Autoglass is a budget friendly, no frills types of service and they work quick. I'll likely use them again the next time I need service (hopefully I won't!).
Tips:
-Even though these auto glass shops will do a rough clean up of the glass, you definitely want to do your own detailed cleaning (or take to a pro). A smashed window will spit shards/micro-shards of glass everywhere and takes time to thoroughly clean. After my incident, I spent almost 2 hours just picking up the larger leftover shards, wiping down the surface, and then vacuuming my car thoroughly. Even after my detailed clean, I managed to prick my finger on a tiny pebble sized piece of glass days later. You'll likely find bits and pieces of glass every now and then. Be careful.
-If you're not in a rush to replace the window, you might want to look into buying an original/OEM window and then paying the labor for the install (or DIY). I checked eBay and found a used OEM window for $30 shipped. Reason for this is that some aftermarket replacements will be different in thickness/quality. Since you can often get a used original/genuine window for cheap - it might be good for the car in the long run. That said, it might not be worth the hassle for most people. read more