Windscreen replacement experiences
Submitted: Monday, Aug 25, 2008 at 22:10
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Vivid Adventures
Seems like the Irish Windscreen company - Windscreens O'Flaherty is going to be broke soon.
My insurer QBE kindly replaces my windscreens regularly under my policy and use the Irish mob.
The two most recent times the replacement windscreen has leaked and the Irish have had to come back twice to fix it (ie. the first time they didn't fix it).
The last time it leaked yet again, and they requested I take the vehicle in to them for half a day and they did manage to fix it. They did have to pay to have the interior detailed because of the
water damage and they did have to toss the replacement windscreen and put in a new one. They had to have lost money on that insurance claim!
Further, the previous windscreen broke with a complex star fracture but on the inside laminate - not the outside! The stone was down low and had gone right through the screen, but it all did seem strange.
So, they are using non-OEM windscreens - perhaps not the proper shape, so hard to get a good seal, and perhaps even not of the same construction as the original.
If anyone else has had similar experience I'd be interested to hear...
Cheers
Andrew.
Reply By: Dave B (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 00:04
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 00:04
I think all windsceen come from China now.
Dave
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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 00:07
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 00:07
I rang them once and the call centre said $340- for a Troopy screen fitted.
I said forget it had a better quote, 15 mins latter the local branch manager rings me and says he can do it for $160- does that beat the other quote?
Yep by $20- so come and do it.
The windscreen man arrives and during the discussion says the call centre won't deal but the local branch can, hence the return call.
He said never pay the call centre quote as thats what the insurers and those that don't
shop around pay.
A little latter he tells me the screens are imported from China by the container load and cost them about $20- each landed.
So don't lose sleep over the return visit, they still made a $hit load out of you.
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Reply By: Member - extfilm (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:42
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:42
Hi Andrew,
I did have the same problem but didn't realise until maybe a year later..... Did not have any decent rain until just before I needed to put a new windscreen in. No dramas for me though as all it took was open the windows for a few days then wipe down the excess
water of the plush vinal.
Peter
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Vivid Adventures - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 13:40
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 13:40
I was sick of them not being able to
water test it - a hose run on the windscreen and it was pooring inside!
But yes - wet carpet stinks, particularly when loaded up with dust from 300,000km of Australian bulldust.
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Reply By: Member No 1- Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:44
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:44
is Obrien Irish?
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Follow Up By: Member No 1- Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:47
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:47
forgot to ad
i had a new screen fitted to an 80 series some years ago....it leaked, and trim was never cirrect even after they had a second at fitting after they fixed leak..maybe your right as to not exactly same shape
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Follow Up By: Member No 1- Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:49
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:49
correct that should be...and put Try after second
bloody typing is horrible this morning
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Follow Up By: Vivid Adventures - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:50
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 07:50
Sorry for the confusion - O'Brien might be Irish too.
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Reply By: Ozboc - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 08:47
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 08:47
I had one replaced recently ( via insurance) was the same mob you mentioned -- had no drama at all .....
the only issue that did arise was the installer winging and carrying on about having to take the
snorkel off to get the screen in and out ..... .. Oh the fact its lifted also and he was only about 5 foot 5
Boc
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Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 08:50
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 08:50
I had a problem with leaking windscreen in my old 80 series
Check out this link
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Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 08:53
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 08:53
I just had my front GU Patrol screen replace By
Sydney windscreens... $230 and they came to my work. Great job and cheap.. They must be buying the screens for less than $50 to do it for that price.. Michael
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Reply By: Louie the fly (SA) - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 13:33
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 13:33
isn't Windscreens O'Flaherty run by the McCrackin brothers, Phil & Roger?
I had a small problem with them. They came to my work to replace the front screen in my GQ patrol some years ago. Left the roof trim hanging out from the seal behind the mirror. I rang them back when I noticed it only to have the guy say "thats common, its really hard to get to because of the mirror". My reply to him was "what a load of bullsh*t". I fixed it myself in 10 minutes - took the mirror off, only to realise after that I probably didn't need to.
Mind you, it never leaked and they left the car neat and tidy. They may be made by Pilkinton or someone like that offshore in Asia.
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Follow Up By: Vivid Adventures - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 13:42
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 13:42
I think inadequate culture of quality amongst their installers is part of the issue.
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Follow Up By: Louie the fly (SA) - Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 17:08
Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 17:08
I hear what you're saying. I have a constant battle with some guys regarding the quality of their approach to their job, not necessarily the finished product. I think this is one of our biggest problems as a manufacturing nation - a lot of people just don't give a stuff. They go to work, do what they gotta do (just), say "that'll do" and go home. There doesn't seem to be much pride in the way they go about it. Thats a cultural thing. And we sling off at other countries. I'm currently doing a skills audit at work. Some guys have said "what does my ability to keep my work area tidy have to do my ability to do the job?" Err dah, think about it!
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Reply By: gav99x - Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 at 10:30
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 at 10:30
Yep have had exactly the same experience through NRMA. They also use O'briens, took them 3 goes to get the seal right on my Jackaroo, the last involved me taking it into them for 3 hours.
Rough as guts getting the old one out too I might add.
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