Hi
I almost had a heart attack today when I was quoted $448 by O'Briens to replace a smashed rear quarter panel on my TP Magna 1990 Exec.

Please please please, does anyone know of a place in the Newcastle area where i can get this done alot cheaper? When I said to the girl at O'Briens that was too expensive for what it is, she said, its because we provide quality work and that piece of glass is very specialised. Thats all bull sh%^&*( to me because a piece of glass for a car is just a piece of glass and they would have had to have made spares.
Please help.
Thanks
Doogs

I forgot to mention in my thread that O'Briens did not even have the part in stock in Newcastle and it had to be ordered from Sydney. So much for their great advertising that espouses to provide fast, efficient and affordable service to desperate people, false and misleading claims in advertising suck!!!!!!!never beleive the ads, they are all bulldust!!!!
Doogs

Hang on.

You're talking rear quater window glass?

They cost bugger all from a wreckers, and if you aren't comfortable doing the work yourself (which for these is rather easy) then find some nice mechanic to do it, maybe charge 1.5hrs work, should only take them 45mins max.

I am unsure of Newcastle particularly, but a general open yard wreckers would have one, probably cost $50 max, realistically $30.

I happen to have a few in surplus as I keep seconds of all glass on hand for such emergencies, however I do not trust Auspost.

As above, from wreckers are very cheap to purchase.

From a new source then is over $200, O'brian can not control the cost of the bit of glass an NO it is not just a bit of glass, it is toughened glass, etched etc and I am surprised that a new window for this can even be located given the age of the car

Get yourself to a wrecker, cut out one, get some Urythane sealant and put it back in yourself, is not very hard given the size of the bit

I don't see the problem with them having to get it from Sydney. It's not realistic to expect them to stock every piece of glass ever installed in a car that was sold in Australia in every city that they have a workshop. And it's not like they can just cut out a piece of glass because even a TP Magna has complex curves in the glass.

Windscreens are more common to replace than a piece of side glass so that would drive the price of the side glass up.

. . . she said, its because we provide quality work and that piece of glass is very specialised.

The little girls behind the counter are coached to say this. In fact, I think this company caters for insurance jobs exclusively where the actual cost doesn't matter too much.
Check around, there are plenty of cheaper places.

Thanks Madmagna, but I think even you would agree that a 200% + markup by Obriens is excessive and unwarranted as you say its easy job for an amateur, how mush easier then for a professional like Obriens. i wont be going near them again. I have got my mechanic onto it today, just waiting to hear back.
Cheers
Doogs

To do the job properly, you virtually have to remove all internals of the door.

This includes taking off trim, removing large piece glass, removing frame slider removing glass, removing glass from the rubber triangle ring which holds it in, no urethane required, then re-assemble.

As said, all in all a 45 mins job if you know how to attack it in the fastest way.
The cost of the glass would be as mentioned due to not a common piece, therefore they can add to the cost to make it, in the end it's a one off that someone has to make in order to fulfil demand of 1 customer.

They could charge double that and still warrant it, in the end, it's factor of cost to an old car which not many people have parts replaced on.
A front windscreen is cheaper due to size of glass, different type of glass used (actually depends sometimes) and ultimately is a much easier and quicker job, as it's typically the same for majority of cars.

In the end, you're better off grabbing a gregories and learning, it is a much cheaper alternative...

sucky but true.

Update: Purchased a replacement part from locla wreckers today for $22.00aud. Now just have to get my mechanic on to it. Thanks everyone for your advice and help.
Doogs