So, my window got smashed

[MegaBob]

Yeah, last night went to my mate's house and when I came back outside to drive home, I found my driver's side rear window smashed to pieces. Nothing was taken from the car, so I surmise that some ****** were bored and decided to annoy someone for the night. I got most of my cursing out the way last night while I was driving slowly home and hearing more and more glass fall from the frame with every bump and brake. Anyway, I have full comp insurance on my car and I was quoted $580 for a new a window as well as $108 for the labour to install said window. My insurance excess is $400 too.

I was talking to the old man and he said my best bet is to just get to a wreckers and get a window from them and hopefully they'll be able to install it too, at worst I could install it, which hopefully would be cheaper. What does everyone here think I should do?

[Dave_Obsession]

I agree with your father - check out some wreckers and I'm sure you'll be able to grab a window - even if you pay to have it installed!

Not sure how much for a 'used' window but it wouldn't be anywhere near $580!!

[ronwest]

Shop around you'll get a whole door for $50

[GTsteveMkII]

Yeah definitely buy a window from a wreckers or out of the paper. It will save you a heap of money. $580 is just ridiculous!!

[MegaBob]

Good thing I have a sounding board to talk about all this. I just assumed insurance was the way to go. Bugger that.

Rang up a wreckers and the bloke wanted $40.

Now getting the window in, that'll be something to enjoy.

[poppa smurf]

ah! a good end to another mongrel story.....sounds like they were thinking of pinching your car as that is thee window that is usually busted in order to gain access

insurance is a huge rort....they know the most common damage is usually under your excess in an order to dissuade you from making a claim!

[MegaBob]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

sounds like they were thinking of pinching your car as that is thee window that is usually busted in order to gain access

*****, that's nice and terrifying. I hate people sometimes, everyone here notwithstanding, of course.

[brownieXR8]

maybe look at getting optional glass cover on your insurance. I think it cost about $60 for the year on my policy and gives a nil excess for glass replacement.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by MegaBob

Jesus Christ, that's nice and terrifying. I hate people sometimes, everyone here notwithstanding, of course.

yeah! look theres some horrible folks out there that really don't deserve the privileges that society bestows upon them

we got half a dozen ferals that live up the road, I say "live" in that they are the latest round of tenants in that particular house..never worked a day in their life, dirty scruffy plunkers

they are currently loading an old holden ute onto a trailer, road half blocked off, snotty nosed kids everywhere...

cant or won't get a job but will buggerise around with old wrecks all day long

[MegaBob]

Talk about your silver linings. Went to the wreckers and found a beat up Series I Fairmont in liquid silver, just like my Forte.

Picked up the window for $35 (not sure if I'm game enough to do it myself, we'll see how bored I get today) and also managed to get the Intech badges for $10 for the pair and the colour coded side strips for $20, which later turned out to be free because I gave the guy my old standard hubcaps in return.

I'm actually quite happy, to be honest.

[falzoony]

Originally Posted by MegaBob

Talk about your silver linings..

[MegaBob]

Originally Posted by falzoony

Don't think for a second I'm not annoyingly proud of myself for that one.

[falzoony]

You've got a good lame-pun teacher.

[rowan194]

For future reference, and this applies to any car, bear in mind that if you make a "no other known party" claim, you pay your excess and get it fixed, but they may also raise your premiums the next year, and possibly permanently.

So if the cost to fix is close to your excess, even a hundred or two over, it may be worth fixing it privately rather than going through insurance.

Another thing to remember is that repairers will often give you a significant discount for a cash/non insurance job. Once insurance is involved they'll jack up the price.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by MegaBob

Don't think for a second I'm not annoyingly proud of myself for that one.

justifiably so I would think....a fine outcome!