Platinum Elite Training: Caliber Collision Center Auto Body Shop Tour

Reserved parking for Farmers Clients.

Re-print from Why Farmers Platinum?

A part of being a good insurance agent is helping a client understand each step in a process, especially during tense times such as processing a claim. An agent knows the theory and can explain the basics, but if they can get out in the field, and see it for themselves, they can give better assurances to their client on what to expect.

On Thursday, June 9th, 2011, several Farmers Agents who are members of the Platinum Elite Team visited a Caliber Collision body shop. Caliber is one of the specialists who helps our clients restore their vehicle after an accident. The one branch in La Mesa repairs over 120 vehicles a month, many of those are clients of Farmers, or our sister companies, Foremost and 21st Century.

Susanne Romo organized the event, and agents including Joaquin Lopez, Jerry Cunningham, and their staff attended the event.

See previous blog about our relationship with Caliber Collision.

Caliber Collision Cemter,
La Mesa, Ca

We wanted to thank Matt Albright, Field Account Executive for Caliber Collision Centers, for arranging the tour and adding to our overall training. The day was very informative. We can now tell our clients what to expect from personal experience, not just "textbook" theory.

The Caliber Collision Center we visited can be found at 8310 Center Drive in La Mesa, Ca  91942.  (619) 337-8260.  Location Manager, Trevor Horton.

One of the fun thing we got to do at the end of the tour was set off an old car air bag, something you don't want to see close up.  See quick video of the detonation.

We got to examine how the air bag quickly inflates, but immediately starts to deflate (large holes in the underside) so that it cradles the face and gives with the impact. Hitting a solid air bag can be just as bad as hitting the steering wheel.

Detonated Air Bag

When a client visits a Caliber Collision Center they are greeted in a waiting room by staff to start the process.  An adjuster comes our to gather info and start the evaluation.  With access to each insurance companies' systems, they need to determine if it's better to fix the vehicle, or total it.  The vehicle then enters the workshop.

The goal is to get every job completed within the week.  The average of the center is 6 days.

Each car is carefully evaluated as to what work is needed, and parts are dismantled and carefully stored until needed again.  It's the little things that count.  In stead of the little parts being stored inside the car or trunk for safekeeping, but getting everything greasy, the parts are shelved in their own dedicated area so they are not lost or mixed up with another job's parts.

Each specialist signs off on their part of the work order at each step.  Accountability is a key since Caliber offers a lifetime guarantee of their work as long as its owned by the client.

To maintain structural integrity, instead of heating and repairing
a piece of the frame, the welds are drilled out, and the actual
 piece of the frame is replaced.  Heating the metal often weakens
 it. It would look great, but with another accident, it could crumble.

Included in this photo, Pedro Mejorado, Tony Gutierrez,
Susanne Romo, Nayeli Sainz, Joaquin Lopez, and Caliber
Regional Manager, Mike Bertino.  Photo: Kevin Tuckey

One of the final steps is to properly prep the car and re-paint the repaired bodywork.  Paint is carefully mixed to exactly match the rest of the car.  Since the rest of the car might be faded, using the factory formula wouldn't look right.

A lot of time and labor is put in to make sure paint does not get onto anything that shouldn't be painted such as the trim. This is not the quicky repaint you see advertised on TV.

You should see the inside!

In the end, sometimes dismantling most of a car and fixing it is still a less expensive option that the lazier option of just totaling it.  $10,000 to fix the car versus $18,000 to "buy a new one" helps us keep all of our clients' premium down.

"We Are Farmers!"

The Platinum Elite Team:
Susanne Romo - Chula Vista & Kearny Mesa  (lic. #: 0720743) - (858) 751-0956

Jerry Cunningham - El Cajon (lic. #: 0E61752) - (619) 938-3123

Joaquin Lopez - Oceanside (lic. #: 0G16853) - (760) 433-4214 

Araceli De La Torre - Kearny Mesa (lic. #: 0G17321) - (858) 751-0956

Tony Gutierrez - La Jolla (lic. #: 0A87116) - (858) 751-0956

Kevin Tuckey - Mission Valley (lic. #: 0B72553) - (858) 751-1357

Farmers Insurance Building,
San Diego, CA

The Platinum Elite Headquarters can be found in the Farmers Insurance Building at:

1011 Camino del Rio South
Suite 100
San Diego, CA  92108

Platinum Elite Headquarters can be reached at:

(619) 296-FARMERS
(619) 296-3276

Farmers Insurance & The Platinum Elite use an investigative and educational process to ascertain your current risk exposure and deliver to you through our 'Value Insurance Proposal' (VIP) the correct levels of coverage at the right price without compromising vital coverages. You need to protect your family and the assets you have spent a lifetime acquiring.

With Farmers Insurance & The Platinum Elite, there is a difference. Visit our website at farmersplatinumelite.com and discover:

Why Farmers Platinum!

* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarilly an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.