Auto break-ins are among the most common crime during the Holiday season.  With most of us heading to the mall on our annual shopping extravaganza, our minds are focused on the perfect gift or what new recipes we are going to try.   We start early in the morning to shop a little and then head to our car, to unload our packages just to head out again.   Unbeknown to most of us, someone is watching for an easy opportunity to break into our cars.

There are several things you can do to make yourself less of a target. Keep packages out of view by placing them in the trunk or under your seats, remove electronics such as radar detectors or GPS from your dash and store in the trunk or under your seats, park in well lite parking spaces as close to the building as possible, lock your doors and keep your windows rolled up. If you do experience an Auto Break-in Charlotte, NC or any other large city do not panic. Stay claim; get a fast and courteous Deals Glass Auto Quote to get your glass fixed and back on your way to more shopping.

Most cell phone customers use smart phones now and have their phone with them when a window gets broken. To make it easier to get help and get you back on the road, Deals Glass Service and Kimble Glass Service has a new mobile website. The website is easily visible on Blackberry, Android and IPhone mobile devices. You can easily access quote forms for automobile glass as well as residential glass. There are contact numbers which are “click to call” capable making it possible to click the number, which automatically dials the number for you!

The websites can be found at m.dealsglassservice.com and m.kimbleglassservice.com which are easy to remember since the “m” stands for mobile. It makes for an easily viewable, one stop shop website in time of need. Make sure to place the website address in your favorites or bookmark it in your phone so when needed it is very easy to find. Deals Glass Service and Kimble Glass Service both have mobile windshield repair and replacement services.

In your automobile the risk of a broken window or windshield is much greater, especially in the case of an accident. When the automobile is in motion there is a much greater possibility the broken glass will strike the driver or a passenger.  This is why passenger automobile windows are constructed using tempered glass.  Tempered glass has been heat treated in such a way that the structure of the glass is changed, so when broken, it shatters into tiny little cubes.  These smaller pieces are less likely to slice or cut the automobile’s occupants.

The front windshield of an automobile has a totally different type glass.  It is called laminated glass, which are two sheets of glass with a film of plastic in between them.  This is one of the safest types of glass to use when there is a possibility of flying objects such as rocks or other road debris hitting it. The laminated glass is much less likely to shatter or break into pieces because the plastic inner liner holds the glass together.  When struck with an object such as a rock, the laminated glass may break, but the damage will be confined in a much smaller area. If the windshield is attended to soon after damage, it can often be repaired without having to replace the entire windshield.  Even a small break can expand, so if you do get one, do not hesitate to contact a professional for an auto glass repair quote.  The sooner you get it fixed, the less damage there will be to fix.

PGW has promised to provide 260 jobs once the Elkin plant is fully operational in 2014, and at an average wage 17% higher than the current Surry County average.  The glass producer also agreed to invest $85 million in machinery, equipment and personal property at the new NC plant.   All of this comes with heavy local incentives for the glass manufacturing company, including a $1-per -year lease on the the county owned building.

Brett Willis covered Governor Bev Perdue’s visit to the new facility for the Mt Airy News and describes PGW’s reasons for chosing this region for it’s new operations:

In her announcement, (NC Gov.) Perdue said that PGW was initially attracted to Surry County because of its existing high-skilled workforce, quality of life and well-maintained infrastructure.

Pittsburgh Glass Works Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James D. Wiggins said that his company chose Elkin as the location of its new branch after considering 88 properties in four states.

PPG  (later PGW), has been known as provider of top quality glass products since it’s founding in the late 19th century – and has producing automobile glass since the beginning of automobiles.  As a PGW Prostar glass installer, Deals Glass Services couldn’t be more proud to see this longstanding maker of premium glass products expand their workforce in the lovely state of North Carolina!

But remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true – a saying that often applies to these situations.  These bold auto glass sales tactics vary from approaching drivers at car washes and gas stations, to aggressive telemarketing to actually damaging windshields, then approaching owners at home or work about replacement.  Their work practices also range from the completely above board to down and dirty – some lie to insurance companies about everything from the quality of glass to the location where the repair was done.  (They have even been known to spam perfectly good auto glass blogs!)

The worst of the worst work in teams: one repairman does the work, then another comes by and approaches the same driver, stating that the work is of inferior quality and needs to be re-replaced.   When these charlatans convince drivers to sign off on this work they are securing one’s complicity in defrauding their own insurance company.  And usually the car owners still find themselves with cheap glass and bad installation – and maybe slightly higher insurance premiums.

So drivers beware!  If you weren’t seeking out a service for you car, don’t trust a stranger who approaches you to tell you what they can do for your automobile.  An auto glass replacement company with a good reputation doesn’t need to be aggressive to make it in this business!

For more recent news about the problem with windshield bullies check out these articles at MSNBC’s Red Tape Chronicles and The Consumerist.

For over 50 years Deals has been dedicated to providing excellent service to the Piedmont area, and we anticipate that our new website will further advance our goal.  With the hopes of making windshield replacement and auto glass repair more easily accessible, we have straightforward contact buttons on each page as well as phone contact information for those who want to speak with a knowledgeable professional immediately.

At Deals’ new site, you can also access information that explains the value of OEM glass and trained, certified auto glass technicians, and why a PGW ProStars shop is best for you and your automobile.  We hope this information can enlighten people to the distinct differences between glass made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer and installed by a certified technician and having aftermarket auto glass installed by an un-certified mobile-only service.

Home owners can also find out more about our residential window repair service and how Deals can remove fog that has developed inside the insulated glass unit.  With the technology of our dual valve moisture prevention system, you’ll be seeing clearly through your affected windows for years to come – guaranteed!

You may need some info about windshield repair and auto glass replacement or you want to find out if you can save with residential window repair.  Come visit the new DealsGlassService.com, find out how we can help you, and get a free quote in minutes!

This is also the time of year that State Farm releases it’s annual report on deer-vehicle collisions.  While our service area states, North Carolina and South Carolina, have stayed out of the top ten since 2006, we are still well above the national average risk level.  Statistics given by State Farm indicate that the likelihood of hitting a deer is about 1 in 150 for North Carolina and only slightly less in South Carolina at 1 in 153.

But the more shocking statistic places North Carolina near the top of the list in states with an increase in deer on vehicle collisions – a 33% increase over 5 years.  While much of this is due to populating previously forested area, it also might indicate that drivers aren’t as aware of the risks of those rural roads.  The insurance company offered a few tips that we would like to share – this advice could save your windshield or your life:

Be aware of posted deer crossing signs.  These are placed in active deer crossing areas.

Remember that deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.

Use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate the areas from which deer will enter roadways.

Keep in mind that deer generally travel in herds – if you see one, there is a strong possibility others are nearby.

Do not rely on car-mounted deer whistles.

If a deer collision seems inevitable, attempting to swerve out of the way could cause you to lose control of your vehicle or place you in the path of an oncoming vehicle.

We want to encourage all of our readers everywhere to be watchful for deer in the roadways and pay attention to marked signs and speed limits.   With a car on deer accident occurring every 26 seconds in this country, we have to learn to be more aware – the deer never will!

The real difference is that the NGA holds their Certified and Master technicians to a certain standard not required by many of the more lax business owners.  There are many factors that go into the safe completion of windshield replacement, and every step along the way must be done perfectly to avoid potential safety issues.  When their glass technician has been taught by qualified professionals, practiced in the field and then tested on their knowledge, consumers can rest assured that they will have a job well done.

Deals Glass Services is proud to employ many Certified and Master Technicians, several of whom have been with us over a decade!

Deals Glass Services’ Certified Technicians: Mike G., Cale M., Drake A., Kenneth O.

Deals Glass Services’ Certified Master Technicians: Timothy B., Freddie F., Todd L., Brien N., Mark S., Jason B.

With all of these highly qualified glass installers, Charlotte area customers can be confident that the person fixing their windshield has been held to the “Gold Standard”.  Unfortunately, there are dishonest people in every walk of life, and auto glass is no different.  If you have doubts about whether or not a technician or their management  is NGA certified, you can use the NGA’s certified tech finder to figure out if you are dealing with a honest glass shop.

We hate to hear horror stories of customers who received substandard service on their home or auto glass, whether it be from a big chain or a fly-by-night mobile service.  Part of what many companies miss out on, is having hands on ownership with real commitment to the customer and to safety in their practices and product.

When that owner makes employee satisfaction a priority as well, it not only improves morale in the workplace, it creates a real pride in the company’s workmanship.   When employees enjoy their job and take pride in what they do, the benefits are passed on to the customer in every aspect of their experience with that company.   Happy staff teams make for even happier customers and better all around service experience.

All these points aside, the real difference between Deals and some of those other companies, is that we really enjoy doing a service for our community, and we are committed to doing it right!