Member Benefits

YOU CAN’T SPELL CHANGE WITHOUT NGE

Catch phrase or Realism?  That’s what we thought when putting together literature for the NGE, and the fingers were flying faster than the thought process and the result was spelling “change” with a space in the middle of the word.  Looking at it, it was the birth of a tagline, very much by accident.  But the NGE is no accident nor could there be a more appropriate slogan.

Because our roots are as an independent AGR shop, we have been more than aware of the slowly eroding profit margins and the loss of Insurance work, assuming the Insurance work parceled out to us was profitable.  It also became apparent that we were not alone and the AGR forums proved that out.  Change was needed if the independent shop was going to survive the onslaught of the off-shore giant, gobbling up shops and providing the perfect example of Vertical Integration.

Our mission is to see that the Independent Glass shops can survive in the rapidly changing marketplace.  Though networks and associations for the Auto Glass Industry have been tried before, or been imposed from the corporate side of the industry, never has a program been developed with the depth and foresight of NGE. By entering into strategic alliances with technology providers, a warranty program and insurance companies, NGE has leveled the playing field for its affiliates to compete on the what matters most: customer service, quality work, convenience, in short, your reputation.

New Market Created by the NGE for the NGE Affiliates

The market created is huge.  It includes every person paying for comprehensive automobile coverage with a deductible.   The majority of claims against an auto insurance policy are for windshield replacement.  With the cost of annual premiums rising each year, the only way the consumer has to try to save money is to raise the amount of their deductible.  But by doing so, they are gambling they will not need to replace their windshield, because the price will come directly out of their pocket. 

The NGE program utilizes the Road Guardian Windshield Replacement Service Plan as an alternative to dropping windshield coverage.  Only NGE affiliated shops will be able to sell, market and service the Road Guardian Plans. Benefits of an NGE Affiliate

1. Exclusive Road Guardian Representative
2. How the “Claims” part works
3. Branding, both National and Local
4. Marketing the NGE Consortium
5. Web-based Shop Locator and R/G 800 number
6. Techniques for Success
7. Criteria for Affiliates

Exclusive Road Guardian Representative

As an NGE affiliate, your shop will be sole representative selling the windshield service contracts, providing the windshield inspection from referrals, and providing the installation of new the windshield.  This opens local branding and marketing up to the individual shop.  Your success is still going to depend on your marketing skills to the customer as well as any insurance agents in your area.  Marketing has always been the mainstay of business.  As an NGE affiliate, this is even more important.  By selling an R/G plan to the walk-in customer, they are already aware of the savings they have just realized.  Word of mouth will start getting customers coming to you for the R/G warranty.  Marketing to insurance agents is a no brainer.  By using the R/G plan as a value-add sales technique for the agent recommending both the warranty and your shop, the agent now has a perceived value and may be able to garner additional policies for that customer.  You are also marketing your shop, your safety standards and your quality.

How the “Claims” part works

The claims processing is kept to a minimum.  When the customer comes into your shop for a replacement, the windshield needs to be inspected to make sure the damage was caused by a road hazard.  The Road Guardian call center is contacted to verify the contract holder indeed has a valid and current contracct.  Road Guardian will quote a price immediately for the work.  If the shop agrees to the price, an approval number is issued. 

Once the work has been completed, the invoice with the customer’s signature with the approval number is sent to Road Guardian for payment and payment is sent to the shop within five business days

Marketing

Branding, both National and Local

Each NGE affiliate will be able to utilize the Road Guardian Windshield Replacement Service Plan as a marketing tool within their geographic area.  Each individual shop will be part of other NGE affiliates across North America.  Local branding is established by the individual shop via the walk-in sales for a replacement, as well as any marketing that is done with the agents within your area.  Your shop is branded as the NGE affiliate within your area that is the only shop that can service the Road Guardian plans.

Marketing the NGE Consortium

As an approved NGE affiliated glass shop retailer, you’ll benefit from marketing of the consortium.  The NGE will be nationally branded through advertising in nationally distributed magazines.  The branding will be two fold; first branding of the Road Guardian plan and secondly and more importantly, branding of your shop as an NGE affiliate providing the replacement service for any Road Guardian Claim.  The NGE web site will still be used as the consumer’s first point of contact for NGE affiliated shops.  In addition, there are efforts underway to establish key alliances with insurance companies, distributors and fleets. 

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Criteria for Affiliates

The following criteria are the minimum requirements in order to be considered for an NGE Affiliate status.

• POS system with EDI ability
• Normal business hours (e.g. Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
• Employ at least one certified auto glass technician
• Provide facility liability insurance carrier, limits and expiration date
• Provide workers comp insurance carrier and expiration date
• Provide digital photography showing the overall view of the front of the facility

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