What would be the fairest way to handle this?

Trust me I already have some definite opinions in my head on how this should turn out but I would like a little input from others who might have had a similar problem. Here's the story. I've got an old pickup that I'm restoring. I took it to the local bodyshop for new windshield seals and they have a guy that they use that does that stuff for them. He came and put it in but I didn't realize that I had the wrong one that didn't have the groove for the trim. He went and installed it anyway and when I went to pick it up the shop manager told me that since it was the wrong one he would come back and put the right one in if I really wanted the trim installed. So I said yes let's do that. One week later he comes back and is having a heck of a time getting it to work and ends up cracking my windshield in two places. He's bringing another windshield next week and a helper who he says has more experience with the trim installation and we'll settle it up then. The guy had a terrible attitude. He wouldn't even look me in the face when he talked to me and I could tell that he didn't want to do the job at all. I would have really appreciated a phone call on the first installation that I had the wrong seal rather than just installing it anyway and if he didn't want the job why did he offer to do it in the first place? And he lost several small trim pieces that I can't buy anywhere and will have to make myself which bothers me too. I have a feeling there's going to be some strong words said next week but I want to get some input on what is really fair in a situation like this. The windshield was a bit cloudy on the bottom and was likely beginning to delaminate so maybe it's cracking wasn't entirely avoidable but when he left the windshield rubber wasn't completely installed either. In my opinion it looked like he didn't completely know what he was dong along with a really sorry attitude. I don't expect something for nothing but I want to be fair about this. Any ideas?

How does the local body shop guy fit in?
usually used glass installed isn't warranted because it could have had stress cracks from before, and you did provide the wrong parts as I read but he owes you for the trim pieces. Hope it all turns out good for you.

Is this flat glass? If it is buy new glass and have it cut and polished. Try to get safety plate glass.

The window cracking is not uncommon on old windows. You put stress on them putting the window seals in. It is kind of like mounting a tire only in reverse.

I have tried replacing combine cab windows with used glass. Getting them out is easy. All you have to do is take a utility knife and cit the seal and you have it out. Then the trouble. When you go to install the new window with the seal is when the fun starts. You get it 75% in and then you have to get the seal to work around the window. You had to put pressure on the glass. In the case of the used combine windows I bet that about 25% of them broke putting them back in.

The main issue would be the lost trim pieces. That should not have happened. I would wait and see what happens. It kind of sounds like you are ready to fight even if he does it perfectly.

As far as looking at you when talking. That maybe a habit or quark. My one SIL does that. She never looks directly at you when she is talking to you until she knows you real well. She is basically terribly shy and never learned to handle it well. He may have been embarrassed about breaking/cracking your window.

As far as the trim pieces. There are several places that specialize in automotive trim. Hemmings has them listed in the classifieds.

Good luck. It seems like the harder replacement parts are to get the more likely it is to break.

switchin out glass is made easier with a sash cordin the rubber track and lots of silicone spray lubricate

I'm not ready to fight. It's the last thing I want to do. And I understand that the windshield might have had some flaws in it and that cracking it might be an unavoidable hazard. As far as his installation he didn't use any lubrication or a cord and tried to pull the seal all the way around with his hook. As far as the trim pieces there were four little pieces that cover the joints. We had three when he went to put the trim back on and now that I'm home I see there's only two. It didn't just fly off. And his attitude wasn't from shyness. Very sullen. He even asked me if I just wanted to wait till the next time it came up for inspection before I fixed it. He said he'd order another windshield and bring someone with him that has more experience to help him put it in and stormed off. The body shop doesn't have anything to do with this other than he's their 'glass guy'. Have you ever watched someone doing something and have this feeling that you should have gone somewhere else? That's kind of where I am right now.

Sidekick. Had the almost same problem. Going to town with wife and 7 year old son sitting between wife and I. Gravel truck coming to wards us on a curve. NO CANVAS COVER) wife picked up son and put him on her lap. Seen the truck coming to wards us on a curve, good size rock came cashing into the windshield where my son was setting before the wife moved him. Glass all over front seat. Found a place to U.Turn , chased the truck several miles till he stopped top unload.Driver told me I had to talk to his supervisor, which I did and the Jerk told me I shouldn't have been following the truck so close. Told him it came through the windshield off the oncoming load. New windshield. Installer was mad at someone else and his remarks was" I ain't gonna work on this POS. I called the company and the guy got the axe. any way new installer came and did the work(kinda) but I had to pull the rubber seal with a crochet needle and reseal it. I bet it still goes on. Wish you luck regards LOU/.

Could you clarify: who procured the first set of parts of which some of those parts were wrong?

My opinion is who ever was responsible for supplying the first set of wrong parts should cover the cost of that first installation and pay for those parts. You would still pay for the second installation and the second set of parts when it is successful.

Good luck.

Just a bit of friendly advice, there is an enter button on your keyboard, poking it at the end of a sentence now and then really improves the readability of a long post.

Just like this.

(quoted from post at 14:41:55 09/07/13)
Just a bit of friendly advice, there is an enter button on your keyboard, poking it at the end of a sentence now and then really improves the readability of a long post.

Just like this.

Click to expand...

My understanding of English, ( my dearly departed mother was an English teacher), is that paragraph construction is significantly more than hitting the enter key.

Yes, that's right, but a paragraph should end at some point and the next one begin. That is where the enter button comes into play.

Sorry if I was not clear in my original reply.

Sidekick, just put a windshield in a 59 chev pu I am resroring. Had a pro installer help us put it in. Put the seal on the glass and put the trin in the seal. Not easy at all,, but the only way you can get that trim on there. Them put the cord in the groove that goes on the pinch weld. We used spray away glass cleaner and lots of it. If yours is one of the windsheilds with the wraparound in it, one person can't put them in, and helps to have three. Good luck...

Also to answer your original question, an old glass is very unforgiving and no one who installs them will warranty the installation. I couldn't even find a glass shop that would put mine in with the trim in the seal. I put a new glass in mine and it was my windsheild if it got broken. Without the trim they are a piece of cake.

to Dave in TX, That's what I've heard about the trim. Hard to install. He didn't use any glass cleaner or a cord. Just set it in and tried to pull the seal with his hook and wasn't getting anywhere so he was really pushing on it right where the curve is on the drivers side. It just didn't look to me like he knew what he was doing. And losing the chrome pieces is what is really ticking me off. It's not made by anyone anywhere.

The old one was cloudy and needed to be replaced anyway. He and should offer a deal on the new glass and you should pay the labor charge. I had a tire shop throw out a tube that was there for a simple patch, two days later when I was back for the tube, the Manager and I split the cost of $60.00 for the new one. If he will sell you a windshield at cost and break even on the labor, neither one wins, but neither one has lost either. I am betting he may have never seen a molding like that, the new stuff is just glued in.

I would be agreeable to that.