Had time to go over both of the new 05 Duramax's today, has anyone else noticed that the windshield has no blue shade band at the top? I checked with my autoglass book and it is made for the truck, is GM cutting another corner to save a couple of $$? Called the dealer and he said there is no option code for a tinted or tinted and shaded windshield. Just http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/censored.gif me off to pay 43k for a truck and be nickled and dimed to death on a normal std feature, I'm going to end up changing the one in my Dooley because the wife is short and needs the extra sun protection that the shade band gives. Any one else notice this?

All the trucks are going this way. GM started in 04, I think Ford started in 03. It actually doesn't bother me one bit. I think if I ever chip it I will get a tinted window put in though. I looks better IMO.

I had to have my windshield replaced. I had the glass guy use the windshield for the earlier trucks (the one with the tinted strip). Works fine and now hides the radar detector.

Mike

I had the tint shop put a brow on mine. They tinted it 5% for me which looks and works great.

i was wonderin about that--wondered how tint would look up there with that black strip--the dealer had a tint shop do my rear glass cause that was the only option it did'nt have that i wanted and it looks factory. anyway i got glass coverage with no deductable so if i ever want factory tint i'll just smash a window! lol!

A strip of tint makes a lot of difference, its amazing how much sun it keeps out. I asked the guy that tinted my side windows how much it would cost to put a strip on the windsheild, he said $20. probably worth it. Ive had it on my past trucks and was very impressed.

ttt

When the sun gets low, I am wearing sun glasses anyway.. dont miss it one bit.

VR

DW01549 GB Y
DW01549 GT Y

This is the 2 windshields available for the 05............The gty has no shade band (also is OEM for our truck)...........As far as cutting corners....It is more expensive to produce the dot matrix glass than it is to produce the shade band.....So it is not an issue of saving a buck.




And yes...I own a glass co.

jef1216- same here check the Nags list- shade is more but my point is if GM is going to install only a tint and yet a shade is made then give me the choice to order and pay for what I want. I checked with 3 local Dealers and they all say there is no option to order any other type of windshield. It P@#$ me off to cut a perfectly good part out to replace it with what I want or rather what should be there in the first place. We put about 250 miles on the truck today as breakin and thats all I heard from the Wife- how the sun was a pia for her without the shade. So I guess I'll be putting in a shade along with the power slider next week.

jef1216- same here check the Nags list- shade is more but my point is if GM is going to install only a tint and yet a shade is made then give me the choice to order and pay for what I want. I checked with 3 local Dealers and they all say there is no option to order any other type of windshield. It P@#$ me off to cut a perfectly good part out to replace it with what I want or rather what should be there in the first place. We put about 250 miles on the truck today as breakin and thats all I heard from the Wife- how the sun was a pia for her without the shade. So I guess I'll be putting in a shade along with the power slider next week.



I agree with you 100%





How is business going??
I am VERY confused........This is supposed to me the slow time of the year....But, we can hardly keep up.

I aint complaining though :)

Mabey they had alot of people complain about the shade. Its hard to tell why the general did this. You can always tint it later .

Jeff- biz is good although I am getting tired of Ins-co's cutting prices, costs keep going up and profits keep going down. Hope that this trend ends soon.

I am going to assume that you have seen the new nags pricing that goes into evvect Feb 28th



List price on a 1217 is down around $200.00

We are now going to get paid labor hours like a body shop

Thats the story- I'll see it to belive it, every time I think we can make money in Aglass the Ins-co take a bigger discount. I hope its true my guys are union so they cost 43/hour. Im in a small town with 10 Auto glass co's so the ins just looks for who they can get the best deal out of then take 5% off on top of that. So far I have yet to see my insurance go down- 1200/year on the new truck and thats just me and the Wife, when Daughts gets to drive in 10 months add 1200 every 6 month for her :eek: oh well off my saop box for now.

I already have the new NAGS calculators ..breaking down lower list prices....labor hours per jobs....... and conversion charts from old pricing to new ....I will be happy to drop one in the mail to ya.







$43.00 per hour...OUCH!

I am in Charleston,SC...Mid size town. More shops than you can shake a stick at.

I was the sales/operations manger for Glass Depot..then bought out by PPG for 10 years.......I got tired of the travel a couple years ago and started up a mobile only glass co.

I run 3 full time techs and 2 full time sales reps.....All 5 salaried at $52k per year plus profit sharing......So I feel your pain.

We have averaged a solid 18 per day since october (even through x-mas)
I hope that this is a good sign of things to come....Spring is just around the corner.

I know they are on my desk- And I think the comp update is this week so I should be all set up. Glad to hear things are good down your way. We also do commercial contract glazing so that part of my labor $$ I used to have a full time tech but when wagging mouths got the better of themselves I just switched and deal with it. Bragging about who made more $$, typical BS.

I know they are on my desk- And I think the comp update is this week so I should be all set up. Glad to hear things are good down your way. We also do commercial contract glazing so that part of my labor $$ I used to have a full time tech but when wagging mouths got the better of themselves I just switched and deal with it. Bragging about who made more $$, typical BS.



I have been looking at getting into small glazing jobs.....Store fronts a so fourth....I dont know much about that area....So naturally a little nervous.

I had a big problem when everyone was paid a different wage...........I ended up letting 2 of the 3 techs go........Took about 6 months to finally find a good crew that has the "long term attitude"....once they were hired and inplace.....I put everyone at the same salary across the board...Plus a year end profit sharing program..........I have never had nor ever seen a more dedicated team.....Plus I dont have to worry about them going to the competition for an x-tra $1.00 an hour.

To put it in perspective....The average glass man in Charleston earns between $16-$18 per hour....So my wages are well above that.........Worked out great for last year.....We will have to see what 05 holds.

Jeff