Ending The Blending Debate Washington DC

The issue isn't about whether or not you should blend - make it a standard operating policy and just do it! The issue is about blending correctly, meeting vehicle owners expectations and getting paid by insurers.

By Tony Passwater
8/1/1999

Since the 1980s, the issue of whether or not to blend has been kicked around the industry from so many angles you'd think it were a soccer ball - when, in fact, it really shouldn't be an issue at all. The bottom line should always be about your customer - the vehicle owner - and not about the insurer (who some refer to as a customer), policies or prevailing practices.

In most situations, blending is an absolute necessity on today's vehicles. But the game of whether you can charge for blending, just tinting, or tinting and blending is still played. Why? It's simple: The people who make those decisions often don't understand - or care about - the refinishing process.

But because their decisions affect you and your business, we'll examine some of the technical and management issues surrounding blending. Specifically, we'll answer the questions:

• How do I get paid for blend time?

• What additional operations are required (R&I of trim, etc.)?

• What preparation is needed for the blend area?

• What should be done about scratches and chips in the blend panel?

• How do I get the metal department to keep the repair as small as possible?

• How can I prevent the clear from darkening the blended panel and ruining the match?