Jump in steel prices;insurance/bodyshop colusion in Minnesota

[preciousdove]

Almost all jumk yards have liquidated their inventory selling it for the high steel prices here in Minnesota. Used are parts are next to impossible to find and many new parts are backordered.

Exlusive agreements between bodyshops and insurance companies set up in the last two years in Minnesota (I am told may be illegal but we have a Rep governor) have caused many shops to squeeze their techs so hard they are sending out things that are hurried and poor quality. Many experienced techs who are not right at retirement age are leaving the industry. Result: shoddy, possibly dangerous work that "looks good". Only the dealerships are unionized and less than half of the techs have guarantees so if shops withhold work from techs they have little recourse.

This has to trickle down all over the place not just this industry but I haven't read anything about it here or in the local papers.