As a locally owned and operated Glass Repair business, we are always striving to find more efficient ways to communicate with our customers. In the “good old days” it was all about walk-in customers and that sacred ring of the telephone. The rule of thumb was always to answer the phone in three rings or less, which we still believe is true today. Then along came e-mails and the development of the World Wide Web.  Like us, most businesses realize the necessity of a website and have taken steps to have an online presence which is beneficial to businesses and consumers alike. And when social media hit the scene, it was obvious that these online channels represented the future of connecting with customers on a faster, more personal level.

According to Wikipedia, Social media “is a shift in how people discover, read and share news, information and content. It’s a fusion of sociology and technology, transforming monologues (one to many) into dialogues (many to many) and is the democratization of information, transforming people from content readers into publishers. Social media has become extremely popular because it allows people to connect in the online world to form relationships for personal and business.” More simply put, social media is a way for people and businesses to communicate with one another.

At Rapid Glass we are always looking at ways to serve our customs better and faster. We believe Twitter just may be the vehicle (no pun intended) to accomplish this.

• Reach Rapid Glass during regular business hours via Twitter with service needs or questions
• Rapid Glass will monitor its Twitter channel throughout the day providing an instant connection
• Stay connected & follow Rapid Glass on Twitter for special offers and expert tips
• Click on the Twitter icon to view the Rapid Glass Profile and check out what other customers have been asking

And now, we’re pleased to announce our “Tweet @RapidGlass For Glass Repair” service to customers on-the-go. It’s unbelievably simple:

• Tweet @RapidGlass repair when you require assistance
• Within three minutes (during regular business hours), we’ll respond under @RapidGlass with a phone number instructions
• Depending on your emergency, a mobile unit will be dispatched or we will schedule an appointment

Twitter is a massively powerful communication tool, and we’re excited to explore and offer new ways to connect with our customers on a real-time basis.

For those of you who are new or unfamiliar with Twitter here is a feature overview.

As always, feel free to give us a call anytime. For evening and weekend service requests our customer service representatives will be answering the phone 24/7. We still believe in a “good old fashion” customer phone call, but now you can contact us immediately through our new Twitter option which will be coming soon.

Attention all Minnesotans!

On behalf of Hope For Haiti Now, Rapid Glass will be donating much needed funds to the  Red Cross Twin Cities Area Chapter. For every Retweet of this blog post on Twitter, we’ll donate $0.20 to this incredibly important cause. We will cap off at the first 2,000 Retweets, but we’re still really excited to embrace your participation and contribute to the Red Cross in this important way.

Here’s what you need to include in the Retweet to count towards the 2,000:

• The URL to this blog post
• The @RapidGlass Twitter handle
• The name of the city in Minnesota from where you’re tweeting.

So how about it? Be a part of the funds we raise for the Red Cross and Hope for Haiti Now!

photo credit: Jon Olav

It’s no secret- we’re trucking through a tough economy. When it comes to your car, you’re forgiven a little penny-pinching here and there. But in the long run, taking care of your vehicle pays off big… for your wallet and the environment.

The good news is there are tons of simple car hacks that are dirt cheap or *gasp* free- all of which can contribute to a greener earth, safer streets and a more enjoyable driving experience.

Let’s take a close look at one facet of driving that, more often than not, plays a large role in the car we choose to buy in the first place: gas mileage.

Despite dramatic fluctuations in oil prices, we sometimes fall prey to the prestigious clunker rather than the most environmentally-friendly car choice. But no matter what automobile you own, there are ways you can streamline your driving habits for overall better gas mileage.

Keep these six totally free car hacks for better mileage in mind when you hit the road:

1) Treat your accelerator and brake pedals gently. When possible, avoid excess revving and sudden braking; these abrupt shifts contribute to unnecessary wear and tear on your auto parts and actually, yep, waste gas! Not to mention, that’s not the safest way to handle your car on the road. Simple concept: when possible, don’t rev, don’t stop short and you’ll improve your MPG, prevent the need for frequent repairs, as well as improve street safety.  That’s a win-win-win.

2) Cruise at the speed limit and take advantage of cruise control. According to Fueleconomy.gov, gas mileage “usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph,” meaning for every five mph you drive above 60, you actually pay about $0.25 more for gas per gallon. That adds up! When you stick to the speed limit you can expect to save green and help save lives. Also, if your car has cruise control technology, use it! When you’re on a long stretch of highway, cruise control gives your foot a rest and effortlessly maintains constant, safe speed.

photo credit: Steve Keys

3) Idling in life and idling your engine… wasteful and worthless. When you idle your engine, you’re… well, you’re not going anywhere. You’re literally getting zero miles per gallon while using up gas. You’d never invest in a car that gets such pitiful mileage, so why shoot yourself in the foot by sitting parked somewhere with the engine running? Keep in mind that if you idle in an SUV or van, you waste even more gas than a standard sedan or other smaller vehicle. Save gas and unleash fewer emissions out into the environment- turn off that engine, or get a move on!

4) Clean out the clutter. Cart the essentials. Did you know that the more weight you carry in your car, the more you diminish your car’s potential gas mileage? Fueleconomy.gov points out that every “extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent.” (In contrast to hack #3, excess weight hurts smaller cars more than larger cars because the latter are built for heavy loads.) Emptying the unnecessary junk out of your trunk is a smart, simple step towards enhancing your gas mileage and making the most of each gallon.

5) Stay in tune with your tires and engine. Properly tuned engines and adequately inflated tires are another win-win-win: they make for safer driving (by helping avoid blowouts and engine failures), save you money on unpredictable, preventable maintenance problems, and actually improve gas mileage by up to 40%! Stay on top of these essential components of your car and you’ll reap the benefits in the long run.

6) Join forces with your coworkers and friends: carpool! Never underestimate the power of carpooling with your buddies, whether you’re heading to the office, out to a group dinner, or to a Sunday football game. There’s no sense in all of you clogging up the highway and battling for parking spaces. (Optional: throw in a great cruising CD for added enjoyment.)

This is just a sample of the simple hacks you can take to the streets daily (for free!) to help improve your car’s gas mileage, save some cash, give back to the environment, and be a more responsible driver.  Have some hacks of your own? Share them below in the comment field!

We all know the importance and safety implications of our rear view mirrors. Yet, not a week goes by when I don’t see a car or truck driving around with a cracked, or worst yet, missing rear view mirror glass. Even if it’s not illegal in your area, they are a necessity for safe driving.

It all starts by backing out of the garage while parked a little too close to the garage door or backing out of your parking spot at the mall, where someone has not left you enough room to open your door and BANG! you have a broken mirror.

Price Matters–Especially in a Difficult Economy
We’ve found the reason so many people drive around with broken mirror is because of the price they receive when they make a phone call to their local car dealerships parts department.

Most parts departments only sell the entire mirror with the housing and all the adjusting motors, heating elements, turn indicators and wires that goes with it. Most outside rear view mirrors of this type typically cost in excess of $300-$400 not including the labor to install it. The reason is that the automobile manufacturer buys the mirror and housing as an entire unit for ease of installation during the assembly process.

Don’t Sacrifice Safety
What most consumers don’t know is that there is an alternative. Most reputable glass shops can replace just the glass portion of the mirror housing. Auto Glass companies have access to mirrors that are pre-cut to fit your particular make and model of vehicle.

If a Redi-cut mirror is not available for your vehicle, one can be custom cut for you. Most standard mirrors of this kind can usually be installed for $100 or less. The more options you have on the mirror, such as heated mirrors or turn signals in the mirror, tends to increase the mirror cost and labor costs slightly. So next time this happens to you don’t wait until a broken mirror causes you an accident call your local glass shop and ask to just replace the glass.

For decades people have been struggling to keep their glass shower doors looking like new. The harder your water, such as well water or city water heavy with nutrients, the harder it is to keep those glass shower doors looking transparent.

Besides a good water softener, the best prevention for this is to use a squeegee each time you shower. Many bath specialty stores carry these affordable solutions in a variety of appealing colors to match nearly any decor. Prevention is the best choice to help you keep those doors looking presentable, but if those pesky water spots still haunt you, we have a few ideas that can help.

Frameless Glass Doors
If the staining on the glass portion of the doors has already occurred, no worries, you should be able to get them removed. One of the oldest remedies is vinegar or a vinegar and water solution.

You can soak a towel in a bucket of the mixture and use the towel to wipe the stains clean. For more stubborn stains using this method, you can soak the towel in the solution and hang it on the door in the problem area for a few hours. This way you can let the solution do the work for you.

There are also several products on the market designed to cut through tough water spots which is often a form of calcium build up. Products such as “Lime away” and “CLR” seem to work best. If you have smooth glass shower doors or bathtub doors, you can also use a single edge razor blade and a quality glass cleaner.

Make sure you hold the razor blade at an angle to the glass to avoid scratching. This will however take a little bit of work especially on a larger shower doors. If you have textured or pattern glass on your shower doors, you may be able to clean one side using this method, although on the textured surface you will have to stick with one the solution methods. Always finish with a good glass cleaner and a towel to avoid streaking

Framed Shower Doors
These types of doors have an added complexity to cleaning the water spots off of them. The glass portion of the shower doors can still be cleaned just like the frameless shower doors described above. The aluminum portion of the doors cannot be cleaned with a razor blade, because they scratch more easily.

You can try the commercial products or the vinegar solutions with a soft cloth towel but avoid a paper towel as they can sometimes scratch the finish. Aluminum is much softer material than glass and is more susceptible to the water spots actually “etching” themselves into the aluminum finish.

Once you try the solution methods and the spots are still visible, more times than not we have experienced that the spots have actually eaten into the aluminum and cannot be removed.

Still Not Coming Clean
If you have water spots that cannot be removed you still have some options. If the damage is on the glass portion of the shower door, you can purchase new glass and reinstall it into your existing frames. If the damage is on the aluminum frame, usually your only option is to purchase a new door.

Many shower door companies change their designs frequently, and chances are the new frame will be different and your old glass won’t fit. Even when just replacing the glass, it is usually less expensive to purchase a whole new shower door. When you order just the glass, it is considered a custom order compared to purchasing a stock shower door, which many quality glass companies have on hand. Custom orders usually take one to two weeks, where a stock door can be picked up or delivered in a few days.

In addition to the material costs, the labor involved in installing a new door is usually less than breaking down an old door and reinstalling the glass. To complicate things even more, many of the original screw become corroded and frequently break off increasing the labor involved even more.

Most homeowners can remove the old door themselves, saving them a few dollars, and should they decide to have the new one installed by a professional, most shower door companies will be happy to recycle it for you.

We occasionally receive calls from repeat home window customers and other consumers about what can be done about the mirrors in their homes when they start to look like they are pealing around the edges.

This is fairly common occurrence particularly on older mirrors. We commonly see this problem on antique mirrors that were frequently installed in back of a bedroom dresser or an antique china cabinet. We have many customers that bring in these mirrors every year to have them replaced and “modernized” with a new custom cut mirror.
Moisture: a Mirrors Worst Enemy
Another more common place where this can been seen are on bathroom mirrors, in shower rooms and mirrored walls in exercise or work out rooms. In these types of applications the mirrors don’t have to be quite so old.

Especially in bathrooms and shower rooms where there is a high level of humidity in these rooms a majority of the time, they may also have water splashing up on them and around the edges. The water and humidity seems to accelerate the process know as “de-silvering”.

The “silver” is the material on the back that gives the mirror its reflective characteristic. Once this ages and is subjected to common every day abuses, it breaks down and starts to lift off of the plate glass.

Prevention- the Best Prescription
Because we cannot totally eliminate humidity, moisture and water in our daily lives, there are preventative measures we can take to minimize these destructive atmospheric conditions.

First of all, a good dehumidifier is always a good thing to have in your home. If remodeling a bathroom, make sure you have a good ventilation fan installed above the shower area… and teach your family members to use it. Even if you have the best ventilation fan installed, it doesn’t do any good if it’s not used when showering or even taking a bath. I’m speaking from personal experience here…uuhg…teenagers.

Aside from prevention, sorry, but there are no real cost saving ways to repair this type of problem. You could cut the mirror down to a smaller size, but this would involve many additional steps.

First, removing it from the wall, which usually leaves a residue or adhesive on the back of the mirror making it difficult to cut and an ugly spot on the wall. Next, find a way to carefully transport the mirror to your local glass shop and then bring it back home to reinstall.

You may also have to deal with moving the mounting clips and/or channels in addition to having to repair or repaint the portion of the wall that is now exposed. It’s usually just as cost effective, and less of a hassle, to order a new mirror and have it installed by a professional who will also remove and dispose of the old mirror for you.

Every day we receive phone calls and e-mails from customers asking us various questions about glass for their cars or trucks and commercial glass for their businesses. Regardless of the industry, there appears to be a great void out there for consumers in need of accurate information.

When anyone goes online and searches the web there is no shortage of would-be-experts, but is this accurate information? How do consumers decide which information should be trusted and which is bogus.

Case in Point
One of my hobbies is fishing. Last year I was reading a professional fishing forum when a new “expert” had emerged and was giving a lot of advice. For quite some time this so called expert was gaining a great deal of momentum and acquired a lot of followers. But, as time went on, things he was saying just weren’t adding up.

It turns out this would-be prophet was a twelve-year-old kid. Eeeesh…Some of the best fishermen in the world were being “duped” into following this less-than-credible angler.

The moral of the story is there are a lot of online resources, but too many people out there hide behind an Avatar, so you really don’t know who is providing the information, and what their motive is. Here’s 5 ways to vet information, represented as “expert,” while navigating the online universe:

1.    Depend only on information that has been pre-screened by the “wisdom of the mob.” LinkedIn Answers offers a mechanism that allows many professionals from any business category to vote for the best answers. It’s much harder to fool a group of industry folks. Look for answers that get a lot of votes in categories with a lot of participation.

2.    When seeking referrals, use sites that vet and review the reviewer. For instance, AngiesList accepts no anonymous reviews and certifies the data collection process to prevent companies from reporting on themselves or their competitors.

3.    Search Google for the name of the so-called expert. Anyone who is truly an authority in their space should have page after page of citations in the search engine results. Fresh articles and interviews that offer true value are great indicators of true thought leadership. If the expert has a common name, add the category, i.e. [expert name] + auto glass replacement.

4.    Test the expert’s theories early. For any piece of information found on the Internet, do follow up research to verify any tips received.  It’s better to find our a potential Guru is full of crap early in the process, before you have some hack company wreck your windshield or living room window.

5.    Search Google for [Expert’s Name] + sucks, or other words that are obvious triggers for dissatisfaction.  You would be amazed what is revealed.

As CEO of our company, I work to instill a sense that we are a go-to trusted resource for our customers in our industry. As any reputable business, we strive to be a resource that’s easy to access and has accurate and truthful information– from a source you can trust.

As a consumer, we encourage you to take what you read on the net with a grain of salt. Validate and verify the authenticity of any free advice by these simple methods, to stay out of trouble. Happy searching.

Often when our auto glass replacement and windshield repair technicians are working on someone’s vehicle they are asked how to remove a Park or Transportation sticker, window tint film, shoe polish or some other type of permanent marker that some used car lot or teenage prankster has applied to the auto glass.

Regardless if this has been done to the outside or on the inside where there are no rear defroster lines, there is one process that works best. But, if this has been done on the inside where there are fragile rear defroster lines it’s a bit trickier.

No Defroster Lines
There is nothing that works better than a single edge razor blade, some glass cleaner and a little elbow grease. Most good quality glass cleaners are safe on a variety of surfaces so even if you get a little over spray on surrounding surfaces, usually won’t do them any harm. If you are concerned try a small amount on an area that is not in plain view.

Spray a generous amount of glass cleaner on the decal, sticker or other material to be removed. Hold the razor blade at a 45 degree angle or less to the glass and with a sliding downward motion (kind of like filleting a fish) slide the razor blade from the top down.

With sticker and decals, start at a corner and once enough is removed you may be able to grab the corner and pull up slightly to ease the process. Keep applying glass cleaner as you go so the adhesive won’t re-stick. Once it is removed, if there is still a residue, repeat the process.

The razor blade should not make any noise on the glass. If you hear a noise, decrease the angle of the blade to the glass, or get a new razor blade.

Glass With Defroster Lines
It’s best to start on a part of the decal that is not in direct contact with the defroster lines.  If you’re lucky, you can start at one corner and peel it down slowly. It also helps if you spray it with glass cleaner while applying outward and downward pulling pressure. If it starts to splinter, start over again at the point of the tear using only your fingernail, or a plastic single edge razor blade that be purchased at your local hardware store.

Once you have the paper or film removed, more than likely you will still have some adhesive that is still in contact with the glass. To remove this sticky residue purchase the finest steel wool you can find, usually 0000 or 00000. Test it on a small area first to make sure it doesn’t scratch the glass.

While continuing to lubricate the back window with window cleaner or a spray bottle filled with water and a few drops of dish soap added for lubrication, wipe the adhesive with the steel wool until the glass feels slippery and not tacky. Finish by cleaning the entire window with a rag or soft paper towel.