Panel beating backlog dents hopes for a quick fix
A SHORTAGE of new blood, a growing number of cars on the roads and a claim an insurance company is imposing tight timeframes have collided to create a perfect storm for the region’s panel beaters.
Collision repairers across Otago say they are dealing with more work than they can shake a hammer at.
Bridgman Street Panelbeaters managing director Brent Johnston said his business was at present taking bookings for the week of September 10, the biggest backlog he had seen in his 46 years in the business.
Mr Johnston said there were a variety of reasons for the backlog, from the increasingly demanding nature of the work to a shortage of new blood entering the trade.
‘‘It’s becoming more hightech. The amount of research we have to do before we commence repairs is enormous.
‘‘We have to prove the method is to manufacturer’s specifications.
‘‘I believe that’s a good thing . . . but it’s all timeconsuming.’’
He said panel beating was a rewarding trade that he would recommend to young people with a practical bent, but a lack of respect for trades among high schools meant fewer pupils were considering an apprenticeship.
‘‘There’s not enough young guys.
‘‘In my opinion schools are prejudiced against young people going into trades, not just panel beating.
‘‘The Government should really be pushing for stronger trades representation in schools.’’
The Otago Daily Times understands the waiting time for most other panel beaters around town is at least six weeks to two months, though a couple of smaller companies are able to fit customers in sooner.
Queenstown Panelbeaters owner Simon Walton said his ‘‘workload has increased a lot’’.
Mr Walton said he had trouble finding enough staff to keep up with the number of jobs rolling in, and had taken on panel beaters from South Africa and England to meet demand.
He understood the mismatch between the supply of panel beaters and demand for their services was a nationwide problem.
In Oamaru, Riteway Panel and Paint owner Warren Smith said ‘‘August is booked out’’ at his Eden St business.
There was still a ‘‘good living’’ in panel beating, but young people in the North Otago town tended to want to head south for university or undertake an OE rather than stick around and learn the trade, Mr Smith said.
Another Dunedin panel beater, who asked to remain anonymous, said insurance giant IAG was partly to blame for the city’s panelbeating crisis.
The company, which operated the AMI, NZI and State Insurance brands, among others, was not allowing panel beaters sufficient work time to complete a job following a successful customer claim, he said.
‘‘A lot of the hours they offer are just not enough.
‘‘They’re only offering threequarters of an hour to take a bumper bar off, [perform repairs], and put it on again.’’
IAG general manager claims services Dean MacGregor said the insurance giant was aware of the panelbeating problems and was in the ‘‘final stages’’ of reviewing its repair network.
‘‘We are aware that customers in centres such as Dunedin are experiencing issues and are working on initiatives to increase capacity and ease delays.’’
Mr MacGregor said the main driver for the delays was the increasing number of vehicles on the roads, and a corresponding increase in accidents.
‘‘Record immigration, a strong economy and booming tourism have all given rise to more vehicles on our roads . . . which directly relates to the number of accidents.
‘‘These factors . . . increased demand for collision repair services . . . leading to increased wait times for customers.
‘‘The review . . . provided the opportunity to address where more repairers are required to meet increasing demand.’’