I got a small ding on my windshield earlier this fall, and within days called USAA to address it. I have repaired such dings myself very easily in the past with no issues, but used a professional shop because I didn’t want any insurance issues if it should fail. USAA was great - they gave me the option of replacement or repair (with a $50 deductible). I opted for the repair as it was a small, contained ding that seemed easily repaired, and it would be excessive to replace the entire windshield. USAA scheduled me with Safelite for the repair, which was handled as scheduled.
Over a few months the repair has failed and cracks are growing, so now I unfortunately have to have the entire windshield replaced. I emailed safelite at multiple emails several times about it, but never received a response, so I finally I reached out again to USAA, and they called me within a day to schedule the repair. They got Safelite on the phone for a 3 way call, and I scheduled the next available appointment, which was a 2pm slot. I confirmed with them over the phone that we’d be able to have the car back by the end of the day as we needed it the next morning, and they said no problem.
We arrange the logistics of kids and school, and my wife, who is sick, takes them with her to drop off the car early, around 1:15pm. On the way to meet her, about 3 minutes away from the shop, I realize I forgot the extra key card, and will need to drive back home to pick it up and return to drop it off. I ask my wife to tell them, which she does at around 1:25, and they say it's fine, to go ahead. I pick up my family and drop them off at home, grab the other card and head right back to Safelite, arriving just after 2pm. When I get there, Sara at the front desk seems she's been ready to tell me that it’s a 4 hour repair and there’s no way they’re going to be able to have the car finished by the time they close at 5pm, and that we will have to reschedule.
Oof.
This means I will have to drive back home, catch a bus in the rain to come back for the other car and then drive it back home, nevermind all the time and energy already spent dropping off the car. I asked her why they confirmed with me on the phone that it would be done by closing, and she said that I scheduled online (which I didn’t, tho I don’t see how that would explain it), and when I told her I handled it by phone via USAA/Safelite 3 way call, she said I spoke with a Safelite call center, as if that explains it. So she is claiming the call center scheduled a time slot with Safelite that shouldn’t have been scheduled, and it’s not her or the shop’s fault (aren’t they also Safelite?), and I’m wondering why the shop/Safelite didn’t catch this in advance and let me know before I and my family went through all the trouble of dropping off the car in the first place, and, failing that, why Sara then told my wife at 1:25 that I should drive home to get the key and come back down again, when according to Sara, at that point it was already too late for them to complete the job by closing at 5pm.
At one point she even said that because I had arrived after the 2pm scheduled time, that the appointment was cancelled anyway. Nevermind that they sent me home to retrieve the key at 1:25, and didn’t seem concerned about time at that point.
Ultimately, this has been a miserable experience, and Safelite has been awful about it. I don’t plan to use them for anything ever again. Looking at other reviews it seems common for them to be negligent with their scheduling and communication, and to then leave the customer hanging with no apology or attempt to make things right. I will be letting USAA know about my experience as well.