Remember, the shop needs to be 'your buddy'... you and the shop should be carefully comparing notes and YOU can put pressure on the insurance adjuster.

The material inspector or adjustor from the insurance is an enemy. His job is to minimize costs. Period.

Often times owners don't really know, so the body shop is in a funny position- they cannot piss off the insurnace, since their being a 'preferred shop' means more business to them...if the adjuster tells them "just do this" or "no need for that, you'll make it up with this other thing", many shops will agree to make do. If the owner is clueless the shop has nobody 'on the owners side'. However if the owner is a strong player in the dynamic, the shop can kinda sit back and say to the adjuster "well, owner is being demanding, you know how that goes..." and meanwhile they can be telling you what they really want and what will give it the best result....

Things like an extra few hours to colorsand, replacing trim instead of reusing, removing glass instead of roping the rubber....

I always marginalize the insurance in these situations- I make it clear that *I* am driving, the shop is following and they are paying. It may make no difference at all in many cases, but when it does I'd rather not have a result compromised due to a hidden conflict.

Finally, the shop will know precisely what will result in my rejecting a repair. The do NOT want to be repainting a panel due to a drip, orange peel or clouding... because the insurance company will NOT be the one paying for a redo...indeed the adjustor will screw the shop when that happens. If the shop AND the adjuster hears this early, loud and clear, they will be on a different footing when they both discuss the repair. I've had a adjuster agree to extra time based on my written punch list detailing paint quality- shop says "this owner is picky, we need the time to get it right"..adjuster says "yeah, OK".

Sorry for going on.... some of this may not apply, but knowing the potential dynamics of the situation can help one manage the process. The point is not to be 'right' or to show 'whos boss'...the point is to, on the day I pick up the car. to say "wow, you guys really did a perfect job".

A