Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Dent Devils is doing our part to help global warming!
All the best, Eddie Martin owner of The Dent Devils Paintless Dent Repair of San Diego
5644 Kearny Mesa rd suite J San Diego 92111
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Pushing Environmentally Friendly Products and Services
Take care, Eddie Martin owner of The Dent Devils Paintless Dent Repair of San Diego
DuPont Water-Based Paints Help California Auto Body Shops Meet New Air Emissions Regulations
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Paintless Dent Repair By Eve Kelly | Published Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 San Diego Reader Best Buys
To read the rest of the article ~> http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2009/oct/14/best-buys-paintless-dent-repair/
Paintless Dent Repair
By Eve Kelly | Published Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Paintless Dent Repair
Crunch. Uh-oh. Patrick backed into my best friend’s car.
I rang up Eddie Martin, owner and master technician at the Dent Devils (619-726-6767, thedentdevils.com), a paintless dent-removal shop. “People think of us as ‘the body-shop alternative,’” said Martin, “but in reality, the body shop is the alternative to us. Depending on the damage, I bring the car back to factory specs without using paint or Bondo. If a body shop uses Bondo or breaks the paint, then it’s not factory original anymore. On top of that, we’re usually cheaper, faster, and more environmentally friendly.”
It sounded good, so I asked how he managed it. “Paintless dent repair is done with special tools — stainless steel rods and hammers. You go in ...........
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Are you being mislead by a Paintless Dent Repair and Training companies
Seems kinda funny to me why anyone would spend so much effort and money, When it could be spent branding their own name.
When I first started using Google pay perclick this was not allowed.
Is this good marketing or just another way of misleading customers into thinking they are someone else after they have ruined their reputation by putting out poor quality work, training or tools for so many years.
So how do you know if you are dealing with one of these misleading companies?
Try to Google the following....... company name, any listed phone numbers, any persons name in the article, you can find out who owns the web site by going to places like GoDaddy or sometimes even the BBB will give you the information.
IMO if they are going to mislead you into thinking they are someone else then whats going to stop them from anything that might be misleading.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Steel vs. Aluminum: Paintless Dent Removal Repairability
With the increased use of aluminum in today’s cars designed to decrease fuel consumption requirements, repairability should be a major concern in choosing not only the right company but right tch when dealing with new high-tech aluminums and steels. Not to worry! Aluminum can be repaired by a tech with lots of experience and proper training, that fully understands the differences in working aluminum verses steel. Don't be mislead by a fast talking company because if a they do things improperly, not only will the paint crack, but they will ruin an otherwise fixable panel by further stretching the aluminum, then bringing it to the point where the metal will start cracking from work hardening. At this point, it will become non repairable with Paintless Dent Repair or even by a collision repair shop using conventional paint and body methods. At this point in time there are very few shops like ours, in my personal experience, that have properly-trained techs that are able to appropriately handle aluminum welding and paintless dent repair on aluminum.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
How to check out if a company is legal with the Bureau of Automotive Repair
Both shops and mobile repair have to be register with Bureau of Automotive Repair and the City of San Diego plus each city or county if they are mobile!
If a company cannot take the time to legally operate in San Diego why should you trust them with your second largest investment or even more important your life!
Click Here to see if a company is legal with the Bureau of Automotive Repair
Bureau of Automotive Repair
10240 Systems Parkway
Sacramento, CA 95827
(800) 952-5210
Field Office
1310 Union Plaza Court, suite 100
Oceanside, Ca 92054
(858) 716-1025
Bureau of Automotive Repair
10240 Systems Parkway
Sacramento, CA 95827
(800) 952-5210
Field Office
1310 Union Plaza Court, suite 100
Oceanside, Ca 92054
(858) 716-1025
BAR Mission:
To protect and serve California consumers by ensuring a fair and competitive automotive repair marketplace and administering a model motor vehicle emissions reduction program.
Hopefully this post saves someone a lot of grief in going with the wrong company.
Eddie Martin owner of The Dent Devils Paintless Dent Repair and Auto Reconditioning shop
Check out our testimonials http://thedentdevils.com/testimonials.html A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau
Monday, August 24, 2009
San Diego’s Premier Paintless Dent Repair Shop
Hello. My name is Eddie Martin, the owner/tech of The Dent Devils. Since 1996, I have been offering mobile service around San Diego County, but as of March of this year I made the decision to move in with my friends at Euro-Tek Auto Collision. Even after taking awards the last three years for Best Mobile Paintless Dent Repair setup in the 6th, 7th, and 8th Annual International Mobile Tech Expo in Florida, I felt like I was being held back in the craftsmanship that I strive to bring to each and every repair offered to my customers due to the limitations imposed on me by being a mobile technician. I knew that many of the problems being faced by mobile companies, such as having to drill needless access holes to make dent repairs due to the extreme complexities of today's cars, would be eliminated if I was in a shop. I'm the first to agree that having someone come to your work or home offering a mobile service is very convenient. However, most people will agree that a quality job is worth spending a little more on and also worth the inconvenience of dropping their car off for repair. As we all know, in these tough economic times we'll be holding on to our cars longer, and we want to keep that new car feel for as long as we can.
Both myself and Joel De Lara, owner of Euro-Tek Auto Collision, have independently been in the body and paint field repairing high-end cars in San Diego County for well over 22 years. Just ask your insurance company, or most anyone around town, as both companies are very highly respected in the industry. But don't take my word for it; make sure you check out my testimonials and the write-up in the 2008 January/February issue of Mobile-Tech News!
Unlike body shops, dealerships, detail shops, and bumper companies that only subcontract out Paintless Dent Repairs, all of the work on your vehicle will be done by me, a 25-year master tech, so you won't be paying needless markups or risking damage to your vehicle by having a new, inexperienced tech "practicing" on your car. Our shops have highly-trained experts in all facets of collision repair, such as color sanding and polishing your scratches, overspray removal, removing big dents to little door dings, creases, hail damage, custom painting and body work, and all types of bumper damage and wheel damage (scuffs, scrapes, and road rash). We also repair or can replace windshields that might have stone chips, stars, spider cracks, or long cracks. Choosing trusted, reputable companies like us can result in savings of thousands of dollars off what others will charge you and keep you from needing to have things redone. Reduce your stress knowing things will be taken care of right the first time around at a fair price!
If you need help with your lease return or just want to restore your investment with a facelift, drop by our shop today at 1025 13th Street, Downtown San Diego, 92101, for a free evaluation to see if your car is a good candidate for Paintless Dent Removal.* As an alternative, submit your online estimate request with pictures to me today via e-mail or cell phone.
Sincerely, Eddie Martin
*If your vehicle cannot be repaired with PDR, I will automatically forward your request for an estimate to our affiliate body shop, Euro-Tek Auto Collision. Your car could be looking like new tomorrow!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Brake system basic info
Brake pads / brake shoes:
How to choose between Semi metallic and Ceramic pads.
Brake fluid:
Why changing your fluid at least every 2 years is a good idea.
Friday, July 17, 2009
What is and why you should join the National Alliance for Paintless Dent Repair Technicians!
Paintless Dent Repair Technicians!
Paintless Dent Repair technicians looking for information on how to join, please click here.
Who Are We?
The NAPDRT is a Not-for-Profit organization that was started by quality PDR Technicians who are concerned about the future of our trade, the lack of consumer awareness about quality paintless dent repair, and its many advantages over conventional body shop repairs.
Over the past several years, we have seen many insurance companies--and several unscrupulous PDR companies--lower the standards for Paintless Dent Repair to an unacceptable level. The founding members of NAPDRTdecided it was time to get quality PDR technicians across the country together and set standards for PDR where none exist, and to inform the general public about the differences between quality PDR work, and production-oriented work.
This site tells the whole truth about the companies and laws that make it possible to defraud you as a consumer and more importantly WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF.
Why Do You Need Us?
We provide FREE and specific information you can use to protect yourself against insurance and PDR company fraud when your vehicle is damaged by hail.
We also provide a list of NAPDRT approved and Vale Certified Technicians (clickable link to vale info page on this site) techs in your area for retail PDR if you need one.
We also give you information on what you can do if you are already the victim of a bad PDR repair. You probably are not aware of several legal options you may have to fix your dilemma.
Finally, our goal is to make you aware of the value of the service we offer, and make it easy for you to take advantage of the many benefits of paintless dent repair.
Dent repair association concerned by insurer steering
Dent repair association concerned by insurer steering
Publish date: Jul 16, 2009
By: Bruce Adams
Source: Automotive Body Repair News
Members of the National Alliance of Paintless Dent Repair Technicians (NAPDRT) board have received numerous calls from its small business technician members and collision shop clients concerned about some insurance companies requiring body shop owners to use the insurer’s preferred vendor providers for paintless dent repair (PDR) instead of the shop’s preferred PDR technicians.
“NAPDRT's volunteer leaders – all of whom are PDR technicians – take comments from the general membership very seriously and believe strongly in a business owner’s inherent right to structure, manage and orchestrate their personal business as they see fit,” says Tommy Clayton, board secretary and owner of Tommy’s Dent Service in Gibsonville, N.C. “A business owner has an inherent right to select individual vendors, suppliers, systems and services.”
The board’s directors adopted and approved the following position statement to provide its support to the alliance’s membership and the repair industry at large:
Members of the NAPDRT subscribe to establishing the highest standard of PDR and believe in third-party education and skill level testing to ensure quality paintless dent repair and impeccable customer satisfaction.
The NAPDRT supports an individual collision business owner’s selection of a PDR provider that meets the individual’s business needs, relationships and customer’s expectations.
NAPDRT recognizes those insurers that incorporate the established business relationships between the collision repair facility and their preferred PDR provider. And request those that do not, re-evaluate their current PDR model to ensure a quality repair and satisfied policyholder.
Clayton said this problem is occurring nationwide with certain insurers.
“Insurance companies are trying to force collision repair shops to use the insurance company’s PDR vendor of choice, instead of those that the shop may have formed a business relationship with,” Clayton says. “It is steering and it locks out some of our independent members from an opportunity to make a living.”
Clayton cited a case in New York where Allstate lists only one franchised PDR services vendor – Dent Wizard – that is approved to handle supplements on cars that need repairs. A similar situation occurred in New Mexico following a hailstorm involving a different insurer, he said.
Clayton said NAPDRT will continue to monitor this issue and others that have an impact on paintless dent repair professionals. For more information about NAPDRT , which has about 100 members, visit www.napdrt.org
I need to mention the help of NAPDRT member Joe Cicchiello and NAPDRT BOD member Steve Shaughnessy. They are the one that gathered the information that made this possible.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
National Alliance of PDR Technicians (NAPDRT) PRESS RELEASE
Members of the National Alliance of Paintless Dent Repair
Technicians (NAPDRT) board have received numerous calls from its small business technician
members and collision shop clients expressing concern about some
insurance companies requiring shop owners to use the insurer’s preferred vendor
providers for Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) instead of the shop’s preferred PDR technicians.
Members of the NAPDRT subscribe to establishing the highest standard of PDR and
believe in third party education and skill level testing to ensure quality paintless dent repair and
impeccable customer satisfaction.
The NAPDRT supports an individual collision business owner’s selection
of a PDR provider that meets the individual’s business needs, relationships and customer’s expectations.
NAPDRT recognizes those insurers that incorporate the established business relationships between the
collision repair facility and their preferred PDR provider. And request those that do not, reevaluate
their current PDR model to ensure a quality repair and satisfied policy holder.
This official position has been approved by the http://www.napdrt.org/ national board of
directors and provides a clear statement of support to the alliance's
membership and the repair industry at large. It emphasizes the business
owner’s inherent right to select individual vendors, suppliers, systems
and services.
NAPDRT 's volunteer leaders — all of whom are PDR technicians— take
comments from the general membership very seriously and believe
strongly in a business owner’s inherent right to structure, manage and
orchestrate their personal business as they see fit.
The NAPDRT will continue to monitor this issue and others that have an impact on Paintless dent repair professionals.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Auto tips for getting cleaner air
1. Check tire pressure frequently.
2. Never modify your vehicle's emission control system.
3. Change engine oil-and change air, oil and fuel filters-at the manufacturer's suggested intervals.
4. Check tire condition for abnormal wear patterns.
5. Service engine promptly when warning lights appear.
6. Inspect hoses, wiring and belts regularly.
7.Perform all other service and maintenance at manufacturer's suggested intervals.
Before your next smog check is due think about a Pre-Inspection Test
If you're not sure whether your vehicle will pass its Smog Check, you can ask a licensed smog Check technician about a pre-inspection test. A pre-inspection helps diagnose any potential emissions-related problems, giving you a chance to make necessary repairs before your vehicle undergoes an official Smog Check.
Let's help do our part in keeping our air quality as clean as possible.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Not all Paintless Repair Companies are the same
Quality work takes experience, time, the right tools and someone that cares. "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten"
My A+ rating with the BBB, Testimonials page & Yelp.com speak for my self
This slide show shows the proper way dents are supposed to be access
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Paintless Dent Repair is very Green
After working as a painter / body man for over 15 years I look back at all the cars that could have been done PDR if my skill level was then what it is today. Today so many people do not have a clue what can be done not to mention even body shops are living in the dark or worse trying to keep this under wraps because of loosing work.
Friday, May 8, 2009
A little History lesson on the roots of Paintless Dent Repair in the United State
Eddie Martin
PS I will post more as I ask for others permission on what they have written.
* Tom Price Said:
Due to popular requests from a few of you, here is some history of the roots of PDR in this country. I am relating this history to you as I have heard it . It may not be 100% fact, but the jest of the stories are true as I have been told. I'm kind of a PDR historian and fact junkie....others would call me just plain nosy. LOL. PDR gets it's primitive worldwide origins from the assembly lines of the Mercedes and BMW plants in Germany dating back over 60 years there. It is unknown who ever started and perfected this craft there. In the US, PDR has several traceable origins that I know of. The most verifiable is Nattalio Balderama and Dent Wizard dating their incorporation back to 1983 here. Nattalio, or Lido as he is more commonly known, came to the US from Argentina in the early 80's. He was a bodyman from there who was frustrated that a car panel had to be straightened and then painted to be considered properly repaired. He took old school metal bumping techniques and molded them into modern day PDR principles. How he figured all this out, I'll never know. He came to the US and started practicing this art and through lots of courting, formed DW with a few American businessman. I had the distinct privilege of being trained by Lido in Florida in 1992 for 6 weeks. He was an incredible man. Another US PDR pioneer is Juergen Holzer from Minnesota. He was a BMW factory PDR tech from Germany who moved to Minneapolis in about 1978 and started DentKraft there. He traveled all across the US , like Lido in those early days repairing high line cars. He does not have the corporate documentation to be able to refute DW's claim here as being the original. In 1986 Dent Doctor was formed when Tom Harris, a successful American businessman stumbled upon the talents or Darwin Sanders and the 2 joined forces. Darwin's roots go back from his body shop days, and he claims to be an original here in the US I believe also. The modern day Mecca of PDR is Springfield, Missouri. A large group of guys that worked at Springfield Acura there started into the PDR trade in about 1990. They included Jerry Powell, Scott Clifton, Jerry Blehm and a few others. I'm sure there are many others who claim some type of originality, but the ones listed above have the most substantiation I know of. It is interesting to note that DW had a unique style of PDR with their cold-rolled bendable tools, flatbars, master tools, fog reflection systems etc. DW also trains techs in the "upside down " doording position. Most of the rest of the PDR companies of old utilized pre-formed, heat-treated tools with bare-bulbed fluorescent lighting systems and stand in the normal leaning forward doording position. This a a bit of the origins and history as has been told and proven to me. If you want a bit more elaboration or embellishment on this subject, look me up at MTE. I'm the big, tall, loud, ugly guy with the short hair that everyone is afraid of.....LOL. I will not be involved with any MTE activities other than as a spectator this year. I will have time to shoot the breeze. I will be hanging out a bit at the PDQ tools booth.
* Tom Price Said:
Lido is not directly employed by DW Corporate anymore , nor does he own much of anything in the US for DW. He does still have some DW International interests I believe. He still is paid to do some special training projects for DW in St Louis here and there my sources say. Juergen still does dents in the Minneapolis area and has trained several techs over the years. Tom Harris is the majority owner of Dent Doctor. Darwin owns some interests in Dent Doctor and or franchises and still does some training I hear. Jerry Powell is still the legendary PDR stud that he has always been. He now has a retail shop in Colorado Springs and still has his shop in Springfield , Missouri. Trey Pool[ dentbrain] has more info on Jerry. Scott Clifton used to own US Dent for many years. He sold it a couple years ago after he had milked it for all he could. Jerry Blehm sold A-1 to Jon [the current owner] a couple years ago and is retired from PDR interests if I remember correctly. I hear a lot of info in the PDR world and talk to a lot of people. Sometimes my memory is hard pressed to remember all the details I heard, but it's usually fairly accurate.
Tommy Clayton Said:
A couple of things I understand from Jerry Powell (its been a couple of years since I talked to Jerry) He started around 86-87. The story I heard is that they had a guy lido trained who would not show them how they took dents out. Jerry bought an old car and started knocking dents in it and trying to take dents out until he learned and taught Robert his brother (who the last time I worked with him was as good as Jerry(jerry admits this)). I know Jerry trained a lot of people but he trained some guys for Steve Gerhartz (a wholesaler for American Sales and Imports in DC).Dentworks in DC This was around 89 or 90. DW bought Dentworks of DC (around 96) and last I heard Steve Gerhartz still worked for them. Steve talked up Dentworks to his buyers and convinced John Wickstead of Greensboro NC to buy in. Jerry trained Ricky Clayton (my uncle) and Scott (Wicksteads son who still works for Wickstead)in late 90 early 91.I went to work for Wickstead in early 92. An idustrial salesman bought Wickstead out in late 96 after Ricky (who is in northern VA) and another guy Josh(who went to work for DW in Northern VA and has since left) left. We trained some guys to work for Dentworks and I bought my way out of my contract in early 98. The guys we trained have left Dentworks except for a Salesman we had who forced the owner of Dentworsk NC to sell to him or everyone would quit. Sorry to ramble on but I got to thinking of how PDR started in NC.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Why The Dent Devils Dent Removal Method’s are better!
Frequently customers that visited mobile PDR “specialists” or body shops are faced with one of these scenarios:
- The dent is impossible to fix by PDR, go to a body shop.
- There’s no way to fix the ding or dent without drilling needless access holes.
These companies simply don’t have the training, experience and/or proper tools (no other company in San Diego has as many tools) these tools are necessary to perform PDR to its fullest capabilities, but on the good side were hopefully honest enough to tell the customer and refer them to The Dent Devils and The Euro-Tek Auto Collision Center located in downtown San Diego.
New highlighted equipment added:
· Bend-Pac mid rise lift (rises auto to proper height for repairs, factory access holes in wheel wells, undersides of doors and other area’s are now easily usable. So this eliminates drilling needless access holes.
· AllData Automotive Collision software this is an invaluable tool that no other PDR company has and only a few body shops have so far in San Diego.( recommended by Insurance companies such as ESURANCE) This is very important because it shows factory access points, braces / crash beams, hidden clips, screws, proper removal of trim, doors and other parts all to gain the best access to the backside of panels. This online product contains OEM collision repair information for 2000 and newer model year vehicles, plus full diagnosis and repair content.
More reasons why you should bring your car to us.
· We are San Diego’s only in house PDR & Collision shop (everything is done in house and not subcontracted out) We now also except insurance claims & can deal directly with your insurance company if needed.
· Even though we have taken 3 awards for best mobile PDR setup Eddie Martin the owner of The Dent Devils saw the many limitations in mobile repairs on today’s high-end cars with all their complexities.
· If you have broken trim pieces, clips, taillights or need anything else your parts are just a phone call away which is essential to bringing your car back to true pre-accident condition.
· The Dent Devils was given a national A+ rating by the (BBB) Better Business Bureau , a member of the (BAR) BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR & National Alliance of DR Technicians
· A much worse scenario—besides common scams, would be if they didn’t, and decided to go ahead and “butcher” your car anyway. See web site for examples:
Don’t be fooled by amateurs. Give your car the TLC it deserves.
Both Eddie Martin, owner of The Dent Devils, and Joel De Lara, owner of Euro-Tek Auto Collision, have separately been repairing high-end cars for well over 20 years in San Diego County. Just ask your insurance company, or most anyone around town, as both companies are very highly respected in the auto collision repair industry!
If you need help with your investment drop by our shop today for a free estimate / consultation at 1025 13th Street, downtown San Diego, 92101
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Don't Lose Money on Your Lease Return!
http://thedentdevils.com/











