Bayer Smash Repairs

AWARDS 2007 AAMI

AAMI/AP&P AUTOBODY REPAIRER OF THE YEAR REGIONAL WINNER (SMALL SHOP) QLD.
Bayer Smash Repairs
It isn't often you hear US accents in an Australian panel shop, but there are three of them in Bayer Smash Repairs, 27 Kilometres south of Brisbane. Randy, Stuart and Herb Bayer came to Australia as children in the early 70s and settled in Brisbane. Randy Bayer, by then a qualified panel beater, started the current business in 1978 and was joined by his two brothers shortly after. Both Stuart and Herby Bayer are qualified autobody technicians.
Five years ago the brothers bought land in Loganholme and built a row of industrial units, and turned the front one into their new panel shop. This gives the company room to expand should it wish to.
The company concentrates on better quality work which attracts insurance support from RACQ, Suncorp and Allianz on prestige vehicles. It also gets continuing jobs from its growing list of satisfied customers.
Unlike some of his contemporaries, Randy Bayer promotes a peaceful relationship between his shop and insurers.
"You can't get anywhere with a 'them and us' attitude," he says. "Virtually every problem can be solved through discussion."
Levels of equipment include an Aussie spray booth (not a Yankee one), Weidlander + Schill inverter welder, and PPG paint. As is often the case, PPG has also helped with the development of the company's management and scheduling system, while Flexi Quote is the quoting system of choice. The company is also considering the purchase of a Car-O-Tronic measuring machine to update the current manual system.
As a measure of Bayer's quality standards, it is the principal repairer for a major BMW dealership. Bayer has resisted taking on the livery of a BMW repairer, preferring its own distinctive colour scheme and style of presentation.
Every repairer in Queensland, has had to find a solution to the water shortage when washing cars. Bayer likes to present a washed car to its customers but was equipped with either recycling or roof water harvesting. The simple solution has been to install a good old fashioned galvanised iron tank and pay to have it filled regularly.
Like many of his Queensland contemporaries, Randy Bayer has a 'wait and see' attitude to real time, real money, fearing that insurers will see it driving repair prices up at a time when theya re trying to go on the opposite direction.

Wright's comment
The Bayer brothers are obviously confident and comfortable in running a small, efficient shop for a quality conscious market. They can expand virtually when ever they want.