North Idaho Collision puts focus on quality, customers

BONNERS FERRY — North Idaho Collision's recent expansion is all about the customer.

More space, more tools and more equipment — all aimed at helping the shop's crew fix customers' vehicles better, more efficiently and easier than ever before.

North Idaho Collision's recent expansion gives the crew more room to work — and allows the business to do a better job for customers, owner Shane Florea said.

When he opened North Idaho Collision, Florea said he started with a simple concept — do it right and treat his customers the way he would want to be treated.

"We put a focus on customer service and quality," he said. "I don't care what business you have. If you care about that, if you truly care about it, the money comes, and the people come and you're always busy. And you always can go to sleep at nighttime, knowing you did the right thing."

A new addition adds 5,500 square feet, more than doubling the size of space available at the shop previously. Because crews have more room to work and work areas are bigger and more organized, Florea said production is up 23 percent since they opened the new building.

More space allows North Idaho Collision to be more organized and pay even more attention to the details. When cars come in, a checklist is created of the work that needs to be done and the parts needed to do that work, Florea said. The same for if the vehicle has been brought in for a paint job.

The new and larger paint room allows more space to maneuver and is packed with the latest features — all of which allow North Idaho Collision to customize and blend the paints to return your vehicle to that fresh off the assembly line look

For repairs, parts are pulled, placed in an area dedicated to that car so when it comes time to do the work, all of the parts are in one place. Photographs are taken to ensure whatever damage on the car is fixed in the way it needs to be fixed. After repairs are made, new photos are taken.

Florea said it not only helps customers to see the before and after photos of the work, but serves as a record of the work.

"Everything is systematic, everything has a packet," he said. "It tells us every individual thing to do so we don't miss anything."

The same system is in place for paint jobs and everything else the shop does for its customers, Florea said.

Another part of the work order is dedicated to the little extra things the shop does for its customers.

"We are always continually doing extra things for the customer," Florea said. "Say we're painting a car door and there's a dent in it, I'm going to fix that. I'm not going to charge them, I'm just going to fix it. … We were just doing it before and nobody knew it. It's nice to let the customer know what you're doing."

Florea said it is important for him to have a shop that gives his crew all of the tools they need to do their jobs.

"They're awesome. I can't do this without them," he added.

Ensuring his crew has the space and the tools they need to do their jobs in the best way possible, Florea said is not only the right thing to do but benefits his customers as well.

"I got to look out for these guys. That's the whole thing," he added. "I can't do this without 'em, and my job is to provide them with the most comfortable place to work and the tools they need and make their job easier."

Having the space, and the tools, helps them do the job — and do it right, Florea said.

With technology constantly changing, Florea said he is dedicated to ensuring his shop has all of the tools needed to fix all of the vehicles out there. Whether it's one that has been on the road for decades or one that just rolled off the assembly line, he said he constantly is exploring new ways and equipment to fix those vehicles.

With crews needing to do everything from body work to electronics to welding, mechanical repairs and more, having the right equipment helps his crews do their jobs better — and gives customers a car returned to factory condition.

Which is why he doesn't use after-market parts. Using the parts built for that particular car and model ensures the vehicle is returned to pre-accident condition.

"You gotta fix the cars right. You have to have those tools," Florea said. "It's because we care. You care and then you get the tools, you get the stuff that you need to fix the car right. But in big city body shops are all about (money) and it's really unfortunate because you're just a number, and (they'll just) throw those aftermarket parts on it.

"That is a huge deal because we're returning your car to pre-accident condition. You don't have aftermarket crap on your car before you got into a collision. Now the insurance companies think it's OK to put aftermarket crap on your car because you've been in a collision. And now your rates have just gone up and your car isn't the same."

At his shop, Florea said he prefers to do things right, saying for him using after-market parts is a way of cutting corners to make more money. He'd rather use original-to-the-car parts and do it right even if it means making a little bit less.

"What I'd like people to know is that we do care," he added. "That's the difference you're going to get with our shop is that we care."

Information: nicrepaircenter.com