Protecting Our Customers and Employees During the COVID-19 Crisis

The COVID-19 coronavirus is presenting challenges to people and businesses throughout the United States and the world. More locally, Decatur businesses like Newell’s Auto Body have had to implement new procedures in order to provide essential services without putting ourselves, customers, employees, and all of our families at risk of contracting the virus. Here is what we are doing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Why is Newell’s Open While Other Businesses Are Closed?

You may be wondering why Newell’s Auto Body is still open and operating during this unprecedented crisis while other Decatur area businesses are closed. As part of the transportation industry, Newell’s is defined as an essential business under both federal and state guidelines.

Our customers and other essential businesses need to have access to repair services and collision service if they are involved in an accident that requires such express services as:

• Headlamp or Taillamp replacement
• Mirror repair
• Auto glass replacement as part of collision repair
• Repair and recalibration of sensors and other safety features
• Damage that affects the structural soundness of your vehicle
• Suspension and mechanical damage resulting from an accident 
• Any other damage that may prevent you from confidently using your vehicle 

How Are We Protecting Our Customers and Employees?

Social distancing has been proven to be one of the best ways to stop the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. Newell’s is implementing steps to limit person-to-person contact between customers and employees to prevent possible exposures to the virus. We have also implemented procedures to protect our employees from possible exposure not only from each other, but also individuals that would typically pass through our building. This includes insurance adjusters, parts suppliers, mail and parcel delivery, and other outside vendors. Our new procedures are designed to isolate our facility and employees to keep them safe.

Newell’s cares about the health and safety of our customers and their families. Therefore, we have made changes to our usual drop off procedures for our customers. Our front lobby is closed, but Newell’s is open for business, and we are working in the office and the  shop. We request that our customers call us before bringing your vehicle to our shop for our latest drop off procedures. Newell’s will call you the day before your drop off to go over our new procedures.

Our new drop off procedures include:

• Pulling up to the front of the building
• Calling us to let us know you are here
• Removing all your belongings from your vehicle
• Turning over your keys to our shop assistant who will meet you and place your keys in a plastic bag
• Maintaining a healthy distance from our employees for both your and their safety
• Having arrangements for someone to pick you up because we cannot provide shuttle service or at this time
• We will open your vehicle and allow it to air out as recommended by medical professionals
• We will then spend an hour sanitizing all touchpoints on your vehicle before we begin disassembly of it and when we are done with your repair, we will sanitize your vehicle again

When it is time for you to pick up your vehicle, you must have someone drop you off at our shop because we cannot provide shuttle service. We request that you make your deductible payment or other payment type by credit card over the phone. If this is not possible, we ask that you submit your payment by check or check from your insurance company in an envelope through our dropbox. Newell’s will leave the receipt for repairs inside your vehicle.

Introducing Newell’s New Estimating Procedure

To help facilitate estimates during this time, Newell’s is now offering an easy-to-use photo estimating tool. Just visit our Estimates page and click the Photo Estimate button to start the estimate process with us. You will be guided through submitting photos of your vehicle’s damage through your smartphone to us. We can then provide you with a preliminary estimate to repair the damage. One of our estimators will contact you if more information is needed, and to help you book an appointment to drop off your vehicle for repair.

Learn more about Photo Estimates here

While Newell’s has changed how we would typically do drop-offs and pick-ups, we are doing this for the protection of our customers and our employees. If you have any questions or need to schedule a drop off appointment, do not hesitate to call us at (217) 877-7632 or visit the chat feature on our website. We are here for you if you need us.