Hailstorm causes Calgary stores millions in damage, sparks deals

Hailstones larger than golf balls ripped through Calgary’s northeast quadrant June 13, wreaking havoc on dealers in the area.

Assessment is ongoing and final figures won’t be available for a few days, but some dealerships were hit for more than $2 million. According to Ben Maitland of Platinum Mitsubishi, the process was a couple of days late getting started because out-of-town adjusters had delays due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

General Manager Brian Schmidt of Country Hills Toyota, said despite having 300 vehicles under hail tents, another 200 new and used were damaged.

“Some used vehicles will be a writeoff,” Schmidt said. “Newer units are repairable, but most need new roofs, hoods, trunk lids and side panels along with lights and trim pieces. The cost will be in the neighbourhood of $10,000 per unit. It’s going to cost $2 million or so.

“Oddly, only one windshield needs replacement.”

Jim McManes of Mercedes-Benz Country Hills said about half the dealership’s inventory was under cover, but more than 230 vehicles were hit, including some customer vehicles.

“We don’t have a damage total yet, but it’s substantial,” he said.

Jordon Romeril, general manager at Country Hills Hyundai, said 320 vehicles were affected, but most can be brought back repairing dents.

“We have just started the appraisal process,” he said. Like many dealers, Romeril carries hail insurance, but deductible “is significant.”

Next door, Country Hills Nissan had 300 vehicles under hail nets which largely did their job. The nets slumped under the weight of the hail, but damage was limited to roofs and glass.

Nels Kelly, general manager at Country Hills Volkswagen, said the 110 vehicles on his lot were all under hail tents.

“Some of the tents had some damage but they worked very well. We only had three vehicles with slight damage and they’ve already been repaired.”

The dealership on Wednesday began promoting its “All Hail to the Sale” event, noting “minor damage = BIG savings.”

“All trades are welcome. Hail damage or not,” a Facebook post says.

Dealers on the southern edge of the storm had less, but still significant, damage.

Ben Maitland of Platinum Mitsubishi said every unit on the lot had “an enormous number of dents on roofs, hoods, trunk lids, even both side panels on some.”
“It was like the storm was rotating,” he said. Most units, though, are repairable.

Eastside Kia General Manager Kelly Temple said “we were lucky we were at the southern tip of the storm and were not severely hit. None of the more than 200 cars on the lot will need new body panels.”

Universal Ford Lincoln located a couple of blocks north, had damage to the 300 vehicles on its lot. Large trucks suffered the least while smaller crossovers and SUVs sustained more dents.

Stampede Toyota owner Glen Rumple said permanent hail tents were erected just weeks before the storm hit. Only 40 new or used vehicles were slightly damaged.