Cascade Crew

MrMike98 · Member Joined: 18 May 2010 Posts: 231 Location: Bremerton

This can be a very long post-but-i will try and be breif.

1. I am restoring -repainting my 90 GTA - i did most of work-6 months block sanding in the drive way

2) got to a pont were i needed a pro to finish color coats and clears..

3) got 5-6 estaments and actually went with the most expensive-do to apperant expertice and we had same idea for finished car ,etc..

4)contract signed - car to shop- 2 months for work

5) that was 14 months ago- i just saw the car and its not even 1/2 done (IMHO).

6) AND he gave me a sob story--- so i have already paid him 95% of total$ now he has no motivation to finish-my bad-.....

7) what do I do ??? i will not name said shop untill this is settled on way or another.
OR is this a NORMAL practice
Mike

chevymad · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 4:38 pm Post subject:

You hear this story over and over all across the internet. Seems to be pretty normal for body guys. Some take years. Sad

You need to keep pushing. Worst part is you paid too much up front, you no longer have a carrot you'll have to carry a stick instead.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject:

Yup. Never pay up front. Get a good estimate and stay informed.

You'd kinda at the mercy of the guy now. He likely spent your money and has no money to even move forward with your project. I speak from experience working for one of these a-holes.

IROCDave · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 9:14 pm Post subject:

Be the squeaky wheel. Be a pain in there ass by stopping by everyday to check on progress. Bitching and complaining wont work, maybe offering to help them finish the job will be motivation. Just keep making your presense known.

izcain · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 10:22 pm Post subject:

Pretty much what everyone above has posted is the norm for a body shop. Your doing pretty good @ 14 months. I have waited over 6 YEARS to get something done! Shocked

...... Another Idea is to take a bit of money extra and use it as incentive. "I will give you an extra XXX if you will get the car done by X date" tell you have a show you are preparing for and cannot miss it. I have taken it all different ways and honestly anytime something is painted it is a pain in the @ss.

I know taking extra money and putting it towards something that you feel has already been paid for is not cool but sometimes you have to take drastic measures to get something done.

Alphius · Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 6:33 am Post subject:

Sadly, that is horrible but mostly par for the course.

My dad would never do that to a customer's car, but he also didn't like having them taking up his garage either. Wink

I think the longest he had any customer car was about 6 weeks.

Apparently when you go pro in the painting world you start getting lazy. Razz

QwkTrip · Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 11:25 am Post subject:

Pay a lawyer to send them a nice letter. They'll get it done to avoid the legal hassle.

RSFreak · Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 9:15 am Post subject:

Whiskeychick · Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 9:07 am Post subject:

Ya I can tell ya, cash jobs mean nothing to most body shops. We dont make money on cash jobs. Usually takes us between 6-8 months to do a cash complete, where as I get an insurance job complete done in under a week.

Hound the living crap out of them. Show up once a week at least, pester pester pester, go over your car look and at it. Boss will get sick of you and tell his guys to get it done so he doesnt have to deal with you anymore.
But be super nice about it, so he cant really get mad Razz