Paint shop woes

[keith4909]

My car has been in the body shop for over 8 months with very minimal work completed. I was given a 6-8 week completion time after media blasting. Put almost half down to get things going. I'm in Nevada. Anyone know what my rights are? I'm really getting anxious that my car isn't done yet.

[protouring70]

Bud welcome to paint shop jail! My truck has been tied up for nearly 3 yrs......good luck

[Y-TRY]

I feel for you. I think my situation has reached the nightmare scenario, but not really to paint shop blame. LONG story short- I'm on my 3rd shop since I committed and jumped into the project. The car has been blasted to bare metal and primed 3 times and patiently sat in line since late 2006.

In November I could see light at the end of the tunnel. Engine bay and door jambs painted, then the bottom fell out at work. I called an immediate halt on the car.

You see, finances were no problem while the car sat there waiting. Now I find myself 7 years and an embarrassing amount of money into the car, owing the shop about 3 weeks to break even and still another 3 weeks needed to have it shiny. But the money well has dried up.

I think the lesson is that a lot of life changes can happen while a car sits in line at a body shop. I wish I'd been less patient.

[BMR Sales]

Paint Prison is a tough place to break out of!

Is the Shop doing the work also doing Insurance Collision work?

[dhutton]

My car has been in the body shop for over 8 months with very minimal work completed. I was given a 6-8 week completion time after media blasting. Put almost half down to get things going. I'm in California. Anyone know what my rights are? I'm really getting anxious that my car isn't done yet.

Half down. Damn, that money was gone 8 months ago and now he has little incentive to finish the car since he now has to fund that work, essentially do it for free. Don't give him another dime, and you can be sure he is going to ask you for more at some point since it was so easy to get it the first time.

[vintageracer]

Lesson learned is to NEVER pay any money upfront for work on a car or a home. That vendor who wants money up front also has the power of a mechanics lien to place a lien on your property (home or car) for none payment so why in the world would you pay up front for work that's not completed??? You have virtually NO recourse if the vendor does not complete the work. NO WORK NO MONEY!

I can understand paying for parts needed for that weeks work on the project but no more. Let the vendor BILL YOU for the work they have completed that week and make them show that work with pictures if you are not local. It's easy for a vendor to document their weekly progress in today's internet world.

IF a vendor is so under-capitalized that they cannot do one weeks worth of work/labor without payment up front find another vendor for that service or labor. Body shops are the WORST!

All in all body shops have ruined the restoration/hot rod hobby. I can't tell you how many big money guys I know that have quit building cars as they are tired being a "Dollar waiting on a Nickel". Guess who the Nickel is? Ya the body shop!

As has always been said many times when buying an old car: Buy Cosmetics not Mechanical! Most car guys can do at least some of the mechanics but have have the desire or ability do the cosmetics such as sheetmetal, paint/body and trim.

Your solution to your problem at this point is to go get your car out there and chalk up the money lost to stupid tax.

Just don't do again!

By the way we have all done it including me. Just learn from your mistakes.

[cactuss4]

Where in California

[Motown 454]

NEVER pay any money upfront for work on a car or a home.

AMEN! vintageracer.

[keith4909]

I went up today and the shop owner wasn't there. I spoke to some of the employees and I'm sure my message was heard loud and clear. I keep being told 2 weeks 2 weeks. This guy just takes too many projects. There is always an excuse. The shop is in nevada I basically said today if the project does show progress that we will act like a deal was never made and I will get my deposit back. I don't mind it taking long. I just don't like to be feed ****. Man up. All in total I am budgeting for 19k so it's not a cheap paint job. I expect a better experience. .

[keith4909]

No collision just hot rods/muscle cars. I'll tell you all who once the car is done. You never know who's watching.

[cactuss4]

Well post it later or pm me, 'i'm in NorCal and looking for shops so would be good not to end up in your situation

Tory

[Jetfixr320]

I feel for you. I think my situation has reached the nightmare scenario, but not really to paint shop blame. LONG story short- I'm on my 3rd shop since I committed and jumped into the project. The car has been blasted to bare metal and primed 3 times and patiently sat in line since late 2006.

In November I could see light at the end of the tunnel. Engine bay and door jambs painted, then the bottom fell out at work. I called an immediate halt on the car.

You see, finances were no problem while the car sat there waiting. Now I find myself 7 years and an embarrassing amount of money into the car, owing the shop about 3 weeks to break even and still another 3 weeks needed to have it shiny. But the money well has dried up.

I think the lesson is that a lot of life changes can happen while a car sits in line at a body shop. I wish I'd been less patient.

2006? That is insane that you waited that long!

[Ghiaguy]

WOW -- I know a guy that does 50's-early 60's Corvettes bodies and paint 18 months and yours is the only car he is working on,,,, but talk about gorgeous.......

Buy the supplies -- about 20% -- but if I EVER walk in to a shop and my car isn't the center of attention, after I've dropped it off,,,, if they ain't working on it, it's out of there and I'm going to small claims court for a judgment for what I've paid....

I bet his employees have heard the same tirade from a lot of people,,, sounds like his M.O. to me

[tigerracer]

Since you are in California, you have the Bureau of Automobile Repair to help get your money back, or the mention of the Bureau may motivate them. There are a lot of laws to protect the consumer in Cali.

Good Luck,
Dale Akuszewski
Dales Restorations
San Berdoo,Ca

[keith4909]

I ended up putting a fire under his xxx. It's in the body shop now from the pics. Let's hope it stays there. I will bug them every few days. I said if a substantial amount of work isn't done by next week that I will take my car,supplies,and deposit. Then he tells me there is already 43 hours of work. I said you only did a fender and door. 43hr my xxx. I'm a business owner and I pride myself with my work ethic. These guys won't last. It only takes a few bad reviews to ruin your business. Thank you for all the advice and help.

[68Cuda440]

2006? That is insane that you waited that long!

To be fair, I think the current shop has had the car for a bit over a year, and some of the wait in this year was not the shop's doing. I have met Mr. "Y" and also know the shop owner. The previous 2 shops were not as much fun is what I gathered from our conversations.

This is the same shop that did my car's paint. My car arrived 9/17/2013 and came home painted 6/14/2014. I was told it would be 2+ months before they started on the car. It is a small shop, only a couple of guys. They worked on it off and on, but they were honest about everything, did good work, and did not ask for money until work was actually being done. If I had pushed they would have finished faster. The owner told me there would be breaks occasionally while they took in small jobs to make money and keep his guys busy. Good experience, no regrets.

[Jetfixr320]

68Cuda

Your car looks Great! They obviously do great work.

I misread his post and the fact he had been through 3 shops.

I won't fall victim to the unethical painter again, mine wasn't painful long, but the jacked up price at the end. I read a lot and asked many many questions and learned to do my own body and paint.

Did the Falcon and a 67 Dart in my 2 car garage.

[icemanrd19]

Rodney is more than happy to work with anyone on their build. He will never tell anyone a time or money amount that isn't realistic. At one point i owed him a lot of money and at no point did he ever demand money from me. The reason i went with him was honest, build at my pace, easy to see progress, and allows me to work on my own car at this shop. Over the course of a few years we have became pretty good friends. He's not doing this business to make a lot of money he's doing it because he likes to and he can supply a living for others.

www.rodscarcraft.com

[gray86hach]

On dads car it was 9 weeks from the day we dropped it off. Was blasted the day we dropped it off. Dad paid $1000 every friday and was there twice a week to take pictures. There was a clear understanding up front. Worked out great for everyone.

Having a understanding up front was key.

Good luck with your deal

Tim

[parsonsj]

Yep. Weekly/monthly billing is the way to go. It doesn't always work, but never pay half the estimate up front.