How long does it take to finish...Geez

[eagleone1983]

I just have to vent a little. I just called the body shop a couple days ago and yet again another week where no progress has been made on my car. Just to give a little background...I brought the car to them July 2010 and they had to replace both quarter skins, the front parts of the drivers and passenger floors, and the infamous rear window lower corners. I brought them just a shell and all they needed to do is fix the metal, do the underside of the car, and block/paint. I don't believe this should be taking this long.

Don't get me wrong I understand that shops have to stay in business by working insurance claims and such but geez. Not only that, he has taken on three more restorations since mine has been there. Why not stop taking on cars and get mine finished and out if the shop so it stops taking space. Especially since between a '69 Camero, 65 mustang, Plymouth Scamp, and a '29 Ford MINE IS THE BIGGEST ONE TAKING UP THE MOST SPACE.

Ladies and Gentleman...thank you for the opportunity to lend me your eyes. Now it's time to make some calls

 

[dbowperson]

Unfortunately you are in the same boat as a lot of people. This is the reason why many try and do their cars themselves, so they can avoid this aggravation. The shop knows that once they have the car in the door, the chances are that it will be there until it's done, no matter how long it takes. They make their money based on volume, which is why they keep bringing new projects in. They need to have a good 12 month+ backlog of work, or else layoffs start happening.

At least it sounds like work has been getting done, albeit slowly. You can try calling around to see if someone else will take it, but you can expect to pay a lot more, because the new shop will probably want to go through and double check everything that has already been done. Your best bet might be to go down in person, sit down with the owner, and set up a timeline.

 

[72Satellite440]

I say unless you want to yank it and set it up with another shop that may or may not charge more-let them take their time because I feel if you rush them two things will happen

A they will get annoyed with you even though your a paying customer
B they will rush the job and less quality of work will be put in

 

[ilm65]

Greetings; dbowperson has some good advice--go in person, sit with the owner to discuss this, let them know of your frustration--that's step one. With me, step one didn't work and in a heated moment, I said: "Maybe we'll just have to settle this in court"--to which my guy responded: "@%#*~@, sue me!" Step two: I visited with my attorney and his experience was that typically, as soon as the shop owner gets the letter stating "I represent Mr. Mopar concerning..." they usually get off the dime and finish the job. Sure enough, 3 days later my cell phone started ringing with apologetic messages. I let him stew for another day and when I finally talked with him, he couldn't apologize enough and said he'd deliver the car within 2 more months. We met, I had him sign an agreement to that effect (including what would happen and how much he would reimburse me $$$ if the conditions weren't met) and 66 days later, he delivered the car to me at my garage (2 years to the month from taking it to him)--but what a beautiful job he did!!! Sorry for the long reply, but maybe some of the details will help you; GOOD LUCK!

 

[northerndave]

Stop by once a week if you can, or maybe every other day? :grin:

Seriously, show enthusiasm & excitement for your car being done. In a possitive way ie "hey this looks great? what's next?"

etc.

Keep your car in the spotlight so to speak.

It'll help.

 

[eagleone1983]

I see the points here. I actually did sit down with him about two months ago and asked him what kind of coin I needed to throw down to make my car a priority. We agreed on $1500 but that was a short lived week where my car became the priority. It's hard to complain seeing I'm only being charged $35/hour and the shop owner lets me use his shop and even gave me a key. I'm just getting to the point that I miss my car and want it back but feel bad trying to rush the shop owner since we have become friends. I'm going to go down there and talk to him and see what can be done.

 

[dbowperson]

I think a good relationship with the owner is definitely a good thing, but could also be a hindrance at times, as you are finding out. Is the shop rate a special deal for you, or is that their normal rate? If it's a deal, then you kind of need to give him the benefit of the doubt if higher paying jobs get pushed ahead, but even that should have it's limits. The amount of time wouldn't bug me too much, but I can see where you're coming from. I hope it all works out, and in the end you have a great body/paint job, and a shop where you can go hang out any time you want.

 

[eagleone1983]

The rate he charges me is his military rate so it's a special rate. He has explained to me how the whole insurance thing works and why he needs to take those when he gets them and put the restoration projects on hold. I don't mind that he works on insurance claims and not my car because I understand he needs to stay in business my complaint is the other restoration cars that he has started instead of just finishing mine up.

 

[BuckNeccid]

The other jobs going in front of you could be coming back to the rate as well as the friendship. You're a friend, he's doing it at a lower rate and paying particular attention to how well he does it, and the other jobs are paying full price.

When I was running my place, I learned pretty quickly that when someone wanted a special rate and told you they didn't care how long it would take, they would normally be pushing you harder than anyone else to get thier stuff done. I had one "Gent" who kept after me for 4 months before I would even agree to take his job, and then told him to figure it would be a year before he got it back at the rate I quoted him, with the understanding that it would only be worked on in our spare time. Within 3 weeks he was becoming "assertive" about why I wasn't working on his car, trying to get me to push him ahead of other jobs. I got tired of it, he became a priority, his car was done in 2 weeks (with him seeing the progress since by that time he was stopping every other day), and it was ready for him to pick it up. He showed up, without the money to pay for it, and told me he didn't know when he could pay for it, but he was taking the car then. Nope, not gonna happen. I advised him that a fresh restoration couldn't be stored outside, so it would need inside storage @$25/day to protect it. He had the money the next day. I forgot to mention that I had a guy helping me clean up and such that was mentally challenged, and when I started shooting it I saw quickly that I didn't have enough paint, stopped painting and went to get more. While I was gone, he showed up, started browbeating Roger in my paintbooth, and was gone when I got back. Roger was torn up so bad he was crying cause this clown was making it all Roger's fault.

I'm not saying you're like this, far from it, but please recognize he's dealt with people like this in the past, and there's a good chance he's starting to get apprehensive about how things are going to go. Bodywork is something that takes patience, and there are ways to make shortcuts that will hold up over the years. Pray he doesn't get hurried and decide to shortcut and hide it, knowing it will be years before anything shows, but the damage is done.

I don't know how many employees he has, his expense structure, or how he pays himself, but please remember, he has to eat and cover those expenses, and if he's really a friend, he isn't short-changing you, he's just trying to keep body and soul together in the best way he knows how. It may be that he only has one or two other people he can trust to do certain jobs, so he may be looking out for your welfare by not letting a trainee do the work on your car. I know you're wanting your car back, but just because it's getting close, don't let that make you so anxious you cause him to hurry up the job.

 

[eagleone1983]

Understood Buckneccid and I know that is exactly his stand point. My price isn't far off of the shop price only a ten dollar an hour difference. Keep in mind though I haven't complained to him and never would because I know he is hooking me up. As far as payment, since the restoration started back in July of 2010 my account has never been below a balance of $500 so that way he never went into the negatives working on my car. Currently there is a balance of over $1,000 in my account and I just want him to do something with my money not let it just sit.

 

[Ron 73]

Maybe you might take some photos with him seeing you do this and tell him the guys at the forum wants me (you) to keep them updated to the work being done, Then when it slows down maybe tell him were wondering when the next installment of pictures is coming... At the least, Your car should be correct when its done... Good luck, keep the faith, the "Big Day" on its way.

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

from my experience, it only gets worse from this point forward. You see his work ethics and you need to find a shop that will work on your car.
i found a great shop near me that gets my cars done at a reasonable time.you just need to go to different shops to see their work load. busy busy shops will always take the job where they can make the most money. its human nature.YANK YOUR JUNK OUT.

 

[ozonedepletion]

when I was 20 I sent my 69 GTO which was slightly better than a wreck to a local paint and panel shop and made the mistake of saying "just fit it in when you can….no hurry" Over 2 years later when it finally came out of surgery.
I remember handing over wads of $500 on more than four occasions tho
Put your foot down and dont hand over money until you see some progress or even at the end if you can. A "progress payment" should be for work completed not to be payin for stuff "To Do"
Lots of Specialists lead you to beleive they are doing you a favour. Good luck man