Resto shops and ripoffs

[biomedtechguy]

If people’s labor was more reasonable today, it might be different. But, people today try to hit the jackpot off each little job they acquire. That’s not how small business works.

We are like minded in this regard, again.
Rates in my industry are significant, generally in the $250-$350/hr range for a manufacturer's technician to be onsite or bench labor. Independent or small companies are more in the $175 range.
My full rate is $150/hr which is double what I used to charge for audio/video and low voltage wiring installation per hour.
BUT
In the interest of getting clients to COMMIT to calling on me for service, and to assure myself of recurring revenue, I give them a significant discount on the hourly rate for unscheduled repair or service needs if they agree to have me do scheduled Planned Maintenance service which is generally on a 1 or 2 times per year schedule and quoted at a per item or flat rate based on the scope of work.
The other way to put that is exactly the opposite of what some try to do, and that is squeezing the most money out of each service event possible. I'd rather have less recurring revenue than to make as much as possible and then lose all business to someone else.
Big picture guy here. It seems to be working out for me.

 

[pearljam724]

We are like minded in this regard, again.
Rates in my industry are significant, generally in the $250-$350/hr range for a manufacturer's technician to be onsite or bench labor. Independent or small companies are more in the $175 range.
My full rate is $150/hr which is double what I used to charge for audio/video and low voltage wiring installation per hour.
BUT
In the interest of getting clients to COMMIT to calling on me for service, and to assure myself of recurring revenue, I give them a significant discount on the hourly rate for unscheduled repair or service needs if they agree to have me do scheduled Planned Maintenance service which is generally on a 1 or 2 times per year schedule and quoted at a per item or flat rate based on the scope of work.
The other way to put that is exactly the opposite of what some try to do, and that is squeezing the most money out of each service event possible. I'd rather have less recurring revenue than to make as much as possible and then lose all business to someone else.
Big picture guy here. It seems to be working out for me.

You have a good small business mind. You have to be cheaper and better quality than competitors. Or you’ll never sustain enough work, to make enough money. People rebuild big blocks and try to sell them for 8-10 grand. Imagine the money they would make, if they sold them for 5. Small business is about volume of work labor or volume of sales. You can’t make enough money, if you’re sitting around hoping to hit the jackpot.

 

[tmaleck]

My comment on this is being physically able. I have arthritis in my hands and can't hold tools anymore. Doesn't mean I don't want to, but I can't. Finding a helper to build an engine is one thing, knowing how to rosette weld and then teaching someone else is way different. I try to help the guys doing my car with my experience, but not the same. So far, I'm happy with the collaboration.

 

[whayden2003]

I can't understand any of the problems you have. Because I'm to poor to pay someone to work on my cars. Much less get extorted.

 

[threewood]

Sorry for your troubles and understand you being upset. Did the shop give you a written estimate of work and labor? Did you check in on progress? How long have they had it and what is owed for what work done? Did you ask previous customers of their overall experience with this shop?

 

[Ron H]

Must keep in mind people/shops you pay to do work don't have the vested interest or compassion to do the work because it isn't theirs...their car, house, etc. I've been burned a few times despite having been informed the shop is reputable, wonderful, top notch, etc. The result has been reworking the work done to my satisfaction or to fix **** work. I can say I was able to connect with a small body shop that did great work for a fair price and took hundreds of photos of the body and paint work. I saved around $1800 doing all the work to strip the car naked inside and out, remove all trim, and then put that back on. Tell ya, I see why the cost was fair as it was a bitch doing this work. I also did the interior completely stripping down the floor pan, doors, etc. re-coating and dyno-matting so that saved me another 2 grand. I always remember the co-owner of the machine shop giving me job instructions on my 1st day to clean a lathe, he had a squeaky high-pitch voice "I want ya to clean this machine like it's your car...not your old man's". I still laugh about this 40 years later.

 

[flypaper]

most people get ripped when they are being cheap looking for a deal.
there is a reason why the labor number is high for quality work
and if you don't grasp that reason then you get what you pay for.
then you go on the internet and complain.

 

[Dennis H]

My turn. Body shop from hell. Liar, cheat, incompetent:

Shelly’s Auto Body
Danielsville, Pennsylvania.

 

[Ron H]

Two of the shops I wasn't happy with have just outstanding reputations and charge at a premium as I was informed ahead of time and their customers I know love 'em while I'd never be a return customer. I was willing to pay top dollar with a contingency, friggin do it right. Peeves me to no end reworking their work while I remind myself busting my knuckles, what exactly did I pay for? Blind trust, regardless of all the nice referrals, still requires doing your own homework.

 

[Bobby Sixkiller]

Took a work truck in for hail damage a few years ago. Now the shop does good work so don’t get me wrong. Body work is very expensive. That being said. I asked about getting an old pickup painted. He told me it wasn’t worth it. $10,000 for a complete repaint. I painted it myself. Not perfect but better than it was and way less than 10k.

 

[Dan64]

I think what the op has gotten himself into is known as " Body shop jail".My experience is that they take your project on ,promising you the world then take your car apart and stick it in the corner. 3 months or so go by and they call you for more money with some b.s. reason ( or most likely they low balled you from the start) Then 2-3 more months go by and same ****. When you bitch you hear " we were using it as " fill in work",really?. I don't let this happen to me any more,painting a car is very expensive so i'll buy a car that is "done" ,ya right, or do it myself. Even doing it yourself you will have some pretty good money invested.$1000-1200 to dustless blast, $350 for epoxy ( 2 gallons) sandpaper,filler, some repair panels ,a grand or so for paint ,it all adds up quick.

 

[flypaper]

( or most likely they low balled you from the start) .

it all comes from looking to save a dollar

 

[flypaper]

Two of the shops I wasn't happy with have just outstanding reputations and charge at a premium as I was informed ahead of time and their customers I know love 'em while I'd never be a return customer. I was willing to pay top dollar with a contingency, friggin do it right. Peeves me to no end reworking their work while I remind myself busting my knuckles, what exactly did I pay for? Blind trust, regardless of all the nice referrals, still requires doing your own homework.

and you want to know why this happens????
it is not easy work to do to properly begin with
and short cuts can be hidden easily
I look at so called nice show cars all the time and its pretty easy to pick them apart
but I know what I'm looking for
and when you want it cheap what do you think you will be getting ??? lol

 

[Bobby Sixkiller]

I probably have close to 100 hours in the paint on my runner. At 65/hour that’s $6500 so I can see how it gets expensive. That’s with minimal body work. All down to bare steel and some patch work filler etc. and I’m no body man by any means. It sucked.

 

[dadsbee]

Yep... then add $6000 for HOK paint supplies and were are you at ?

 

[munger77]

2 shops that are total scam artists -
Springfield street rod in Ohio
Pee Wees auto in Dallas, GA.
Both have probably been put out of business by now or close to it for dozens of complaints.
Just be honest and fix cars - can make a damn good living that way. Seems simple, but some are greedy and others are actually using a lot of meth and it leads to dishonesty and shoddy work.

 

[pearljam724]

2 shops that are total scam artists -
Springfield street rod in Ohio
Pee Wees auto in Dallas, GA.
Both have probably been put out of business by now or close to it for dozens of complaints.
Just be honest and fix cars - can make a damn good living that way. Seems simple, but some are greedy and others are actually using a lot of meth and it leads to dishonesty and shoddy work.

Most are greedy liars, today. A lot of them should get into politics. It’s important to find a guy that is straight forward, honest and fair. Do things yourself to avoid as many risk as possible.

 

[12icer]

I see this type of extortion is more prevalent than I expected. Background is I bought the car for 180 dollars in 1979 from a friend. It was a solid Alabama car only a few rust bubbles over the wheel well from red mud collection. Had it changed from green green vt green by to B5 w black int. Built a 383 for it. And gave it to her for her 16th. The shop that has it now WAS run by a really good man, he was killed along with his fiancée in an accident at a car show in Selmer, TN it was booked on the waiting list before that happened The people who took over the shop are not even close to the character of the former owner they are riding his rep. As it is now the restorers did not remove the k member, reared, or any thing under from the car they pulled and reinstalled the engine. The windows, regulators and all trim lights and wiring were off, boxed and labeled when they got it, she had them put full skins instead of patches over the wheels. All the rest of the car was solid. They painted the underside and Underwood satin black WITH RUNS interior and trunk satin Black Cherry. Paint is okay, Black Cherry metallic three step. 41,000? The walk around estimate was 25,000 to do all but the interior. As of now lawyers are checking options as they are trying to keep the car even if she pays the bill.

 

[69b3rt]

This sure does sound like a fraudulent attempt at acquiring cars for cheap.

 

[12icer]

The new owner was a host on one of the TRUCK shows on TV. We got the car back but man it is what I would call a first year Body and fender student job. all gaps are off doors are out of adjustment. Windows, lights, radiator, driveshaft, grill, splashpan, not installed, Ac assembly and all wiring are thrown in the floor, It has old Rocket wheels like an SS Cragar the left side had two lugs on the back and ONE on the front when the rollback went to get it. It was a semi pro paint job and fender skins, I actually wonder if they put the skins on, They didn't supply pictures to back up their bills. Have to ask mods if we can post these shops names to save our bretheren from their scams and extortion. If not maybe they will allow PMs to those who want to know. When I get a chance I will post the pics of what they called a Restoration.