I need to vent

Rick V · 08-15-2005, 02:17 PM

My wife backed her Mercedes into a Chevy Tahoe the day after we bought it. She is unaware of the bumper law. This we threw into the crap happens category.
Instead of having the deck lid repaired we replaced it. So we have new paint and new deck lid, should be a simple fix with a perfect color match right? NO. Now we jump ahead to present time and the car is back at the body shop, She didn't do any more damage, the frigging clear coat faded and looks like it was cleaned with 60grit. My wife is out of town for 10 days so the shop has pleanty of time to re-repair the car(at their expense). I get a call today and the guy tells me sorry about that but we fixed it right this time. NO all they did was to buff the upper portion of the deck. I took a deep breath, I counted to ten, I wished I never quit smoking, Then proceeded to explain to the bodyshop manager how to do his job. I work on cars for a living and if I did my job like this I would be looking for another career, and not by my choice.
The car is supposed to be back in the paint booth tomorrow.
To put it mildly this really torques my shorts

biosurfer1 · 08-15-2005, 02:35 PM

the deep breaths are a good thing...sometimes you have to hold these guys hands with stuff like this, since it isnt their car, they could care less. just make sure its done the way you want and take nothing less, dont get stressed out about it cause that wont make them work any harder/faster/better and just hurt you in the long run.....good luck making things right!

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

What is the "bumper law"?

Rick V · 08-15-2005, 04:01 PM

Hey Widebody.
The bumper rule is as follows:
The one with the biggest bumper rules

Moses · 08-15-2005, 04:25 PM

When I was a kid, my sister was driving me to town and she was trying to parallel park. Thump! She hits the car in back, then Thump! She hits the car in front.

I asked what the hell she was doing. She said, "Why do you think they call them bumpers?" Yup, she's blond, but I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

911-m5 · 08-15-2005, 06:05 PM

May I ask what shop is doing the work - bad work that is?

Allan

Rick V · 08-16-2005, 12:31 AM

colors on parade here in Charlottesville

livi · 08-16-2005, 01:13 AM

..torques my shorts. ??!!

lendaddy · 08-16-2005, 02:59 AM

A couple weeks back I got rear ended by a kid in a Cadillac while sitting at a light in my Tundra. Poor kids Cadillac was screwed, fender, hood, grill, lights, you name it. I had a medium size dent in my bumper.

I told him good luck and he didn't need a ticket as far as I'm concerned and my truck would be just fine. Gave him my card if he needed a police report or other info and left. "That's what bumpers are for"

kjb · kjb's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Moses
When I was a kid, my sister was driving me to town and she was trying to parallel park. Thump! She hits the car in back, then Thump! She hits the car in front.

Isn't it common courtesy to leave you parking brake disengaged when you parallel park in France (to make it easier for other people to get in)?

/ Johan

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

the french, courtesy? johan what are you smokin'?

kjb · kjb's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by k911sc
the french, courtesy? johan what are you smokin'?

This is what I'm talking about. I have no idea how my brother got his car into this parking spot without some friendly bumping.

/ J

likemystoppie? · 08-16-2005, 09:05 AM

exactly how should have it been done?

gatotom · 08-16-2005, 09:41 AM

looks like some silver paint left on that green bimmer?? in front.

masraum · 08-16-2005, 01:02 PM

I saw a guy in a mini park like that once. He got a runnin' start from the opposite direction and did a handbrake 180 into the park without hitting the other two cars. Somehow I'm guessing this wasn't done that way.

Rick V · 08-17-2005, 02:41 PM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! It gets worse by the day. Today I get the phone call hey your wifes car is finished you can pick it up any time. I'm happy as I roll into the bodyshop and see the shiny Mercedes in the front lot. Right, this puppy has more runs than the restroom at an Exlax convention. I procede to start using a sharpie on every run flaw and gnat that is now intombed in the clearcoat. I inform the manager(whom I used to work for) He has until 5pm tomorrow to have the car done and done right or he will be footing the bill for my wifes rental. She returns from N.Y friday evening. I don't like the thought of her taking my B.M.W. for an undetermined time and I don't think she'll drive my little truck.
I know it could be worse and I am greatful to be able to ***** about the situation. I just need a litle vent.

alf · 08-17-2005, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by livi
..torques my shorts. ??!!

Kinda like chaps my hide.

Rick V · 08-18-2005, 03:54 PM

well the car was returned today Why I'm not in jail is beyond me. They burned the clearcoat in several places, not only is the class designation on the wrong side but it is backwards! It just screams HEY LOOK I'VE HAD BODYWROK DONE. And the kicker of it all is when I returned an hour after the shop closed to get the car ( I had to recruit a driver) I noticed the third brake light wasn"t hooked up. Mama is gonna be pissed I would love to be a fly on the wall tomorrow when she makes that call. My wife isn't one to yell and scream but she scares the poo-poo out of me when she gets mad. but on the light side Mama comes home tomorrow! you would think after 20 yrs of marrage I would enjoy the time off but.............................

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

Quote:

I told him good luck and he didn't need a ticket as far as I'm concerned and my truck would be just fine. Gave him my card if he needed a police report or other info and left. "That's what bumpers are for"

"Yes officer, he backed right into me. Said he would blame me, but I managed to talk him into giving me his card..."

Doubt it? Years ago a woman hit my car in a parking lot. She later reported it to the police as a hit-and-run. It didn’t matter that she said she'd cover the repairs and left me her name and number. It didn’t matter that the entire front clip of my car was pushed over a foot to the right. Or that she literally sheared the front 6" off my car. Or that I was in a parking spot. Or that my car was not running. Or that I was not even in the car.

Luckily, I was smart enough to get the name and number of a witness. It worked out fine, but was a PITA situation for a while…

Always, always, file a police report.

Moses · 08-18-2005, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Capt. Carrera
"Yes officer, he backed right into me. Said he would blame me, but I managed to talk him into giving me his card..."

Doubt it? Years ago a woman hit my car in a parking lot. She later reported it to the police as a hit-and-run. It didn’t matter that she said she'd cover the repairs and left me her name and number. It didn’t matter that the entire front clip of my car was pushed over a foot to the right. Or that she literally sheared the front 6" off my car. Or that I was in a parking spot. Or that my car was not running. Or that I was not even in the car.

Luckily, I was smart enough to get the name and number of a witness. It worked out fine, but was a PITA situation for a while…

Always, always, file a police report.

This is where our system collapses.

The woman in your story should have been arrested and charged with attempted extortion, fraud, filing a false police report and reckless driving. The punishment should have been so freaking severe that she, her family, friends and casual aquaintances would be telling the story for years and trembling at the thought of being in so much trouble themselves.

Yup. I'm serious.

Why do we tolerate this kind of crap? No money in it for the state or lawyers.