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Poll: What should they do?
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What should they do?

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DrBarrett356
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A question re: repair shop ethics

I have a question as to what would be an acceptable course of action for a repair provider.
I recently dropped my new(to me at least) Carrera at a bodyshop. I have used this shop in the past and have been fairly satisfied with the service. When I dropped the car off we walked around it and I pointed out the minor defects that I wished to be attended to. Nothing major, just little scratches here and there. While preparing to work on the car the shop manager notices a dent that I had not been pointed out and that hadn't been noticed in our initial walk around. The dent is small (untill you actually see it, then it sticks out like a sore thunb) and is suitable for a "paintless dent repair" proceedure. My question to you is this. Should the repair shop stop all activity with the car and notify me of the findings and assertain who's responsible for the dent? Should they just not point it out hoping I never notice it or should they just fix it with out making any mention of it?
What would you think they should do?

Old 08-28-2007, 09:00 AM
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I'm a bit unclear. Are you absolutely sure that the dent wasn't there before you took it in to the shop? I know how something like this can be overlooked, but once you "know" it's there, it's the only thing you see .
Old 08-28-2007, 09:05 AM
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What are you asking? Did the shop cause the dent? Unless you know it wasn't there before you took it to them, I'd be happy they have good eyes and attention to detail. If you told them only do what you agreed on with them, then they're being nice by giving you a heads up that they found something else. I don't think anyone's getting rich off one more ding to fix. When I take a car to a shop, I tell them exactly what needs to be fixed and want nothing more touched. However, if they notice something I did not, I'm always happy to hear about it so I can decide if they should just fix it while it's there or let me do it when I get the car back home.
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Old 08-28-2007, 09:11 AM
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DrBarrett356
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I would think that I or someone would have noticed the dent before but Honestly couldn't say that it wasn't there. It is not typical of what you'd expect to result from a dropped wrench or another car parked too close. It's on the top of the fender close to the hood. Maybe what you'd expect to see if someone sat on the fender.
Old 08-28-2007, 09:19 AM
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You could have missed it? It is obviously a small dent. I once picked up a vehicle (daily driver) from an oil change, and noticed a large dent (low) on the rear quarter panel. When I pointed it out to the shop, he didn't think he did it, but offered to pay for the repair. Later, when I told my wife, she laughed and admitted it happened a few weeks prior. I couldn't believe I walked by this every day and did not notice.
Old 08-28-2007, 09:20 AM
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Quote:
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... Later, when I told my wife, she laughed and admitted it happened a few weeks prior... .
And you're still married ?
Old 08-28-2007, 09:24 AM
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I am as meticulous as it comes about my cars and I still don't notice everything. When you know of a few hidden warts, you tend to always look at them and overlook other stuff. This is especially true on dark colored or metallic painted cars.
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Old 08-28-2007, 09:27 AM
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DrBarrett356
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Hard to imagine there aren't more opinions on this.
Old 08-28-2007, 01:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DrBarrett356 View Post
Hard to imagine there aren't more opinions on this.

It sounds as though you think they should pay for even though you do not think they did it.

Did I miss something here or are you after something for nothing? At least from what you have disclosed thus far, it sounds like the business owner did you a favor by pointing out a dent. Now you think he should volunteer to fix it for free? What am I missing?
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Old 08-28-2007, 01:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DrBarrett356 View Post
Hard to imagine there aren't more opinions on this.
I think if you placed any of Bush, Clinton, Gonzales, or Sandy Berger in the body shop at the time your car was there, you'd have a lot more opinions.

what are we talking here? $100 to fix this "new" dent or $500? thinking it's probably more the former, I'd pay it and move on.
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Last edited by Shaun 84 Targa; 08-28-2007 at 01:43 PM..
Old 08-28-2007, 01:41 PM
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I've got a ding on my car that depending on the lighting conditions and/or cleanliness state of the car goes from invisible to the only thing you see.

Sounds like you would have had it addressed if you were aware of it.



I think you just roll with it and be happy the car will be what you expected when finished.
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Old 08-28-2007, 01:53 PM
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if they didn't cause the dent, then why should they pick up the tab for it at all?
technically , they don't even have to point it out, as you pointed out what they had to do
if they do point it out, and ask you what to do about it, then that's a courtesy to you, and then it's up to you what you want done with it: PDR by them, or hairdryer/freeze technique from youtube...
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Old 08-28-2007, 02:09 PM
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If you can't say if it is new or not, then what do you have to go on? Not really fair to them, is it?
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Old 08-28-2007, 02:44 PM
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I'd be happy he caught a dent that I missed, and thank him. Then I'd pay my bill.

There's really no way of knowing if it was already there or not. I bet it was, and you just never were at a good angle to see it. Besides, that's why you pay good pro body shop guys. It's their job to find that kind of stuff and fix it.

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Old 08-28-2007, 03:27 PM
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