Love the paint work...but....

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

Last week, after three months in the paint shop, I finally got my SC back. I love the work they did and have absolutely no problem with that. They removed all glass, doors, hood/deck lid, fenders, bumpers, etc. and primed and sanded about 4 times. It looks great. This was, BTW, a color change job.

My issues is in the bill vs. estimate. The estimate (which I thought was a real bargain!) clearly states .... "$4500 strip and paint complete plus powder coating and parts" Incl. R&I windows, bumpers, handles etc. The final bill was more like $7300 incl the powder coating of chrome trim, body work, new headliner, etc. . He added these items (below) to the bill which are the only things I have a problem with.

Sublet for R&I glass.....$350
Sublet for Soda Blasting....$595
Materials..Paint & Clear....$675..(original estimate said 'complete')

I'm to bring it back in mid June for an addtional rub out and wax at N/C.

They did say, and proved it with time cards, that they had 150 hr. labor @ $62 which is way more than he thought at first. Said that added up to $9300 (it does) but could not charge me that so left labor at $4500.

Not real sure how to approach this as he is a nice enough guy and did get further into this than he thought but never told me during the process. Hate to make him really lose money (I've had a business and been there) but on the other hand hate to be scammed too. My usual take would be to just tell him nicely that there is a discrepancy, see what he says/offers, and move on as I suspect that even at $7300 is still an average price for all they did... but I still have a feeling of being a bit ripped by the add ons that were not mentioned as extra.

Any advice on how to handle this is appreciated.

The pix below were taken in low light under foliage and may have a green tint but it really is a very pure yellow.

Superman · 05-23-2005, 10:01 AM

My sense is that you got good value for your bucks. A truly acceptable paint job is not really $4500. It's more like $7300

creaturecat · 05-23-2005, 10:03 AM

still a steal of a deal - if the job was done correctly. - looks good in the pics!

Paulporsche · 05-23-2005, 10:05 AM

Sorry to hear about that. At least the car looks great. I think I'd talk to him...obviously your definition of "strip and paint complete" is different from his.

BTW what is the name/color code for that color?

john walker's workshop · 05-23-2005, 10:06 AM

i would hold him to the original estimate. in washington, a shop cannot go more than 10% over without getting an ok from the customer. a respectable shop just should not do what they did without telling you. i would be super pissed, personally.

thrown_hammer · 05-23-2005, 10:26 AM

A good color change repaint may be worth $7,300 but I have to agree with John here. The estimate and final aren't even close.

Jack Olsen · 05-23-2005, 10:28 AM

The two of you agreed to a price when he gave you the estimate. Unless he told you there would be significant increases (we're talking, what, 60% over, here?), or unless you okayed the increases as he did the work, then I think he needs to offer some kind of proposal for making things right. What's the function of an estimate, otherwise?

Here's one of the photos with some color correction done. Is this closer?

70SWT · 05-23-2005, 10:34 AM

Make him stick to his estimate.

There's way too much of this empty promise/bait and switch cr@p in the business world these days. A shop experienced enough to do a good job is experienced enough to know what it costs; and knowing what it costs, their strategy is, if they had told you up front they would have possibly scared you off, so they give you the lowball "estimate" to snare you. Hope I don't sound too bitter, but I have to do battle with this every day from various contractors.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Drdogface
[B]My issues is in the bill vs. estimate. The estimate (which I thought was a real bargain!) clearly states .... "$4500 strip and paint complete plus powder coating and parts" Incl. R&I windows, bumpers, handles etc. The final bill was more like $7300 incl the powder coating of chrome trim, body work, new headliner, etc. . He added these items (below) to the bill which are the only things I have a problem with.

Sublet for R&I glass.....$350
Sublet for Soda Blasting....$595
Materials..Paint & Clear....$675..(original estimate said 'complete')

They did say, and proved it with time cards, that they had 150 hr. labor @ $62 which is way more than he thought at first. Said that added up to $9300 (it does) but could not charge me that so left labor at $4500.

Not real sure how to approach this as he is a nice enough guy

So his quote was basically for his "complete" labor alone, which is also grossly underestimated. He never mentioned that he'd have to sub-contract other processes out?...and materials? While he appears to be a talented Body & Paint guy he certainly lack in business skills. Should you be responsible for that?

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

The color...well, I wanted to have it look the same as the RS America on their (RS America) web page which is Ferrari Fly Yellow. I got that '93 Fly Yellow formula from two different sources and both were the same. I had that mixed and sprayed onto scrap but it turned out very muddy looking with a lot of red undertones...so says my wife, anyway...I am Red/Green color blind so it just looked muddy to me.

So then I printed out a pic of that RS car, and a few other Fly Yellow cars, and took it to the paint shop. We went thru the paint books and found one that matched. Dunno an actual name/paint code but it's very close to a '76 Vette Bright Yellow. To me it looks like that RSA which is what I was shooting for anyway. I'll post pics taken in the bright sun which will show the true color. Had all the chrome trim powder coated black and replaced most of the rubber and the hood crest. Once I 'recover' financially I'll likely do a duck tail.

Thanks for the input.....

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

Here's a somewhat better pic but for a Nikon D100 the color representation is still not that great. Think daffodil...

Could maybe a Photo Shop pro add a Carrera side script for me?...thanks.

long board · long board's Garage

Hey Dr, did Van's paint your car?

Ron.G · 05-23-2005, 11:19 AM

What if you are on a tight budget and don't have the money for the unexpected over charge?
I know I'd be screwed if that happened to me.

Vonzipper · 05-23-2005, 11:24 AM

Aside from the price the car sure looks good

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Sounds like a deliberately mis-leading estimate. Who WOULDN'T include the paint and materials in the original. I had the same thing happen to me and hassled the owner. I ended up paying more than the estimate because we replaced two panels, but it's not like he's never done this before. Clearly BS.

It's no different than if you went into a tire shop for four new tires and then when you return they tell you the price they quoted you didn't include the tires... C'mon!

GeorgeK · 05-23-2005, 11:58 AM

Either way you're screwed and your relation to that shop is finished.
So I say don't pay the amount above quote. Simply tell him what said above (non-information about price raise).
No matter what you'll unlikely return there, so lost for lost, I'd rather keep my money.

FenderGuy · 05-23-2005, 12:04 PM

I thought with an estimate, you’re supposed to be told if there will be any additional charges, not after the fact? Nice or not, if the shop did this too you after the fact?The shop is shady in my op. What the hell, like Ron G said, what if you’re on a tight budget and your giving this type of bill? In the real world this BS doesn’t fly.

Tim Hancock · 05-23-2005, 12:07 PM

This kind of work when done right, eats lots of time. I once stupidly quoted a guy $5,500 to strip and repaint a small airplane. I did it right and in the end he got a $10,000 job for $5,500.

I will NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER give an "estimate" for work again. I learned my lesson! Now if a customer does not agree to paying "time & material" then I tell them to find someone else.

Bobboloo · Bobboloo's Garage

People should pay for their own mistakes. It's how they learn. It's that bitter taste that educates you. He obviously hasn't learned how to make an estimate.

That being said. He could have compromised the job to bring it in under the estimate. In that situation you would have gotten what you paid for and probably been in a worse situation. In other words you would have learned a lesson.

It could be worse. The final bill could have been way beyond the estimate and the end product was junk. Can you say Motor Sheister?

In the final analysis do you feel like you got what you paid for?

kumma · 05-23-2005, 02:32 PM

Having been ripped off by a paint shop because of my own eagerness and lack of any written figures I know your pain. At the very least it appears you received a very nice and thourough job that I doubt made this paint shop rich. Since having my car butchered by a paint shop Im spending countless hours redoing it on my own. Talk with the owner and explain your thoughts maybe the two of you can come to some comprimise. All I received for my situation was a very expensive lesson and a lost rear bumper. If you cant come to an agreement do not let him rub you car out go somewhere else.