Body Shop Blues

mcvgums · 03-08-2007, 06:24 AM

I dropped by the body shop unanounced last week to see the progress of my SC into RSR transformation. I discovered the car outside with all the glass removed and the quarter panels gone. Upon further inspection the stripped interior was full of water from the previous night's storm. My near perfect dash was also damp. I left before flying off the handle and making a scene, later upon phone confrontation I recieved lots of excuses and promices to "make it right."

What should I insist that they do to make sure that I don't have problems in the future and the job comes out right.

The car is an 83SC being transformed into a 74 IROC.

Thanks, Mark

03-08-2007, 07:11 AM

Get a trailer and take the car far away. If they're making excuses at this point in the project, it will only get worse.

K9Torro · 07:56 AM

Pick up your car now, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for leaving a car with the glass out in the rain, if you need room in your shop to work, push it outside, if it rains push it back inside or cover it up with something (plastic sheeting) then push it back inside when you close for the night.

I would settle the account now and pick up the car, there are more shop's looking for work than car's looking for paint.

Todd

PS... If you want to bring it to South Ga. we have a excellent shop and they will treat your car like their own, full mech and body work in house, building a 930 engine right now, it is sitting side by side with a F-car Dino GT4 getting a wiring job, I hate the lie back driving position of that stupid car, but it sounds good with a Tubi exhaust and starts in half a crank wish my carbs would do that.

widgeon13 · 03-08-2007, 07:56 AM

get the car out of there and don't pay them a penny

mcvgums · 03-08-2007, 08:45 AM

K9TORRO, where are you located, I make it down to Valdosta regularly from ATL. Are you on the 75 corridor?

gumba · 03-08-2007, 08:48 AM

I would take a bunch of pictures of the car documenting the damage at their location. If you have any before pictures would also be good. I would go get the car. The shop may not release it without being paid for work done to date. When I talked to someone at the state consumer affairs about this long time ago they said I should pay for the work then file in court to get the money back. Sounded pretty ridiculous to me but the shop may refuse to let the car go until it's paid.
When this happened to me the shop wanted to charge me for the work they did. I countered with a bill to repair the damage they had done as well as the parts they managed to loose.

EarlyPorsche · 03-08-2007, 11:32 AM

This is a tough call. I would probably be disappointed if my interior was soaking wet but its also not something that cannot be fixed. I would probably say just try and get the price down on the total work as its going indoors soon anyway. Is their work worth keeping the car there?

Gene Wilkes · 03-08-2007, 11:43 AM

There is NO excuse for this! Personally I'd remove my car!

K9Torro · 03-08-2007, 12:08 PM

MCV

I am on 95 in Camden County thats as far South as you can get an still be in Ga... lol

Regardless of where you take your car, I would go ahead and pick it up, this does not bode well for the future of your project IMHO.

There are plenty of other shop's around your area,

Todd

DanielDudley · 03-08-2007, 04:10 PM

Been there too many times. How much have you already paid them ?

Don't let it snowball.

Danimal16 · 03-08-2007, 04:24 PM

I had a problem a long time ago like this here in California.

Found out that the shop cannot seize or hold your property without a court order. Also, was told by the state that if there was a dispute the shop had to return the car in the condition it was delivered. Me and a couple of friends along with a call to the cops got the car out of the shop. Did it early in the morning before the owner got their. Shop staff could care less about tangling with the cops.

Call the authorities and get the car out of their. Geez, any craftsman or reputable business treats your stuff as if it were their's.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

Whether or not the car stays or goes, get down there with a camera and take pictures to document everything possible. A leather dash and wiring doesn't play well in water. If they want to "make it right" GET IT IN WRITING that they admit to leaving the car out in the rain and will make good on all problems that come up at no cost to you.

Zeke · 03-08-2007, 05:26 PM

Or have them buy you a new interior. You must have had a good reason to start off with this particular shop. Negotiation is cheaper than conflict.

mcvgums · 03-09-2007, 04:49 AM

I have the situation under control. I have the car at a new shop where they are taking precautions to dry the car and air out before begining the restoration. Fortunately it was not a confrontation, and I have plenty of documentation, but no intention of making a huge deal out of it. No interior other than the dash was in the car, and it looks a lot better now than when I was furious.

Thank you for all your concern, I hope to be posting pictures of the car in a couple months.

Mark

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Id be more concerned about rust from water getting into sanded paint etc. than a replaceable dash.

Be wary of this. The other thing I would have been concerned about is trying to find a body shop to take over someone elses unfinished project - most won't. It sounds like you got this covered tho.