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Newlin4141's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
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Paying a shop for work in advance. Is that normal?

I've been taking my car to a local garage for a while and they've been doing great work. They're a bit short staffed but have a really good mechanic who I trust. I'm having a motor swap done on my 930 and the owner wants me to pay for work done on the car in advance. I gave him $1500 and he's "burned through that" so now he wants another $1500 before he starts working to finish the car. Guess we're about halfway there.

Maybe this is common, I don't know. Just never heard of it.

This job is taking a LONG TIME and my car seems to go on the back burner when new cars come in. So I see that as a bit of a bummer when I've paid for work in advance.

Anyone had this experience?

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Old 01-11-2012, 09:29 AM
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Half up front and half when complete would seem reasonable for a small garage. Larger garage shouldn't be asking for anything upfront.
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Old 01-11-2012, 09:33 AM
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Your mechanic is the business owner and you are taking all of the risk. If you are comfortable with this arrangement, continue on your current path. I would run.

Regards, Dave
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Old 01-11-2012, 09:38 AM
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Reiver
 
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Only if agreed upon prior to job start. What you have going on is a home construction deal....when my contractor 'burned' thru a predetermined amount of money..I saw the work/receipts and then funded the next portion of work.
Old 01-11-2012, 09:41 AM
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If the guy wants progress payments, fund them on a cost in place basis. At predetermined milestones check the work he has COMPLETED and pay him for that only. He is fully secure; he already has your car AND has the ability to put a lien on it for unpaid work.
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Old 01-11-2012, 09:50 AM
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Three thousand dollars for an engine "swap" and the meter is still running ???
Too bad you weren't local,i would have done your engine change for half that ...

Is the guy charging you for parking/storage as well ?
There is no way i would do business with a place like that !

Just sayin ...

Cheers !
Phil
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Old 01-11-2012, 09:50 AM
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Motor swap indicates two engines; an existing engine and a replacement. On the surface, this could be a simple R&R (remove and replace); about $400 or so. Obviously, a $1500 deposit sounds like a more involved project. Payments in progress depend on the size of the project and the established agreement up front; e.g. What's the total estimate?

Sherwood
Old 01-11-2012, 09:53 AM
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if it's a job that takes a lot of pricey parts and it's going to be here awhile, i like a deposit to cover most of the parts. if it's a quick job with pricey parts, i don't, unless it's from out of town or i get a red flag feeling about the customer. i never ask for labor $$ up front. that kills the incentive to get it done for some folks.
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Old 01-11-2012, 09:58 AM
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This is all great info. Awesome.

It's a 1986 3.2 motor going into a 1980 930 that's been sitting for a long time. It's not quite just a R&R since the 915 tranny doesn't bolt right in (I'm told) and the previous 930 owner had some funky wiring going on.

But yeah, to John Walker's point, paying for labor in advance doesn't exactly motivate the labor to be completed in any rush.
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Old 01-11-2012, 10:06 AM
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I've never owned my own shop but have worked for many and not one of them has EVER asked for ANY up front costs. I would agree with John's comments due to it being a high end car with higher than average parts costs. It's also possible the shop owner doesn't REALLY want the job. The price seems awful high for an engine swap too. If it were me, I would ask for a detailed writeup of work done thus far. Even at $100/hr. labor rate, you've already paid for 15 hrs. Just seems quite high to me.
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Old 01-11-2012, 10:24 AM
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Anytime I've ever done so (payed in advance) I've been burned...bad. Either via $$ or time. Marine industry (engine/paint/upholstery/electrical/etc.) and auto industry (same). I readily admit I am a naive/trusting guy...figure everybody else would treat me like I'd treat them....sorry that I've found that ain't the case all the time.


But, I refuse to get bitter ...karma will bite 'em in the ass in the end
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Old 01-11-2012, 11:16 AM
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A lot depends on wether the shop is the one that shelled out the cash for the new (used) engine. Wouldn't see an issue with that. I've seen a few customers get in over their heads and try to walk away from a project gone over the top, through no fault of the shop. Then the shop is stuck trying to break even on a car that still requires a lot of parts and labor.
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Old 01-11-2012, 11:44 AM
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Yes, I have had experience paying up front....and it's NEVER turned out well. I wish you luck.
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Old 01-11-2012, 11:47 AM
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Sounds to me like the shop might have a cash flow problem and trying to get ahead on your dime. Or keep afloat trying to get the fast jobs out and putting the more time consuming jobs on the back burner. Not a good thing for the car owner or the business owner.
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Old 01-11-2012, 12:04 PM
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Just to yank your chain a little, why are you neutering the 930 like that?
Old 01-11-2012, 12:23 PM
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it's not just a simple swap. the CIS fuel and electrical system needs to be changed to work an EFI engine. not that hard, but it takes an extra day or two to adapt things. hopefully you have all the required EFI wiring, computer, etc. shifter swap. then the tuning labor and the parts. probably about $2500-$3000 minimum.
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Old 01-11-2012, 01:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930 View Post
Just to yank your chain a little, why are you neutering the 930 like that?
Great question. It's only temporary. I need a motor in the car while I rebuild the 3.3 turbo that just came out of it.
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Old 01-11-2012, 01:44 PM
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During 25 years at Red Line I never took money up front. Progress payments, yes. We spearheaded some restoration and accident repair projects (some were more than $20K), and if the body shop, or upholstery shop, finished a part of the project we paid that shop, then requested a progress payment from the car owner. Also, if the car was still at the body shop, and was going to be for at least another month, and we had completed a heavy engine or trans repair, we would request a progress payment to cover the parts of the finished work under my roof. For normal service/repair work; never.
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Old 01-11-2012, 02:24 PM
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HELL NO! What has the $1500.00 already paid been spent on? If he has 1500.00 in parts; take them and go to another shop. He has nothing to lose as he has your car and can file a mechanic lien if you welch on paying.
IF THIS GUY CLOSES THE DOOR..YOU'RE SCREWED. IF HE GETS HURT, YOU'RE SCREWED. GOD FORBID, IF HE DIES; YOU ARE SCREWED.

DON'T GET SCREWED!!
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Old 01-11-2012, 02:43 PM
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I'd never pay a shop for repairs in advance.

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Old 01-11-2012, 03:01 PM
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