I swear I can't find a good one.

Okay, the first body shop... waiting list of 6 months plus twice as much as everyone else. Probably nice, but I don't like waiting.

The other guy... 2 month waiting period... does good or is supposed to... has a son that likes to "test drive the cars"

One I took it too, supposed to do good work... and somewhat quick. They told me 2 weeks, I thought it'd get delayed a little after all that's very quick for a change in color. Umm.. I call them today, and they're like "yep we got in the body shop, we started to spary but found some dings. I was like, I called last week and you said you were doing the same thing. And the guy was like, yea, we found some large dings. Plus the bumber needs fixing (he means front spoiler and it did)... but the thing is, I don't have any big dings. Dammit they suck, one month already and they just told me another two weeks atleast. This sucks. Got my wheels though... trying to get a digital camera ... anyone know where I can buy Chrome Lug nuts in 12x1.5mm With a somewhat wide base.

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91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55

Mods: SLP Exhaust, umm...nothing else..sorry

Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.

Webpage coming soon.
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

never, ever ever ever ever ever ever ever expect a body shop to be done in the time that they say they will done, always add on a couple of weeks extra. every single time ive taken a car to a body shop, it takes longer than estimated, no matter who i take it to. btw, what color are you going to. post some pics of it when its done and has the wheels on it.

 

Look at it like this. The longer they have your car the more you can hold them accountable, since it is taking forever they must be doing a perfect job getting rid of those dings. Be patient and hold the time against them. I found that if you rush a guy he has a ready made reason why you car is F#$% Up.



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86 Camaro Black SS Coupe, T Tops, Flowmaster, Custom Paint, Dunlop Road Kings S/R tires, Wheel Country Directional Chrome Wheels, New Leather seats, new carpet and headliner, complete front end suspension rebuild, new Valve seals, and more mods to come
http://www.angelfire.com/sports/niterider/86camaro.html
Morgan_Andre@hotmail.com

 

Car is changing color to black... I'll post pics as soon as possible. Cowl hood won't be in until around aug. 9th, and I'll take more pictures once that's on.

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91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55

Mods: SLP Exhaust, umm...nothing else..sorry

Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.

Webpage coming soon.
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

Guys, I'm not trying to defend the body shop biz but I have seen the other side from helping out my friend.

When you get an "estimate" it is just that.

An estimate of time, an estimate of cost, and things do happen. Parts can be delayed, concealed damage can be revealed that wasn't seen. Your body man has a choice as he reaches THE deadline. Do I rush this job out or do I do it right.

Which do you want?

It is very rare for a shop tech to be working only on your car. More likely they're bouncing back and forth between jobs and one job may cause a delay in the whole process.

Body work is slow & tedious, even with the best of knowledge and equipment it is a hard thing to rush.

A dent or ding to a customer is different than a dent or ding to a body man. The customer sees the car, as it is, overall and thinks that's not bad, or not "too" bad. A body man sees how that "spot" is going to look after his paint is laid over it. Any mistake in body prep is magnified 10 TIMES when you put the paint & clearcoat on.

I have seen the delays happen, but in the shop I help in I've never seen a delay that WAS the shops or techs fault.

From the inside out I can't tell you how many times I've heard customers say, "No hurry, take your time, do it right", only to be bugging the heck out of you in a few days......... OR........ "the body work is done, I just need you to shoot it"..... only to find a rippled, nicked, scratched body, or someone elses half inch bondo job has to be removed.

A reputable shop "owns" that paint job when it leaves, any problem, any trouble for the next few years is their fault (according to the customer) so I wouldn't think it would be unusual to take their time and do it right...... the first time.

We tell people actually a few more days than it's really going to take, that way if we need it, no ones upset. And if we don't..... we get to be heroes.



[This message has been edited by MikeInAZ (edited July 21, 2001).]

 

I have no problem with them taking their time IF they are working.

The first week, my car didn't move. So the orignal "two weeks" deadline was impossible. I knew this. So no big deal, I was willing to wait. I call later, and they say they have it primered. A week later, and it's being sanded... A week later, It's got a big dent and needs to be fixed (my car had NOT a single BIG dent)... it did have a few minor ones however. This is using their classification, as they were going over it, I asked if the dents would cost more to fix... he said only if you had big ones. I showed him the largest dent I could find and he said we'll have ALL of them in a day. Yet for some reason it took two weeks. I have no problem with a body shop WORKING on the car for however long it takes them. As long as their actually working. Bull****ting and lying to the customer is the part that pisses me off.

------------------
91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55

Mods: SLP Exhaust, umm...nothing else..sorry

Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.

Webpage coming soon.
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

Yep, I would have to agree with you on that one. Typical paint time, with a few dings and dents would be 1 week.

It isn't unusual for the customer to say they want to check in 3 or 4 days to see the progress. Also to check the "prep" work right before it's painted.

To others: tell your shop this when you first take your car in. If they act "funny" about it..... you're at the wrong shop. They will be more likely to get started sooner on your car. Also they are less likely to charge you for a dent that wasn't there. By checking on the prep work you may save some major trouble because it's a lot easier to correct a flaw "before" your car is painted.

I know we have no trouble with these request. If it were my car I would want to check the progress.

 

I feel your pain. I took my car to be repainted over a month ago and it looks to be at least two more weeks before i get my baby back. I also got the two week estimation. What's the deal; I'll feel better with the truth up front rather that all the lies and excusses later.

 

Would you rather they rush through the job and mess something up just to be on time or they take their time and get it perfect? If they take their time and mess it up, well, then you got some bitching to do.

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1992 Camaro RS
5.0L TBI
K&N Airfilter and ready to take on the world!
My 1992 RS

 

I had my 92 Z painted in march by a one man show and he had it done in 6 days like he said he would. Plus he put heritage stripes on it. Pretty damn good huh? Look at the pics under readers rides, under RODS92Z.

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1992 Camaro Z-28 5.7L auto t-tops arctic white

1967 Pontiac Catalina 2 door fastback 400 v-8 auto cameo white dark red interior

 

I'm fine with it taking awhile, but I want them to tell me exactly how long. At least a somewhat close estimate... Not 2 weeks and then two months later still no car.

------------------
91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55

Mods: SLP Exhaust, umm...nothing else..sorry

Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.

Webpage coming soon.
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

I wouldn't go anywhere near a shop like that. I'll let my cars paint go to s**t before I would go to a place like that. Its body work - the car doesn't need to be driven more than a few feet to move in and out of the work area. I don't like to let other people drive my car, wouldn't want some punk kid beating on my baby while daddy is 'working' on it.

Jess

 

I agree, and one of the reasons I didn't take it there. If I had, I would have remembered the miles... however, the guy does an excellent job I wish I would have taken it to him now.

------------------
91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55

Mods: SLP Exhaust, umm...nothing else..sorry

Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.

Webpage coming soon.
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

Just remember?? I would write down the trip ode. and the actual car milage one.