It amazes me why auto shops take so dang long to complete a job. If they negotiate an hourly rate, they milk it for more hours. Thus, takes longer. If it is a flat rate, they are not influenced to finish the job. Thus takes longer.

I run a business where we sell a service and the faster the job is done, the faster we get paid. Merely from a logical standpoint, I dont get it. Nothing more frustrating that visitng the shop and seeing your car in the same spot collecting dust where it was three weeks ago.

If I promise something I can't deliver, I will decline the job. I want repeat customers not one time, dissatisified customers.

 

Not sure if you are talking about simple mechanics or body restoration, but if you are complaining about time on paint & body for a Corvette, you should get more acquainted to the process.

I can't imagine how restorers make enough to keep the doors open especially given the unreasonable demands classic Corvette people put on them. It's nearly impossible to nail down an exact price or time frame on a paint job on a Corvette (done properly) and most times those guys are giving away time by the end of a job, not to mention dealing with Corvette Guy personalities.

I have a couple close friend in the business and all I know is, I wouldn't take those jobs. Not worth it.

 

Well said VB.


Car being left sitting for 3 wks unless special circumstances....go get it NOW. This is just an example of the treatment you and your car will get.

 

Are you talking about a regular body shop, or a restoration shop? There is a big difference.

I would never give a Corvette, or any other collector car, to a regular body shop. Body shops are not in business to do paint jobs, or restorations.

Body shops make their money on collision repair. Their set up to take in damaged cars and put them back on the road. Much of their work is for insurance companies, and most of it is pretty straight forward. They know what needs to be repaired, what has to be replaced and what all of it costs. With restoration work, you often don't know what needs to be repaired or replaced, until the paint's been stripped and the car disassembled.

A body shop isn't going to dedicate much time or labor, to restoration work or a paint job. It will usually only get worked on, when they have a lull in their collision work. Collision work needs to be turned around quick and is going to take priority, because someone is counting on that car as their daily transportation. Body shops know that your Corvette is just a toy, and you don't need to rely on it, so it's not as important to get it back to you.

Restoration shops, will usually get your car back to you, quicker than a body shop. They only do restorations, so your car isn't sitting untouched, while a little old lady's Town Car gets repaired. A restoration shop, usually gets progress payments, so you know what work is being done, and when. As long as the progress payments are being made, the work should continue. If this isn't the case, then it's time to change shops.

You may pay more, at a restoration or Corvette shop, but the work should be done quicker, and will likely be far superior to the work of a body shop.

 

My body guy has nearly 35 hrs just in the hood on my 81, I put on an L88 scoop and air box. It is so clean it looks like the whole thing was injection molded. Really glad I am not paying him by the hour.