Was this just Wrong??.. or not?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 206
From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
I have a good painter that is local to us (Stafford) that would be happy to paint your car. He painted mine....here are some pics:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ny-tips-3.html
pm me if interested and I will get you his info. Did a good job on my car.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ny-tips-3.html
pm me if interested and I will get you his info. Did a good job on my car.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
I don't know you, and I'm not trying to insult you, but it really sounds to me, that you were being awful thin skinned.
To start with, through my business, I sell to a number of Corvette shops. I see what a lot of their customers look like, and I can tell you that most car guys, all look a like when playing with their cars. Dirty jeans and a t-shirt, is the dress code for most of their customers (and mine too). I doubt that many restoration shops, blow off customers because of the way they are dressed. If they did, it wouldn't be long, before they wouldn't have any customers!
The first question most of the shops that I know ask is, "What are you looking to spend?". People, even most car guys, don't have a clue what a proper paint job will cost. Just the materials needed to shoot a car, can run a couple thousand dollars. One shop I deal with, just shot a 66 for a guy, and the paint he picked, cost $1,600 a gallon! That doesn't include the primer and clear, or the thinner, masking tape, sand paper, compound, buffing pads, etc.....or labor.
You said you told them that you knew they weren't cheap, but your idea of not cheap, and theirs, might be different. It doesn't sound like you told them what you were willing to spend, and you didn't find out what they wanted to paint your car. You just got insulted, when they asked you a perfectly normal question, and blew them off when they said they couldn't take your car till the fall. I wasn't there, but it doesn't sound to me, that the shop was being unreasonable.
The good quality shops that I know, all run a 3-12 month backlog of work. They do quality work, they have happy customers, and people are willing to wait to get their cars in, because they know the work will be done right. There's usually a good reason why, the shops that can take your car in tomorrow, don't have a backlog of work.
Shops that specialize it Corvette or restoration work, realize that collector cars aren't always in driveable condition, and are willing to come to you to do a quote. Most prefer to do it at night or on a weekend, so that it doesn't pull them out of the shop, and most will do it for free, if the distance isn't to great.
If they were trying to feel you out, to see what you wanted to pay, and if they do have a 4-6 month wait to get in, then I'd say it sounds like they know what they're doing, and were just being upfront and honest with you. But as I said, I wasn't there, and maybe you didn't get a good vibe from them.
To start with, through my business, I sell to a number of Corvette shops. I see what a lot of their customers look like, and I can tell you that most car guys, all look a like when playing with their cars. Dirty jeans and a t-shirt, is the dress code for most of their customers (and mine too). I doubt that many restoration shops, blow off customers because of the way they are dressed. If they did, it wouldn't be long, before they wouldn't have any customers!
The first question most of the shops that I know ask is, "What are you looking to spend?". People, even most car guys, don't have a clue what a proper paint job will cost. Just the materials needed to shoot a car, can run a couple thousand dollars. One shop I deal with, just shot a 66 for a guy, and the paint he picked, cost $1,600 a gallon! That doesn't include the primer and clear, or the thinner, masking tape, sand paper, compound, buffing pads, etc.....or labor.
You said you told them that you knew they weren't cheap, but your idea of not cheap, and theirs, might be different. It doesn't sound like you told them what you were willing to spend, and you didn't find out what they wanted to paint your car. You just got insulted, when they asked you a perfectly normal question, and blew them off when they said they couldn't take your car till the fall. I wasn't there, but it doesn't sound to me, that the shop was being unreasonable.
The good quality shops that I know, all run a 3-12 month backlog of work. They do quality work, they have happy customers, and people are willing to wait to get their cars in, because they know the work will be done right. There's usually a good reason why, the shops that can take your car in tomorrow, don't have a backlog of work.
Shops that specialize it Corvette or restoration work, realize that collector cars aren't always in driveable condition, and are willing to come to you to do a quote. Most prefer to do it at night or on a weekend, so that it doesn't pull them out of the shop, and most will do it for free, if the distance isn't to great.
If they were trying to feel you out, to see what you wanted to pay, and if they do have a 4-6 month wait to get in, then I'd say it sounds like they know what they're doing, and were just being upfront and honest with you. But as I said, I wasn't there, and maybe you didn't get a good vibe from them.
