Issue with bodyshop
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Issue with bodyshop
I picked up my project corvette back in summer of 2016. Its a 1969 427 numbers matching red/red 4sp w/ac. Shortly after getting it delivered i went out to get estimates from local body shops for either repair the front clip and painting or replacing front clip. Long story short I found a body shop, had good reviews at the time and an A with the BBB. His price was fair for the work and seemed to know what he was talking about. We agreed that i would give him 1 year for job completion. Fast forward to today 2.5 years, he has caused more damaged than help on the car. It sits completely disassembled by looks of someone that really just unbolted whatever bolt the could find and throw them where ever they felt. Poured POR15 all over the windshield washer bay and let it glob up all over the place, and biggest annoyance of all lost many parts. Even though my friends and family told me numerous times to pull it out a long time ago i tried to give the guy the benefit of the doubt (i didn't realize all the damage and missing parts at the time). I been slowing pulling all parts i could find out of the place telling him i was organizing them into bins, having them sandblasted, etc,etc I almost got all the parts that can be found out of the place. Only thing really left is the shell of the vette (engine is already at a different shop being gone through and started), and the new press molded front clip and hood. My question is what is the best way to try and recover the vette. On the invoice he did he stated it would only be a year, even though i already gave him about 7k for the work, that will be a different story to try and recover but i will not hold my breath. If i was to go there with a flat bed is there anything he could do to stop me from recovering the rest?
thank for any help on this frustrating road
thank for any help on this frustrating road
Last edited by raven1708; 01-15-2019 at 09:10 AM.
#2
Team Owner
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Are you on friendly terms with the shop owner? If not, you should be looking for an attorney.
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
I been keeping everything on friendly terms so far. He has no idea that i am taking it somewhere else to be painted. I just tell him i having other people prep it to get it done faster and he hasnt said anything. I not wanting to ruffle and feather till i get the rest of it out. I already told him the engine shop is going to install the engine and i would have to take it to them. and even mention a person i was using for fiberglass for other things i might have him put on the front clip. Been trying to tip toe around it all.
#4
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '05
SAme problem I showed up with the sheriff while picked it up. Ask him for money owed, if not quietly walkaway and file small claims. He aint gonna finish it.
#5
Drifting
Golden rule. NEVER pay in advance only when job completed. Hope you get it resolved.
#6
GM Cert Corvette Tech
Pro Mechanic
Stay on friendly terms with him and get you Vette out of there. Than get a lawyer to try to recoup your money. All he's doing is stringing you along.
Tell him the engine is done and the rebuilder wants to put it in.
Tell him the engine is done and the rebuilder wants to put it in.
#7
He robbed you of $7,000, and stole 2 years of your life. Get an attorney, get your car back, sue his *** off, and move on.
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Douglas Mariani (01-17-2019)
#8
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Seeing how you have been successful in getting parts out and tiptoeing around him, I’d show up with a trailer and say you are going to have some glass work done elsewhere by a specialist and you will get back with him after that. After you get the car you can think about other issues like wasted payment, etc.
I don’t see the upside of showing up with a sheriff or lawyers yet. Try to do it quietly first. You can always come in guns blazing later if he resists.
I don’t see the upside of showing up with a sheriff or lawyers yet. Try to do it quietly first. You can always come in guns blazing later if he resists.
#9
Safety Car
por-15 all over the windshield bay is a major sign that your birdcage is toast. perhaps there is a miscommunication between you and him..
if I was a shop and I found that my customer's birdcage is toast. I would stop all work since I could not guarantee my work unless my customer committed to a major increment in restoration cost.
and such a repair may be way beyond the scope of what I could repair.
sure would like to hear both sides of the story.
sometimes it takes several thousand $$ of disassembly labor to find birdcage structural problems. and several thousand in reassembly to give back to the customer.
if I was a shop and I found that my customer's birdcage is toast. I would stop all work since I could not guarantee my work unless my customer committed to a major increment in restoration cost.
and such a repair may be way beyond the scope of what I could repair.
sure would like to hear both sides of the story.
sometimes it takes several thousand $$ of disassembly labor to find birdcage structural problems. and several thousand in reassembly to give back to the customer.
Last edited by joewill; 01-15-2019 at 11:38 AM.
#10
Instructor
Thread Starter
Seeing how you have been successful in getting parts out and tiptoeing around him, I’d show up with a trailer and say you are going to have some glass work done elsewhere by a specialist and you will get back with him after that. After you get the car you can think about other issues like wasted payment, etc.
I don’t see the upside of showing up with a sheriff or lawyers yet. Try to do it quietly first. You can always come in guns blazing later if he resists.
I don’t see the upside of showing up with a sheriff or lawyers yet. Try to do it quietly first. You can always come in guns blazing later if he resists.
Last edited by raven1708; 01-15-2019 at 11:43 AM.
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jackson (01-16-2019)
#11
Instructor
Thread Starter
por-15 all over the windshield bay is a major sign that your birdcage is toast. perhaps there is a miscommunication between you and him..
if I was a shop and I found that my customer's birdcage is toast. I would stop all work since I could not guarantee my work unless my customer committed to a major increment in restoration cost.
and such a repair may be way beyond the scope of what I could repair.
sure would like to hear both sides of the story.
sometimes it takes several thousand $$ of disassembly labor to find birdcage structural problems. and several thousand in reassembly to give back to the customer.
if I was a shop and I found that my customer's birdcage is toast. I would stop all work since I could not guarantee my work unless my customer committed to a major increment in restoration cost.
and such a repair may be way beyond the scope of what I could repair.
sure would like to hear both sides of the story.
sometimes it takes several thousand $$ of disassembly labor to find birdcage structural problems. and several thousand in reassembly to give back to the customer.
Last edited by raven1708; 01-15-2019 at 11:47 AM.
#12
Racer
To say the birdcage e is toast is about as responsible as the guy who did the work cmon where did you find any proof to back up that statement Phil
#13
I wonder if I paid $7000 down on a new car, and did not receive it after 2 years if would feel okay.
If you paid $7000 for a new kitchen, and after two years, ...............
If you paid $7000 for a new kitchen, and after two years, ...............
#15
Race Director
Possession is 99% of the law as I always heard. So get the car...and when it is rolling down the road to the engine shop on the roll back...hang out for little bit and go look at your front clip and then take it due to 'things' you want to do to it to free him up.
If you have the receipt for the front clip and parts ..Have it with you if you feel the law is going to get involved... so you can prove it. is yours..then he cannot stop you. and tell him whatever you want. .
DUB
If you have the receipt for the front clip and parts ..Have it with you if you feel the law is going to get involved... so you can prove it. is yours..then he cannot stop you. and tell him whatever you want. .
DUB
#16
Race Director
Agree. Tell him you are getting it out of his way to free him up to do the other work he needs to clear out so he will have time and space to devote to your car. Is there still an old clip on the car now? If not, the engine guy needs it for clearance and to set up rad support and see where on inner fenders he is gonna mount the fuel pump, nitrous bottle, intercooler, muffler bearings...
#17
Instructor
Thread Starter
Agree. Tell him you are getting it out of his way to free him up to do the other work he needs to clear out so he will have time and space to devote to your car. Is there still an old clip on the car now? If not, the engine guy needs it for clearance and to set up rad support and see where on inner fenders he is gonna mount the fuel pump, nitrous bottle, intercooler, muffler bearings...
Last edited by raven1708; 01-15-2019 at 08:11 PM.
#18
Melting Slicks
Total cluster... I'd get it out and now then goto court. They obviously had no idea what to do or thought they landed a big fish they could milk.
I'm hoping you haven't laid out 7k already... Any changes from original agreement need to be in writing. Better get your receipts in order and document everything while fresh in your memory.
I'm hoping you haven't laid out 7k already... Any changes from original agreement need to be in writing. Better get your receipts in order and document everything while fresh in your memory.
#19
Race Director
So tell him you need the car and nose to get the engine installed. And he wants to start this week. From the sound of it, this guy only knows how to do collision work on common recent stuff. Clueless about preserving something older and valuable.
#20
I picked up my project corvette back in summer of 2016. Its a 1969 427 numbers matching red/red 4sp w/ac. Shortly after getting it delivered i went out to get estimates from local body shops for either repair the front clip and painting or replacing front clip. Long story short I found a body shop, had good reviews at the time and an A with the BBB. His price was fair for the work and seemed to know what he was talking about. We agreed that i would give him 1 year for job completion. Fast forward to today 2.5 years, he has caused more damaged than help on the car. It sits completely disassembled by looks of someone that really just unbolted whatever bolt the could find and throw them where ever they felt. Poured POR15 all over the windshield washer bay and let it glob up all over the place, and biggest annoyance of all lost many parts. Even though my friends and family told me numerous times to pull it out a long time ago i tried to give the guy the benefit of the doubt (i didn't realize all the damage and missing parts at the time). I been slowing pulling all parts i could find out of the place telling him i was organizing them into bins, having them sandblasted, etc,etc I almost got all the parts that can be found out of the place. Only thing really left is the shell of the vette (engine is already at a different shop being gone through and started), and the new press molded front clip and hood. My question is what is the best way to try and recover the vette. On the invoice he did he stated it would only be a year, even though i already gave him about 7k for the work, that will be a different story to try and recover but i will not hold my breath. If i was to go there with a flat bed is there anything he could do to stop me from recovering the rest?
thank for any help on this frustrating road
thank for any help on this frustrating road
Good luck to you.