I am wondering if I should be more MAD than I am, and if I have lost a very good friend. To make a long story not so long my father passed away 2 days after christmas in '98, my mother had always wanted a corvette and though he had toyed with the idea of getting one time ran out. For her birthday in 99 I bought her a very low mileage black '95 coupe and she has and still loves and drives the car all the time. This year for mothers day I had arranged for a makeover on the car paint, wheels, and so on. Close friend of 15 years has always painted for me custom bikes and he is very good on black. We made the deal and she was excited. Dropped the car off Saturday and everything was fine. Talked to him yesturday and he now feels like rather than sacrificing a friendship if something goes wrong he would rather not paint the car. Mom is totally heart broke. I asked him if he needed more money or time and he just does not want to fix it. I told him I would be there to pick the car up @4:30 he said O.K. Found someone to go with me and drove the 105 miles from work and found the car sitting outside key's were in the gas door partsinside and the money i had paid him down was in console. Now I am upset because he did not face me, and I am stuck trying to find a painter I trust to do the car. How would any of you feel about this?

 

The guy cares enough about you not to mess up the car. Sounds like he feels bad about it too. I'd say you need to call him and tell him everything is totally cool between you.

Friends are harder to find than painters.

 

 

I agree. Theres a reason he didn't want to do the car. Its usually about money.
Black is the easiset color to spray. Pretty hard to do black wrong.
The 105 mile trip is another issue.

I would get over it and chalk it up to expereince. Whats a friend?
You can loan some people money, others your car, some even your bike, but you can't trust everyone with everything.

Don't let the weak side of others get to ya.

 

I agree that he sounds like a true friend, does he only paint bikes? Maybe he wasn't comfortable painting a vette, he did the right thing by not painting it if he wasn't comfortable doing so. If he had screwed it up it would have cost you double to fix it, plus a good friend because you know you would have been pissed. Look around, I'm sure you'll find lots of good painters within a 100 mile radius. Good Luck.

 

First rule of business, never do business with family or friends.

I think he was right to back away, although he should have told you right off that he didn't feel comfortable doing it. Painting a Corvette is a specialized task, not everyone is willing to tackle the job. I don't know anything about painting bikes but it would seem to me if he screwed up a fender or gas tank on a bike (is there anything else that would be painted?) it's not a big deal to repaint. Screw up a fender, door panel or hood on a car and it could be a major fix.

Find some forum or Corvette club member in your area and ask for suggestions for a painter.

 

 

Be glad, you got the car back, money back, and friendship intact although be it little bruised, that too shal heal.

 

Oh yes. Started a detailing business with two friends, and it nearly wrecked a (at that time) 10+ year friendship. I won't say it's true 100% of time, but darn near it.

 

A friend of mine and I have a deal. Whenever one does something to offend the other, we simply call "immunity"..the offended party is no longer allowed to be upset. Works everytime.

 

If he was going to give you a good deal and messed it up,it could have cost him alot.

 

prob was beyond his capability and just didnt know how to tell you.

 

Maybe your mom would enjoy some extra "horse power" over paint.

Mod that engine for her.

 

Great perspective you have there. Nobody gets to play the victim role.
The only things that matter are.
1. You must trust each other and communicate the details so nothing is misunderstood.
2. Is the person doing the work qualified ?
3. Is the price fair to both parties ?

Friends and relatives only mess it up when they have unrealistic expectations in one manner or another.

I do work for friends and relatives sometimes... I don't recall ever having a problem.

 

Yep, you have to be up front about everything. But don't ever rent to a friend or worse yet a relative.
They do about the same amount of damage as a stranger does but you would expect more respect.

 

Update: God This Has Been A Trying Summer For Me And This Car. I Have Been Ripped Off By A Guy On A Set Of Weels And Finaly Gotten That Straightened Out. Car Is Now In Shop For Soda Blasting And Will Soon Be Taken To The Painters. I Thought Paint On Car Was Original Turns Out The Hood Has About Five Coats On It. I Will Keep You Guys Posted.

 

 

I agree with all the other posts. The guy probably respects you AND your mother too much to do anything wrong, and he may have had second thoughts about "what if..." happens. If he did NOT paint the car to your standards, you'd be out money AND a friendship. Although it may cost you more money in the long run, with an independent party (the other paint shop) you can bitch them out, withhold payment if it's not to your liking, and not feel bad!

 

 

Sounds to me like you are an exceptional son, likely because of exceptional parents.

Bring the car to a good local shop. Your frined owes you a beer, then forget about it.

It was uncool though he left the car out with the keys in it, I don't know what to make of that though.