Leather seat
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Leather seat
Hi,
Has anyone had to have their driver side seat re-stitched? I have a local guy here who says he'll do it for $275. This entails fixing(new leather) the two panels closest to the door. He said the job will take a couple hours at most. Am I getting ripped off?
Thanks for any input.
LW97Vette
Has anyone had to have their driver side seat re-stitched? I have a local guy here who says he'll do it for $275. This entails fixing(new leather) the two panels closest to the door. He said the job will take a couple hours at most. Am I getting ripped off?
Thanks for any input.
LW97Vette
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
No you are not getting ripped off, removing the skin requires some time. Make sure you take pictures of the door sill, removing the seat can cause damage to the sill from the seat rails..
removing the seat and the skin will take less than an hour, replacing the leather, cutting fitting and stitching will take another hour, putting the skin back and installing the seat will take another hour. the skin itself 30/50 dollars.
you can buy a new skin from GM but it will cost you 300 dollars , then you need to remove the old one, install the new one..etc..
they guy has to make a profit.
seems like fair price to me..
IM sure someone will say OH I can do it an hour.. and yes your getting ripped off..
removing the seat and the skin will take less than an hour, replacing the leather, cutting fitting and stitching will take another hour, putting the skin back and installing the seat will take another hour. the skin itself 30/50 dollars.
you can buy a new skin from GM but it will cost you 300 dollars , then you need to remove the old one, install the new one..etc..
they guy has to make a profit.
seems like fair price to me..
IM sure someone will say OH I can do it an hour.. and yes your getting ripped off..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 5
My experience has been that better fabric/leather will be used for the repair. However, there was always a slight difference with matching (new leather being stitched to old leather) relative to grain & color. The upholstory guys are generally very good at what they do. All have always replaced the factory foam when they do the repairs. I always take a look at their exisiting work--if it's good, I never dicker on price or how long it will take.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 44
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Originally Posted by Cruncher
My experience has been that better fabric/leather will be used for the repair. However, there was always a slight difference with matching (new leather being stitched to old leather) relative to grain & color. The upholstory guys are generally very good at what they do. All have always replaced the factory foam when they do the repairs. I always take a look at their exisiting work--if it's good, I never dicker on price or how long it will take.
Administrator
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I'd say it is probably pretty reasonable. Good leather is not cheap and the time it takes to remove the covers, break them apart,cut the new piece to fit and then restitch can add up.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 722
Likes: 8
From: N.Canton Ohio
suggest you check with dealer on a new replacement seat upholstry.Depending whether you have sport seats or standard seats,either way with discount from forum dealers,the upper seat back should be much less than having it repaired.with the upper seat back being zippered,it is an easy DIY without removing the seat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,921
Likes: 58
From: Woodstock Ga
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
I'd say it is probably pretty reasonable. Good leather is not cheap and the time it takes to remove the covers, break them apart,cut the new piece to fit and then restitch can add up.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: New Bloomfield Pa
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'10
It is worth it...but if yu do this and dont replace the foam you will be doing it again in a year or two. New Foam is around $75 a seat well worth it you are going to have the seats out and the covers off.
This is an easy DIY if you want to replace the skins and have all new seats.
If you are close to or want to come to Carlisle I can do it for you.
This is an easy DIY if you want to replace the skins and have all new seats.
If you are close to or want to come to Carlisle I can do it for you.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Crowley TX
A friend of mine got in my car with a screw driver in his back pocket and ripped about a 3 inch long gash in the lower back area of my seat. Got it fixed for $245 so I don't think your getting ripped. They are right about the grain and color of the leather not being exact but if you didn't know mine was repaired I don't think you would ever notice.
