Outrageous
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 220
From: Akron Ohio
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
Outrageous
hey guys had a lil work done on my car front splitter, side skirts, rear spoiler, window rails, all mounted an painted had the front clip removed to remove the headlights to get sent off to be custom an a few other miscellaneous things done to get the vette back to like new an I was outraged when I got my bill $6,689 of which over $5000 was labor does that sound right an what should I do about it ? the owner gave me my bill an left for vacation for 10 days I haven't paid yet an have plenty time to think about it
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
hey guys had a lil work done on my car front splitter, side skirts, rear spoiler, window rails, all mounted an painted had the front clip removed to remove the headlights to get sent off to be custom an a few other miscellaneous things done to get the vette back to like new an I was outraged when I got my bill $6,689 of which over $5000 was labor does that sound right an what should I do about it ? the owner gave me my bill an left for vacation for 10 days I haven't paid yet an have plenty time to think about it
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 220
From: Akron Ohio
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
I agreed on an hourly rate but had no idea of how many hours he charged me for redoing work that wasn't done right the first time
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
What should you do about it? Did you authorize the work? If so, you should pay it. Did you not get an estimate or have any idea what it would cost?
Typical shop labor charges are pushing $100/hr, so that's 50 hours or so of labor. From your description of the work there would be a lot of labor involved. Paint work is never cheap either.
Typical shop labor charges are pushing $100/hr, so that's 50 hours or so of labor. From your description of the work there would be a lot of labor involved. Paint work is never cheap either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,653
Likes: 539
From: SE Pa
What should you do about it? Did you authorize the work? If so, you should pay it. Did you not get an estimate or have any idea what it would cost?
Typical shop labor charges are pushing $100/hr, so that's 50 hours or so of labor. From your description of the work there would be a lot of labor involved. Paint work is never cheap either.
Typical shop labor charges are pushing $100/hr, so that's 50 hours or so of labor. From your description of the work there would be a lot of labor involved. Paint work is never cheap either.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 220
From: Akron Ohio
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
What should you do about it? Did you authorize the work? If so, you should pay it. Did you not get an estimate or have any idea what it would cost?
Typical shop labor charges are pushing $100/hr, so that's 50 hours or so of labor. From your description of the work there would be a lot of labor involved. Paint work is never cheap either.
Typical shop labor charges are pushing $100/hr, so that's 50 hours or so of labor. From your description of the work there would be a lot of labor involved. Paint work is never cheap either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,597
Likes: 960
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
I cannot say how long that should have taken, but again, if you did not get a written estimate, or get the labor rate and how long they estimated the work would take, sounds like you just need to pay the bill.
As for the front splitter you are looking at an hour to install it. Rear spoiler maybe 1-2 hours and the side skirts a gain 1-2 hours. That does not include painting of course. Not sure what the man hours are to remove the front clip. But again I would never drop my car off and have nothing in writing as to what the cost will be.
As for the front splitter you are looking at an hour to install it. Rear spoiler maybe 1-2 hours and the side skirts a gain 1-2 hours. That does not include painting of course. Not sure what the man hours are to remove the front clip. But again I would never drop my car off and have nothing in writing as to what the cost will be.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,304
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From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
Without knowing exactly what was done I can't say it sounds "about right," but it doesn't sound outrageous. I used to work at a body shop so I have a good idea how much good paint work costs. I had mine repainted last year because a truck in front of my dropped a bunch of gravel. The final bill was close to $9,000.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 197
Likes: 24
From: Dry Shiddies Washington
What struck me as interesting is that you saw his labor charge and that is what seems to have your panties in a wad. You also stated you agreed to an hourly rate for the work to be conducted under and YOU set NO CEILING LIMIT...this is called a time and materials contract and you accepted by agreeing to his labor rate.
You should have negotiated a fixed-price contract. That is where the amount of payment does not depend on the amount of resources or time expended. In short you agreed this work and you own it.
Gotta suck it up buttercup. Next time don't let excitement of a project cloud your judgement and rush into a project without some planning.
You should have negotiated a fixed-price contract. That is where the amount of payment does not depend on the amount of resources or time expended. In short you agreed this work and you own it.
Gotta suck it up buttercup. Next time don't let excitement of a project cloud your judgement and rush into a project without some planning.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 901
Likes: 45
From: Winter Haven FL
I would always advise someone to have an estimate on custom work with the stipulation that if it appears it is going to exceed the estimate then further work would require my approval. If you give someone carte blanche then you have no one but yourself to blame if you do not like the outcome. just my opinion
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Tyler Tx
Glad that's not me.But thanks for putting something on my mind when I get ready or if I ever decide to have work done.Hate it for you my man but have to agree with the others.Should have gotten an estimate or quote.Question is,are you satisfied with what was done?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
50 hours at $100 per doesn't seem too outrageous given your list of mods/paint/etc.
Good shops usually provide a fairly detailed breakdown of labor costs and materials. Did you get any paperwork spelling things out for you?
If not, that's the first thing I'd ask for and then challenge them if any of the labor appears excessive.
Good shops/mechanics are also forthcoming in explaining any extenuating circumstances or challenges they may have encountered.
Good shops usually provide a fairly detailed breakdown of labor costs and materials. Did you get any paperwork spelling things out for you?
If not, that's the first thing I'd ask for and then challenge them if any of the labor appears excessive.
Good shops/mechanics are also forthcoming in explaining any extenuating circumstances or challenges they may have encountered.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 11,973
Likes: 463
From: Tonawanda New York
Generally when you have work done on a vehicle the business tells you what the cost will be beforehand and you agree to that price and sign the estimate. While doing that work, they find the cost will be more money they should contact you.
Sounds like you just told them to do all that stuff without a price estimate beforehand. Therefore pay the piper and learn a lesson.
Sounds like you just told them to do all that stuff without a price estimate beforehand. Therefore pay the piper and learn a lesson.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 310
Likes: 2
Something doesn't seem right here. While I agree with everyone else that you should have known before hand so this wouldn't happen, THE SHOP WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE ESTIMATE IN $$ SO THEY KNOW IF THEY WILL GET PAID. WITH THAT BEING SAID, HE GAVE YOU THE CAR BACK THEN WENT AWAY NOT KNOWING IF HE'S GETTING PAID?? What are you not telling us?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,716
Likes: 15
From: Tri Cities TN
hey guys had a lil work done on my car front splitter, side skirts, rear spoiler, window rails, all mounted an painted had the front clip removed to remove the headlights to get sent off to be custom an a few other miscellaneous things done to get the vette back to like new an I was outraged when I got my bill $6,689 of which over $5000 was labor does that sound right an what should I do about it ? the owner gave me my bill an left for vacation for 10 days I haven't paid yet an have plenty time to think about it
take time and add cost.
Something doesn't seem right here. While I agree with everyone else that you should have known before hand so this wouldn't happen, THE SHOP WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE ESTIMATE IN $$ SO THEY KNOW IF THEY WILL GET PAID. WITH THAT BEING SAID, HE GAVE YOU THE CAR BACK THEN WENT AWAY NOT KNOWING IF HE'S GETTING PAID?? What are you not telling us?
There's more going on than meets the eye here
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 220
From: Akron Ohio
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
ok I appreciate all of your input but I think I will go talk to a lawyer an see what he says if he says what most of u are sayin that I should have gotten an estimate up front an its on me then I will just pay it we shall see
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,716
Likes: 15
From: Tri Cities TN
Do you really need a lawyer to tell you that you should have gotten an estimate?? Really??