• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Questions for Body Shop guys

chargersb71

Well-Known Member
Local time
11:23 AM
Joined
Mar 26, 2013
Messages
79
Reaction score
15
Location
NC
Would you get defensive if a customer asked you not accusing. But just wanted to know what work you have done to their car during the last 20 or so hours that they are charging you for? Also how long does it typically take to weld in a rear 1/4 panel when the old one has already been cut out and prepped for welding? Panel was cut out by body shop the way they wanted it not cut out by some body else. Getting ready to go get my car and cut my losses. Even tho this will set me back on my budget I feel I am being lied to.
 
The hours, for me, is all flat rate, even if it means I loose my ***. Book time on a quarter can run between 10-20 hours, depending on the car. If I'm skinning a panel then I usually go the upper end of the scale, but that's from start to finish (not including paint). I've done a few skins that took me 30 hours to make right. Aftermarket pieces, measure, trim, shape, trial fit, measure, trim, shape, trial fit. Full quarters... don't know... if the interior and glass is out, that saves time and I charge accordingly. If I have to do trim work, then it's usually gonna cost the full 20.

If you think you're getting hosed, then you probably are. If the guy can't give a straight answer as to what he's done to justify the hours being charged, then there's a reason.
 
Let me take this opportunity to bash the liar and scum-sucking Shelly's Auto Body in Danielsville, Pennsylvania. Steer clear. Chevy man and liar, may he rot.
 
Let me take this opportunity to bash the liar and scum-sucking Shelly's Auto Body in Danielsville, Pennsylvania. Steer clear. Chevy man and liar, may he rot.

LOL , you are definitely persistant , I admire that , sorry for your losses

..... back to the program....
 
Glass is out I took it out had car sandblasted. They got a completely clean and disassembled car. It's not a full quarter by the way.
 
Its my experience that defensive responses are done by people that know they didn't do a good job, lied, or half assed something but want to make you feel like you did something wrong or its your fault or you didn't fully understand what is involved, etc. Happened to me with my original paint job from a local body shop here. Guy was a moron and a hack, may he also rot!
 
I'm not going to say they are hacks. Just can't see the little amount of work in relation to all the hours I have paid for. The more I ask the more defensive they seem to be getting.
 
Many body men/painters don't want to explain how they gouge you. Another thing they do is some of them believe that if they are painting a high dollar car, they deserve a portion of the Increase in value a paint job offers. As far as I know, a four door dodge dart doesn't know it's not a charger R/T. Metal is metal, and paint is paint. It's called GREED.
 
Many body men/painters don't want to explain how they gouge you. Another thing they do is some of them believe that if they are painting a high dollar car, they deserve a portion of the Increase in value a paint job offers. As far as I know, a four door dodge dart doesn't know it's not a charger R/T. Metal is metal, and paint is paint. It's called GREED.

And my guns are the most unprejudiced things you want to meet. They don't care about color and they don't care about the car the color is going onto. Paint time is paint time no matter what's being sprayed.

Now, depending on the paint job itself, you might see an increase in time (and money). Want single stage? Then I don't have to clear it and you don't see the increase in hours for clear time. Want single stage/clear mix with? Then you're definitely seeing an increase in paint time. But that's per the customer preference, not the car.
 
Your my kind of Painter! I don't mind paying for quality work, but don't ding my charger because it's a charger. I know of one that actually said, If I paint your Charger and now it's worth 25k, I deserve more money. say 6,000 instead of 3500. I asked him if you take an SRT challenger into a dealer to fix a fender, do they charge more than the same repair on a dodge dart? He shut up, he also didn't get my Job.
 
My question is who pays for mistakes? Same deal with auto shops. If I take my car into the shop, and they tell me they're charging me for parts/labor because they got things wrong and had to re-do them, who should pay for that? The reason I go to a professional is because they're supposed to know what they are doing without having to do something, take it apart, do it again, take it apart, and do it again, rinse and repeat, so why should I have to pay for time spent because they didn't do the job right the first time?
 
If it helps i just ran up 51 hours for having two full quarters, trunk pan, left outer wheel housing and rear tail light/ trunk panel installed on my RR. They also had to remove the original quarters. I often wonder if i am getting billed heavy myself. I am not a body guy so i don't want to bash anyone, i have no idea if these are normal amounts of time to do the required work.
 
Okay so here is a scary thought. Look around at the people that do the same job as you. There are some who are very good, some who are just getting by, and a bunch in the middle who do good work but not great. This applies to all professions whether it is a body shop or your doctor. Did this shop give you an estimate and do they work on classic cars? I don't feel you should pay time and materials for someones incompetence if this is the case. Also some people are poor planners and don't know how to run a shop properly. Good luck.
 
That's an excellent point Eric, especially when you watch shows like Graveyard Carz where folks are contracting with the shop to restore a car. What the heck are those idiots charging to when they are running around grab assing for most of the day? If I was the owner of a car over there, I would want them to document every single hour they spend on my car because I'ld be damned if I would pay $80 or whatever an hour for them to do 10 minutes of work and 50 minutes of BSing.
 
My question is who pays for mistakes? Same deal with auto shops. If I take my car into the shop, and they tell me they're charging me for parts/labor because they got things wrong and had to re-do them, who should pay for that? The reason I go to a professional is because they're supposed to know what they are doing without having to do something, take it apart, do it again, take it apart, and do it again, rinse and repeat, so why should I have to pay for time spent because they didn't do the job right the first time?

I pay for my mistakes. I charge an hour diagnostic time and if I diagnose it wrong, then the time is on me to get it right. End of story. That goes for every job. If I put two calipers on your car and one fails, then I warranty the part and eat the time. I want my customers happy to tell other potential customers. I'm not one of those guys who sees my customers as a walking piggy bank, who's gonna shake you down for everything you have on one job and then never care if I see you again. I want to see you again. I want to build a rapport with my customers and have a repeat customer base. Repeat customers are bread and butter while building a new customer base.

There are times when you run the risk of killing yourself on warranty time. Rebuild a trans and have an internal vendor supplied part fail? Then you're pulling the trans back out and having to rebuild it again. A lot of parts vendors will reimburse a portion of the labor time, so it's not a complete money loosing situation.

A trade secret and a good shop manager will balance this out in the amount charged for the job the first time all based on labor rate and parts market up. But that takes a good shop manager. Some just aren't capable of doing this up front and still cutting a fair time to the customer. Others want you pay for the job twice. This is a bad business practice and one not worthy of having your business.
 
And my guns are the most unprejudiced things you want to meet. They don't care about color and they don't care about the car the color is going onto. Paint time is paint time no matter what's being sprayed.

Now, depending on the paint job itself, you might see an increase in time (and money). Want single stage? Then I don't have to clear it and you don't see the increase in hours for clear time. Want single stage/clear mix with? Then you're definitely seeing an increase in paint time. But that's per the customer preference, not the car.

When I first read your response I instantly thought you were talking about firearms! LOL. I thought you were saying "if you try and gouge me on the bill you're going to meet my guns and they're not prejudice etc."! LOL

Anyway, good topic. I've been gouged a couple times myself and it really torques me off. Its probably the main reason I try to do most everything myself if at all possible.

One notable experience was with the dual AC system on a Chevy Astro van that I had. AC quit so I took it to a shop recommended by a friend who said "tell 'em Paul sent you and they will take care of you". They took care of me alright - not! When I went to pick up the van they told me they had to remove and replace the compressor, filter/dryer, and rear evaporator and handed me a hefty bill. I said "ok, but I would like to check out the van first". Inspected the van and found the rear evaporator cover ajar. I popped it off to reinstall it and I was shocked to see the old tarnished lint and dust covered evaporator sitting there - WTF?! Went around and popped the hood to check what was going on there. The compressor was new, but the filter/dryer was not - WTF?! I stomped into the office and told the manager to come out and look at the van with me. He was full of excuses and full of s#%t too. I demanded to see the "old" parts and all they could produce was the old compressor and orifice valve. Told them I wasn't paying them for s#%t! Finally my wife mediated and we agreed to pay for the compressor and that was it. I was so pissed it was scary! Good thing that I didn't have some of Ramenth's "unprejudiced guns" with me that day!

I deviated from the original subject, sorry, I digressed. Not too many things piss me off more than being ripped off doesn't matter if its for bodywork or AC repair. Now please, continue with the original subject.
 
If it helps i just ran up 51 hours for having two full quarters, trunk pan, left outer wheel housing and rear tail light/ trunk panel installed on my RR. They also had to remove the original quarters. I often wonder if i am getting billed heavy myself. I am not a body guy so i don't want to bash anyone, i have no idea if these are normal amounts of time to do the required work.
I got almost twice as many hrs for two patch panels on 1/4 on one side and a 1/4 that is not even fitted yet. Just hanging up there. And a small piece of fiberglass.
But its over now I will be brushing up on my welding skills and calling in some friends to help. She is coming back home.
 
Don't really want to wade into these bloody waters but the original question deserves an answer. These answers come from 22 years of experience, not claiming to know everything, just offering an answer. Defensive? No. But most bodymen are prima donnas who think being questioned IS being accused. Ask a doctor next time to explain everything they do and why and see if their response is the same. The work described should have been 8-10 billable hours. In retrospect you should have gotten a firm signed quote. First signal to walk away is if one isn't offered. You were lucky, most guys won't touch a partially done repair with a ten foot pole, because the public always wants a guarantee on your work and theirs.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top