I am stunned

[IQ52]

Unless this is an Earl Scheib shop I cannot see it being anything less than $6,000.

 

[dvw]

It all depends on what one person considers "blocked" and what a really GOOD body man considers "blocked". I see a friend of that sells muscle cars to a "muscle car lot". When the car is taken apart he sends them for a nice driver quality job with no large dents or rust, about 6K. For top quality rotisserie jobs I've seen 27K. The job is only as good as the gap fit and how straight it is. Stock 60/70s vintage body's leave a lot to be desired as far a being straight and having quality fit. Add aftermarket panels and it's even worse. A lot of people can't tell the difference. Compare this view.
Doug

 

[Cornpatch MO]

What would be a fair price, or what did it cost you. to do this work. Professionals opinions too please.
!964 Dodge 440 All body work done, all trim removed and primerd with plenty of epoxy primer

Cost to:
Block sand , maybe do a few places with spot putty
Probably primer again and final block sand
Paint with Urathane single stage color --8 coats
All material paid for and not included in cost.
Wet sand
buff
clean buff residue.

I would like to get a lot of feedback please. I will explain later..Thanks..............................MO

. We kinda got off track here. The job is done , but not picked up yet, and final payment not made yet. Everything was fine and paid up till about the middle of Dec. The body and paint man ( retired and working out of his home garage) asked if he could move my car out of his shop so he could do a couple of little jobs which turned into several jobs and I did not get my car back in until the end of January. Keep in mind, I paid for all materials and paid up to the block sanding etc. that I have described
OK just for the work here described, he wants to charge me $5,200 and claims he has 100 hours in it. I am a reasonable person( I think) and I balk--especially when the whole job with paint included was originally quoted at $3500-$4000..Keep in mind, This $5,200.was only for block sanding painting cut and buff and cleaning off buff residue...................MO

 

[furyrestored]

good friends are hard to find mo.. I don't like doing work for friends it seems someone is never happy and it usually costs a friendship..i painted a buddies Studebaker two summers ago for free but he was supposed to hook me up with a nice 53 Studebaker of my own for 2000 that needed a resto but was in nice rust free shape and the owner (*a friend of his) wanted to sell it..well after the paintjob was done he forgot all about the car I was supposed to purchase for 2k he bought it and he tried selling me another rusted out pos that he had I just told him keep it.. he figured I worked 2 months for beer I guess.. I bought my duster with that money... live and learn...its kinda funny now he put big tires on the lark I painted and it burnt the paint off both 1/4s from tire rub and he has asked me a couple of times if could fix it but I have to much going on with my own cars to worry about his now,,,some paintjobs cost and some don t

 

[Cornpatch MO]

I honestly want to do the right thing. I just don't know what the right thing would be...........................MO

 

[hunt2elk]

I just had my Charger wet sanded and buffed and was amazed what was all involved and the time it took. I know the guy had 70 hrs. in mine. It does sound like he grossly underestimated the labor on your car though. Seems strange he didn't say something awhile ago when he knew the cost was going to end up way over his quoted price.

 

[NJRR]

If he quoted you $3500-4000 for the whole job including materials, it was incumbent upon him to contact you when he realized that there was going to be such an overrun on the original estimate. That holds for any contractor. A 10% variance on labor is acceptable. Anything over that, if not discussed with the customer and agreed on, the contractor has to eat it. From what I gather, the $5200 is not even for the complete job AND you provided the paint, which means there needs to be a deduction. Talk to the guy and explain the issue. If he's a straight up guy, he'll be reasonable and adjust his bill. If not, F him and just pay what you agreed on. JMHO.

I honestly want to do the right thing. I just don't know what the right thing would be...........................MO

 

[Moparsmitty]

Question: Did you get anything in writing or was it all verbal/handshake? I've had privateers do paint work for me before, but only because I knew them very well and they had a good rep in the area. Like NJRR says, this guy should have called you and told you it was going to cost more than his original estimate. That would at least give you the option of continuing or pulling the plug on this guy. I would be tempted to show up at his place with the 4K and tell him that you are willing to pay what you originally agreed to and see what happens. He may settle for that. I know it's tempting to seek legal remedy, but for a $1200 difference it's probably not worth it. You could take it to small claims court but it takes time and it's a lot of BS to go through and it may still be up to you to collect any settlement. Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer, so my advice is worth what you paid for it. I hope this situation works out for you. Good luck.

 

[Cornpatch MO]

After agreeing on the cost and how it would be done -payments along the way, we did not make a contract. We have been aquainted for many years. That was a big mistake not to get some kind of agreement on paper. This body work and painting project Started about 9 months ago. I took off the doors, fenders, hood, and trunk. I bought all the materials to keep him from having to use his own money. He did the initial body work , primered and painted around the edges so the car could be painted with it all together. I brought the car home and put everything back together. then took it back to him the first part of Sept. The agreement was that he could do other smaller jobs when he wanted to. He got the panel's alighned. He took on several smaller jobs and then his daughter got very sick with a brain tumor
Everthing was paid up in January and all he needed to do was the block sanding, spot putty, paint and cut-buff. I was prepared to pay him the remaining balance of the original agreement which would have been $1000-$1500. He now says he has 102 hours since January to do the block sanding painting etc. which comes to $5,200. That is why I am stunned
The problem is-- to much time has elapsed since the agreement. He has forgotten our deal. and I cannot prove everything that I paid for and when. It has been a cash deal ---LET THIS BE A WARNING TO YOU ALL
I don't want to go to court on this and neither does he, that would only lose friends and cost more money.
So, I think I will offer to pay 1/2 of the $5200, even tho it is more than Our agreement. He would have to write off 1/2 of his stated labor hours ( which I think is excessive) I would appreciate feedback on if I am doing the right thing.......................................MO

 

[super-bee_ski]

You can't get the time back, but I hope you get all of your money back at least.
Just out of curiosity, what's the defense have to say about it?

They have nothing to say.
They tried to tell me they were busy.
Sadly, the business is going "under"
I lost all hardware, no where to be found.
In order to complete with correct hardware I need a donor car...

"NOT WANTING TO HIJACK THREAD"

- - - Updated - - -

After agreeing on the cost and how it would be done -payments along the way, we did not make a contract. We have been aquainted for many years. That was a big mistake not to get some kind of agreement on paper. This body work and painting project Started about 9 months ago. I took off the doors, fenders, hood, and trunk. I bought all the materials to keep him from having to use his own money. He did the initial body work , primered and painted around the edges so the car could be painted with it all together. I brought the car home and put everything back together. then took it back to him the first part of Sept. The agreement was that he could do other smaller jobs when he wanted to. He got the panel's alighned. He took on several smaller jobs and then his daughter got very sick with a brain tumor
Everthing was paid up in January and all he needed to do was the block sanding, spot putty, paint and cut-buff. I was prepared to pay him the remaining balance of the original agreement which would have been $1000-$1500. He now says he has 102 hours since January to do the block sanding painting etc. which comes to $5,200. That is why I am stunned
The problem is-- to much time has elapsed since the agreement. He has forgotten our deal. and I cannot prove everything that I paid for and when. It has been a cash deal ---LET THIS BE A WARNING TO YOU ALL
I don't want to go to court on this and neither does he, that would only lose friends and cost more money.
So, I think I will offer to pay 1/2 of the $5200, even tho it is more than Our agreement. He would have to write off 1/2 of his stated labor hours ( which I think is excessive) I would appreciate feedback on if I am doing the right thing.......................................MO

Fortunately for me Mo, I have every "Bank-check" as a receipt.
I also have a receipt stating: "Paid In Full" dated 2010.
I do have numerous digital pic thropught the years with them near the car etc.
I hope this documnetation helps me.

I was informed, a small claims court judgement in my favor does not mean I get monetart compensation.
The old adage: "You can not get water from a stone" rings true.

Cornpatch MO, keep us posted.

You are correct, the "cash" deals and "good friends" etc have no bearing when unscrupulous business practices are levied out to unsuspecting clients.

- - - Updated - - -

I personally think $5,200 is a fair price now-a-days

 

[Cornpatch MO]

They have nothing to say.
They tried to tell me they were busy.
Sadly, the business is going "under"
I lost all hardware, no where to be found.
In order to complete with correct hardware I need a donor car...

Bee, you better file a claim in court right away, before they go under. That will get their attention if they remain open and put you ahead of the crowd if bankruptcy happens. If you win the claim, you can have equipment seized or garnish their bank accounts. Don't waste time!...........................MO

- - - Updated - - -

Bee-Ski I guess I didn't make myself clear. The $5,200 was on top of the nearly $4000 That I have already paid. Quite a ways from $3500 to $4500 that was origionaly agreed to.

In your case, you certainly can Make them pay up. Once you get the judgement, you then have to take further legal action to seize property garnish bank accounts or put a lien on their property Call an attorney, they will give free advice to potential clients. ............................MO

 

[speedchangesyou]

If you were here in So Cal I would recommend Lear Body & Paint in Lake Elsinore maybe 3k and it would be DONE RIGHT....951.674.1516

 

[NJRR]

MO- I think offering him another $2600 over the $4000 you already paid him is more than fair and generous. If he balks at that,your cause with him is lost, the friendship is damaged, and let HIM sue you and try to prove it in court.

They have nothing to say.
They tried to tell me they were busy.
Sadly, the business is going "under"
I lost all hardware, no where to be found.
In order to complete with correct hardware I need a donor car...

Bee, you better file a claim in court right away, before they go under. That will get their attention if they remain open and put you ahead of the crowd if bankruptcy happens. If you win the claim, you can have equipment seized or garnish their bank accounts. Don't waste time!...........................MO

- - - Updated - - -

Bee-Ski I guess I didn't make myself clear. The $5,200 was on top of the nearly $4000 That I have already paid. Quite a ways from $3500 to $4500 that was origionaly agreed to.

In your case, you certainly can Make them pay up. Once you get the judgement, you then have to take further legal action to seize property garnish bank accounts or put a lien on their property Call an attorney, they will give free advice to potential clients. ............................MO

 

[mopar505]

are you happy with the end results ? (the paint job) do you think he did a quality job? if yes to both then i would say his hours are justified. he is in the wrong for not updating you on hours into project. go at him with your concerns and let him think and come up with his resolution. this will test the friendship. if its a good job 10000 to 13000 for a complete job with materials dont seem that out of line? It only sucks that your expectations were much less giving the quote you were given. im sure you will work it out and good luck with it.

 

[Cornpatch MO]

This is not a show car, it is a daily driver. I don't expect a $10.000 job for $4500. BTW what would be a $10,000 paint job when there is no rust repair or damage other than some dents ???
I am satisfied with the job, but he still has the car.
We are among several counties in South Iowa that has a high poverty level. We wear glass instead of diamonds! LOL.. As an example, he only charges $50 per hour...................................MO

 

[69roadr]

This is not a show car, it is a daily driver. I don't expect a $10.000 job for $4500. BTW what would be a $10,000 paint job when there is no rust repair or damage other than some dents ???

i was quoted 12k for my car (no rust/minimal dings). the final bill.........15k

 

[64BEL]

Steve,

I think it's fair to split the difference with him as you suggested. There's quite a difference between his estimate and the actual, and as others have said, he should have let you know what was going on. I do understand the situation with his daughter makes it more uncomfortable, and he deserves some consideration for that. But he should still own up to at least some of the discrepancy and meet you half way. You'd still be taking a hit, but if you're happy with the work and his hours are justified, hopefully you can be at peace with it. I don't think you should have to take all of it, though. My 2 cents.

Dave

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Steve,

I think it's fair to split the difference with him as you suggested. There's quite a difference between his estimate and the actual, and as others have said, he should have let you know what was going on. I do understand the situation with his daughter makes it more uncomfortable, and he deserves some consideration for that. But he should still own up to at least some of the discrepancy and meet you half way. You'd still be taking a hit, but if you're happy with the work and his hours are justified, hopefully you can be at peace with it. I don't think you should have to take all of it, though. My 2 cents.

Dave

Thanks Dave, you and I are on the same page. Now that the stun has subsided, I will have a calm talk with him about it.
What you got going on with your 64 Plymouth? Still stuck in a snowdrift??
8-).............................MO

 

[Gpuller]

We painted a '66 Mustang here at work last year. The owner brought it in completely stripped, interior, exterior trim and paint. We did a small amount of rust repair, the car was from the west coast. Primed, blocked, primed, blocked again and painted BC/CC. Then the stripes were painted on, and cleared again. His bill was over 12 grand.

 

[super-bee_ski]

I'm on it MO

PS: I missed the original $4,000 you put into it.
My bad.
Yeah, that aint right!