I am stunned

[cwhubb]

1,200 for a so-so paint job minus body work, 2000 -2500 for slightly better than factory paint finish minus body work, anything to do with wet sanding and a no orange peel finish minus body work 3500 + good luck! depending on the body, and prep work 5k is about right to get a fairly solid straight car done. I need some work and a good paint job ( I hate orange peel) for my charger and I crapped my pants when I got estimates, the highest was 7k just for paint albeit a show quality finish, too rich for my blood!

 

[64BEL]

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

Yeah - but the snow is just about gone. If it stays gone and we get some good rains to wash the roads, I might even get it home in April yet. Not much else is happening with it right now. Just 1 more month of my other hobby - tuition payments. Daughter will graduate from college in May. Theoretically that will free up some money, but I've forgotten what that's like. I'll believe it when I see it. In all seriousness, we couldn't be more proud of her, and the help we've given her has been worth it.

Your car is looking great, so be happy, Steve. I like the white roof - same option ours came with. I've thought about going with just the dark turquoise on everything when we eventually repaint it back to original, but maybe we'll stick with the totally original color combo including the white roof. Keep us posted, Steve - and good luck with it.

 

[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

I was really hepped up that my Dodge would be painted, and then the rest of the build would go faster. And Spring weather would be comfortable to get a lot of work done.
BUZZ KILLER
The painter would not agree to a cost adjustment , so yesterday I filed a small claims court action so both sides could have their say and a judge would determine the outcome. Cost me $80 plus cost to serve papers . Today, he filed papers on me in small claims. So it cost him $80 plus cost to serve. Just like I told him, the winners will be the attorney's, and when done, we will both still be P.O,ed
I hate this crap. Who knows when I will get my car back and be able to work on it again. Let this be a lesson--NEVER have anyone-even a friend, do work for you without a written agreement, with a copy for each .................................MO

 

[64BEL]

Crap, Steve. I'm sure sorry you're going through this. I know how well the car has been going for you. And now it's in purgatory. I hope it gets resolved sooner than later and you can get back to moving forward with it.

Dave

 

[hunt2elk]

Man that really sucks. I cant believe the guy wouldn't work with you at all. The worst is that when all the smoke has cleared, the lawyer bill will offset any discount a judge may find for you.

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Man that really sucks. I cant believe the guy wouldn't work with you at all. The worst is that when all the smoke has cleared, the lawyer bill will offset any discount a judge may find for you.

Exactly...just like I told him. I expect the judge will split the difference and each one of us will have to pay their own expenses. Unless the judge rules for one and all expenses will be paid for by the loser.
SUCKS BIG TIME! ............................MO

 

[steve from staten island]

Now dont take offense but we need to be totally honest here. When the guy quoted you a price was it a estimate based on the 50 dollars a hour you stated? Or was it the exact price you both agreed on? Id say most shops doing rest work and by that i mean legit guys not looking to screw you or get screwed themselves will only work on a hourly bases. Could there be a misunderstanding between both of you? I mean if the guy gets 50 a hour why would he low ball himself.Or it could be he screwed himself and doesn't want to eat it. Your in a bad spot,the guy has your car. I would have told him id agree to the increase but could only give him part payment,maybe half to 3/4 of the new price and you'd pay the rest over time. Id get my car back and tell him to pound salt for the rest later on

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Now dont take offense but we need to be totally honest here. When the guy quoted you a price was it a estimate based on the 50 dollars a hour you stated? Or was it the exact price you both agreed on? Id say most shops doing rest work and by that i mean legit guys not looking to screw you or get screwed themselves will only work on a hourly bases. Could there be a misunderstanding between both of you? I mean if the guy gets 50 a hour why would he low ball himself.Or it could be he screwed himself and doesn't want to eat it. Your in a bad spot,the guy has your car. I would have told him id agree to the increase but could only give him part payment,maybe half to 3/4 of the new price and you'd pay the rest over time. Id get my car back and tell him to pound salt for the rest later on

No offense taken. We agreed on a price range on the work that was agreed to. I didn't even know his hourly rate until all of a sudden , after the work was done . I paid him ever so often. He didn't mention the hours, but I was satisfied with what he had done and what it cost. He calls himself a "hobby shop" and I knew he was slow, but does good work. I would never have agreed to an hourly rate with him. I did offer to pay on the high side of the range- I had the money put away for that I offered to pay somewhere in between that and his final bill, with him allowing me to make payments on a contract and getting my car home. He would not do that. And he doesn't have any of his money tied up in paint and materials- I bought them.. The whole problem is what he said he had in hours and his hourly rate for the block sand , painting, and cut-buff. $102 hours @ $50 This is not a fancy paint job - just two solid colors and a little better than OEM quality. I know many of you have more than this in your paint job, but in this area, most jobs pay minimum wage with no benefits. And so the saga continues.............................MO .

 

[sleepar]

I do almost everything.... but I couldn't balance my crank.... and I have new rods coming to replace the ones I paid to get nicked up while resizing.... hopeing they weigh the same.... stock to stock 64 -67 318.... I'm going to try replacing my windshield weatherstrip rather than have a shop charge me to break it.... I just hate Repair shops..... didn't last long working somewhere that wanted me to rip people off either.... on average a $100 fix costs $700 or more.... cheaper to mess up a few times and learn than to out source it... buy the pvc pipe and plastic wrap green house kit...the paint gear the other odds and ends practice on some old lawn mower and save the rip off games.... the guy probably just trying to steal you're car on a Mechanic lein.... I've stolen my own cars back from thief before....
This guy driving you're car around.... charging storage fees too.. find a way to get it back... then settle the labor dispute in court.... you're material belongs to you... bring friend's...

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Thanks all for your input on this thread. My attorney said that information here would not be allowed as testimony.
Today we had court in this matter. I filed against him and he filed against me, so it was combined. No refund on the double fileing fees. I know a little about how the system works, so I was prepared with pictures, receipts, and accurate testimony. The Magistrate said he would go over all the proceedings and issue a ruling in a few days. The other guy can not say the magistrate is biased for me, as I have been in his court a couple of times over the years ( without an attorney) and he ruled against me in both cases!
I thought I was immune to having friends rip me off, ---just goes to show you!.................................MO

 

[old_skool]

I never deal with friends when it comes to money, no two people think alike which is where things go sideways after a lot of time has passed on any deals, and if you really want a headache, try dealing with a family member, gets worse. Good luck, hope you win in court.

 

[Cornpatch MO]

I never deal with friends when it comes to money, no two people think alike which is where things go sideways after a lot of time has passed on any deals, and if you really want a headache, try dealing with a family member, gets worse. Good luck, hope you win in court.

You are right. If I have a friend help me , I always offer to pay them. And if they refuse , I tell them " If I would have had to hire someone to do this job, you will take my payment" There is a difference if it is just a little assist with another set of hands.
Concerning loaning money to family , If you can afford it. " I will give you this money this time( no loan) but never ask me for money again" Anyways that is the advice from the lottery winners! LOL......................MO

 

[SublimeSixpack]

Hopefully the decision will go in your favor, and you'll be able to get your car back soon.

 

[steve from staten island]

I also hope he gets his car back soon. I could have gone through the same situation myself with my car not all that long ago. I had someone look at it and give me a price. We worked out a agreement,when the work on the car started it was agreed that the car would be blasted down to bare metal,i agreed and payed the towing and blasting and i had no problems until i saw the car stripped of all paint. I knew there was no way the guy could ever do it for that price. Ive been around the block to many times with these sort of deals and i should have known better. My heart sank as i knew i could be coming home with a bare metal shell and no were to put it. We agreed on some more money which was still a extremely fair price,the guy who did the work was a true craftsman and a honest person and thank God for that but i caught a break because he felt bad he gave me a price which was to low to begin with. Maybe i let him off the hook but honestly thats not the case as he could have said i can't do it now for that price so take your car. These type of arriagements are tough but often we look for a affordable deal.Best of luck with the car

 

[Cornpatch MO]

As of today, the ordeal is over---almost.--- In court, the other guy lied about important testimony, and my lawyer did not want me to give my side of those issues. Why? I don't know. After two weeks the judge issued his ruling.. dismissed my case against the other guy,but ruled that I had to pay $3,200 instead of the $5,200 that I was billed for. No whineing from me, I just wanted to pay it and get my car back. The body- paint man was P.O.ed that he didn't get all of it. He got very obstinate when I told him I had the money and wanted to get my car back. He was not going to co-operate knowing how much I wanted to get my car. I talked to the Sheriff about it and he sent down a Deputy to ensure that the ruling was enforced and that I could pick up the car after makeing the payment. When the painter saw that Deputy, he got very co-operative.lol I was afraid that the painter would damage my car--and he did. the paint was scraped up kinda bad in several places down low on the body. I don't think buffing will take it out, as they are fairly deep. My wife took pictures and I asked the painter if he wanted to see the damage I had found--he refused. The deputy wouldn't look at it either, saying it would have to be settled in court. The guy that was hauling my car did see all the damage before we left and showed me some i hadn't seen. We loaded up the Dodge and when we started to leave, I thought about the left over paint and materials that I bought and brought to the painter. I went back to him and asked for that paint- materials. He said he threw them away when I told him I wasn't going to pay him all that he billed me for. I don't k now what got into this former friend, but he beat up his brother over a bag of goat feed and is estranged from his only son.
How-ever Brutus is in my shop now( after two months of being held for ransom) and that is a relief for me!! I have to think it over,if or not I should sue him for damage done to my car while he had it. He deserves for me to make him worry for a while. Later on I will resume posting on the build of Brutus, my 64 Dodge project............................MO

 

[Cornpatch MO]

My wife said if two of my old friends ( both gone to Harley Heaven) was still around, all they would have to do is give that painter the evil eye--problem solved!..............................MO

 

[64BEL]

Glad you have Brutus back, but sorry for all the hassle and bad feelings, Steve. I sort of think you should make life uncomfortable for him some more. On the other hand, it may be better for your stress level to try to move on. I guess you can take some satisfaction in knowing he didn't get all he tried to hold you up for - and that it grinds on him.

Dave

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Glad you have Brutus back, but sorry for all the hassle and bad feelings, Steve. I sort of think you should make life uncomfortable for him some more. On the other hand, it may be better for your stress level to try to move on. I guess you can take some satisfaction in knowing he didn't get all he tried to hold you up for - and that it grinds on him.

Dave

Thanks Dave. Now that Brutus is out of ransom and home in my garage, my stress level has been lessened immensely. I am not a push-over and for now, will do everything legal to get my car repaired at his expense. He had the nerve to tell me he would not work on my car any-more. REALLY????? DUH!!!!....................................MO

 

[Dennis H]

Let me take this opportunity to bash the scum sucking crook Chevy man who did my Coronet back in 1989. Shelly's Auto Body in Danielsville, Pennsylvania. He later got his and I will spare you the details.

 

[64BEL]

Ok, Dennis, of course you know that now we MUST know the details! Don't leave us hangin'!

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks Dave. Now that Brutus is out of ransom and home in my garage, my stress level has been lessened immensely. I am not a push-over and for now, will do everything legal to get my car repaired at his expense. He had the nerve to tell me he would not work on my car any-more. REALLY????? DUH!!!!....................................MO

LOL - I bet you were already planning to give him more of your business, eh Steve? The guy sounds delusional.