New paint looks like crap what would you do?

This is my rant and maybe I'm looking for a little advice also. First, I will start by saying I had my 71 convert painted a couple weeks ago. Now, I did not just pick any shop to paint the car. I looked around and had several estimates done. The reason I ended up going with the shop I picked was price, location and also I saw several cars in person that he had done and all looked great. Now, with that being said, the car need very little body work and was 90% rust free. I took the car by last Oct and had him check it out and we went over what I wanted done like all the emblems taken off and the side moldings taken off and all holes welded shut and filled. The pass side door and fender had a small crease at the bottom. So I went and bought a rust free door so if he decided he did not want to spend the time fixing the door he could just replace it with the new one. Also, I told him I would bring him the car stripped down (as part of a great price) so I removed all the trim, bumpers, emblems, everything even the whole interior. It was agreed that he would remove the front fenders so he could remove the vents that are on the bottom of the customs fenders and weld up those holes also. So I took the car apart over the winter and dropped it off the middle of February. I asked when I dropped it off how long he thought it would take and was told the first of April. So I was like cool I can make it to the first car show of the season I wanted to attend. I would stop by his shop every once in a while to drop off stuff like the nose trim and headlight bezels that I had polished and all the old paint stripped off of for him. I noticed every time I stopped by the painter was working on his 68 camaro and his helper was the only one i ever saw working on my car. I really didn't think much of it. Businesses hire help all the time so no big deal. I was wondering why the fenders were never taken off like we had discussed and I asked several times how he was going to jam the car with out removing the fenders. Well any how over time he ended up prying the vents out far enough to cut the studs off so he did not have to pull the fenders. I was ok with that as long as the jams were painted. Well lets fast forward to car is painted looked good at his shop when I went to get the car which was payed for in full. The painter had asked me if I had had the rear spoiler mounted before. I told him yea it was kind of a pain because instead of drilling big holes on the under side of my trunk for the bolts I cut a square hole to match the factory hole and had to use an extension and swivel socket to get them in. So he tells me I fought trying to get them in for an hour and a half and never could get them so I just drill new holes in your trunk. I think my mouth was on the ground at that point. So I load car up got it home in different light and noticed what looked like cracks all over the trunk and spoiler. I also noticed a dent in pass side door, three dents in the hood, some runs here and there and a couple pin holes in the body filler he used when he fixed the door instead of replacing it. So I called him up and told him about all the flaws and that I still had the trailer on the truck so I could bring it back the same day before I started putting anything back on it. He told me to go a head and put it back together and bring it back after the car show. So i put it back together. The car was in the shop the whole week to put it back together, never saw sunlight until the day of the show. Well I noticed it looked like it was cracking even worse so I see him at the show with his perfect 68 camaro and had him look the car over and he agreed it needed fixed. so fast forward to yesterday. We were able to hook up and take the car back to him. The car has been in the garage every since the show so I was a little surprised to see it had gotten even worse. So he looks at it and is real nice about it and thinks there must have been a paint problem. So he wants to call his paint rep and talk to him and wants me to take the car home and he will call me. Said he didn't have enough room at his shop and didn't want to be responsible for it. Well I get the call today and he basically tells me he doesn't know why it cracked like it did but he doesn't want to spend the money or the time to strip it and re-shoot it cause it might do it again. So he tries to tell me I could take it some place else and they might be able to sand it down and re-shoot it for like a grand. Tells me he would like to just give me some money back and I can have somebody else fix it. So I told him I took the car to him for a reason, because I saw his work and new he could do a good job and that I just wanted my car to look right. He agreed that it looks bad and was offering me like twenty-one hundred back and thinks I can have somebody fix it for that. I tried to tell him that I took out a loan to get it done the first time and that I can't just go get more money to have somebody else fix it right. Any way I was getting frustrated and did not want to blow a gasket on him so I told him I would call him tomorrow. So I think I'm going to tell him I want him to do it right or I want a refund and i will take it someplace else. Do you guys think that is fair or what would you guys do? Sorry so long but I'm kind of pissed:rant: Josh ​

 

Sounds more like a paint prep problem. Bodywork not done correctly, or at all, in some cases, Filler pinholes, paint cracking, that's crappy workmanship. The guy can play the blame game all he wants, but if he used the same paint on his 68 Camaro, and it's gorgeous, then I say it's neglect and laziness. If he sends it off to another shop to fix his errors, he should pay for it all. I worked at a bodyshop, and I know the prepwork shows up in the paint. If corners were cut, you'll see them. Feel free to be the nice guy all you want, just remember, friends is friends, but business is business.

-Josh

 

Going to court can be a nightmare but that is what you might have to do. I think a full refund or him picking up the intire cost at a more compatent shop would be justice.

Good luck

 

Thanks Guys I'm hoping he will see it that way. But I know nobody wants to admit when they are wrong. Josh​

 

josh, why did you pay in full before the car was finished? any shop that wants to be paid in full before the work is finished should draw a red flag and should be avoided.

 

I payed for the car when I pick it up but at that time in the lite it was in we did not see everything. The major problems did not start tell a couple days after the car was painted. I think I was charged for a sealer primer and I do not think it was used but that is just my opinion. some of the flaws are not immediately noticeable.​

 

What a tough spot

I wouldn't let him touch the car again

I would go straight to another shop or two and get a quote to get it fixed correctly. Bring these quotes to him and try to pressure him into the biggest refund you can get.

Take pictures. Keep detailed notes of all conversations. Tape the phone conversation keep all records of financial transactioned just incase court is in your future.

Good luck

 

I agree with the rest. If he suggests taking it elsewhere, then he doesnt have confidence in his own shop. Take whatever refund he offers, then tell him you will sue for the rest. Good luck.

 

I feel your frustration. Did you use any type of wax or spray wax/detailer on the fresh paint when you were getting it ready for the show? Fresh paint needs to breath as it cures to release the solvents.

 

That has absolutely nothing to do with it...the defects, as described, don't happen as a result of wax, etc.

 

If his body man had the paint rep take a look at it, it almost sounds like there was something reacting with the paint or the paint itself. It could even be from poor prep work and the surface underneith is lifting. Was the body taken down to bare metal? Im not defending either side. I would be upset also. It sounds like there were issues with the bodyshops work as soon as he got it home and inspected it.
Maybe we could get some close up pictures of the defects?

 

Sounds like they didn't clean it before painting it to me.

And yes, I would like to see some pics as well.


If you want to record your calls with him, I suggest getting Google Voice. It's free, and you can set it up with your cell phone to record calls.

 

pm sent

 

2 days later the mirror you brought by wasnt cured remember? He either didnt use the correct measurments with the catilist or none at all. Somewhere he short cut your job. Shrinkage and sand scratches come from using cheap primer and not sanding it down before paint with the correct sand paper. Go to the paint and use a thumb print check if you can print it still the paint needs to be stripped off. it will never cure.

 

Bottom line - The body shop screwed it up; they are responsible for fixing it. If they won't correct the problem, take it somewhere else, get an estimate, and if the shop that did the work won't pay the bill - get a lawyer. Do not do small claims. If the car has to be totally redone, it won't be a small claim.

 

I totaly agree with the consensus in this thread. But do check Small Claims limits in your state - in my province, Small Claims Court goes up to $25,000.

 

Im not taking up for the shop..but the only thing that keeps going thru my mind is price...in your opening statement you mentioned you shopped the cost.....did ya get what ya paid for? How much did it cost to get done what was done...cost can be a big factor...if the guy thought you where a cheaqp ass...you got a cheap ass job...IM NOT CALLING YOU CHEAP,,,,im just trying to get my head around it..

 

Josh;
WOW, this is tuff; I know how much you looked forward to having the car finished. I think everyone is right.. HE SCREWED UP, and he knows it because he wants you to take it to another shop. Get estimates to fix it, document all your findings, and get your money refunded. I would act quickly and don't let him have your car again. If he is financially in trouble, you do not want your car is his shop.

 

Prep problems can show up YEARS later in paint. I have the car to prove it.