Bill Eastman wrote:
>
> Maybe it's just me but does anyone else wonder how body shops stay in
> business? I have now had the priveledge of working with three of the
> supposedly finest body repair extablishment in the Twin Cities on four
> separate occasions. In each case, they have cheerfully told me that I will
> be very happy with the car when I get it back. In each case they have been
> at least a week behind their longest initial time estimate. When called to
> inquire about delivery it is usually said that a little extra time is
> required to make sure that the car is perfect. Finally I get a call saying
> that the car is done and effusing about the wonderful job that was done on
> my very special car.
>
> In every case the car has to go back for more work. Trim pieces not
> attached, sunken bondo, pin holes in the paint, dents not taken out. This
> last time took the cake, however. This is the first time that I have ever
> gone back to the same body shop. I returned this time because they are
> close to my house and they gave me a loaner last time when they had to fix
> the sunken bondo and pin holes. Besides that they are a "direct repair"
> shop for my insurance company so I don't have to mess around with quotes or
> anything. Anyway I went to pick up my daily driver Saturday, assured that
> the final bit of work had been done (they had to respray the rear hatch,
> supposedly) and that I would swoon over their supperior work. Ha! There
> were big scratches all over the rear bumper and quarter panels. It looked
> like they dropped the bumper from 10 feet up during reassembly and that
> whomever was doing the final buffing had a scredriver in his pocket as he
> leaned over the car. Speaking of said buffer, there were swirl marks all
> over. There was an obvious orange peal covering the entire car plus the
> paint gun must have has some sort of virus because it left "paint snot"
> drips all over the finish. I guess they thougt if the clear coated over it
> I wouldn't notice. The topper happened this morning when my "customer
> service rep" called my and asked why I had not picked the car up over the
> weekend. He did not even know that I had rejected the work! If I treated
> our customers like that I would be flipping burgers by now. I told him
> that if I had wanted an ameteur paint job I would have done it myself. The
> bill is well over 4,000 bucks so I should expect it to look decent,
> shouldn't I? The fact that they tried to pass this garbage off as good
> work really burns me.
>
> Anyway the MGA has been drafted for a few more days at least as a daily
> driver. 1100 miles so far in four weeks. This is supposed to be our one
> week of summer with high humidity and temps in the 90's so it should be
> interesting. On the other hand they haven't gotten the forecast right for
> the first four weeks of MGA driving so why should they be right this time?
> I'll keep the side curtains in the trunk just in case.
>
> Sorry about the vent but this whole experience really burns my butt. I
> could see if I was bothering them every day about getting it done how they
> may want to hurry it out the door but I have never complained about the
> amount of time. I wonder how many people just accept the crappy work and
> walk away? I am sure that it isn't an easy job but at least they could be
> honest about the way it looks when returning it rather than feed me some
> line about how wonderful they are. What a load of hooey.
>
> Regards,
> Bill Eastman
> 61 MGA still performing admirably as my sole means of transportation
> Generic Japanese hot hatch surrounded by gorillas with body hammers,
> bondo, and a spray gun with a severe sinus condition.
Thats pretty ridiculous i worked in a bodyshop at one time those guys
need a swift kick in the but. Andmaybe a call to the higher ups at
youre insurance co. Give me the number & Ill call em. Good luck Ray
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