You're right about the insurance jobs. The body shops scam the insurance companies out of more money than it really takes to make a repair, but it equals out because insurance companies scam their customers too. The best thing a car enthusiast can ever to is tell a body shop to stick it and do the paint themselves.
I honestly think it's the other way around. Shops are screwed by insurance because the labor rates, parts intake, etc, are dependent on insurance. Our labor rates are excruciatingly low compared to mechanics and we spend most of our time in limbo because we are waiting for insurance companies to approve on a part for repair or even approve a vehicle to be worked on. The trick is to get loads of research on every shop in the area. There's always a few bad apples from the tree
as a fellow t/a lover and someone who has had to deal w cars like that coming to me...the best thing you can do bro is have whoever does it strip it and start from scratch. i wouldnt trust one bit of it...good luck to you
I've heard so many stories similar to yours. I don't understand why it's so hard to find a reliable body shop. There needs to be some legislation to penalize these shysters or drive them out of business. 😡
That blows, and sorry that it took so long. At a shop I worked at, we had a 66 C2 Vette that needed some fiberglass repairs. Whoever worked on the car last did a piss poor job of it. Crap masking, red paint overspray everywhere on moldings, bubbled paint, cracking, etc. Restoration work sucks because you end up fixing past mistakes. You're better off taking it to a highly recommend restoration shop and just be prepared to spend a lot of good money and time in order to get the car done. Miracles unfortunately cannot happen right away, and with classic cars, most restorations do take several months. If someone says they can do it sooner, expect less quality and more money to fork out. As the saying goes, quality over quanity. That's what happened with your car even though it took longer than you thought, it went down that same road. The car needs way more than one month to complete before and it definitely needs at least 4 months now. Insurance helps shops out cause that's the only way we can make money. Restoring cars is a slow business because money flow is short, the jobs are at least $20k and up for a quality job, and there's a lot more work than what the customer and the shop may know. To put it into perspective, most shops in my area have a labor rate that's averaged out to $75 an hour, and the local mechanics are averaging $125 an hour. Collision work is the only way we can make money is this world sadly. If it was the other way around, gosh I would be happier than shit to work in a restoration shop. Especially since I am restoring my 1977 Dodge Royal Monaco into a better looking Bluesmobile Also, the next shop you take it to. Have the most experienced guy look around it top to bottom, inside and out so then they can give you the real ballpark of when it will be done. Have them find every little flaw on that car then wait for the estimated time and cost for it. If they say something like 6 months, plan on 7 as a safe bet. You don't know what they'll find on the car to straighten and correct before she receives paint
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You're right about the insurance jobs. The body shops scam the insurance companies out of more money than it really takes to make a repair, but it equals out because insurance companies scam their customers too. The best thing a car enthusiast can ever to is tell a body shop to stick it and do the paint themselves.
I honestly think it's the other way around. Shops are screwed by insurance because the labor rates, parts intake, etc, are dependent on insurance. Our labor rates are excruciatingly low compared to mechanics and we spend most of our time in limbo because we are waiting for insurance companies to approve on a part for repair or even approve a vehicle to be worked on. The trick is to get loads of research on every shop in the area. There's always a few bad apples from the tree
as a fellow t/a lover and someone who has had to deal w cars like that coming to me...the best thing you can do bro is have whoever does it strip it and start from scratch. i wouldnt trust one bit of it...good luck to you
Would love to be there helping out!
I was wondering what had happened to the Trans AM.lets hope the next bodyshop is more reliable and doesn't let you down.
I know right. Some people don't want to work. They just want fast cash..
I've heard so many stories similar to yours. I don't understand why it's so hard to find a reliable body shop. There needs to be some legislation to penalize these shysters or drive them out of business. 😡
I agree I think they all need to report to the better Business bureau
That blows, and sorry that it took so long. At a shop I worked at, we had a 66 C2 Vette that needed some fiberglass repairs. Whoever worked on the car last did a piss poor job of it. Crap masking, red paint overspray everywhere on moldings, bubbled paint, cracking, etc. Restoration work sucks because you end up fixing past mistakes. You're better off taking it to a highly recommend restoration shop and just be prepared to spend a lot of good money and time in order to get the car done. Miracles unfortunately cannot happen right away, and with classic cars, most restorations do take several months. If someone says they can do it sooner, expect less quality and more money to fork out. As the saying goes, quality over quanity. That's what happened with your car even though it took longer than you thought, it went down that same road. The car needs way more than one month to complete before and it definitely needs at least 4 months now.
Insurance helps shops out cause that's the only way we can make money. Restoring cars is a slow business because money flow is short, the jobs are at least $20k and up for a quality job, and there's a lot more work than what the customer and the shop may know. To put it into perspective, most shops in my area have a labor rate that's averaged out to $75 an hour, and the local mechanics are averaging $125 an hour. Collision work is the only way we can make money is this world sadly. If it was the other way around, gosh I would be happier than shit to work in a restoration shop. Especially since I am restoring my 1977 Dodge Royal Monaco into a better looking Bluesmobile
Also, the next shop you take it to. Have the most experienced guy look around it top to bottom, inside and out so then they can give you the real ballpark of when it will be done. Have them find every little flaw on that car then wait for the estimated time and cost for it. If they say something like 6 months, plan on 7 as a safe bet. You don't know what they'll find on the car to straighten and correct before she receives paint