Just venting

[Walter Moore]

Escalon, don't be offended by what I am about to say...

The bottom line here is that all body shops, high end or otherwise are an "ongoing concern", meaning that they intend to be in business for many years.

Like a drywall installer, they have to give priority to the high volume customers (Can you say insurance companies?) who will be sending them business tomorrow, and the day after that for the forseable future.

(I had a drywaller who I had to bribe with extra $$$ to make him hurry up and finish only three months late...)

No matter how happy or unhappy I am with the work that a body shop does on my "restoration" it will be YEARS before I will be back with more work for the guy. He would starve to death waiting on repeat business from me, even if I am estatic with the result.

Frankly, I wonder if we wouldn't actually get better service from someplace like Maaco, or Earl Scheib simply because we fit better into their business model. With them WE are their intended customer base.

[EScanlon]

Walter:

No offense taken mate. However, go back to my first post on the subject # 8 on this thread. And, as you said, no offense meant, but if you'll re-read it, you'll note that I'm not referring to the generic body-shop / man you are referring to.

The main-stream body shop that you refer to, I agree with you, IS hoping to be in business for many years. Theyr'e in the business of getting repeat high-volume customers AND turning their cars around as quickly as possible to maximize their labor inventory (turn-around).

In my post I'm referring to the CRAFTSMAN body man, who, in this day and age of fast part replacement and minimal repair is NOT in the mainstream bodywork business.

I'm referring to the fact that today's bodyshops will replace your dented fender instead of bumping out your old dented one. It's a simple matter of TIME and MONEY. It simply takes more time to do the repair, than to replace the part. They BOTH need painting, but even there it's easier to paint a part that doesn't need a bunch of bondo, wet-sanding, red-cap, etc. before it's ready for paint. The new part just needs primer/sealer. Time as you know, IS money in the bodyshop business.

A Craftsman will take the time to bump it out...oftentimes because there are NO replacement parts...and/or the customer is willnig to pay AND wait for that to happen.

As you pointed out, the generic body shop is going for the high-volume business.

The Craftsman Body Man...is not...in general terms.

The ones I know, and know of, are into the beauty and level of perfection their skill can achieve...and their customers are willing to wait AND pay for it.

You ARE right, they can't compete against your local Dent and Bump, but then again, they don't even try. They don't have to.

What they do sets them completely apart from the generic shop. They are the ones that Main Street Hot Rod, or Golden Oldie's Car Club recommends and goes to....and wait patiently for their turn in line.

Due to the age and availability of parts, our cars are NOT without their hidden problems and risks for the modern body shop. That is why, most bodyshops today will actually turn you away outright OR quote you such a high price that makes you think they're trying to rip you off. They're not. In the time period it takes to do the work on our cars to "satisfactory" (both yours and theirs) levels, they could have turned out 4 or more, other cars. As far as they're concerned, they would RATHER you took your business elsewhere. Don't go away mad, just go away.

So, enter the Craftsman Body Man. He's willing to do the work, and may even be very reasonable in what he charges...but it's going to be on HIS time frame. Don't like that? You're welcome to take your car elsewhere. He's achieved such a level of expertise that people seek him out, and he has enough business WAITING for him, that he's not going to be hurting for the lack of yours.

You mention MAACO, and Scheib, both excellent companies but it depends on the individual franchise for what you actually get. And even there, if you want bump work...you have to pay for it. There ARE franchises that are willing to take on the work, but even there they will be limited to the type of work they will and can do...efficiently. You wouldn't want to take your car there for a rotisserie restoration.

My point in this whole post, is simply this. Our Z's have passed from the kind of bodywork we can expect at your "generic" bodyshop. Bluntly stated, they do NOT want us. We are, literally, a can of trouble waiting to erupt. With the hidden rust, known rust, lack of replacement parts, and generally OLD-SCHOOL technology, we are an anachronism they choose to ignore.

If you go to a "generic" bodyshop, expect to NOT be attended to. MAACO/ Scheib will attend to you, but not for free. The Craftsman Body Man WILL attend to you...in his way. I was hoping to blunt people getting upset over this, which I understood to be the case.

FWIW

Enrique

[Blue Meanie]

Update: STILL WAITING!!!

[Blue Meanie]

Visited my little friend and much to my joy, he was getting close! He had shot it and had some cracks in the paint when it dried. He showed me the spot immediately and said he screwed up and used the wrong stuff and was planning on getting it redone soon. As mentioned earlier, as soon as she's back, I'll post pics.

[troubledz]

Hey Blue Meanie,

Sorry to hear about your pain.. Being a body shop owner there is no excuse for this guys actions..Have you gave him all the money up front? if you have not givein him any $ then go there and pull it out of there. You don't want him to do a rush job on it.. Its hopefully your pride and joy, Do you want a rush job?

So I hope you can come to an understanding with this guy. Wish i could help more..

Dean

[beezee]

I,m in the finishing stages of restoration of a 1968 Dodge Super Bee, 10 plus years from start to finish I needed something to drive so I searched and picked up a decent driving 260Z ,now theres something to drive and enjoy as I please.

[TBK1]

Pick it up and find someone else!!!!!!!!!

[Blue Meanie]

Gave him half. Told me it would be done the first week of November. Just in time to put her in storage for the winter.

[si39]

I feel your pain. It took 11 months to get the body work done to my 280Z. The work is excellent - rust cut out and new metal welded in. The shop specializes in English and Italian cars. If I had it to do over - I would look for a 'rust-free' car and go from there. My car was in good mechanical condition but rust in lower areas. Unless you can do your own body-work - a clean body is worth much more than good mechanicals.

[madkaw]

Hey Blue Meanie,

just curious as to what shop you are using and where in Indianapolis?

[Blue Meanie]

He's a retired guy that just works for cash. Does good work, but takes forever. Tried uploading photos, but I keep getting an error. I'll try again to upload some quick shots I took.

[Blue Meanie]

Pics uploaded in my album. Take a peek guys.