Why do body shops suck?

[NovaResource]

I pick up the SLP Ram-Air hood on Tuesday, February 25. The guys at SLP said to install the hood on the car and allow the heating and cooling cycles of the engine help cure the fiberglass hood and the bonding glue. They said do this for at least 10 days before getting it painted. So I install it that day when I get home.One week later on Wednesday, March 5th I stop by the body shop I have used before and ask about painting the hood. I give the guy the correct paint code and ask when he can do it. He says to call back next week. Saturday, March 8th I remove the hood and reinstall the factory hood because the paint shop wants to paint the hood off the car (fine by me since I'll still be able to drive the car). I call Monday, March 10th."I'm calling about the Vibe hood I want painted. Did you get the paint?""Ah....no. What's the code again?"Arrrgh. "13/WA891K""OK. I'll call you back when I get it."Monday, March 17 and no call all week. OK, I'll call after work."I'm calling about the Vibe hood I want painted. Did you get the paint?""Ah....no. Just bring it over and we'll get it"Arrrgh. "When should I bring it over?""Tomorrow.""How late are you open tomorrow?""I'll be here until 6pm"Tuesday, March 18 - I get home from work at 4:45pm. Get changed, remove my daughters car seat and fold down the rear seats. Put down blankets and get out he bungie cords. Remove the hood from the SLP box, carefully load it into Vibe and strap it down. Drive over to body shop slowly and arrive at 5:30pm. Front door closed and locked. Garage door closed and locked. Knock on front door. No answer. Knock on garage door. No answer. Knock on front door again. Still no answer.Now I'm pissed.Return home. Carefully unpack hood from Vibe and put back in original box. 6:00pm, phone rings and wife answers. Guess who. I tell my wife to tell him I'm taking the hood somewhere else and I refuse to talk to him.I hate body shops.

[millster]

Isn't that just the way of things. I can't believe people can provide such service and still stay in business. What gets them by I wonder. Hopefully the next person you talk to will come through.

[DopeVibeGT]

That really bites, Scott. Good luck with whomever you choose and show us the final results, of course!

[Lorin]

That's crummy. I think insurance money keeps a lot of them going. How many people go to a body shop voluntarily? You have to be a real artisan / perfectionist to do really good work, and not many people are like that. One of my buddies has a shop and gets all the ricers coming in to spruce up their show cars because he's one of those perfectionists. Problem is, he doesn't charge enough and will probably go out of business. Meanwhile the dealer shops have sweatheart deals with the major insurance companies where you just show up, pay your deductible, and they take care of the rest. The Toyota dealer repaired my Mazda when the wife hit a deer (buddy with the body shop is too far away). When I picked it up there was a big ol' stripe of gold paint accross the headlight where they didn't mask.

[red]

your right, lorin...anymore if you have a body shop and are not a DRP (direct repair provider) shop for a major insurance company or two, you can kiss your a** goodbye...my husband's shop wasnt on the preferred list (drp) because he didnt have a frame machine on site (we always contracted that out to a shop that specialized in that) and he slowly strangled to death (financially). it doesnt matter how good you are if you cant get business in the door or your business gets told not to go to you 'cause youre not on the "list"....a CBS report on 12/27 told about a drp shop that totally screwed up this ladies car, this was a shop highly recommended on the "list" by her insurance company....people dont realize that they have the right to take their car to whomever they want to, whether they are on a "list" or not! just 'cause they are recommended by the insurance company, doesnt mean they do good work...also watch and make sure that they use oem body parts, not aftermarket!!!! insurance companies and their preferred shops are using them more often now to cut "cost", but most of the aftermarket parts have not been proven to withstand the rigors of testing that oem parts do!!! and they fit like crud most of the time...so be careful if you crunch or get crunched!!!

[Vibe]

Well-----Sometimes blessings come in disguise-I'll bet one hundred dollars they would of also screwed up the paint code. Your right --Go somewhere else,and best of luck!! James

[meathead333]

reminds me of the service where i bought my vibe at....long story, ...will just get me all mad again.