[OIIIIIIIO]

hi there

so here's my story.

i took my cj7 into have a fiberglass body put on and to have it painted (i know, i know...i should have done it myself...but it was only going to be a couple more hundred bucks to have them do it than for me to buy a tub and have it shipped to my place so i figured why not). for the painting, they take it to someone to have it done. i figured that would be okay since i have no trailer to cart around my jeep and since i can't get my garage warm enough to paint in the winter why not.

any way...i took it to them nov 17th. they figured on about 12-15 hours worth of labor for putting the body on. they warned me ahead of time it might take some time to get it painted cuz the guy they use paints "on the side" but is really good and they have been using him for 15+ years. however they didn't get him the jeep until a week and a half ago. so, right now i'm not mad that it's taken they guy over a week to paint it...kinda expected it to take that long or more. just super disappointed with the shop taking so long to get the body mounted

any way...it's now jan 8th and i still don't have it back and they figure the earliest it will be done is the 14th. what should i do...tear them a new one when i pick it up...be calm and express my extreme disappointment...ask for a 10% discount for it taking so long...any other suggestions?

they are the only place sort of close to me that i can get jeep related stuff at so i don't want to make them mad and tell them i will never do business with them again because i probably will

i sure wish i would have put it on myself now.

any suggestions for dealing with this situation would be appreciated. thanks

patrick

 

[Guest]

If it were up to me, i would go in thre and be nice about it because burning bridges is a bad idea. I would ask them exactly why it took so long. Then if they have a lagit excuse thats that. If its some lame excuse then i would ask them what they are going to do to compensate you for the down time. A lot of time they won't give you anything at all.

My advice is to just be nice but also let them konw your disapointed. I know as a internet tech support, if people call up and and hard ass holes to me i'll be mean back.

Adam

 

[OIIIIIIIO]

i have been in contact with them throughout and the have been nice.

first they said they're tub specialist was on vacation for a week...okay no problem...that happens

next it was a bunch of people wanted snow plows put on their trucks so i got pushed back...well, not so cool.

that's about they have for excuses though.

still seems like i should have had it back before christmas!

i'm not usually the type to be mean about something like this but i do want to convey my dissappointment and maybe get something out of it for the delay.

maybe i'm just being greedy...i'm still sad i don't have my jeep back though

 

[Guest]

The vaction i can understand. The snow plows isn't cool at all. You were there first so you should be first on their list. I would be upset about that.

 

[RRich]

Yours was probably looked as a "fill-in job." They probably didn't charge you their regular hourly rate to do the job.
You said it was only a couple hundred bucks, that normally would mean they'd be able to do it in 3-4 hours. Still it isn't very profitable for them, they aren't making anything on the parts like they normally would. Normally the parts bill is about double the labor bill. They normally expect to make %40 on parts.
That sounds high to a customer, but when you add up rent, salaries, utilities, insurance, tools, leases, taxes, permits ----- lots of hidden charges, it's not very much. That all has to be paid BEFORE the owner gets anything at all for himself. It's not an east business!

$200 labor + ($400 in parts x 40% profit) = $280
Sounds like they probably had 20 or more hours labor in it (that means they were working for $10/hr.) Divide that by the number of guys doing it, throw in a little for rent - a good deal for you.

A shop has to make a profit on BOTH parts and labor to stay in existance. Fill-in jobs are just to keep busy and make a little when profitable jobs aren't around.
The snow plow jobs probably paid much more.

Next time tell them you'll pay them the normal hourly rate plus what they's make on it in parts. You'll get it right quick - but it'll be expensive.

My hourly labor rate was $60/hr - and I closed my last shop 12 years ago. It's gone much higher since.

 

[jdoggmoney]

Rich is exactly right. Also keep in mind that there have been three holidays in this tiime period and possibly some long weekends off. Learn from the experience and next time give them a firm date for finishing the project so you caqn pick it up.

 

[1616]

I do not think it is reasonable for them to keep your Jeep that long unless they told you up front it was going to take that long. They should know how long it is going to take and when it should be done considering holidays. Your tub install being filler work is not a good excuse to neglect you. If they were going to do yours only when they had no work then they should have told you in the beginning and you could have made the decision if you wanted slower cheaper work or full price immediate service. They should have known when their “tub specialist” was going on vacation and should not have scheduled work during the time he will be gone. I think they are taking advantage of you and your good nature.

I think you should talk with them as politely as you can but be firm and give them a deadline to have the Jeep finished. If you can cut a deal for a discount, more power to you. IMO I would not push my luck and ask for a discount since they are already doing it for an extremely low price.

Good luck with getting this resolved.

 

[OIIIIIIIO]

all indications from the person i have talked lead to this not being a fill in job. they are charging me actual labor rates of $56/hr.

a link to the shop's web page talking about fiberglass installation costs...onno this page they link to others that describe labor costs and other "options" costs.

http://www.jl4wd.com/fiberglass.htm

my mood would have been a whole lot better if they would have told me up front that it would have taken this long...but every week when i call them they make it sound like it will be done the following week.

frustrating i tell you, frustrating

 

[RRich]

Then talk with them. Tell them you aren't happy.

What do you do when you find a restaraunt that's has bad food or terrible service? You never go back again.

The vast majority of shops should NOT be allowed to be in business - competancy, quality, honesty, timeliness etc. You may have one there.

And from the other viewpoint, - there are customers that shouldn't be allowed to be customers either. Flakes, price hunters, bad check passers, cons etc. I had a customer raise hell and go to the BAR - I did nothing more than fix his flat tire - his radio quit working - he blamed it on me. We never even got in the car, he pulled it onto the apron himself. It took 2 days in court before the judge had enough sense to see the guy was pulling a scam.

So what did he say when you told him you weren't happy?