All I wanted was an estimate on getting my classic car painted. Just an estimate. Upon entering their office I informed the lady behind the desk of just this and she said, "Full body auto painting starts at $2,500 are you *sure* you want me to continue?" and hey, I came all this way and thought I wound end up spending a couple of grand so sure why not. Give me that estimate. Once she found it was an older car that needed paint she said she couldn't tell me anything and she went to fetch "one of her guys". Two men appeared, one started to circle the car chipping paint with his finger as he went. The other, (who turned out to be Mr. Pogue) slapped me on the back and said, "Good luck finding somebody to paint that car."
And here, good sir, I thought that's what you were for.
He walked off, and the other man started up. He indicated the paint, calling it "dead paint" and saying that it would need to be sanded down, the car stripped to the metal. (Which is what you do when you paint a car.)
Then he pointed to the trim, the chrome pieces, and told me how they would all have to be removed or at the very least taped over. (Which, again, is what you do when you paint a car.)
He then pointed to the quarter panels, at the two dime sized surface rust spots and informed me that they would need to be patched. (They don't.)
Mr. Pogue came back and sent his lackey on his way. I tried to pin him down for a rough estimate. he said, "It could be $5,000 or it could be $15,000, depends on how much money you want to spend."
He repeatedly suggested I put some clear coating over the patina- or "rust" as I call it - saying it would take him about a week, and only cost me a grand. I informed him multiple times I wasn't interested in that kind of look. I wanted it to look original.
After all of this I knew I would be taking my car elsewhere, but wanting to cover my bases, I asked him how long it would it take. He said it could take TWO MONTHS. Seeing what I like to call my "Oh, hell no." face, he started to backtrack, saying he had to say that, that it may only take two weeks, "But if another car came in I'm going to work on that car first, because I can make money off of it, but I'm not making any off of yours."
Excuse me, you just said I could spend $15,000 on this car, that doesn't equate to real money to you?
He mentioned more than once that he, or one of his guys, could do it on the side, (like when they had a free minute over the next two months) and the woman behind the desk suggested he get a case of beer one weekend and just go to town. (The sound of mixing alcohol and power tools around my beloved car was not comforting.)
TL;DR: I can only imagine their eyes instantly glazed over, seeing me like a giant sucker walking up, like in some old cartoon, someone who knew absolutely nothing about cars. They never even gave me a real estimate, only repeatedly telling me how much hard work and effort it would be for them. Old car owners beware. read more