240sx finally painted, not happy, need help (link to pics inside)

[MarvynDT]

I finally got my car out of the body shop after waiting 10 months. Unfortunately, the car suffers from paint chips, raised edges, rough spots, and areas that still show the old paint. I've tried working with the shop, but they do not want to fix their mistakes nor honor their lifetime warranty.

I paid $3400 for it and I do not think that the money I paid or the time it spent in the shop is reflective in the quality of the work. What is your opinion on this?

The complete story is located here (http://240sx.marvyndt.com:88/news/news_abbd.html)

Pictures of the car can be found here (http://240sx.marvyndt.com:88/news/news_abbd_2.html)

If you work at an auto body shop and would like to make a few extra dollars:
I'm currently trying to chargeback the payment on my credit card, but my credit card company has asked for a written second opinion letter from another merchant. If you can easily prove you work in an auto body shop that is legit and you are willing to write me a letter in my favor, please email me at [email protected] and I will compensate you for your time.

[DRFT]

sorry to hear this. Wish i could see it in person to how bad the quality is.Now i gotta beware where i got to go to get my car painted.
Gotta see their quality and worksmanship and what kind of warranties they offer. Hope you get your problem fixed man. It seems liek your car looks good, but like i said gotta see it in person.

[ca18guy]

Macco did a better job on my old car :o

Hope you get your money back, after 10 Monthes I would have snapped (actually I would have took it back after 2)

[808Supra]

i used to hang out in a paint shop for 2 years.... does that count?

man, that work is total crap. I coulda done better and Ive only been doing it for a few years. Good greif. Ill try contacting a paint shop here for you.

[weirdstyles.net]

Its a damn shame I left me body shop job two weeks ago.

That is seriously ****ty right there, I have absolute faith it will work out, and if it doesnt....run in their shop with a bottle of silicon based liquid and spray it all over the place. See how they like that...

[MarvynDT]

Straight from my credit card:
In addition to the information that we have already received, we also need if you are disputing the quality of service, a signed second opinion letter from a second merchant, verifiable by letterhead, business card, or advertisement, specifically indicating that the original work was never done, was done incorrectly, or was unnecessary.

Weird Styles - Do you think you could talk to your former boss and work something out?

Auto Body by Duie has been unreasonable and my complaints to them are falling on deaf ears. I should move to the next step of your idea and start stocking up on bottles of silicon based liquid.

[KiDyNomiTe]

Damn that sucks. Hope everythign works out for you. You and your car seem to be getting the some bad luck.

Nice site though.

[ringthree]

Originally posted by MarvynDT
I finally got my car out of the body shop after waiting 10 months. Unfortunately, the car suffers from paint chips, raised edges, rough spots, and areas that still show the old paint. I've tried working with the shop, but they do not want to fix their mistakes nor honor their lifetime warranty.

I paid $3400 for it and I do not think that the money I paid or the time it spent in the shop is reflective in the quality of the work. What is your opinion on this?

The complete story is located here (http://240sx.marvyndt.com:88/news/news_abbd.html)

Pictures of the car can be found here (http://240sx.marvyndt.com:88/news/news_abbd_2.html)

If you work at an auto body shop and would like to make a few extra dollars:
I'm currently trying to chargeback the payment on my credit card, but my credit card company has asked for a written second opinion letter from another merchant. If you can easily prove you work in an auto body shop that is legit and you are willing to write me a letter in my favor, please email me at [email protected] and I will compensate you for your time.

Where are you located?

[Dousan_PG]

Originally posted by ringthree
Where are you located?

auto body by duie is located in NJ

http://www.autobodybyduie.com/

i google'd it

[MarvynDT]

That is correct. I am located in New Jersey.

[kandyflip445]

Did anyone find it kinda ironic that when you click on "Skills/Expertise" it says

Thank you for visiting our Web site.
Our Skills/Expertise information is coming soon, so please check back.

[elevator]

Call Judge Judy!!

[anotherblusi]

Hmm I think a lot of the problems were caused by not removing anything from the car before painting... They should have removed all the lights and bumpers. Instead they just taped off everything without removing items. When they peeled the tape off (around windows, taillights, frontlights, etc.. ) after the paint job, this probably caused the ridges and some of the paint chips. Now I'm no expert but this seems like the obvious reason for the crappy job. And for $3400 this is definitely a real crappy job... I figure for that much money they should have removed all lights, removed all windows and moldings, front and rear bumper, etc... Then paint the car. Then reattach all the windows and moldings, reinstall lights and bumpers... I dunno that's why when I get my car painted i'm doing all the prep work, and basically all they have to do is spray the damn car.

[Anubis]

All production paint jobs have errors, its just the hard facts. For $3400 it should have been a full de-trim, (removing door handels, rubber seals, lights, bumpers, glass if needed) etc. But even with such a paint job, errors are still to be expected. But for $3400, you should get way more than what you ended up with.

[MarvynDT]

anotherblusi - That's my thoughts exactly. (About the tape causing the ridges/paint chips)

They had 10 months with the car they could have done a better job of taping/masking off the trim. And according to D & M Auto Body, this could have been better prevented had they sanded closer to the edge to allow the paint to adhere and not lift with the tape. D & M also stated that for $3400 the should have removed everything.

About the production paint job errors, the remaining clear cloat rough spots is just lack of attention. This should have been seen when they were buffing the clear coat. Also the sanding marks under the clear coat problem, for an auto body shop that claims to have 32 years of experience, they should know better that metallic paint cannot be sanded.


It's just one of life's lesson, a tough one at that. This shop was supposed to be one of the best in the area according to many, but I don't see how.

[Bill Roberts]

They probably are in the business of competing with the nationwide shops that do 600 dollar paint jobs (which is what your PJ is worth BTW) and forgot that high quality is 90% prep and 10% paint.

They also probably do a higher volume of work, messing with 7 year old cars that are wholesaled out to mom and pop car lots to make a quick sale because the car looks really good at a distance.

For the level of your expectations, 3 to 4K requires about 3 weeks with the car at minimum to really do it right. For that money, I would also want the underbody detailed as well as under the first 6 inches of all carpets and all interior trim removed.

Right now, touch ups will make matters worse. Right now the Judge Judy Idea seems like a good one. It will need a total REDUX in my opinion.

IF you paid as much as 1100, I would not gripe about it but you did not..you paid for what whole brand new Ford pickup trucks cost in 1979.

It will be hard to really go back and touch it up correctly..it will need a total sanding and preping right to get it to your expectations. You may consider another shop giving an estimate and offer to take that off the bill of the first one.

I wish you well with this..looks like a PITA to deal with. Your time as well.