Ouch, I got screwed by local paint shop

Well some of you know, I am in process of building a memorial bike for 2 of my fallen officers. After searching for many months, I chose "Rock and Roll custom paintshop" in Orange. I saw several custom bike built by this shop and liked the job. Their price was much steeper than others, but I thought, you get what you pay for. This shop is known for building bikes for several bike shows in TV. So I dropped by bike on 4/10/07 and they quoted me $1500.00 for everything. They promised me to return the bike back by 4/18/07.

4/18/07, I am at their office. They demand $500.00 more for putting bike back together. I asked what happened to $1500.00 quote. They replied, "R and R" is extra. I asked whats R and R. Response was remove and replace. **** this sucks. So after an hour of discussion with the shop, we agreed on $350.00 for R and R. So they told me to wait at the shop. So I am watching this guy putting my bike back together.

1. He is putting wrong fasteners all over the place.

2. He puts the tank in while the bike is on side stand. result was deep scratched Heli triple tree.

3. He forced the right headlight adjustment cable and broke it.

4. He scratched the dash.

5. He accidently sprayed the liquid glue all over the front cowling.

6. He wipes the plastics with dirty rags = lots new scratches.

7. Detailed inspection on the paint job, = Most unprofessional paint job I ever seen. Illegal mexicans would do better job than this.

So I report these b/s to the shop manager.

He replies, We will fix them. OKAY.

I told them to fix all by May 31st. They say okay.

So fast forward 3 weeks.

I received a call from one of the tech from the shop. He tells me, he put the bike back together without fixing any of the problem.

Next morning I drove to the shop with my work partner.

I inspected the bike, NOTHING was done. I asked them what have you done up to now? Their response was, "We were waiting for fasteners to come in from YAMAHA."

I demanded refund and money for the damages. The ******* owner Randy the great became totally crazy and started to yelled at me with f-words in front of my partner.

So instead of shouting match, I kept my cool and asked them what was their plan to fix all the problem. Randy the great replies, I will fix it by the 31st. Now get out.

If I wasn't a professional law enforcement officer, I probably kicked his ***. I kept my cool. At least I had a witness to all this harassment.

I hope everything will work out. Otherwise, I will have to sue this Adam Henry.

PLEASE STAY AWAY from this ****** UP Shop. This *** has no respect for anyone.

I'm just venting my anger in civilized republican way. <_<

I will post pictures after 31st.

Sorry for your bad luck.....maybe spreading the news on the various forums will save others from the same fate.....hope the end result is what you are looking for....despite your bad encounter with the owner.....

Look on the bright side, they still have a few days to correct this problem before the must have deadline. Sounds like the entire situation could have been handled better from the start.

Good luck,

David

:assassin: Sounds like time to call in the CBAR. They should be able to do something. Or contact one of the producers of some of those bike shows and let them know that they are screwin' with a memorial bike for your fallen brothers. That may do the trick. h34r:

kjc625 said:

If I wasn't a professional law enforcement officer, I probably kicked his ***. I kept my cool.

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It's time's like that, I'm glad I am not your profession. I would have beat the living **** out of him!

Then I guess it would be someone from your profession that would have handcuffed me to show the error of my ways.

Can't win, huh?

I feel your pain bud, I hope everything works out and you get the bike you've been dreaming about for months!

It sure would be a bummer for ole Randy if he happens to have any blemishes in his past like unpaid fines, child support etc., simple possession. . .not that I'm an advocate of anyone purposefully stirring the pot--but sometimes the system just needs a little help to do it's work.

Sosmetimes I hate life over things like that... Some people just don't care...

Lucky

This guy really sounds like an *******. I will let others in my group know to stay away.

Harleys are probably his main customer bikes. I'd spread this to the Harley Owners Groups (HOG) anywhere near the shop. Most of them have web-sites or forums, like us. The other key method people find paint shops is by asking dealership service managers and insurance adjusters. Hit them all.

Bob

I would just cut to the chase. Hire a lawyer. You're gonna need it.

This shop is so full of crap it's pathetic. First, he should go back and read the frickin' estimate guide. The terminology "R & R" applies to parts being removed and REPLACED, such as would be the case if they were damaged. The terminology for what he did was "R & I": Remove/Install. And, if that it his justification for the additional charge, make him show you the labor guide for which he accessed those times, being sure that he allowed for "overlap." What a clown. Asshats like this are, unfortunately, a dime a dozen.

And, he's liable for damages he has caused to the bike. He has represented himself as a professional and charged you money.

Get a lawyer, get your bike out of there, and sue for damages to have the bike repaired properly.

Let a lawyer advise on things like; what has been a reasonable allowance by you to allow the shop to correct mistakes. Once you get your hands on the bike, document EVERYTHING and have the bike inspected by a professional Yamaha mechanic, take lots of high quality photos, etc.

I seriously doubt this guy wants to explain this to a jury.

Unfortunately, a good body shop is hard to find. Sorry to hear about all the problems. Definately seek legal advice, and let the ******* owner know that you have contacted your lawyer. Sometimes, just throwing out the "L" word is enough to set an ****** like this straight.

Good luck.

So they've got a big "success" ego? Most shops like that will not last. Get a lawyer and rail em'!!!

Sorry about your fallen brothers. Most builders are Harley aka "custom" guys and are used to working with bare metal. Our bikes being plastic is way different to paint than metal. Also most of these guys send out their paint to "specialists" who do the actual painting and they just fabricate and assemble the bike they "BUILD" LOL.

Sorry for the bad experience -- however I live only a few miles from the shop so if you need me to go over there and check on anything -- just let me know.

How about the city department that issues busness licences, the better business bureau (they've never accomplished anything for me), Think there should be a bodyshop or painters cirtification / licening department , like a.s.e. or something.

one day said:

It sure would be a bummer for ole Randy if he happens to have any blemishes in his past like unpaid fines, child support etc., simple possession. . .not that I'm an advocate of anyone purposefully stirring the pot--but sometimes the system just needs a little help to do it's work.

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I suppose you could pass the word around the police department. I'd venture to guess their leaving work alittle high on something,,, atleast paint fumes & that sprayed glue on fairings should impair drivers (the shops personel).

huk finn said:

How about the city department that issues busness licences, the better business bureau (they've never accomplished anything for me), Think there should be a bodyshop or painters cirtification / licening department , like a.s.e. or something.

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There are such animals, though they are not requirements to obtain a business license or to open up shop. They are generally only required by insurance companies that certify their "preferred" shops. They do this for their "guarantees" that are provided through some insurance carriers.

ASE is one of the certifying agencies, though, IMHO, has limited application to a body shop. (the last time I checked, ASE certification was a written exam only and the material was very outdated.)

Of more value, is IICACR or I-CAR certification, which is directly for body shop competency certification.

Well I hope you are having a different bad experience than I had. I took the rims off from my Magna to a custom bike shop to have the chrome stripped and get them polished. They had the rims for three weeks and nothing was done. When I went to get them the tires were off, so I asked for them. The guy says they tossed them since they were worn (they had 2000 miles on them) :angry:

Then the owner gives me a tour of his shop. Shows me how they are custom milling v-twins that are going to kick those japanese bikes ***. I got the hint (there were plenty) and left with the rims and tires (which they miraculously found). Call me weird but I would prefer to think you are getting dicked around due to incompetence rather than maliciousness.

v65 said:

I would prefer to think you are getting dicked around due to incompetence rather than maliciousness.

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Incompetence usually turns to maliciousness once recognized and confronted.