Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Just watching Fantom Works and I gotta say this guy pisses me off.......he always gets the persons car into his shop and once he tears into it a bit then hits the owners with the complete restoration story.....the owner feels pressure to move forward since their vehicle isn't able to drive out and gets slammed with a $100,000 bill. I see it show after show.....pressure and control to get the owner to do way more than they want to. The guy is a weasel !

Just my opinion but he's a pompous, pressure/forceful, unethical ass.

RIZ

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I stopped watching that show. What pissed me off was listening to him saying that they do everything top-notch and going on about what had been done wrong, THEN noticing something that THEY did wrong.

I think it was a 50's Chevy pickup that they got in with door gap issues due to a hackjob of a floor replacement. Then they totally butchered the floor instead of just cutting out the old, bracing the cab, and putting in new pans.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Unfortunately I live here near them. The dude is a real dick.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Since you're closet we nominate you to go give him a piece of your mind! :cong:

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I watched an episode this week with my sons where he built a Mustang for a guy that was supposedly a good friend and the dude ended up not taking possession of it.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I never heard of them,What channel is it on?

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I like the show, I agree I don't like the steep prices, I think a lot of the people that come in there have deep pockets, the episode that almost made me toss a brick at the TV was where the young lady brings in her $500 dollar motorcycle and gets it modified from a (desirable) shaft drive to a (dime a dozen) chain drive, but she gets her mono shock, the bill is like $7K grand and she likes it cause she thought it would be way more like $20K or cost of a car she says, how clueless is that, why spend that much money on a cheap bike, she should have went in there with a proper donor also, sorry I am ranting but the episode hit a nerve - and the final result looked like something a freshman could have made in high school metal shop, the seat looked awful - have any of you seen it?

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I watched a few episodes. Started seeing patterns of him ripping people off. The one that hit a nerve with me, was the military guys impala. He took advantage of his mother and charged her over 100k for 40k worth of work.. Now "fakeworks" is on my blocked list.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Never heard of this show....and glad i dont have cable to watch it.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

My cable has alot of different channels if i dont like what is on i just turn the channel to one that thrills me if nothing else i go to the dvr if not there i go to first run movies

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

This is why I read books.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

my car show is in the garage, and me and my son are the stars!! although we do watch roadkill

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Meh. They're supposedly top notch but they turn out run of the mill stuff. Hell my dad does more custom streetrod stuff and doesn't get recognition. Discovery should make a weekly show featuring custom shops around the country. Different shop every week. I'd watch it. The only show I really like is B*tchin Rides. But that's just what I'm into. I kinda like the rat rod show in Vegas also.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

It's on Velocity.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Yeah...i don't like that show because that guy is a douche. I don't like Chasing Classic Cars either, because I dont like the main character either...
My favorite show on the chanel is Wheeler Dealers...Ed China rules:metal:

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

If Ed China was the only guy on this show I would be fine with it.

Roadkill rules!!

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

They rebuilt the front end on a 67 K10 last night. Pretty interesting. Might have been a rerun.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I had a shop try that on me once. What did I do? 90 days county plus "anger management" classes WHICH ARE A COMPLETE FREAKING WASTE OF TIME!!!! :devil:

:lol:

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Human nature is a funny thing. We see it every day on Craigslist, where delusional sellers try to get ridiculous prices, but as buyers make fun of delusionals along with everybody else.
I've watched that show and agree the prices are high, but the guy has to keep the doors open and make payroll.
Besides, you guys know how badly a previous owner's cheap or incompetent repairs can foul up a restoration. This guy's shop deals with that crap every day.
That's the funnyest part of the show to me- some the stupid crap sellers tell people that buy the cars and stupid crap other "restoration" shops do.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

frankly most of the shows stink id love seeing more hands on and how to stuff take one car and build it over a season and show tricks to make certain things go easier or tech tips that work... most of the guys have attitudes or theres silly junk going on... then again most tv is garbage anyway

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

:clap::clap::clap:....yep

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Bingo.
...the great thing about roadkill that is actual and real world....is their failures (...and their often minimal budget).
90% of the other classic/modify/build shows....are all tailored to showing a finished final product with a minimum amount of trouble regardless of parts cost, labour, paint...the usual smokescreen.
That simply is not....ever real in 99% of the cases....so why BS everybody.

Here is to Roadkill!!...bring on the reality, the fun and the failures..oh..and 'the budget', because this always a factor for these guys....that's real life right there....

all good
Coley:chevy:

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

funny, I was talking to a friend today and we discussed this very topic. I don't like Fantom Works, Nor Chasing Classic "Foreign" Cars and don't like Graveyard Cars. This guy is annoying
My top choices are RoadKill and and OVERHAULIN with Chip Foose. Top notch work and a top notch person.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Roadkill isn't a business. They build stuff for fun just like us. That's why it's cool...even though they are nerds. That just makes it even more fun. I watch that on YouTube some. I don't waste my time with so called reality TV. I never do now, but all my life I've dropped by shops and hung out. That was my reality TV. My buddy Jeff's shop had the sign, "If you have nothing better to do, go do it somewhere else". But I could tell I didn't overstay my welcome. Now when I see him he asks why I never stop by. I don't know how I made enough money and had the time back then.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I happen to like the show . They always tell you the man hours and parts cost . Thinking I dont work for free why should anyone else . Thinking the employees must not get paid well. I have done the math in man hours . Thinking he charges less the 50 dollars and hour . Chevrolet charges let's say hundred dollars a hour . Fantom seems to be about cars . Not a drama like other car shows .

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I have to agree _ I like it too and appreciate the info on costs and and hours and the focus on basic operations and safety

But first, remember that it's TV. They are trying to create some drama or other hook to get you to keep coming back just so you will watch the commercials. The guy may or may not be a dick, but he appears to really know cars and regardless of the "surprise" - staged or not - when he presents the invoice and the car, I would guess that every customer has a written estimate and most likely a contract or signed work order (same thing), and has been paying Fantom regularly for the work all along, plus signing off on change orders, plus there are laws about how much work can be done without approval, so no real surprise. Yes, they make it look like he pushes extra work on people and he may - but what do the car dealers and most repair shops also do routinely? Of course they leave out a lot in the interest of making it interesting, fit in as many commercials as they can and still hit the time limit.

Back to the show, I like the safety focus and I like seeing how they diagnose and fix problems. How many knot heads do you know that skip repairs and maintenance on brakes, suspension, steering, electronics, etc and spend their money on new parts or wheels? None of that is inexpensive and when you get cars that come in that have all of that worn out plus rust and crappy previous repairs, it's going to add up fast.

Who knows how much of it is real or not but I still like it. I wish other shows would share a little more info on costs.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Interesting responses to my revival of the thread. Thought people would have seen or been interested in the 67 K10 rebuild. As Coley says, "all good".

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Well, as you can see, most people can't stand the guy. Judging by past shows, I'm sure he turned a $20,000 truck into a $30,000 truck for the low price of $100,000

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I have known a few folks that had their vehicle done by him and they think highly of his work. He is particular about what he does and lets you know up front what he will do. Yes, his bedside manner is lacking according to them.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

I watch the show and can understand why he can be arrogant a bit if you've ever worked in a resto/body shop. I've never seen any of their work but it does look nice. I've seen some errors but that could be in the video department and editing.

I really like Iron Resurrection, Kindigit's show, but Roadkill is sweet. I'd love to have their budget and be able to do those trips!

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

These shows in general annoy me greatly, because they contain a lot pre scripted drama, instead of educational content. If "Reality" TV were real, it would be remarkably boring. I belive us forum members, give better entertainment, and information than those TV shows ever will.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

dont mind fantom works, yhea the fella is a bit of a dweeb and almost every build ends up costing $$$$$ but he is also gung hoe about fixing the cars right.
They also show some of their own mistakes which to me puts this show down too earth.
It is tv and most tv BLOWS anymore.

One show i enjoy is the garage squad, they certainly dont do top notch work but at least they help the owners dust off the cob webs and get'm back out on the roads.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

On the flip side, at least with his high costs, those of you who work in the buisness should thank him. How many times somebody come in wanting something they saw on tv for impossibly low prices? Think of it as a dose of the other extreme, at least not everybody thinks they can get their rust bucket on barret jackson and make a million bucks on it by only spending 5. A little shake in the pants, that yeah, it cost you 60 grand to make a 20 grand car. Face it, we are into cars because we like cars, not because we can flip our ride of the day for 3x what we paid.

Yeah, the guy is to the point, but thats another good thing. People need some get back to reality blunt talk sometimes.

Alex.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Well... I've never seen this tv show so I'm not commenting on them , But I have owned a restoration shop and I can tell you having a good location in a clean well maintained large building that the landlord will even allow a restoration shop is not cheap ! Add in the wages for guys who do know what they are doing with their own tools , Insurance, utilities , advertising , heavy shop equipment , etc,etc and just opening the doors every morning costs you money ! good days , rainy days , sleet and snow every day is more $ and all those costs keep adding up until the customer walks thru the door so each and every customer needs to understand your there to provide a service for a fee and it ain't gonna be cheap . Hiring guys with 20 + years of experience and a good full roll around set of tools aren't cheap , Hiring guys who Have a drivers license without 2 DUI's or a drug arrest and a clean drug screen (insurance company requires) is tough ! Hiring just sober semi intelligent people who show up on time everyday can be a chore. And then after you train someone for years they quit and open their own shop a block away under bidding you to get the work and take with them all your contacts and hard to find part suppliers info with them . it's the reason many shop owners split up the work load and don't teach every employee every aspect of the process ...Sad but true . So when you walk into the nice fancy building with the best equipment and putting out nice work consider the fact of what all is involved just for the guy to open the door everyday .Then consider the guy who drops off his project and 1/2 way thru has money problems himself and can't pay to finish the project ,So it sits in indoor clean dry space until he can either pay up or haul it out of your shop after it's been sitting in free dry storage for months and every square foot of indoor space costs money . It's not easy or cheap . Employee theft can really cut into your bottom line and I'm just talking about the small stuff . I was out riding my Harley one night and drove past an employees house where he was working on his own project so I turned around and pulled into his garage ,Got off the bike and there staring me in the face was about $2,000.00 worth of my chrome hardware and a few specialty tools that had been "misplaced " at the shop after being with us for many years he lost his job that night . So to the guys complaining about what it costs to have a truck restored by a good shop .

:chevy: Nothings stopping you from doing it all yourself .:chevy:

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Very well said :chevy:

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

Did you notice the HORRIBLE hood fit they left on that pickup? Must have been a 1-1/2" gap.

Re: Fantom Works - rip off artist
 

If a person doesn't want to pay all the bucks to "have" a restoration done they need to "do" it themselves. That's where it all started, build them out of love with no labor cost involved nor consideration of what your time is worth, only the cost of parts, and no idea how much you could even sell it for. And it ain't gettin' done on the couch watching TV.