What to do...need opinions fast...

[77chris03]

Ok as everyone else on this forum that is building a truck......i have come to a roadblock question... My body guy screwed me and wont be able to finish my paint etc. i found another one and he wants 45 an hour, and when he came to my storage to see the truck he noticed i had my bike up for sale....He called me several days later and asked to do a trade...

MY BIKE TO FINISH MY TRUCK>......

i supply the paint, he does the rest and fixes all the previous body guys screw ups...i need opinions please... im asking 3500 for my bike with everything...i have no overhead on the bike except for reg. and insurance...

[mrein3]

For me it is a no-brainer.
The doctors I know call those things donor cycles. Donor cycles are ridden by young, healthy guys. They get in an accident and all that is wrong with them is that they are brain dead. Lots of people benefit from all the young, healthy organs.
Trade the bike.

[77chris03]

okie dokie....what are you trying to say about me??lol i bought it back in 06 when i was just turning 20!!! i survived...lol

[hoseman1979]

These bartering deals often end up with legal/ethical issues that leave one party feeling screwed. The legal ownership of the bike at any one time during this transaction needs to be established up front. Perhaps you give him $3500 to finish your truck and he pays you to keep up with the expenses of the bike until the truck is finished. He is motivated to finish the truck so he can have the bike and you have already paid him for the services to the truck. If you are not satisfied with the work, you can still sell the bike to someone else and he has already been paid for the work he did.

[77chris03]

Originally Posted by hoseman1979

These bartering deals often end up with legal/ethical issues that leave one party feeling screwed. The legal ownership of the bike at any one time during this transaction needs to be established up front. Perhaps you give him $3500 to finish your truck and he pays you to keep up with the expenses of the bike until the truck is finished. He is motivated to finish the truck so he can have the bike and you have already paid him for the services to the truck. If you are not satisfied with the work, you can still sell the bike to someone else and he has already been paid for the work he did.

my girl likes the way you think, as do i. but i cant get him to quote me cause hes by the hour. For one i know it wont be ridden much, he wants it for show...he wants to show off his work and keep it small... and he wants a bike for that....im seriously thinking about it. its just sitting. any more pros and cons??

[hjewell2]

Originally Posted by 77chris03

my girl likes the way you think, as do i. but i cant get him to quote me cause hes by the hour. For one i know it wont be ridden much, he wants it for show...he wants to show off his work and keep it small... and he wants a bike for that....im seriously thinking about it. its just sitting. any more pros and cons??

I say do it but do not make my mistake whch was to give my painter my blazer in trade which was worth $5000.00. I gave him the blazer first and he is still not finished with my truck, it will be a year in march. I say he can have it when the work is complete and to your liking.

[77chris03]

Ill post a pic of the bike..

[77chris03]

[dmack91]

Also depends on what quality of work he does. Will he do his best, or just throw some bondo and paint at it and call it even?

[specialtyretail]

From personal experience and from hearing my customers talk, most trading out deals always benefit the person doing the labor as they can manipulate the work required for different levels of job quality. Just my observation. Good luck.

[jocko]

so, if it's a 2 hour job, you're getting screwed. If it's a 100 hour job, you're coming out ahead. All comes down to math - IF the body guy tells you it will take more than 77.777 hours to do the work, you're coming out ahead by trading. If less than that, you'd come out ahead by paying cash and selling the bike. Nowhere in here have I seen an estimate of how many hrs work it will take - he should be able to estimate that within 10-20 hrs.

I agree with some of the comments above in that horse trading is my least preferred method of paying someone - unless it's a good friend I trust.

Trading is probably attractive because it's "easy" and you don't have to monkey with selling your bike. All comes down to what you wnt to mess with.

I'm GUESSing that he'll be spending much less than 77 hours working on your truck... Don't forget, it was HIS idea to trade, so he knows what he's making on the deal - you really don't until you know how long he'll be working on your truck.

[rcrahn]

At $45 per hour this sounds too good to be true. But I'm in Cali and labor around here is $90 and up per hour. I'd ask for at least 3 references (of similar jobs) and check them out. Don't just call them, meet with them to see the vehicle, hopefully something painted 3-5 years ago, not last week.
Then, if all checks out, I'd pay him for the job with progress payments. He shows results he gets paid, no results, no money.

Forget about the trade, you will get screwed in the end

[no moa]

My body man charges me $20 an hour.And he has been a bodyman for 20 years, But we are in Maine, it is different up here. lol.
Thats a tough call, if i knew him personally, ya. But if i didn't, no way.

[big mike71]

I would want a set price. The shop I go to looks at your car or truck and quotes you a price. My wife hired a family friend to do some painting in our house by the hour, everytime I saw him he was getting a drink, smoking, scratching his butt, etc. It took four days to do a day and a half job.

[AusTx68]

Originally Posted by big mike71

I would want a set price. The shop I go to looks at your car or truck and quotes you a price. My wife hired a family friend to do some painting in our house by the hour, everytime I saw him he was getting a drink, smoking, scratching his butt, etc. It took four days to do a day and a half job.

I'm with big mike. Get a set price. No way I would go with an opened ended hourly job although I know many shops work that way. You are only 2 1/2 hrs from me. The guy that painted my truck is top notch and could give you a set price. Pm me if your interested in talking to him.
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[Sport/Truck]

Don't trade, you'll regret it.

[dukcaln]

what did you decide and have you even seen the work this guys has done. If you do it make sure you get an agreement that he can't get the bike until the job is complete and you are 100% satisfied... if you don't do that then the dude will not put all his pride in the work

[77chris03]

i have not made a decision yet, but am taking several notes....i like the idea of talking to other customers of his. so far all ive seen is the impala that hes doing and a mustang that body lines are being shaped to perfection. I like the idea of keeping the bike until work is done. I will talk to him tomorrow...keep the opinions coming, its gonna help me decide... again like i said, this bike is just sitting, ive made my money back 5 times what i paid for it and either way if i sell it, the money will go towards the truck...

[dukcaln]

I think your doing the right thing getting ideas and taking notes. I say if his work is good and he has good intentions then he will understand about keeping the bike until the job is done and completed to your liking..... if he hesitates then maybe his intentions were not 100% on ...... either way good luck and what color are you going with

[77chris03]

Originally Posted by dukcaln

I think your doing the right thing getting ideas and taking notes. I say if his work is good and he has good intentions then he will understand about keeping the bike until the job is done and completed to your liking..... if he hesitates then maybe his intentions were not 100% on ...... either way good luck and what color are you going with

the color is a lexus color with a blue crystal pearl in the clear, under another clear if that makes sense...lol

Starfire pearl by lexus

white base
tinted clear (has red, white, silver pearl)
dbc500 clear with crystal blue pearl
clearcoat

the cab and front clip have already been done by the previous body guy, hopefully we can match his scheme... all i have left is the bed... look at my build thread, i did a few things tonite.

[DanSan c 10]

MAKE SURE ALL IS WRITING . every detail and all costs in writing and any changes in writing. handshakes are nice but everone thinks different

[dukcaln]

the days of the hand shakes are over, but once in awhile when they do extended it, its nice to take one... but yes writing is a must... been to small claims court a couple of times and the one with the most detail, in writing with signatures is the one who smiles in the end

[DanSan c 10]

dukcaln thinking a like. been there a couple times.

[ColinOpseth]

Get it in writing and ditch the crotch rocket. 'nuff said.

[mpotts64]

As for me I would not get out of the electric chair to ride that scooter so I would be interested in a trade, I agree with all that has been said, but I would add: make regular and unscheduled visits to see how the work is going. Don't just wait until the end and then be disappointed and it turns to a big dramatic situation. Drop in unannounced so he knows you are keeping an eagle eye on this deal. Get an estimate of labor hours upfront, get a complete agreement in writing and he gets the bike when you are satisfied.