TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Rich916 · 08-26-2013, 07:27 PM

I’m not a painter, But I have owned a service company for 20 years and submit over 300 contract proposals and invoice upwards of 1000 jobs per year. Trust me, I have learned the hard way!

School of hard knocks has taught me the following...
ALLWAYS get everything in writing and get signatures.

Contracts vary, Include these three points in that order and avoid a lot of hassle.

Include in the contract-Terms and conditions

(1) TOTAL COST: Determine your budget BEFORE you contact a painter.
If you are expecting a $12,000 job for $5,000...Its not going to happen! It pays to be honest here. If you only have $5k be upfront with it and then negotiate based on that budget.

(2) SCOPE OF WORK: Be very specific.
What are your expectations from the Body Shop and what are his expectations of you? Discuss the following: Rust repair, fabrication, panel alignment, block and sand, (anything and everything you can think of)..all this can be negotiated. What is he painting??...including Inner fenders, Jams, underside of hood, dash, cut-buff, etc... Be very specific so there are no surprises.

(3) DATES: A start time and a projected finish time is mandatory.
If this shop cant do this, keep looking, you will be glad in the long run

Put everything in writing and at the bottom of the page include this>>

*THE ABOVE PRICE AND SPECIFICATIONS ARE HERBY ACCEPTED abc body shop IS ATHURIZED TO DO THE WORK SPECIFIED.

Then both sign and date it.

**** I wrote up a contract with my painter/ body guy. He wasn’t offended at all. It's just good business.

tommys72 · 08-26-2013, 07:40 PM

Book marked these tips for the future. ... thanks
Posted via Mobile Device

jmorri34 · 08-26-2013, 07:43 PM

Im in on this x2

Sillyoldman · 08-26-2013, 07:44 PM

Good advice!

Special-Ed · 08-26-2013, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich916

I’m not a painter, But I have owned a service company for 20 years and submit over 300 contract proposals and invoice upwards of 1000 jobs per year. Trust me, I have learned the hard way!

School of hard knocks has taught me the following...
ALLWAYS get everything in writing and get signatures.

Contracts vary, Include these three points in that order and avoid a lot of hassle.

Include in the contract-Terms and conditions

(1) TOTAL COST: Determine your budget BEFORE you contact a painter.
If you are expecting a $12,000 job for $5,000...Its not going to happen! It pays to be honest here. If you only have $5k be upfront with it and then negotiate based on that budget.

(2) SCOPE OF WORK: Be very specific.
What are your expectations from the Body Shop and what are his expectations of you? Discuss the following: Rust repair, fabrication, panel alignment, block and sand, (anything and everything you can think of)..all this can be negotiated. What is he painting??...including Inner fenders, Jams, underside of hood, dash, cut-buff, etc... Be very specific so there are no surprises.

(3) DATES: A start time and a projected finish time is mandatory.
If this shop cant do this, keep looking, you will be glad in the long run

Put everything in writing and at the bottom of the page include this>>

*THE ABOVE PRICE AND SPECIFICATIONS ARE HERBY ACCEPTED abc body shop IS ATHURIZED TO DO THE WORK SPECIFIED.

Then both sign and date it.

**** I wrote up a contract with my painter/ body guy. He wasn’t offended at all. It's just good business.

my thoughts exactly.... i too am in a very high end service industry. i do nothing without contract with scope of work spelled out

DGulliver · 08-26-2013, 10:05 PM

You guys are right on point with this. I've seen too many guys griping about paint jail that sometimes just goes on and on- even a year or more! That is just insane- it's never happened to me and it never will. You are correct that if your shop has a problem with it, keep moving right along....

magwakeenercew2jh · 08-26-2013, 10:34 PM

I was lucky. Another element of the transaction is always going to be the people involved. Naturally.

I *did* write this contract up and didn't need any of the enforcement clauses.
One of those things is that if you *don't* write one up.....er,......you know.

Maybe this PDF will come thru. I don't know. I'm no lawyer. So, if you want to use some of this text, and your deal stumbles
somewhere down the line, it wasn't me!!!! I don't even play one on T.V.

Got my truck back early. I'm happy. Lee's happy.

Sklptrljay · 08-27-2013, 12:05 AM

Mine was in paint prison in my own garage for a year. What was taking me so long?

I'm a real jerk I guess.

*Jdbfish* · 08-27-2013, 12:14 AM

Just got burned for $2k by a body shop in Swee****er, TX for this very reason. Late delivery, VERY poor workmanship and material. Everyone PLEASE take this advice; if the shop objects to a contract, they have something to hide!

Anyone wanting the name of the shop I dealt with along with the details, please PM me
Posted via Mobile Device

Rochlow · 08-27-2013, 10:40 AM

I think a contract is good to protect the painter as well. Especially when the customer comes in after an agreement has been made with a laundry list of "just and quick" things that they want done.
Posted via Mobile Device

magwakeenercew2jh · 08-27-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rochlow

I think a contract is good to protect the painter as well. Especially when the customer comes in after an agreement has been made with a laundry list of "just and quick" things that they want done.
Posted via Mobile Device

Right on. It's about the "agreement"....Instead of, "But you said...."

**specialtyretail** · 08-27-2013, 10:58 AM

Good information to have. It might keep you from becoming a victim....

chipflyer · 08-27-2013, 11:08 AM

One thing I will add is NEVER tell someone "I'm in no hurry whenever you can get to it will be fine".
Posted via Mobile Device

BossHogg69 · 08-27-2013, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipflyer

One thing I will add is NEVER tell someone "I'm in no hurry whenever you can get to it will be fine".
Posted via Mobile Device

I screwed up and told a bodyman/painter that once, thinking he would really take his time and do the job 'right'.... I won't EVER make that mistake again.

**70CHEVYBB** · 08-27-2013, 01:44 PM

I must have been lucky. I took my cab, bed, fenders, doors, hood and tailgate to the paint shop on a Tuesday night. I had it all back in my garage by Friday of the next week. I supplied the paint and they supplied the black base and clear. 2000.00 bucks I haven't stopped smiling.

Special-Ed · 08-27-2013, 03:28 PM

scope of work is very important and protects the painter and the client as well... you dont get mission creep, or he said she said... its spelled out... no worries... the expectations are managed...

and anything not on the contract... is a change order that favors the painter.

and for petes sake get the paint color initialed so they cant say i dont like that color, or you did not use the color i picked.

08-26-2013, 07:27 PM	#1
Rich916 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Rancho Cordova, CA Posts: 274	TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. I’m not a painter, But I have owned a service company for 20 years and submit over 300 contract proposals and invoice upwards of 1000 jobs per year. Trust me, I have learned the hard way! School of hard knocks has taught me the following... ALLWAYS get everything in writing and get signatures. Contracts vary, Include these three points in that order and avoid a lot of hassle. Include in the contract-Terms and conditions (1) TOTAL COST: Determine your budget BEFORE you contact a painter. If you are expecting a $12,000 job for $5,000...Its not going to happen! It pays to be honest here. If you only have $5k be upfront with it and then negotiate based on that budget. (2) SCOPE OF WORK: Be very specific. What are your expectations from the Body Shop and what are his expectations of you? Discuss the following: Rust repair, fabrication, panel alignment, block and sand, (anything and everything you can think of)..all this can be negotiated. What is he painting??...including Inner fenders, Jams, underside of hood, dash, cut-buff, etc... Be very specific so there are no surprises. (3) DATES: A start time and a projected finish time is mandatory. If this shop cant do this, keep looking, you will be glad in the long run Put everything in writing and at the bottom of the page include this>> THE ABOVE PRICE AND SPECIFICATIONS ARE HERBY ACCEPTED abc body shop IS ATHURIZED TO DO THE WORK SPECIFIED. Then both sign and date it. *** I wrote up a contract with my painter/ body guy. He wasn’t offended at all. It's just good business. __________________ 71 Short Step Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=429946

08-26-2013, 07:40 PM	#2
tommys72 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: springfield mo Posts: 3,075	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. Book marked these tips for the future. ... thanks Posted via Mobile Device __________________ United States Marine Corps 2000-2011 Iraq and Afghanistan veteran Just living life now and enjoying it and my wife, daughter and son

08-26-2013, 07:43 PM	#3
jmorri34 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Spring, Tx. Posts: 479	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. Im in on this x2

08-26-2013, 07:44 PM	#4
Sillyoldman #16876 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Auburn WA Posts: 12,266	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. Good advice! __________________ Posted via Stationary Device '71 Custom Deluxe C-20 402. '67 Buick Special 455. '49 Plymouth Special Deluxe. *"I love that old car smell"* *Some people are like Slinkies... not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.*

08-26-2013, 10:05 PM	#6
DGulliver Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Southern TN Posts: 227	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. You guys are right on point with this. I've seen too many guys griping about paint jail that sometimes just goes on and on- even a year or more! That is just insane- it's never happened to me and it never will. You are correct that if your shop has a problem with it, keep moving right along.... __________________ '72 Chevrolet Step Side 350/TH350, '63 C10 Step V8 '74 Trans Am 400, '80 Trans Am Indy Pace Car Mercedes AMG S55, SLK230 Kompressor, GL450 '96 Dodge Indy Ram Official Indy Truck '99 Porsche 911 Carrera

08-27-2013, 12:05 AM	#8
Sklptrljay Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma Posts: 874	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. Mine was in paint prison in my own garage for a year. What was taking me so long? I'm a real jerk I guess.

08-27-2013, 12:14 AM	#9
Jdbfish Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Belton, tx Posts: 51	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. Just got burned for $2k by a body shop in Swee***er, TX for this very reason. Late delivery, VERY poor workmanship and material. Everyone PLEASE take this advice; if the shop objects to a contract, they have something to hide! Anyone wanting the name of the shop I dealt with along with the details, please PM me Posted via Mobile Device*

08-27-2013, 10:40 AM	#10
Rochlow Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: St. Albans, Vt Posts: 2,520	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. I think a contract is good to protect the painter as well. Especially when the customer comes in after an agreement has been made with a laundry list of "just and quick" things that they want done. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ ///Relaxed Atmosphere

08-27-2013, 10:58 AM	#12
specialtyretail So,, what else you got??? Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jackson, Mo Posts: 18,637	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. Good information to have. It might keep you from becoming a victim.... __________________ Our paypal is specialtyretail@yahoo.com Please DO NOTsend paypal funds as a gift, right is right. Thanks.... Sorry, we CANNOT ship larger parts. Thanks.

08-27-2013, 11:08 AM	#13
chipflyer Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Topeka, Ks Posts: 2,293	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. One thing I will add is NEVER tell someone "I'm in no hurry whenever you can get to it will be fine". Posted via Mobile Device __________________ I'm not a pessimist, I'm just optimistic that bad things are going to happen. 1971 Cheyenne Super K10 - tilt, cruise, air, am/fm, tow hooks, factory buckets! 1986 Jeep J10 pickup, - 5.3L Vortec with 4L60e and NP241.

08-27-2013, 01:44 PM	#15
70CHEVYBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: chillicothe, illinois Posts: 688	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. I must have been lucky. I took my cab, bed, fenders, doors, hood and tailgate to the paint shop on a Tuesday night. I had it all back in my garage by Friday of the next week. I supplied the paint and they supplied the black base and clear. 2000.00 bucks I haven't stopped smiling. Attached Images

08-27-2013, 03:28 PM	#16
Special-Ed Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Floriduh Posts: 386	Re: TIPS!! Avoid paint prison. scope of work is very important and protects the painter and the client as well... you dont get mission creep, or he said she said... its spelled out... no worries... the expectations are managed... and anything not on the contract... is a change order that favors the painter. and for petes sake get the paint color initialed so they cant say i dont like that color, or you did not use the color i picked. __________________ Ed will be known as the Tiger Woods of the integration business



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