What to do...what to do???

I have been trying to wait patiently for the body shop to replace Fannie's new(other) quarter panels. I have an estimate from September for the cost. He didn't call us to bring in the car until October. He didn't give us a time or date when she would be done but I got from him that it wouldn't be a long wait because he doesn't have a place to store her. We left her there thinking she'd be in and out relatively fast...maybe a few weeks.
The plan was to have the quarters replaced then bring her home, then take parts(doors/fenders, etc) up one at a time until the car was ready to be assembled and the final body work done. But he has had the car since October 9/13 and as far as I know she is still sitting out behind his shop. Kinda makes me angry. We had her stored in our garage out of the elements. She has sat through more weather there in 3 months then she ever did in the 3 years that we have owned her.
I'm torn as to what to do. It isn't easy to find a shop that will do this type of resto. If I pull her out of there, which I keep thinking I should do, then where do I go? I'll have to start my search all over again. I have no doubt that he'll do the job...but when!?! On one of the trips to the body he told hubby that he purchased a new laser cutter just to do my car. Said he'd been wanting to buy one and my car was the push he needed to purchase it.
This bodyshop is a small outfit here in town and he is VERY popular. I would like to have him do the work, I'm sure it will be done well...but when? I don't want to pull the car out of there and cause any hard feelings down the road. But I sure don't like that this is taking sooo long and I hate that she is sitting outdoors in the weather.

What to do, what to do?

 

What to do, what to do?
This is the same question many have repeatedly asked. A professional body shop rarely takes on a restoration project. When they do they often tell the customer that they will work when they have free time. Obviously he hasn't had the time.
What I would do is politely discuss this the same way you put it here. Explain that you would like to get it finished as soon as possible so you can get on with the rest of the project.
The only way I'd take Fannie back home is if I was sure I had another shop who is willing to do the work soon. Otherwise you coud be stuck with no one to do the work. At least right now there is hope!
Good luck Fannie.

 

I would be pissed off if my "normally garaged" car was sitting outside behind a shop for 3 MONTHS because the shop was too busy to work on it.
If I was sure I wanted that particular shop to do the work, I would pick up my car and take it home telling them to call and I will deliver it when they are ready to work on it.

 

A professional body shop would not leave the car out in the elements for 3 month with nothing done!

We had her stored in our garage out of the elements. She has sat through more weather there in 3 months then she ever did in the 3 years that we have owned her.


I don't want to pull the car out of there and cause any hard feelings down the road


3 months and nothing, not a dam f'n thing?? You are way to kind, fannie. I sure hope you did not put a lot of $ up front for your own sake. 3 months and nothing but being left out, covered in snow and ice no doubt? I would say the hard feelings have been brought on by the body shop! I'd be getting the car out of there ASAP as we all know even though it's only been 3 months in the rain, snow, ice but a lot can get worse in that time. On the west coast we have a term for this kind of shop owner.... "Crab Bait", maybe on the east coast you need 'Lobster bait'?... I'd invite him fishing!

I hate to say it, especially to you and your kindness towards others no matter how the story goes but, get your car out of there and don't tan, but blood red his fannie's @zz name all over town. Some times doing the correct thing is better than the politically correct thing in the long run. Don't be afraid/nervous, get results!

 

Not good Fannie - this doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon either. Go up there, explain that you've been working on your plan to get the wagon put back together and that you want it done by the end of the month. If they can't commit to that, take it home and start your search for someone else. I understand the need to keep a friendly relationship but you've also got to look out for your wagon. I would not be happy about it being outside for so long.

 

Fannie...knowing you and knowing the car market out there a bit....I would say...just walk in and say.."if it isnt going to get worked then Im going to take it home until your ready? ".."and you can let me know when your actually ready !"

...there...now it'll be home or it will light a fire under his rump !!

 

I agree with Rev.
Tell them to call you when they're ready to start working on her.
I can't believe they've let it sit outside all this time!

 

This is a major restoration project for anyone. I agree about talking it over and possibly taking your wagon home. I also remember the shop owner came and hauled it on a roll-back so that's gonna be another problem. Still, if he can't get to it and there is no one else available right now, home in the garage is the place fannie should be.
I've heard about so many jobs never being completed or shops just closing up with other vehicles left behind. Again, good luck.

 

Actually the shop owner did not haul Fannie, my next door neighbour owns the hauler, he moved the car for us. It isn't a problem at all to bring her back home. She's only 5 mins away. It takes longer to put her on and off the truck then it does to drive her home.

I think your all right I need to go up there and talk to him about it and come to a time line when this is going to be done...man this is disappointing!

This is the third body guy to tease us with a resto...!

 

Bring it home fannie, before it's to late

 

I'm off on Wednesday morning, I'll go up then. Thanks Tedy.

 

I'd forgotten that a friend hauled the wagon to the shop. This makes the situation better for you if he can bring it back home. Possibly you can work something out to return the wagon when the shop is ready to actually do the work. Just sitting outside in the elements is not good. Besides maybe you and hubby can get some other things done.

 

Your intentions are good also Cat....but IMO time has come to get what is left out of there and move on, the damage has been done by shop owners lack of giving a dam over the months, what kind of job would you get now as all trust is gone? Shop owner clearly has no care about the car. A couple weeks is one thing but 3+ months rain, snow, etc.... time to lick wounds and ...... take some one, one way fishing

 

Fishing in Nova Scotia in January? And what are those concrete blocks and rope for?

 

Lots of folks seem to enjoy ice fishing...I'm not one of them...but others seem to like it.