WOW SCREWED BY MY BUDDY OF 25+ YRS!!! another bad resto story....

[HITMAN 149]

wow...
i stopped at the shop the other day to talk w my buddy (of 25+ years) about something... and i guess i wasn't in such a cheery mood... and next thing he flips out on me yelling to get outta his shop.. and effff me and my charger..... ect...ect...ect  guess he took it as me not being tooo happy he wasn't working on my charger... (which has been at his shop for 3 years this past jan!!!!  ) meanwhile he had a 66 vette & a 70 chevelle on the lift, gettin worked on!!! obv those arent someone's daily drivers that needed work!!!!!!!!  so yea i was a lil mifffed!! but damnnnnnnn!!!
it was surreal... i didn't even realize he was yelling at me at first!?!?! then he just kept going nuts!!! so i left...... figured before it got any worse!!!  i mean ive known him since i was in high school....
soooooo know my charger that was supposed to be running in time for my MC clubs car show on may 2nd... isn't im sure!!!!  he's paid all up, on our agreed upon amount to do allll the stuff i wanted to.. and it was way bellow where i woulda got it done anywhere else ...... but it's been over 3 years!!!!
ive been patient & understanding.. he's had ALOT of problems at the shop.. shitty help, and money probs...ect...ect
but don't take that out on me  ... just cause HE underpriced the  ork!!! cause i was a great friend!!! not just some any herky jerky customer!!!!!!!!

sooooooo here we efffffin go... back to the ole' drwaing board!!!!!!!! 
i'll prob get it flat bedded outta there next week!?!?!?!
just another sad got screwed charger resto story..... 

[tan top]

aww no sorry to here that !! wonder what got to him !!!   odd just to fly off into  one like that
you known him a long time !!    lost a friend as well as you charger getting finished !

[stripedelete]

25 years? Let him cool off.  It probably wasn't you - BUT you might have been the only one he could uncork on.
Talk to him over a beer later.

I really understand the three year thing.  I was held hostage for 2+.   

[69*F5*SE]

I went through almost the same situation with the guy who first started my car except I didn't know him for all those years.  It sucked to have the car in the middle of resto and having to pull the car due to the lack of work being done to the car.  But, this guy was butchering my quarters anyway.  I had to pull it out of there.  I held back and didn't beat the holy hell out of him like he deserved.  Had mine paid in full also before the work had gotten to anywhere near being finished.  Now the car is just a shell needing new quarters etc. due to his shoddy work.  Sorry to hear about your falling out with him.  I guess it can happen to anyone and has happened to many most likely.

[PocketThunder]

These "pay up front then get screwed" stories seem to be a weekly occurance around here, and probably on every car forum.  Good luck getting your car worked on.  Maybe he will let you come help work on it since you are such good friends.   

[Old Moparz]

25 years? Let him cool off.  It probably wasn't you - BUT you might have been the only one he could uncork on.
Talk to him over a beer later.

I really understand the three year thing.  I was held hostage for 2+.   

I'll agree, even with the car being there 3 years.

If you never stated it was a rush or if you didn't decide & agree on a completion date, it's tough for the both of you. By that I mean, he wants to save you money, & you don't want to nag because you're saving money. Once you know for sure about what he blew up over, then make a decision about whether he gets to finish the car or set it up for pulling the car out of there unfinished.

[Troy]

These "pay up front then get screwed" stories seem to be a weekly occurance around here, and probably on every car forum.  Good luck getting your car worked on.  Maybe he will let you come help work on it since you are such good friends.   

Yep, too familiar. It's amazing that some people will throw away friendships for very little money. The fact that the business has had so many problems might just be due to the owner and his poor management skills.

If it were me, I doubt that I could or would leave the car in the shop even if we made up. Unless he *shows* (not speaks) a sincere effort to work on the car it will just sit and tensions will grow. Repeat process.

Troy

[HITMAN 149]

yes its obv not my daily driver..... and there was noooo specific time frame... but 3+ years?!?!?! and he's worked on tons of other cars (other muscle car toys!!!) while mine sat!!!! why is my car the red headed stepchild???!!!!! he's shaken my hand 3 dozen times tellling me "by next friday"  it'll be done!!!!!   and here we goooo... another year my MC club car & bike show passes and NOOOO charger to take!!!
dont get me wrong as mad/worried as i am about my car... i was sick to my stomach the other night after all this transpired... i can't believe someone i thought was my goooood buddy could treat me like this!!!!


yea troy... im having a hard time with what to do.... we drove by late last night while we were in the area... and it was still in the same spot!!!! and at this point i think it would be a rush hack job & i don't want that either..... it's sad to say.. but i don't think i can trust him anymore...
my GF went there the next day on her way to work.. (on her own!!!.. i had no idea!!!) and she SCREAMED AT HIM!!! LMAO here is this lil chick screaming at my all tattooed up biker/mechanic (EX)buddy in his own shop in front of all his guys!!!! she told him what im going thru (so he knows im kinda sick right now) medically right now... and stillllll no call/text or effort!!!! so she's pissed prob even more than me!!! lmao

[RD]

not sure what to say, but i will say this:

1) a friend doesn't react like that
2) a friend sticks to his end of the bargain
3) a friend never leaves you hanging

the dude is a friend by word only, not by actions.  friends by word are there only until they get what they want, then they go.  friends by action do not need to say words, they are there until the getting is done.

call him what he really is, a taker.  once you change his definition, you will have a clearer outlook on what you need to do.

my two pennies.

[twodko]

Hitman,

RD said it. It appears you have more friends on this forum, friends you've not yet met, then the "frienship' you have with this mechanic. Ballsy GF too! Get your car outta there most rickytic.

Tom

[HITMAN 149]

yes.... ive not a bad thing to say about anybody on here ive had any dealings with!!!! 
and the rest of the guys who we alll chat with, are sooooo willing to help one another in a pinch!!!!

yes i guesss sooner or later you find out who your "REAL" friends are!!!
and yes she is ballllllsy!!!!! lol my lil firecracker....
never mind me,the tatooed all up marine & cop.... you gotta watch out for her!!!!!!!!! hahahaha lmfao
thanks guys!!!!!!

[jeryst]

Well, here's probably what happened. He agreed to do the work, as a friend, for a very low price. Knowing he's not going to make much money, he puts it in a corner and only works on it when he has a little time. He has no incentive because he already got and spent the money, so its basically lost time to him. He needs to do other jobs to put food on the table, so he just keeps putting it off.

He flipped out on you, because he now feels guilty. He know he's probably going to lose you as a friend anyways, and he doesnt want to spend a lot of time working on something that he is not going to get any more money for, so he figures "Screw it"!

When are guys gonna learn one simple lesson: NEVER PAY UP FRONT, regardless of who it is. They dont need all of the money up front. Think about it, why would they? Do you get paid for the next year at work, or do you get paid for the last two weeks? Anybody that demands to be paid fully up front is out to screw you in the first place in most cases, or they are saying that because they need quick cash, and will worry about the consequences later. If you are building a house, the bank will not realease the whole amount at once. They will ask for proof of work, and will pay for the work at certain stages of completion. If someone wants money up front, pay them a little for materials. Tell them straight: I'll pay you every Friday for the work you did that week. That way I get my work done, and you know that I'm not going to stiff you for the bill. If you dont do any work on my car during the week, dont expect to get paid. Its fair for both sides. If need be, make up some excuse about how you are going to take a little out of each paycheck to pay for the work because you dont want to take out a loan. Make it clear that you will only pay them for work done, and make sure they quote you an hourly rate, and itemize all work done during the week. If they dont agree, go find someone else. If they do agree, they have incentive to work on the car. If things start to go sour, you are paid up, and have every right to get the car out of there ASAP without losing any money.

[RD]

When are guys gonna learn one simple lesson: NEVER PAY UP FRONT, regardless of who it is. They dont need all of the money up front. Think about it, why would they? Do you get paid for the next year at work, or do you get paid for the last two weeks? Anybody that demands to be paid fully up front is out to screw you in the first place in most cases, or they are saying that because they need quick cash, and will worry about the consequences later. If you are building a house, the bank will not realease the whole amount at once. They will ask for proof of work, and will pay for the work at certain stages of completion. If someone wants money up front, pay them a little for materials. Tell them straight: I'll pay you every Friday for the work you did that week. That way I get my work done, and you know that I'm not going to stiff you for the bill. If you dont do any work on my car during the week, dont expect to get paid. Its fair for both sides. If need be, make up some excuse about how you are going to take a little out of each paycheck to pay for the work because you dont want to take out a loan. Make it clear that you will only pay them for work done, and make sure they quote you an hourly rate, and itemize all work done during the week. If they dont agree, go find someone else. If they do agree, they have incentive to work on the car. If things start to go sour, you are paid up, and have every right to get the car out of there ASAP without losing any money.

that is about the wisest suggestion i have seen on this forum.  good read jeryst, as it is so true.

[Back N Black]

I feel sorry for ya, my car was in the body shop prison for 2 years. I use to drive there every couple of weeks for 2 years to see little or no progress.

[HITMAN 149]

hey jerry...
yes my GF said the same exact thing!! or close to it!! lol
the newer shop mgr was doing all the paperwork.. for the time & work on the car...
meanwhile my "taker" (thanks RD!! ) gave me a total one shopt deal price, (not the per hour rate the car gets worked on like the mgr was doing) & he prob realized how much $$$ he was loosing, and his guilt as my "friend" lost out to greeeeeed!!!!!
id say im still ahead on $$$$ as far as what work was done to the car for what i paid him... BUT it's stillllll NOT done like it was promised... AND IM OUT 3+ YEARS OF ENJOYING, PLUS PAYING INS & REG ON MY CAR NOT BEING ABLE TO ENJOY IT!!!! and nowwww i gotta put more $$$$ into it to get it done (running)!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR 

and black.... YUPPPPPPPPPP!!!!! 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Having worked at a resto shop or two in my day this far...      i'll give you all some suggestions:

NEVER PAY UP FRONT
ALWAYS BUY YOUR OWN MAJOR PARTS
Ask for itemized list, who did the work, and how long it took...    a very specific breakdown
Pay ever 2 weeks or every month....    anything more and your money does not go to your car...    anything longer and your car wont be worked on

[HITMAN 149]

ohhhhhh i bought allllll the parts i wanted for the car!!!!
and yes i agreeeee with the paying part if your going to some garge... BUT like i said this was MY CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND OF 25+ years!!!! not some around the corner garage i had no ties to.... and its not like i gave him tens of thousands of dollars... but still was a nice coin!!!

[Cooter]

Well, MY TURN.....As one who restores cars on the side, I have a story on the other side of this coin....
I had this buddy and I stated HAD, that had owned a 1970 Charger for about 13 years all beat up and rusty. He saw my GL and asked me to "Do a buddy a favor"...Well, I asked what he was willing to pay, he told me, I objected, he then began to come at me with the "Woe is me, I'm your buddy" thing....SO, I actually told him, if he KEPT the car I'd do it for what he could afford..Long story longer, I installed BOTH quarters, Trunk Floor (Hand made), Blocked the hell out of both doors(Hit right in the scoops), R&R All glass, as the quarter windows hadn't been down in over 13 years and were stuck), Rebuilt the entire front and rear window channel (This was BEFORE the AMD days), Completely worked a '69 Change over, with rebuilt R/T Grille, He bought fiberglass fenders and I had to block the hell out of of 'em along with repair them after damage during shipping, Installed a 4-speed where the auto was, Installed floor pans (2), Repair frame rail, Rebuild 8 3/4 rear, Rebuild/build 440 engine TWICE(His screw up), Installed trans, had to pull back out THREE (3) times (Again, he guessed at the wrong flywheel, and bell had a crack), Swap over front disc brakes and rebuild, He then decided he didn't want the fiberglass fenders and pays $1200.00 for two SUPPOSEDLY rust free/dent free fenders, which turned out to look like they'd been run over by a tractor trailer after blasting, and had to start all over again, He then decides that he wanted the side reflectors to actually WORK, so I custom made them out of Ford Maverick parts, Installed iner rear fender wells, Installed trunk extentions, Installed ALL seat covers, And Painted car TWICE (My fault this time), with PAINTED white tail stripe......ALL FOR $2000.00................................................
I told him he better be planning on keeping it as that's why I "Helped" him out.....Exactly 1 year almost to the damn day, it now resides in Germany somewhere, for a reportedly $30K.....................

SO, Not all shop owners/"Buddies" are like your buddy......Some of us get taken just as bad as you.....

[bobs66440]

This is a nightmare story played out over and over again.    Been there so many times. I finally found a competent guy to do the work on my car that I don't want to do, and he actually treats me like a VALUED customer. It's sad that this is so rare.

[jb666]

I'm sorry to hear about this... Good friends are hard to come by.. As some have said, maybe he just needed to vent and you were at the wrong place at the wrong time... I can't tell you how many times I've gone to my buddy's shop to hear him telling us about an a-hole customer that "just left". Well, an a-hole might have "just left" when you walked in... Or a bill collector, or the IRS notifying him of an audit... Either way, sounds like he blew up on someone close to him. If I were you, I'd more or less expect an apology. He'll know what he did... or he'll be stubborn and stand his ground 

Either way, things like this make me realize how LUCKY I was to get my car rebuilt from the ground up in 15 months.

[HITMAN 149]

hey bob.. nice ride!!! love the 1 st gens too!!! 
yea unfort this is just one of many sad stories in the naked city!!! lmao and your lucky!!!! 

hey JB... (i just spoke w/ frankie a lil while ago!!!)lol
yes ive thought about that "wrong place/wrong time" thing... and yes ive been there mannnnny a time for him to vent on me about others...... BUT this was fucked up... im sorrry i would never have treated anyone like how he treated me!!! and my GF went there the next day and told him off & told him something (medical) im going thru... that he kinda knew about....AND STILLLLLL NOOOOO CONTACT!!!!! 

[bobs66440]

hey bob.. nice ride!!! love the 1 st gens too!!! 
yea unfort this is just one of many sad stories in the naked city!!! lmao and your lucky!!!! 

Thanks!

Hopefully your situation will work out.

[mikesbbody]

Doesn't this guy know what your "other" job is? I say go back and put a cap in his ass or take that big ole Bulldog of your's and feed your Buddy to him! it's all about Respect ya know?

[HITMAN 149]

hahahaha lmfao @ mike!!!!
yea i know realllly... doesn't he know who i am?!?!? wait... who am i again??? lol

[Khyron]

ummm, i saw the picture of you from the "pictures of us thread"



i wouldn't have yelled at you ....