The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Did I get ripped off?

I just had all of the sheetmetal from my '40 sandblasted. It was everything less the bed sides, tailgate & front bed panel. When I called the guy for a quote and described everything I had for him to do he told me $250-300. So I dropped it off and he asked me, "Are you looking for show quality?" I told him yes, as that's been my goal all along. OK, so I know it's going to cost me more now. No big deal. I went to pick up all the smaller stuff on Monday and I asked him how much he thought it would all be. $500. OK, fine. Well, when I went to pick up the cab & fenders yesterday it suddenly has become $750. Now, I know that I asked for a show quality job and all, but how can a quote go from $250 to $500 then to $750? This is my first full restoration and I'm getting used to paying through the nose for some of the stuff I'm having done. Is $750 in line with a good sandblast job? He even said he discounted it from $1,000.

3 Girls' Dad,

I try to put deals like this in a "time" perspective. If he supplied the sand, compressor and the guy to do the work, how much would that cost per hour.

A ball park figure would be $100.00 an hour I think.

If all the parts were blasted 'bright', would this take almost a full work day!

I have sandblasted before, and it is time consuming. I don't think you have been taken to the cleaners.

My bet is that he doesn't do this exact type of blasting often, and his initial bid sounded great to you, but he soon saw the error of his ways.

Most people in this world are fair and decent. If you are happy with the work, then thank him.

Stuart

Yeah I would agree with the cost being OK, but what isn't OK is that HE should take the loss for a miss quote, not the customer. My disposition would be to pay him, but let him know you are unhappy with the quote being so far off and "it would be nice if I could recommend you to others...but". Whenever I quote a job, I stick to it, even if I take the hit (graphic design).

If it looks nice, the deal you received isn't too bad, although I'll tell you, I think I would buy sand and stoot for a day myself for 1000!

Thanks guys. You know, we sat down and discussed the bill yesterday. He knows I'm not happy about how the price changed. He did a pretty good job, not as detailed about it as I would be but it still turned out pretty good. And I told him that if he was just up front with me in the beginning, I wouldn't have had a problem with it. At that point I could have just left everything on the trailer and been on my way or I could have decided that the price was fair and let him do the job. I guess it's just the way things went down that bugs me. Lesson learned.

MAn, I would cry at that price. The place that I use charges me $60 an hour with a 1/2 hour minimum. I think I spent a total of $150 to do the whole truck including the frame. He did a great job.

stea,

So thats 2.5 hours to do everything. Seem real real real quick to me. I blasted my frame and it took AT LEAST 4 hours with a professional set up. I have spent a whole bunch more hours sandblasting tons of little pieces. 2.5 hours just sandblasting the firewall inside and out, floor top and bottom, door edges and dash.

You sandblaster guy must run.

-shrug-

Neil,
Sorry can't help you, I did it all myself at work so I don't know what normally would be charged.

you stated
I guess it's just the way things went down that bugs me.


and in this case,, it went up... just kidding,,

I dont know much about sandblasting,, dont think it is a blast though...when someone quotes me a price I expect them to be correct,, if they say in the ballpark, then Ican live with that........

my two cents....I think he is a sorry character for not honoring his word. Next, he must not know much about blasting or he would have scratched it some to see how many coats are on it so he could decide how much of a task it would be. I have had guys "blast" a small spot or two to see if it comes off easy or going to be tough. BUT if they take it by the job then they honor it...Either way, a nice job is what counts. I send some heavy metal stuff, but not fenders etc to my son in laws company where they do a lot of blasting. It comes back NOT real clean but what can I expect for 5 or 10 bucks now and then. Still, he should have honored his price and take the hit.

Colin, the guy I use has a huge setup, he mainly does commercial tanks and equipment. When he does my sheetmetel he turns the pressure way down but it still cleans at the speed u would use a spray gun, he also angles the blast head so the grit wont hit at a 90 degree angle. He's been doing it for alot of years. At first I was worried that my panels would warp but the guy knows his stuff.

I called today to get a price on my 46 1/2 ton cab and the guy quoted me 300 to 400. this is in Canada. I'm starting to get leary so maybe I should get a quote in writing. He asked me to come down and look as he was doing a 35 Chev. Maybe I'll take him up on it. I felt 3 to 400 was a little steep for a 46 cab as it's down to bare bones and half the size of the newer models. Bob T

I just got my frame and all the small parts that go with it back from the sandblaster looking really good. They charge $60 per hour and charged me 3 hours to do the frame, rearend and 42 small pieces like control arms, cab brackets, etc. I thought I got a great deal as it would have taken me hours on end to wire brush everything.

No worries stea,
If he really did it in that time, i'm impressed. Sounds like you got a real good deal.
(thumbsup)

-real nice truck by the way.

I can agree with about everyones post on this thread... but where in the hell was Joker coming from????

We spent $100 to blast our cab, and $100 to blast the frame with rear springs and axil. I did the rest here in my cabinets or big parts like the fenders outside. Personly, i think the price was ok, as the machinary would cost you a lot whole lot more, and theres your time to figure. I dont think that the price was presented very fairly.

bobt - He told me it would be $200 alone for just the cab. I'd maybe check around for a better price.

The one thing I want to make clear on my project is that every last nut, bolt & screw are out. There are a lot of pieces, both large and small. I even split the hood, removed the sides, took off absolutely everything that could be taken off. I'm feeling better about it as time passes because here was a lot of work to do. The knowledgeable guys I've talked to (painters, others who have restored vehicles) don't think the price was too far out of line.

Anyway, what's done is done. My painter came by to look at it tonight and he was pretty impressed, both with the sandblast job and with the overall condition of my truck.

ANY time I have ever had anything done it always costs more than originally quoted-its the way most folks do business. They reel you in w/a reasonable quote then hold your stuff hostage for a higher price after they are finished. Machine shops & carpenters are famous for it. Brian

I'm a carpenter and I don't deal like that! When I give a price I stick to it know matter what!

62ss,you would be the first one around here for sure-& I know a fella in Port St. Louis that would be glad to meet you,,he can't find an honest carpenter to build his house after Katrina-he's been living in a 16 ft FEMA camper for a year now. I am the same way working on cars/trucks/farm tractors-even if I run into troubles I stick to my set price,,I know,, an "honest mechanic" no such thing either. Brian

Thats what I hate about my trade, that other so called carpenters make the rest of us look bad! The carpenters or who ever that are taking advantage of the Katrina victims should be shot, there is no sense in that at all!!! Jeremy