I have been working with the same interior guy for 10 months. I questioned a few things that he has done and made him redo them. He was going to have it done before may them before back to the 50's in June. Well never made those dates. He worked out of my garage for 2 to 3 hours a night Monday - Thursday. Then he tells me he wants travel time 57 cents a mile 20 miles round trip. I told him shouldn't you have figured that into your price originally? Never mentioned again but now he is short on material and he needs 250 more I payed him but wanted to see a receipt for the extra material never saw one. The last day I saw him was 2 months ago His air stapler went out and my air compressor stopped working. I reset the breaker and he left never to be seen from again until today. He calls and said is your air compressor fixed or should I pick up my stuff. I told him I wanted the car done for the summer and that's done with now just pick up your stuff and I will find someone else or finish it myself. He is very short fused I was in know mood for his shit. He wanted full payment I told him it wasn't done and there is still some things I'm not happy with. Here are some pictures tell me what you think?
You have paid him to complete a job. It's not satisfactory or to your standard and it's late. In my book you have every right to not pay him. Stick to your guns and get someone else. My opinion anyway. Best of luck mate Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I was told by other guys with cars and bikes that he does great work. He was local and at first seemed easy to get along with. I showed him pictures of the car in 1959 and told him that tis is what I want it to look like. He got harder and harder to deal with after I payed him half up front. People still told me he would make it right but I had other people look at it and they said it didn't look good.
Well I did the body,chassis so I'm not a professional but the vinyl has a lot of lumps and wrinkles and the body not. The car looks good I have been told.
For a little over ten years, I did upholstery work at my home. The work was done on weekends and week nights after pulling 8 and 10 hour shifts at the parts house. I could usually complete a car within 4 weeks or less. All of my work came from referrals and I have to admit some people were turned away because of their attitudes. I would not put up with their Crap in my home or shop. After viewing the pictures, I would suggest that you need to consider finding someone else to finish the job. If this Guy were to finish the car, there is a chance that after all the BS you would never really be happy with the work. Settle up the best you can and move on.................... Good Luck, Jeff
That's what I'm going to do this guy is 60 years old and retired his father was an upholsterer and he grew up I the trade. I don't want him to feel like I'm ripping him off but I don't want to be taken either. This job was more than my last car and that one had a rumble seat and it was all leather.
Just out of curiosity, what did your contract with him say? As I thought, there wasn't one. Cut your losses and be done with him. I had an experience with a "neighbor" who is disabled but a "world class mechanic". Had him do some work on my wife's O/T car; the car sat, for two weeks. Finally he got the old engine out, new one ready to go in. Puts it in, still have the same problems. In the meantime, he finds a head for my late son's O/T car and offers it to us. Wife paid him half, as that's all she had a that moment. He took it in the alleged shop he was working at to "check it over." That was the last we saw of the head or the money. The guy is a good BS talker, poor performer, even without the "420" use (yeah, caught him doing that while he was finishing the engine swap.) Long story short, I will never have him do anything for me again. I'll do what I can myself and find someone reputable to do what I can not. My dos bhats.
Depends on how much the job was quoted for. I had my Coupe done in 1 week, which included the trunk too. Cost was $3500. My buddy had his done by a big name shop for $8000.
Sad to hear NOTHING has changed in the Hot Rod aftermarket or support industries in 40 years! It was always this way, sorry to report. "My welder didn't come in this week, My painter got arrested, my machinist quit, my utility bill went up, my lease just expired, etc., etc." Unless you are Daddy Big Bucks, your job just got bumped back!! That is part of the meat grinder unless you are willing to try to do it yourself, AND BE SATISFIED WITH YOUR OWN CRAFTSMANSHIP !! That is what is great about this sight. I got pushed off by a local upholstery guy because he "doesn't give advice or lessons. If you want it done give it to me and I'll do it!" Well that was clear enough for me to start a thread here, and Boom, I got all kind of good advice and leads from guys who have done their own ! I am working on interior panels from Masonite, been to local upholstery, fabric shop and I am on my way. Sorry you are getting jacked around, I know it's too late. Maybe it's time to cut your losses and suck it up. I hope those damn Packers start the reg season better than their pre-season performance or they may start looking like cheese curds!
I would definitely find someone else, hopefully with references etc. Sounds like maybe a bit too much water under the bridge already for a happy ending for either of you. Have the new guy/gal look at the job and bid on finishing and or fixing it (get a written quote and file it). Depending on what they say they can do it for is what I would be settling up to the first guy with...(if there was anything left of the final payment amount).
Settle up with him,deducting a portion from the unfinished part and ask him again for the receipts for the materials. HRP
He dont have a shop of his own, that the car could have been dropped off at to eliminate all the trips? I would feel most comfortable working in my own shop, with my tools instead of someone else.
If I'm understanding this right, you paid him all or some money and he's abandoned you. If that's correct, all I can say is, "A lot of people need to stop thinking it's 1850." NEVER pay up front for anything. Why are you giving him money for supplies? If he's doing a job, he needs to have the items to complete the job." Every time there's a thread on here and the phrase, "I paid up front....", I KNOW it's going to end well. It's simple people, think. No matter how good the guy is or what his reputation is, it'll usually end badly, when you give money up front.
" I will be happy to pay you when the job is finished" is my motto. No matter what he says, "I will be happy to pay you when the job is finished" If he wants to come over and finish it, let him. But under no circumstance give him another dime until it is done to your satisfaction. If there is anything, anything at all that is not done and you pay him anything - you won't see him again. But you already know that. As for picking up his stuff, what stuff? He won't be getting any stuff as long as he owe me money. If he finishes the job, in every detail, and you are satisfied with it - pay what you promised. If you never see him again, finish it yourself or get someone else.
He had a few hand tools and a roll of foam Some bucks and a table. I didn't see him take the gold vinyl but its gone.
This is the second interior gone bad ive seen this week. The other actually pulled into my driveway for me to look at. The guy not wanting to do the work in his garage was red flag number one. I did an interior in someone else s garage once and it didnt go as planned. I will never do it again. Find someone else to finish it.
'Find someone else to finish it'. That is the best option. Get him gone, find a guy with a shop pictures of many jobs done and references that are not friends.
Grow some balls. If your daughter was having this same problem with a flaky upholsterer, what advice would you offer her?...think about it...
Do you have a contract? You've already paid him extra for the job, I think he is trying to scam you. You might need a lawyer, or just to count your losses and have someone else do it.
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