This email chain is a continuation of the previous post. I'm explaining to Frank that the time has come to be up front with me, that I need the car done by March/April (2010) at the latest. His response says that can't be done, but May (2010) is probable I changed the font color to highlight these areas:
It has been said a dozen times, had things gone as planned on your end you would have been done on time. You need to understand I am not upset or punishing you. Here is what is happening, we have not taken any new work in 6 months so I can clear some idle projects. Idle for customer reasons, there are 2 others that HAD money issues, everyone caught up their bills current, your the only one with money to actually, so your first up. The other guys may never finish.
Here is where the problem has been. Every scheduled paying customer has been adding to the scope of work once their car is in. We just sent a car home to California that came in for subframe, rear suspension, brakes, wheels tires (sound familiar), then he said, what do you think about the paint? While were painting, what about interior, Can we re wire? Sound familiar? So what ended up happening is it became a full 600 hour build and instead of a 200 hour project being done in 4 weeks, it was 6 months. That pushed off the next car scheduled in line. The car before that was the Bull Run Racer, we were only supposed to do a drivetrain, and we were never supposed to paint the car, we were only touching up a couple spots, but when we dug into those couple spots we found holes you could throw cats through, so we did 350 hours of body and paint, and that delayed the California car I just mentioned that went from 200 hours of work to 600 hours! So you can see there alone is 750 hours, 17 weeks of time that was not planned on just those 2 cars. Both cars are fabulous, and we are proud of both, but it really ****s with my schedule. And now there is a convertible in the shop that came in for paint, and yesterday a 2010 Camaro drivetrain showed up along with 2010 Camaro seats. What was a paint job is going to be a 700-800 hour project and will be one of our premiere builds this year.
So in the meantime, it sure makes it hard to get to the next car to say the least. We are getting down to a manageable amount of projects as we delivered 5 projects in the last 3 months of 2009.
I have to work it through though, I cannot just stop the shop and spend a month or two on Georges car and put off scheduled customers. I have to wiggle you through the sea of cars without blocking flow.So right now I have my brother caught up on fabrication, so he will do the mini tub install and get that behind us. Soon as I can get Michael some available time he will work on suspension, etc. But that will not be the day my brother finishes the tubs, it won't work that way and "wiggle" through.
No one wants your car done more then me, even more then you. I hate having languishing projects. I am tired of tripping over your engine, I have been spending $100 a month for a storage container (your car is one of 2 in there) just to store it. So it cost me $600 a year just to keep your car out of my way. And I hate stuff like this out there period. I have all happy customers. And the customers that get to add to the scope and get a full prodigy build are REAL happy, LOL!
I am not giving a kill date, than I cannot miss a date. But my goal is to get this car done and make sure you get to play in the good weather. March, no way. April, that's pushing. May, more reasonable.
On another note. You were adding some additional stuff interior / sound / console related. I do not want to be involved in any of the interior / console program. I had some issues with William with communication and schedule, a couple other things, and long story short, am not using William anymore and don't want the stress of subletting any part of this job. Right now I do not have anyone here I can refer that work to. We need to keep the interior stock and you find someone there for sound system and interior.
In closing, I know you never intended to screw me when you had your problem, and I have never had intention of screwing you. Your uncontrollable situation caused my uncontrollable situation. I cannot do anymore then I am doing to get to your car through the shop.
Thank You
Frank Serafine
Prodigy Customs
Pro Touring Specialist
www.ProdigyCustoms.com
407 832 1752 Direct line
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Flyin Blind
From: George Hartwell <
[email protected]>
Date: Wed, January 13, 2010 7:26 am
To:
[email protected],
[email protected]
Frank,
I picked you and Prodigy because of your craftsmanship, you reputation and because of the way you came across when I talked to you. I'm not blowing smoke or kissing your ass, I just got a sense that you are a no nonsense guy who does quality work and when you say something your word actually means something to you. That said, I want you and your guys at Prodigy to finish my car, I've had **** luck with other shops and don't want to have to take my chances somewhere else but I seriously do not have any longer than the time-line I outlined. If I have to go somewhere else it is because I would rather take the chance and just get my car to a point where my Dad and I can go take our trip and afterwards I will get the car done right. If you are serious about getting started on her in the next 2 weeks that's great, but if getting her started and finished by the March-April time-frame is really not possible I just want you to be up front with me.
Thanks.
Regards, George