How do you guys deal with delays?

[DOOM]

Todd ..... Great point!! Your this far,your at the one yard line. Let these guy's do there thing. These cars are not an exact science. Think of it as a HUGE million piece puzzle sometimes you get the pieces to go together fast and sometimes it takes days to find that one you need to finish a certain area. I live this every day in my buisness, just yesterday I finished up a S500 Mercedes that took me Four days to figure out a hood alignment problem. Something so small took FOUR DAYS! Now if the customer was on my azz to get the car I could of MADE the gap work. But my customer was very patient and allowed me to repair the problem correctly. So the bottom line is it would have looked perfect YES, but was it done right?? This is why it was at my shop for a rerepair in the first place If you keep preasuring these guy's this thing can go bad in a hurry!. I know this first hand trust me....

[ItDoRun]

I was in your shoes 2-1/2 years ago and decided to pick the car up and finish it myself. Obviously that's not an option for everyone building a car and sometimes I wish I would have found another builder and dropped it off to be completed, but I didn't have that kind of cash lying around. I'll lay out an outline on things that need to be done and when I expect myself to complete them, and they never hit that date about 95% of the time.

I would just be patient and continue following up with the shop for updates. Hang in there!

[Vegas69]

No one asked, what is the status of the car currently? Post your latest photos and we'll give you a realistic time frame. It's pretty common for every shop to over promise and under deliver. I'm talking about deadlines. Even Frank was a couple months late on my roller. I did make a few changes on him. My engine builder was a few weeks late also. Well worth the wait in those cases. Have you personally seen the work?

[chr2002ca]

The 'rule' is this industry is late. The exception is 'on-time'. I've rarely seen anything get done on time, whether it be something simple like polishing a crank to something more complicated like a paint job, or whether it's handing the work to somebody else or doing it myself in my own garage. However there's a big difference between me and a professional. A professional is getting paid(usually a lot) and I am not. A professional should know that it typically takes longer than expected, and should account for that when they make an estimate or set a date in a contract. However, a professional has a business to run. They have to put food on the table for their family and pay their employees by getting you to spend your money on them. So a lot of them will provide unrealistic time estimates to get your business and to make money. Are they 'bad people' for doing this? No, not really, when you truly think about how business works. However, it's the paying customer that gets 'screwed'. Now, there are different levels of being 'screwed'. If it's a little late and the quality of work is good or very good, then you really didn't screwed at all(we've all had to wait, it's normal). However if it's late and the work is questionable, then I'd take that contract and that $100-a-day late clause that you created(for a very good reason) and contact a lawyer and put it to good use. The business(any business) needs to be accountable for when they deliver sloppy/rushed work that is late and you shouldn't ignore it just because you're happy to finally have your car back and move on. They'll just do it to the next guy.

I remember reading the thread about your car. It's sounds like it's going to be a great ride. I truly hope it turns out great and your happy with the work from the builder.

[tones2SS]

Originally Posted by 427gt500E

Thanks for the tips guys and listening to my rant

The car is being built 1500 miles away in another state so stopping by every so often is not an option.

Yeah, if you have a WRITTEN contract for the car to be done on a EXACT date, then you have every right to pissed. I don't blame you. You actually have a good case as well, if you wantd to go that route. Especially when it is written in contract, no way of getting out of that.
As for dropping by to "check up on them". That's not your responsibility, sure it's good to drop by and see what is actually going on with your car, but if they signed a contract and promised the car done, they should/have to do what they say and signed. I don't blame you for being pissed.
GOOD LUCK!!!

[GregWeld]

Having built many cars myself - all 100% hands on.... I can tell you that there just is no setting drop dead dates that make sense... EVERYTHING takes way longer than you think - there is no reasonable way to foresee many of the issues... and if you want the thing RIGHT - then it just takes time.

Having said all of that... the main issue is that they're most likely working on something else... so that's the issue I would push with them - nicely - is that you want people on it and you want them to stay on it.

Biggest issue - if you're "all paid up" - you have no leverage... and they'll work on the latest project that needs to have some cash flow generated.

[DRJDVM's '69]

Its a delicate balance...... force a deadline down their throats and you may get the car on time but the quality will suffer and and in the end it wont be worth it. The car shouldnt take forever but it shouldnt be "forced" to meet a deadline or corners will be cut.

Obviously the length of the deadline is a factor too.....when I hear "it will take 2 months", I plan for 4-5 months...once I get passed that "extra buffer" I knew needed to be there, then I get ticked off.

I would be very uneasy with a contract that decucted $$ off the bill if the car is delayed..... depending on the shop, I would be worried that with the $$ aspect looming over them, they would cut some corners just to get it done so they dont lose $$

Good work isnt usually fast and fast work isnt usually good.

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by tones2SS

Yeah, if you have a WRITTEN contract for the car to be done on a EXACT date, then you have every right to pissed. I don't blame you. You actually have a good case as well, if you wantd to go that route. Especially when it is written in contract, no way of getting out of that.
As for dropping by to "check up on them". That's not your responsibility, sure it's good to drop by and see what is actually going on with your car, but if they signed a contract and promised the car done, they should/have to do what they say and signed. I don't blame you for being pissed.
GOOD LUCK!!!

Send me those rose colored glasses.....

[427gt500E]

Guys,thanks for all the advice,opinions,thoughts on how to handle this situation.Very good points from each and everyone of you.

Here's the deal.The metalwork is about 80% finished.All that needs to be done is install the rear floor,frame rails and roof skin and I would imagine some tidy up work too.My car has been sitting idle for a couple weeks because whichever client bitches the loudest get more done I suppose.The car ahead of me is in the final stages of completion before its sent off to Ireland.The metalworker is getting everything finished up under the car because the owner will fly out this weekend to see his car in the final stage.

My car was supposed to be out of metalwork last month but it wasn't.They keep telling me next week,next week,next week...you get the idea...delays.

There really isn't much bodywork to do as every single panel is brand new sheetmetal.The shop says it should only be in bodywork about 10 days to 2 weeks because everything is new.But their timeline never seems to go with their schedule.

I'm as polite and professional and i'm having a difficult time keeping this game face on because of the delays and excuses.This is the 2nd car they built for me and that car was 3 months late on delivery.For some reason I see this car being way past their agreed delivery date of July 31st.

I'm really in a bad position of not knowing how to handle this as my patients are starting to wear very thin and I really don't want to piss them off.


I forgot to mention this.Even though I'm all paid up on this car,I have had to buy parts for the car as the shop had cash flow issues...not enough money coming in quick enough.I've put out about 20k in parts and we do have a contract that this money will be paid back but it hasn't yet.So,to cover myself I requested the title to a 1972 Pantera they own which is in the process of restoration and shelved at the moment as they are working on customers cars.I do have the Pantrea title in my possession.

[skatinjay27]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Send me those rose colored glasses.....

hahahaha!!!!!!