So I run/own a small repair shop with 1 employee, me. I mostly work on late model stuff to pay the bills. I work on anything and lately I am getting more and more old stuff. I like it but waiting for parts and ect I usually use it for filler work. The thing I need help with is I have a customer who wants me work on a 58 Chevy 2 door. I know the car from about 8 years agoand it was a really nice AZ car, but had not seen it for a few years. The guy took it to a shop for restoration, ran out of money and left it sit. I have no idea the situation with the shop. The shop put it outside and over the last 2 years someone broke into it and broke the windows stole tons of parts off the car. The floors are now soft from sitting with water and snow on them. There is now way I can get it on the road with his budget even if I worked for free. The poor guy has no idea he now has a parts car and he is a very nice older gentleman. How do I not hurt him but tell the truth? Tim
Its never going to go away once you take it, it will be a thorn in your side. Ive taken jobs like that and the customer will string you along till you have to get the law involved to get the car off your property. Business is just that, business. Good nature and a big heart can kill ya.
I agree with all the above advice, I'd tell him to sell the thing, take the loss and move on. That is a money pit stay away from it. Bob
Be honest with him like everyone has said. Maybe suggest he look for a better 58 to cruise out the remaining years and part this one out to fund it.
Perhaps I misread it, but did you say the car was broken into while at the other shop? And they let it sit outside like that to rot away? Break it to him exactly the way you wrote it here- be factual. Helpful if you have the car in front of you so you can show him.
The customer needs a reality check, doesn't matter how nice he is, it sounds like it's a lot of his own fault the car ended up like it did. I find a lot of older customers still live in the past when it comes to what it costs these days. Your better off just telling him the truth and don't give him a deal you'll regrete just to be a nice guy. Funny I've had 2 request lately to set up chassis and motor swap in 50's pickups, both are customers I had done the same thing for 20 years ago. Both thought I'd do it for the same price I charged them back then!
Many vintage cars that I have looked at over the last 20 years at my shop are just not worth the cost of rebuilding. Most times I gently explain that the cost to restore/rebuild will be much more than the car will be worth and a better car can be found and bought for less money. Most take my advice and are happy that i was honest with them.
If he let it sit for 2-years out in the open you are right,he has a parts car. Just be straight up with him and explain that to play you have to pay and the price is higher now than he can afford. In business you can't feel sorry for a customer and make money. If you want to help the guy out find out how much cash he has to work with and try to shoot him in the right direction of a descent driver.
is he a "good friend" of yours or just a man that came to you wanting you to work on it?..rather than having to hurt someones feelings.I just tell them that my schedule is too busy to be tied up with long term projects,,suggest he check with other shops.. I would not want to be involved,let someone else hurt his feelings
I agree with everyone else, if he left it out 2 years it will probably sit out another 2, then another and so on. You have to be honest with him, if he want's to bring it to you with cash up front for a certain repair then take it back home fine, but it sounds like it will take another sleep at your shop and then invite more of the same rip offs around your shop. Not good.
you should be able to forsee the problems before getting involved with it..I can smell the problems all the way here in Texas Steer clear..avoid headaches..too many others needing work to get involved...my 2 cents
Show him a copy of Hemmings and explain that he can buy another one cheaper than it will coast to restore what he now has.
all the replies are accurate. i did a '58 caddy convertible that had been at a restoration shop for ten years with the customer feeding this guys drug habit till he one day got a call from the sheriffs department to come get his car before it was confiscated. customer then brought it to a body shop that used it to train it's apprentices with for two years plus. when i got the car there were more pieces missing than was left, most of what was done, wasn't, and had to be redone. for example motor was painted but when i pulled the valve covers and pan it was dirty and not rebuilt as he was told. to make a long story short, two parts cars [second car i found was better than the one i was restoring] two years, and about a 90 grand later he had a show winner. unfortunately it is a loss for him, don't make it a loss for you!
Just don't be an ass about it when you are telling him the truth. Give him an hionest estimation of what it is going to cost him to get it on the road and let it go from there.
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