cijones

June 26th, 2010 I dropped my bicycle off at a LBS that specializes in restorations and building. I decided to get my early '70s bicycle repainted and had plans to replace some of the worn-out parts. A year to the date later the paint job was still not finished. I was gone for the first half of this time period and figured that six months should be enough. I guess not.
It is finally finished and being reassembled with the new parts that I found online. Due to the time that it took to finish the job they offered a reduced price (originally $870 now $700 or so). Oh yeah, they painted it the WRONG color and they stripped all of the paint off my head badge which I am unable to find a replacement for.
So, I don't like being a jerk but I feel like I am being jerked. What do you guys think that I should do?
Thanks,
Iversen

lostarchitect 

...Wait, after all that, they painted it the wrong color? How did they manage that one?!

cuda2k

Because it took them a year to get around to painting it. Figure I've forgotten more important things over the course of a year.

In all seriousness, a year is way too long to take on a paint job unless your username is 55/Rad. Did they give you any idea on how long it would take when you dropped it off? And how much communication was there about the color? Was it supposed to be painted the same color as before?

gomango

Went through a very similar "situation" and won a repaint/refinish on a very nice nice frameset.

How much of this agreement to "paint" do you have in writing?

If you do, they are in for a long conversation.

illwafer

you should get your bike back and take it elsewhere. you don't owe them anything, and you need to give up on those clowns. they had their chance.

Otis

Up until recently (last couple of years) I never had a paint job take LESS than a year from any of the top guys. I still have a frame at a Nor Cal shop going on six years.

I would not ask for a discount, but I would insist they re-paint it the correct color, and restore the badge.

It's easy to guess which shop you are dealing with and would think there would not be a problem having them make good on the job?

cijones

All I have in writing is my copy of the receipt when I payed the first half upon drop-off and it lacks any detail. When I dropped it off they told me that they would take pictures of the bicycle and work off that to return the details to new. When I came in to check on the stats of the job the painter showed me some images he had printed off of the internet of another person's bicycle which was the color that they ended up painting mine. I figure this is how the mistake was made. The job was pretty well done and the color is not disagreeable with me but it is the fact that it isn't the color that I paid for that bothers me. And the headbadge is another story.

I ordered the parts for a new used wheelset. I might see if they will build them and install all of my new parts as part of the overall cost without any additional expense added to the bill.

All of my friends say screw them but that isn't my style.
They did say that the original six months would be enough time.
I don't know guys.

Chris_in_Miami

They've already flaked out on you in grand fashion with the color and the damaged badge, I wouldn't let them lay another finger on it if it was my bike and I certainly wouldn't pay them any more. I'd be really aggravated about the delay in painting, but I've heard of painters taking longer (too much solvent can really wreck the brain cells...)

I'm sure some people would give them a chance to make it right, but I'd have a hard time forgiving professional incompetence on that scale.

3speed

I would tell them they need to make it the right color immediately, and at the discounted price they gave you, due to the major time delay and the trouble you've gone through on it. I probably wouldn't refuse to pay them, but I wouldn't pay them the full price after the screw up and delay, and they should make good on their work, which is at very least painting a bike the correct color. I assume they know they painted it the wrong color even though you said there isn't written documentation...

rhm

The money you gave them is gone, you're not getting that back. So I think I'd give them a choice. Paint it the right color and restore the badge, and you get the rest of your money. Or give me the bike now and we're done.

Old Fat Guy

Didn't you post not so long ago, on how beautiful your Mondia turned out?

Buyer's remorse?

txvintage

A frame painter here in Texas, not a local Dallas painter, has had a frame of mine for 2 yrs and 11 months. I remember well that my frame arrived the day the hurricane hit Houston and my angst that the frame may have been leaning against the guys door when the storm hit. He's supposed to be bringing it to the DFW area on the 25th so we can meet up and do the exchange.

I'm never ever sending a frame away again to get painted.

Michael Angelo 

Any good body shop can paint a frame. I had a frame painted in less than one week. I had it soda blasted before I dropped it off, also I bought the paint. Showed them a picture of how I wanted the panels painted. They really didn't think it was such a big deal. I mean, they spot paint bigger parts than a bike frame everyday. The painter took pride in painting it, he said it only took him a few hours. He painted it at the end of the day. That way it didn't get messed with.

Before



After frame came back from the body shop.



Finished

gomango

Perhaps there is more to this story?

Please tell us about it, as I have a good idea who you are talking about at this point.

Airing complaints w/o both sides of a story is dicey at best.

Careful about a company's good name.

FWIW I can have a complete refinish done locally for far less money and for far less time.

Top shelf work as well......

bigbossman 

"Can", and "will" are two separate issues, though. I shopped a frame around the body shops here, and they all said they had enough auto business to do and didn't want to fool with one-off bike frame jobs. I even offered that it was OK by me that they have the paint guy paint it whatever color he had in the gun when he was done with a car - they politely declined.

Michael Angelo 

Too bad we don't live closer, I would introduce you to at least 2 very good painters. Both do custom Motorcycle work, and love to paint Bike frames. Maybe it's because I do alot of the gopher work for them. Buying the paint, having the frame blasted, and giving them a picture to go by.

MIke

Snydermann

Seriously? A year or two years to paint a frame? Seven or eight hundred dollars?

I used to paint whole cars for that much and usually took less than two weeks. I should re-open my shop and paint bikes.

hydrossos

What Make and Year is your bike Michael Angelo?

cijones

The paint job that was done was a very nice job and definitely looks beautiful and I am sure the complete bicycle will be marvelous but that is not the problem. I don't want to speak poorly of any shop (unnamed) but I didn't ask for the paint job that I am receiving and I really don't want to be some push over. That's the dilemma. I am not going to ask them for a repaint because that will just take that much longer and cost them that much more.
There isn't really much more to the story.

repechage

I had a respray go bad a while back with a Northern California painter. In the end there was an offer to redo the work, but with shipping and time, the original 12 week turn went to 26+ weeks, I figured it was best to cut my losses. It has now been 2? 3? years and I still have not reassembled the bike, I did install the headset but the momentum was broken. I am still not sure what to do with it. To most it would be nice enough. But it is not right.

Now, about the year in time, is there some rational explanation for some of the length of time? Chrome plating? repair needed? transfers needing to be made? some oddball details? A year is a long time without a hang up.
On the problems... tough one. Some of this is artistry, their collective heart will not be in redoing it or fixing the head badge problem. What is the chance of locating a similar original head badge?

For me, I guess I would strike the best deal possible to get the frame out of there, maybe even on legal letterhead. Go elsewhere. My bet is that you will always look at it and want it to be the color you want, not what it is. And deal with the painter face to face on drop off and pick up, put as much in paper format as possible. On my problem job, the details written down, diagramed etc, were adhered to.

robatsu

Wrong color and head badge definitely seem like issues.

On the delay, I'd have to ask did you ever call them up once the six months had passed, asking about when it might be done? You still have a legitimate gripe with this, but IMO, it would be a little stronger if you had contacted them during the delay. Of course, they didn't contact you either, explaining that there would be a delay....

cijones

robatsu, I contacted them multiple times initially via e-mail and phone and since I have returned I have been there in person quite a few times.

repechage, The paint job was quite extensive with multiple colors, pin-striping and decals that needed to be reproduced but no chrome work or metal work. I have looked quite extensively for a new head badge but have had no luck. There is a guy currently keeping his eyes open though. I am as well.
Next time I go there I will definitely work with them to get a compromise on paper and I should have before this all started, I just didn't expect this to occur. When I was gone for those six months I felt that they would be the ones waiting on me which is why I made attempts to contact.

I just miss riding her and want her back as soon as possible.

realestvin7

What kind of bike are they repainting?

Lovegasoline

I've never approached a bike repaint. To my reasoning, if you've gone to all the time and trouble to restore the bike, obtained a written and/or oral contract and then the shop neglected to complete the job within the time frame you paid for, did not perform the work you requested (painted wrong color), and furthermore damaged it (head badge)... I would demand the bike back and pay them nothing and demand a full refund of my deposit ... at the very least. If they offered to repaint the bike to my original specifications and replace the head badge they damaged - all within a reasonable and prioritized VIP time frame - I'd agree to let them keep the 50% deposit and not pay them a penny more due to the unconscionable delay.
But I'm from NYC and that's how we roll.

Forget the shop's 'reputation'. That's nothing more than hype at this point as far as you're concerned. The old saying that "you can have it good, cheap, or fast ... pick any two" has here been distorted into "bad, expensive, and slow ... shafted on all three".

Plus it's summer for god's sake. Who compensates you for another riding season withheld from you?

macnolias

ya I'd stick with the discount and have him comp you on putting on the parts.

I had a tranny under warranty fixed 3 times... the last time I went there my car was gone