Okay, here is a quick run down of my problem. Maybe those that run/manage a shop could throw out some insight?

My car needed Safety and Emissions. I had heard good things about Dave's Complete Auto Service, in Centerville, UT. Yesterday, I wake up, and figure it would be the best day do get this done, as the weather was somewhat decent. I drive from my house in Farmington, to the DMV which is about 2 miles away. From there I drive to Daves, which is about 5 miles away. I get the inspection done, drive back to the DMV, then home. I proceed to wash and wax the car, planning on putting it away for the winter.

While waxing the front bumper, I see this on the front lip:








This is the small point on the OEM AP2 lip, on the passenger side.

I flipped out, for one, this is a BRAND NEW lip from H and A Accessories (Carmichael Honda of California), put on not two weeks ago. Since then, the car has had maybe 50 miles put on it. Second, I know for a fact I did not ding it, because something like that I definitely would have felt, or heard. The last time I drove the car, I overfilled the fuel, spilling down the side. I promptly went home, and washed the car. If this was there before, I would have seen it. Also, there is obviously no road rash, but there is clearly red paint.

So, I stop by the shop this afternoon, and try to tactfully ask about this, first to Dave (the owner) and then the tech as he walked in. Both pretty much went on the defensive, and said it would have been brought up if they did it. They then asked to see the car, which I was not driving due to the crappy weather. I pretty much figured both would happen. I told them I would be back with the car, when the weather clears.

On the short drive home, I figured I better jump on this now while it is fresh. I really hated this option, as it was raining again when I made it home.

Anyways, I make it back to the shop, and Dave comes out to look at it. Says that it cannot be determined if they did it or not, but they have been in business for 20 years, and the tech has been there for 15. If the tech did it, he would have said something. Understandable, I say. But we all are human, **** happens that we may not know about. He gets on the ground and looks at it briefly, still saying they didn't do it. I ask them if their lift was red, because you can obviously see the red scuffed paint mixed in with the damage. He said they have blue and red, and he was not sure which one would have been used. I mentioned again to have the tech take a look at it, to provide some answers.

Dave then says he will pay to have it "repaired" at his body shop. I say that it will not be put back in the condition that I brought it here. He then mentions they are good at their jobs, and it won't be perfect, but with a little putty it will look fine.

Now, I mentioned that to me, my car is damn near perfect, and I want to keep it that way. Then he goes on about owning Ferrari's GTR's, yadda yadda, as if my cheap *** Honda should not be considered perfect. Now, if I did the damage turning some curves up east canyon, I would kick myself for it, but I would accept it. I would like them to fix the issue, and correct my car to how it was. I do not feel like having my new lip smeared with bondo, to half *** correct the problem they caused.

Dave then said that he will not replace it, but only fix it. If that is not what I want, then he cannot help me. Had I went over the car with this much detail before I left the parking lot, he said it would have been different. Shame on me I said for trusting them.

I explained again that I wanted them to replace the damaged item, not try to cover it up. Again he said no way, and to call them if I changed my mind.

So, my questions here are:

1- Looking at the pictures, what are you able to make of them?
2- Would you be fine accepting a cover up repair?
3- Would you back down from your stand?


In my opinion, the first ding occurred while pulling the car up the ramps. The bottom damaged occurred while backing down the ramps.


Modified by my_slow_civic at 5:27 PM 11/4/2008

 

Are the ramps red?

 

Yes.

 

Call a lawyer/(lawyer friend) and ask them over the phone for some advise. Destroying a customers property with insufficient compensation doesn't sound right to me. I'll make sure to never go to this shop.

 

small claims court? I'm sure Judge Judy would hear it, haha but seriously I would take it to court

 

Isn't that lip made of urethane? You can't bondo that stuff.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The G-Man &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Isn't that lip made of urethane? You can't bondo that stuff.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Yeah, not sure on the bonding abilities on that one.

I would like to not end up in small claims. For one, it is a hassle, and two, not sure if the judge would side with me on a full replacement. I mean, a new lip is only $360.

Now that I have had some time to cool down, I am leaning towards taking LOTS of pictures as it sits, having them repair it, then press to replace if it is not up to par.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by my_slow_civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Yeah, not sure on the bonding abilities on that one.

I would like to not end up in small claims. For one, it is a hassle, and two, not sure if the judge would side with me on a full replacement. I mean, a new lip is only $360.

Now that I have had some time to cool down, I am leaning towards taking LOTS of pictures as it sits, having them repair it, then press to replace if it is not up to par. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Get a new lip and send them the bill. Or make them pay at least half. Just bite the bullet and never take it back. I know if it was my car ( and you sound as **** as I) I would stay and watch the whole time they were working on it.

Don't settle for the repair. That doesn't even look like it can be fixed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SlammedDC2teg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Get a new lip and send them the bill. Or make them pay at least half. Just bite the bullet and never take it back. I know if it was my car ( and you sound as **** as I) I would stay and watch the whole time they were working on it.

Don't settle for the repair. That doesn't even look like it can be fixed.
</TD></TR></TABLE>


Yeah, I tried to bring up paying the extra for a new one, minus the price they would pay for repair. He said it wont cost him anything since they own the body shop.

I'm heading to SEMA until Friday. I might try and stop in and talk with them again, giving them time to cool down.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The G-Man &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Isn't that lip made of urethane? You can't bondo that stuff.</TD></TR></TABLE>

no oem **** is made from abs plastic

dude its all there fualt they should have notice your car was dropped and threw some 2x4's b4 the lift so that wouldnt happed it looks like the tech(dumb ***) srached it while driving up the lift then broke off that lil piece when backing down. Any boddy would have herd and noticed the noise and relized the car wasnt going up easy. If they dont get you a new oem lip and install it for free then take pictures of the RED lift and consult with a lawyer.

 

a local shop did the same thing to my lip when they put in on the alignment machine...as i was watching them pull it on. They are [freak]ing careless and it sucks because i cannot trust any shops at all anymore.

 

Small claims

 

IF you do decide to let them do the work on the lip... don't take the entire car in. Take the lip off and let them repaint it. Give them your gas door so they can color match it exactly. I would never leave my car with them.

 

so whats the news??????????? BTW you gotta take your car to shops that are atleast a lil tuner oriented cause this will happen to you to every shop you go. When I got my allignment done same thing happened to me but it was no where neer as bad as ur just acouple scuffs undernieth not visible from above but hearing it was the worst.

 

thank god i work at a shop...sucks bro...id file a reprot with the BBB also

 

Well, on a regular basis I see some pretty high end cars there. Porsche, Ferrari, Corvette, etc. Figured they could handle mine.

I have no up date yet. I just made it back from SEMA, and plan on swing by again Monday.

 

The shop clearly knows they did the damage by offering to "fix" your front lip, which i would <U>never</U> settle for. As you said, the lip was just replaced.

Id bet that the paint on your lip matches the paint on their lift.... Too bad it costs money for forensics.... And a lawyer.... Im pissed for u!

Either way, if the shop doesnt come clean and <U>replace</U> what they damaged, it'll come back to them one way or another. If im ever in UT, Dave's wont be getting any business from me!

 

Yeah, I filed a claim with the BBB, which will pretty much be worthless. Even looked in to trying to get some paint match done. But if I pay to do that, might as well pay for the lip myself.

I've pretty much just given up. The car is parked for winter, so I will worry about it come spring when I get all pissed off again.

 

That is unlucky buddy - I guess the main thing to mention for everyone is to check over your car carefully when you collect it from a shop - once you leave the shop you are going to have a pretty hard time proving they actually did the damage. In your case you might be a bit luckier as it is red and their lift is red, so there is some kind of link there.

The AP2 lip painted comes out to around 650 - 700 right? If this is the case getting a lawyer on it would probably cost you more.

I personally would take it to them so they 'fix' it, since they broke it, and if you are not happy with the way they leave it get rid of it and try and pick up a used one in perfect condition off one of the forums. If so be sure to check the car before you take it, they may damage more than they fix

 

You can get the AP2 lip new, already painted for about 375$

 

I'm not a lawyer, and as such, I am not qualified to provide legal advice anywhere.

I think your claim would hold up in small claims court for sure. The fact that they offered to fix it sounds like an admission of guilt to me.

 

First, sorry to hear your problem - it's happened to me before so I feel your pain.

As for all the guys saying to get a lawyer or other legal action, it's NOT WORTH IT. By the time you go through all of it, it's easier just to buy a lip!!! I work with lawyers all the time so trust me on this one unless you personally know a lawyer who will do this as a favor.

I would:

a) Remove lip and let him fix it. Then sell it as not everyone is quite so ****....recoup what you can.

b) Buy a new lip and chaulk it up for experience

c) NEVER go to that shop and always inspect your car next time


If you really want to be persistent I guess you could threaten to give them bad publicity but frankly my time is just to valuable to waste on this kind of stuff.

gluck
rk