Jerry's Classic Metal, LLC

[redacted]
The Revdex.com site was down for service on the weekend hours of July 17/18/19.. Till this can be...

filed on the Revdex.com site. this mail response is emailed first being answered via this email on July 19. 2015.
 
Mr.. [redacted] first received an estimate from me in October of 2014, and accepted my bid and dropped his [redacted] in March 2015. Mr. [redacted] made it clear he had shopped around and my price was the best one he could find. Mr. [redacted] expressed that he would like to have the car completed by July,  and I agreed to shoot for that timeframe.  I understand Mr.  [redacted] has pictures of his [redacted], as do I- the difference is that I took them as work was performed and completed. Mr. [redacted]'s pictures are from his representatives he sent under false pretense to "checkup" on the progress of the work. I am happy to supply before and after pictures of the [redacted] repairs at any time.When old rusted metal is removed and new metal is grafted in there is some bondo needed to smooth out the welded lines and re format the metal to its original format. I do use bondo, as does every body shop. I do not cover old rust with bondo, I cut out all old rust and graft in new metal. At times there are small pieces of scrap metal used, this was explained to Mr. [redacted] during the initial bid when we discussed replacing panels ( i.e., purchasing replacement parts) versus repairing existing panels. As I explained to Mr. [redacted] the cost of repairing is significantly less than replacement, hence his acceptance of the more affordable quote versus others he had obtained.My shop is ran on a customer first philosophy, and I am no amateur. My specialty is metal repair, I have over 25 plus years' experience as a union mechanic, welder and body man specializing in metal and rust repair. If you have ever ridden on a trolley in this city, chances are I repaired and or rebuilt it.  I have a passion for restoring classic automobiles from the 60's and 70's. I have many restored vehicles on the road today, and until now an AAA rating with the Revdex.com.I am a small two person shop with a professional painter on retainer. I have built my business and reputation in the community on customer satisfaction, and consider all of my customers friends and family. I do not want Mr. [redacted] to be dissatisfied and I attempted to remedy the dissatisfaction. I understand Mr. [redacted] has  someone else in mind to complete the painting process, I offered to complete the remaining welding repairs I was working on when he showed up announced to remove the [redacted] from my shop.I did experience staff turnover and I contacted Mr. [redacted] immediately to inform him of the departure of my [redacted] and partner in the business. His role was to perform many of the time consuming tasks required on these type of repairs. Examples of these tasks would be  intense sanding, cleaning of welds and sanding repairs to be primer ready.In retrospect, I should have focused solely on Mr. [redacted]'s [redacted], although when I let him know of the possibility of a delay due to the departure of my [redacted], he didn't communicate any disappointment or state that he had to have the [redacted] in July.  I was behind on the completion of Mr. [redacted]'s [redacted], but at the time he removed it from my shop unannounced,  I was full on focused on his repairs and had the painter reserved for July 10th.I hired temporary help to allow me time to focus on other vehicles that were behind as well, and at the time of removal the [redacted] was 1 week from the paint booth.Mr. [redacted] sent people to "checkup" on my work, this was really a competitor into the shop to critique the work done on the [redacted]. The teams he sent to check in had financially driven ulterior motive to discredit my work. Rather than have a conversation with me directly, Mr. [redacted] chose to remove the [redacted] unannounced while I was in the middle of many repairs.Mr. [redacted] also contributed to the delay by not responding to me on paint color approvals and on delivering several necessary parts for exterior work to be completed. I never received several parts he was responsible for supplying. The [redacted] had been previously painted over so the color of the vehicle wasn't the original factory color as Mr. [redacted] thought. I worked closely with my paint rep to get the original color utilizing their VIN research products and researching on my own.. There was a 3 week delay due to Mr. [redacted]'s failure to respond to my texts seeking his approvals on the color. I continued to work on the vehicle, and found and repaired additional rusted areas in the floor pan, rear fenders while I waited his response.MR. [redacted] chose to remove his [redacted] with no notice while I was in the middle of many repairs. He showed up on a Monday afternoon with 4-5 guys from the shop he was transferring the [redacted]. I gave Mr. [redacted]'s representatives the paint I had purchased and by the time I came out of the mixing room to deliver the clear coat they had all left. The clear coat product is being kept in my mixing room and is available for Mr. [redacted] or his representatives to pick up at any time. The other supplies I used or purchased are either already used or are required for the welding repairs that were performed.  Admittedly I was disappointed about Mr. [redacted] removing the vehicle, but in no way am I trying to falsify and records or work performed. His father has been in several times since the removal of the vehicle and we have been cordial.I did refuse to hand over a hard copy of an estimate and communicated to both Mr. [redacted] and his father that I would e mail the copy. After the unannounced removal and some of the threatening texts I received from Mr. [redacted] I was not comfortable handing over a hard copy invoice that could be easily altered.  I have included the invoice in question with this response, as I was counseled to not have any other communication with Mr. [redacted] outside the Revdex.com platform.As you can see from the included invoice, I spent a lot of time on this [redacted], and am saddened that I wasn't allowed to see the car through to its restored completion state.I cannot give Mr. [redacted] a refund for the work I performed, I did offer to complete the welding repairs and get the [redacted] paint ready for his new shop to complete. Mr. [redacted] was not interested and chose to file this Revdex.com complaint instead.
 
  
[redacted]`s Classic Metal llc.
2752 7th street  rd. ste. 3
Louisville, Ky.40215
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
Regards,
[redacted]
 
 
 [redacted] of "[redacted]'s Classic Metal" did quote me the best price, while promising a high quality work that was not performed.  I decided to let his shop complete my work based on him telling me that he specialized in rust repair.  The price wasn't an issue, and I let [redacted] know that up front.  I told him that I didn't want the typical "bondo job" that most shops offer. Everywhere else I had gotten a quote from said they'd bondo over the rust and that is not what I wanted, hence why I accepted [redacted]'s Classic Metal's bid. There are areas on my car where [redacted] cut out some rust, put scrap metal in, and there's still visible rust around where his metal was placed. He halfway did the job. 
I understand that bondo must be used in all body work, but [redacted] used more bondo than necessary in attempt to conceal the rust that he did not repair.  [redacted] never explained to me that "scrap metal" would be used. [redacted] told me he would be using "sheet metal."  The metal [redacted] used on my car came from chrome trim, and there's no telling where the other random metal came from.
[redacted] let me know that his [redacted] walked out on him, and that would put him behind, but I was not contacted immediately! I found out because I came to Louisville unannounced, showed up at his shop and he wasn't expecting me and had to provide me with an explanation as to why my car looked the exact same as it did the 3 weeks prior when I was at the shop. [redacted] told me that his [redacted] walking out put him behind schedule, but continued to tell me my car was only a couple weeks away from being done. With him assuring me my car would be done in a couple weeks I had no reason to express any ill feelings about him being behind because it was the first week of June and my deadline set was July. 
There was absolutely no delay on my end whatsoever. I physically showed [redacted] the paint I wanted. I emailed [redacted] the paint I wanted, and I had my [redacted], and [redacted] go to the shop to approve the paint that [redacted] sent me in a text message.  The parts that [redacted] said I didn't supply had no bearing on the work he was supposed to be doing to the body of my vehicle in terms of rust repair. The "supplies" he's referring to are weatherstripping for the door jams, and trunk as well as  the rear corner bumper fillers. 
The "teams" I supposedly sent into [redacted]'s shop were my [redacted], who has no financial stake in my car, and the upholstery guys. The upholstery guys have been paid already, and were sent to the shop to pick up my door panels. That's when they noticed the poor quality work being done and informed me. 
[redacted] had absolutely no reason to feel uncomfortable handing over a hard copy of the receipt to my father or myself. I NEVER  sent [redacted] any type of threatening text message. In fact [redacted] is the one who was irate and cursing when I picked up my vehicle. He and the guy who will be finishing my vehicle nearly came to blows, and there are witnesses that can vouch for that. I was professional in all of my comments to [redacted]. I never raised my voice, said a curse word or made a threat. [redacted] saying that he received threatening text messages from me is a flat out LIE, and speaks volumes to his character. 
[redacted]'s response is filled with LIES and exaggeration. There were two guys there who will be working on my car, not the "4-5" from the shop my car was being transferred to. [redacted] can keep the clearcoat he didn't give me on the day I picked up my car, and give me a refund for that as well.  He said, "I ain't giving ya'll st." 20 minutes later he gave me my paint. He could've given me the clear at the same time he gave me the 2 quartz of paint from his "mixing room." 
 I'm highly dissatisfied with what was done to my vehicle. [redacted] didn't offer to "remedy" the situation. If he had offered to give me my money back I wouldn't have contacted the Revdex.com.  I wouldn't recommend this shop to anyone based on the work that was done, and the business owner's unwillingness to make the situation right. [redacted] mentioned that he runs his shop on a customer first philosophy, and that's simply not the case. [redacted] has charged me for work he did not complete. In his own words on his Revdex.com response, he was "in the middle of many repairs" yet he told me the passenger side was "finished" and that he was "about done with the car."
I now have to pay another shop to fix what [redacted] has done to my car. It's costing me $4700.00 to have all that [redacted] messed up fixed. For $4700 I'm getting new factory replacement panels for the floors, trunk, and quarters. I can provide quotes and receipts as well. 
When it's all said and done [redacted]'s Classic Metal has cost me money. $2800 to be exact. He was charging me $4200 and not doing the work promised. He was giving me a short term rust quick fix after he promised me complete rust repair.  Me not getting any money back is unacceptable considering the fact I'm having to pay someone to undo [redacted]'s bad work and redo it the right way.

I can understand why Mr. [redacted] feels like I halfway did the job. As I stated earlier the repairs were in the midst of being completed when he and his team chose to remove the [redacted] from my shop. As the repairs were being completed there was bare metal that hadn’t been treated yet, along with the transport of the vehicle and the rain that day there could be some surface rust that appeared after he removed the [redacted] from my shop. I have no way of knowing what happened to the car after it was towed uncovered to a location in another state.
As to Mr. [redacted]’s assertion I used “scrap metal from no telling where”-scrap metal was a term I used inappropriately in this matter,- it is not scrap metal it is metal purchased from the [redacted] and fabricated or grafted into the where the rusted metal was removed as told to Mr. [redacted] during the quote and explanation process.
 
I have owned up to the fact of the employment issues at my shop negatively impacted the timeline, however, when discussing this with Mr. [redacted] he offered no indication that he had a big problem with it. At the time he was very understanding and compassionate.  
 
As stated in the previous response I was a couple weeks behind but when he removed the [redacted] it was 1 week from the paint prep process.  I am a small business that employs family, I am hurt that this is being given as a reason that Mr. [redacted] is requesting a refund and trying to disclaim my AAA rating with the Revdex.com. Every small business has employment issues, and every family has disagreements and such, mine are no exception.
 
Again, I am offering to fully complete the work I was in the middle of completing when Mr. [redacted] removed the [redacted]. Mr. [redacted] is welcome to bring the [redacted] back and I will finish the repairs in 5 business days. 
 
My offer to remedy this situation comes at a great cost to my pride, as I am deeply offended by Mr.  [redacted]’s assertions I lie or exaggerate. My integrity is of utmost importance and I believe the continued offer to remedy the situation with Mr. [redacted] by completing the repairs I was in the middle of is the right thing to do.
 
I am sorry Mr. [redacted] has chosen to remove his [redacted] and has received another quote that is more expensive than the repairs I was in the middle of performing. I offered to remedy the situation by completing the repairs. I have no reason to refund any payments as the work I performed has already eclipsed the amount Mr. [redacted] had paid. I supplied the invoice he requested, and in protecting my best interest I supplied it via the Revdex.com, via the communication channels through the case/ complaint Mr. [redacted] opened. . 
 
If Mr. [redacted] would like to bring the [redacted] back, I will gladly complete the remainder of the work, otherwise I consider this case closed and can not devote any more away from my business to continue writing responses. 
 
 
Thanks,