Spencer's Body Shop

State farm uses these guys as a preferred shop, so I had them take a look at my 92 f150 with 125k mi with moderate front end damage from a tractor pulling out in front of me; the actual collision was only about 15mph. I knew what it needed from the get go; being a mechanic by trade, but with insurance issues ......well you know how that is. I won't go into detail on what it needed but, Spenser's quoted "$5756.00 before even opening the hood, that is with used parts and you don't know what your really getting till it gets here plus when I open the hood there could be frame damage.". After them having my truck and wasting 3 weeks of my time, I got the truck back yesterday, tore it down part by part, went to lmc truck.com, a reproduction part provider for older Ford,chevy,dodge and gmc trucks. I priced the parts for repair, down to every nut and bolt and fender washer, new hinges,even included a few things that were unrelated to the wreck. I want to point out I don't have any special pricing or anything with LMC and the total l, shipped was $1576.16. OK, so that covers parts, minus about $400 for paint and primer, so just call it $2000. Are you telling me Spenser's was charging $3700 labor to replace a radiator support,radiator and shroud, ac condensor, a fender, hood, grille, header, headlights and paint the hood and fender? Because he claimed to be getting used parts, everything I priced was new....? And the guys comment about "there could be frame damage"..... If he's been in auto body, or just the automotive field for any period of time, he could tell there was no impact to the frame what so ever without lifting the hood or even looking under it, a 15mph collision, that hits the radiator support and hood...no way there is frame damage. The guys simply didn't want to work on an older truck; probably because it wouldn't make them as much money as newer vehicles there used to ripping insurance companies off on. .......I bet he never did open that hood. I feel like he through a high number at it just so insurance would total it and he didn't have to be bothered. They may do right by cash customers but insurance customers don't waste your time unless you too want a salvage title, for what was before a nice, classic truck. -[redacted]