Anyone in Woodstock, Il. Area?

[firstgenaddict]

"In order to be successful a shop needs to keep the client well informed, up to date with billing and photographs and continual progress. Make them a part of the restoration process. I have learned some valuable and hard learned lessons in that department recently but needless to say, communication is key. You can give your client their car back that they are 100% happy with but if you have not made the venture pleasurable for them getting there than you have ultimately lost in the end."


Rick
It is ironic you say this as I had a conversation over lunch with a local US District attorney and he stated that the number one complaint they received about lawyers was that they did not communicate. The "customer" had no idea where the case stood good or bad.

He stated that they have found that as long as the lawyer kept the person informed as to the progress and status of the case they were satisfied with the results and would use the lawyer/recommend them to others. If they received shoddy work where they actually had a malpractice case they were satisfied when kept up to date. If they received excellent work and were not kept up to date they were dissatisfied and upset...

[SS427]

Perfect example you listed Jag. We just recently completely a 9 month long lawsuit (non car related) and won the suit. However, the way we were treated and not kept up to date made winning the lawsuit not very pleasurable. When I asked our attorney why I always had to send an email asking for updates since we had heard nothing in many weeks or months he stated that he would have to charge me to send me an email. Since he charged us to respond to my email anyway I did not see his point. It cost us half of what we were rewarded in the suit on a case that he stated was an "open and shut case". He was friends (casual in his words) with the defendents attorney and I am pretty sure they milked this suit on both ends so as to both make more money. I just wonder some times how these people sleep at night. Needless to say, he will NEVER be used by me or anyone I know again. He like many others will charge their clients for every ounce of toilet paper they use to wipe their a$$es. Maybe I grew up in a different area but I do not charge my customers for a lot of things I do for them such as cleaning the shop, sending them updates, photos, research, car shows, etc. It used to be called good customer service.

[Steven J]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Charley Lillard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you have a title you can just take a police officer with you and go get your car. </div></div>

Aside from the VIN problem, if the shop says that there is money owed on the work done to the car, the police will more than likley advise that it is a civil problem and not help to retrieve the car.

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SS427</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Perfect example you listed Jag. We just recently completely a 9 month long lawsuit (non car related) and won the suit. However, the way we were treated and not kept up to date made winning the lawsuit not very pleasurable. When I asked our attorney why I always had to send an email asking for updates since we had heard nothing in many weeks or months he stated that he would have to charge me to send me an email. Since he charged us to respond to my email anyway I did not see his point. It cost us half of what we were rewarded in the suit on a case that he stated was an &quot;open and shut case&quot;. He was friends (casual in his words) with the defendents attorney and I am pretty sure they milked this suit on both ends so as to both make more money. I just wonder some times how these people sleep at night. Needless to say, he will NEVER be used by me or anyone I know again. He like many others will charge their clients for every ounce of toilet paper they use to wipe their a$$es. Maybe I grew up in a different area but I do not charge my customers for a lot of things I do for them such as cleaning the shop, sending them updates, photos, research, car shows, etc. It used to be called good customer service. </div></div>


Yep...billable hours(and minutes and seconds)... are a laugh...and a pain...

[talwell]

Good news - I received a settlement agreement today from thier attorney. In the settlement I will get exactly what is owed to me and I will get my car back. Got agreement signed and overnighted back to the attorney. Hopefully by this time next week I will have my car back and have the funds back to start construction on another '69 convertible.

As for my car that is coming back - I have a built LSX427, T6060 6-Speed, ZR1 dual disc clutch, Ford 9&quot; shortened for 12&quot; rear wheels and Baer 4 wheel discs. The 427 is getting twin turbos and should conservatively push 900-1000hp on pump gas and 1200+ on race fuel. It has been a long wait but hopefully by spring we will be done and I can enjoy this monster. My 2010 Camaro is pushing over 700hp but this car should be a completely different animal.

[Bill Pritchard]

That's great news....and I sure hope they hold up their end of the bargain.

[Steven J]

Is this it ?


http://camarosrestored.com/pro1.html

[talwell]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Steven J</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is this it ?


http://camarosrestored.com/pro1.html


</div></div>

Not my car but mine is exactly the same color scheme. This car I believe they just restored the body and the customer built the drivetrain.

[talwell]

Well Santa is coming a little early this year. After almost a year of battling with this worthless shop I finally have resolved it. I received a refund of all my overpayments on my coupe and a refund on the convertible that never materialized. My coupe is being picked up today and moved into heated storage.

Thank you to everyone that offered advice or to assist me with my car(s). I am glad this is over and now I can get back to work with a clear head on finishing my projects.

The coupe has an LSx 427 waiting for it with a little boost supplied by twin turbos. The car will be pushing about 900hp on pump gas and 1200+ hp on race fuel. Once the car is done I will test it to see if the street manners make it a good driver. I anticipate it will be perfectly fine and a whole lot of fun.

As well, for the convertible that was never built, I am rolling the dice and trying a Dynacorn convertible body. The (2) bodies we purchased from them were picked up today and should be at the shop on Friday. After we do a very careful review of it will be know what we are dealing with. With speaking to people about them I have heard horror stories as well as many people that are satisfied with what they got. I already have a nicely warmed over LS2 and T56 ready to go in the car. With Vintage Air and pro-touring suspension it should be nice when completed.

Yesterday when we were out looking for a subframe we ran across a 1970 Nova that we were going to pick from. Ends up the car is almost rock solid aside from a little firewall collision damage. Now it looks like we have a 1970 Nova to build as well.

[69Tom]

Really happy everything worked out for you. Shop owners like this should be put in prison. They're nothing more than con men.

I have a question on the Dynacorn vert: wouldn't it make more financial sense to find a nice, dry original vert body and build on that? I'm sort of curious as to the resale value (if it came to that) of one of these Dynacorn bodies as there's no original VIN or trim tag. I definitely see the upside to buying one--no body work!!