Chrome pricing

I had a grill for a 64 wildcat rechromed. it was not bad to start just a few small pit and I mean very few like less than ten on all five pieces. I know die cast can look worse after stripping.

the guy wants $8,200.00 and that's his cash price.

i think he is trying to rip me off.

i have to drive over 300 miles round trip to get them.

when I dropped them off he would not give me a firm price and said he was going to be fair but I really think I'm getting taken to the cleaners on this one.

im sick of getting ripped off what do you guys think.

john

 

820.00 sounds more like a sharp deal

 

That's not a typo??? Its seriously EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED dollars??

 

Your getting taken to the cleaners. I've worked at plating shops and lately had many things plated. Never paid or heard of anyone paying near that amount

 

No not a typo

and yes he saw it in advance and said he would be fair.

i have another grill and am thinking of sending it to another chrome shop and letting this guy see what he can get on eBay.

it does have some detail to it but I really think I'm getting ripped

john

 

Id tell him to make sure he polishes it real nice so when he rams it up his rear it wont get stuck

 

Oh man that is funny

 

Wow, that is insane! You didnt tell him you wanted it plated in platinum did you!! Guess the moral of the story is a written estimate is worth a thousand words! (Or in this case thousands of dollars...)

 

So you dropped it off and he gave you no price just a "I'll be fair":af: First I would have to have another shop estimate the grille. If its pot metal it can be expensive but I too have never heard of a price like that. I would be tempted to check with other shops and at least get it out there that this guy is a ripoff. I don't think Pauls would even think of charging that. It's obvious that this guy isn't operating a legit shop. If he is a well known shop I would fin a way to warn all would be clients as to how he does business. Maybe social media faebook if he has a page. twitter, BBB it wont cost you much to try to get the word out.

 

Yes dropped it off without quote because he did do work for me b4. The other job was a hard one no one else would touch and he came thru for me.

that why I was shocked that he wants so much for this easy job.

if he won't negotiate I will defiantly send one of the other grills to pauls.

 

The name or the shop is. " custom chrome" near Green Bay wisc. Forget the actual town.

the other thing is he told me he was out of town when this job was being done, so wondering it his guys charged all the hours they were screwing around while the boss was gone to my job.

also he brags about his thirty years of experience but seems like I got the work of the second string team.

i know he goes to the big car show in Daytona over thanksgiving weekend so if anyone goes there maybe my stuff will be for sale cheap there..lol

john

 

You weren't provided with a written, signed estimate? This is illegal in California and I'd be really surprised if it is legal where the work was done. Contact your state's version of the Bureau of Automotive Repair. You'll get you chrome back...free.

 

I found a similar dept. in wisconsin I will investigate that avenue as it states he must give me written estimate.

john

 

Verbal quotes are just like a fart in a wind storm - maybe he's just trying to make up for what he lost on the previous job no others would touch ??
In any case, that price certainly sounds quite high, post some pics of the grill after you pick it up - pitted, unobtainium, pot metal parts can get very expensive. o No:

 

I'm not going to pick it up at that price. I have four more grills.

It it was not very bad when I dropped it off.

and he made good money on the previous job no need to make up for anything.

 

I think he had another customer looking for a grill like yours. Thats why he quoted the ridiculous price figuring you wouldn't pick it up and he could sell it to the other guy.

 

No he just think he has a sucker on the line. Since I did pay him good money for the previous job he thinks he can gouge me.

john

 

Custom Metal Finishing,LLC. Hagerstown,Indiana. A family business,the owner,Jim,is on this board. You send your parts to him,he gets back to you with a written price quote. You accept and give the go-ahead if the price is acceptable. If not,the parts will be returned to you.The wait is usually 12 weeks if you engage their services.. At or about time of completion,you are contacted for payment. You remit the fee and the parts are shipped back to you. With the paid invoice will be pictures of your parts taken before they were plated. His son,Jimmy,assured me that my blistered,pitted pot metal 67 taillight bezels would look better than new and that delicate detail would be preserved. And that is the way they turned out. So,I sent my 67 ribbed pot metal tailpanel for plating. Gorgeous. Oh, I did call Advance (generally recognized as a leader in the plating arena) for a quote on the taillight bezels... more than TWICE the price of Jim's shop. Checked the Advance table at this fall's Charlotte Autofest. Had ribbed Pontiac potmetal pieces on display. Pits still there. Detail lost. 67 GTO headlight bezel top rounded on the top where it's supposed to be flat. And this was their show display. So,if it's not too late,retrieve your parts and deal with a shop ( does not have to be CMF ) that does business in a business fashion,not voodoo smoke and your dollars.