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Wow, good job Tex. That's the kind of customer I'll bend over backwards for. And it speaks volumes for the quality of your work.
 
My problem was not getting cheated. Never happened. My problem was not lack of work. Shop was never empty. My problem was I laid awake at night worrying about whether the customer would understand the hours I had in converting a '53 f100 filler pipe to a gas door or similar modification.

For me, I decided the cars needed to be a hobby, not a career I went back to work for another company and back to being able to leave the job behind when I walked out the door.

It is odd how we all have different needs and goals for emotional satisfaction. I really admire the guys who own their own businesses but I don't envy them one bit.

John

John you're very correct. There is a lot to be said for working for someone else, and a lot to be said for not making your hobby your job. Certainly goes both ways, and depends on the individual. When I got out of the p&b business I hoped I'd never have to rely on it again. I was burnt out and underpaid both working for others and on my own. But i love to do it as a hobby and after a ten year hiatus I'm glad to be at it again. ...even though I said I wouldn't let my building become a dusty body shop, dang.
 
Wow, good job Tex. That's the kind of customer I'll bend over backwards for. And it speaks volumes for the quality of your work.
Those customers are out there, but you have to weed out the users to get to them. After a while it's not that hard to figure out what their intentions are, and if they are worth doing work for. I've had some that I have tried to run off that keep coming back, but I know what to expect from them, and I cut them zero slack. Sometimes they leave it, sometimes not, but cry about the price every time. I just explain this is a business, not a charity, and tell them I would rather sweep the floor (as shine has said) than do their stuff for free. I have so much free work to do of my own, I have to walk around the shop with blinders on:). I have always tried to do the best quality work I knew how to do, and after screwing up every way possible (well almost, I know there are more out there), have learned a lot of what works and what doesn't, how to fix the things that didn't work, and constantly learn about new products and procedures. That is what is so great about this forum.There is a huge wealth of QUALITY information. I could have saved 35+ years of screw ups with the information available here:)
 
Not trying to turn this into a rant but maybe this can be a heads up for guys looking to make this their profession. For me everywhere I've worked has been the same story, incompetent mangers/owners doing as little as possible, passing responsibility down the chain,, and never ending rush deadlines. I've worked commission at a Shop where they (management) were writing 2 sets of estimates. The actual one, and one for the employees. They would shave 30% or so off the actual estimate when you got the work order. Worked at that place over a year before I found that out. You have to be really careful working commission as I have heard from other guys that is more common than you think. A common theme I've found is dishonesty. Others would call it lying. To the employees, to the customer. Shortchanging the Customer on the repair. Getting chastised when you object to doing that. One Shop I was at Owners wife handled the payroll. She would shave your hours unless you made sure you totaled them yourself and wrote it on your timecard!
I've decided I've had enough. I haven't had a real vacation for over 7 years. I'm almost 47, been doing it fulltime since I left college after 2 years (Lord how I wish I stayed and got my degree:)) I'm not going back to late model collision repair if I can help it. Got enough savings to leave my job and am going to work out of home for a while restoring then selling a car that I have. We'll see how that goes.

Chris, I'm sorry this is how the industry worked out for you. And you're absolutely correct. There are some bad people in this business but you can't stereotype all of them bad. I've been in business since the early '90's and didn't get here cheating either employees or customers. I will say that it is not a lucrative business. Insurance companies have squeezed the life out of us. We still do some collisions but only the profitable ones. Those low profit or near breakeven ones, I just tell them that we appreciate the opportunity but are booked up. I lost a lot of money doing customer restorations but I have made money restoring and selling. You have to have deeper pockets because of the time to turn the profit but it is there. The key for me to do it profitably is to stick with market trends and what you can get parts for. Don't pick a xxxx because you like it and it's a good deal and then spend 100's of hours just trying to find parts. I've been doing muscle cars and classic trucks. Only because the market is good and parts and repop parts are readily available. Also, look at the resale value. For my market, I look for finished values between $20k and $35k. For me, it takes to long to find a buyer over $40k. I have. I have built cars in the $70k range but harder to find a buyer. I can do two $30k cars and find a buyer in the same amount of time. Any, on the other end avoid cars with a finish value under high teens or $20k. You'll probably tie that up in the job and break even or loose $$. Let me know if you need me.....

Bart
 
Just a little update. Couldn't make it till August 1st, left last Monday. I think I surprised everyone there by leaving.:) Next day I needed to get a car I had moved back to my place and went to my neighbor who runs an auto repair and towing business in town. He asked me if I wanted some work, I said what you have? and before I left there we had come to an agreement on repainting a ''72 Chevy Cheyenne Super 10 (C10). So spent two days moving stuff around in my shop (it's very small 25x25) to my basement (it's very large:)) so I could get it in there. Just gonna be a fairly basic but still thorough repaint. Strip the exterior, repair some(quite a bit??) rust, paint the jambs and underhood as well. Not a show truck just a nice driver. Just doing the body/metalwork and paint. Don't know if it merits a build thread but I'll take some pics of the highlights and the finished product. Just got off the phone with Logan at SPI and now my wallet is $1600 lighter. :) (not complaining:)) Truck is gonna be black and all SPI. :cool: Feels nice working for myself.:)

Oh and being that my garage is attached to my house I think I even have Shine beat on the shortest commute to work in the morning!:p
 
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Good for you, I hope you can expand that garage sooner than later. It is nice to have a commute back home though, gives you time to unwind if things are not going right. I made a comment to get some work out there, if your first is a perfect black truck people will come running.
 
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