Author Topic: Always get an estimate!  (Read 3247 times)

Offline Rob62

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #30 on: October 16, 2019, 07:41:06 PM »
A very sad story indeed, i really do feel for bobv, but this dealer/restorer whatever he is, has obviously pulled a bit of a nasty one here and I don’t think many would disagree with that. He most certainly deserves to be identified and challenged over this incident rather than being allowed to get away scott-free without the entire classic motorcycle community being made aware of his actions. Bobv may well not get his hard-earned money back but he can certainly limit this guys chances of repeating this scam on some other unsuspecting victim.. Name and shame, its definitely the right thing to do.... maybe bobv should try a bit of sharp practice and give this guy a taste of his own medicine.... either refund a reasonable amount money or face being exposed to the entire community, forums and facebook.... I do hate to see people being ripped off and arseholes getting away with this type of nasty behaviour....

Offline Green1

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #31 on: October 16, 2019, 08:12:19 PM »

You are obviously an honourable chap Bob and don't deserve such treatment.

Athough the curtains we sell are in no way related to the bike industry, the principles you operate to should be the same in any business. Lots of people say to us - "I don't care about the price, I want it,  just do it". We still  always insist on giving  a firm cost. I personally often feel uncomfortable  when giving people a cost as they may understandably have no Idea of potenial price and I would not want to shock them. Just shows why you should do it.  Simply would not feel morally comfortable sticking an end cost on a job without prior agreement to an accurate estimate.



I don't know how you get any work dealing with curtains I have the same issue when pricing wallpapers. A roll on its own sounds cheap but when I say you need so many rolls most people run a mile.
I had one recently that was £58+VAT per meter not roll after I worked out the price even I fell over.
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Offline Trigger

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #32 on: October 16, 2019, 08:27:33 PM »
There is no rip off here. The restorer was asked to do a job, which he did. He was not asked to give a price on the job.

Look at the process of doing these complicated part and most fabricators I know charge £60 to £70 per hour.

First he would of had them reversed chromed. Then chemically de rusted, before cutting and rotten metal out. He would of then had to bend new parts of metal and stitch them in, braze the seams and grind down flat and blend to the original metal. Then once correct, polish it up to a high grade finish before sending it is be copper plated and chromed. Not a 5 minute job and a lot of outside work done by third parties.

I don't know why you did not ask of the forum, if anyone has any. I must have a couple of sets kicking about.
 

Offline Rob62

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #33 on: October 16, 2019, 08:36:23 PM »
It wasn’t you was it....? Lol 😆

Offline taysidedragon

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #34 on: October 16, 2019, 09:10:13 PM »
The price is shocking to most of us, but Trigger is right about the amount of work involved. If this specialist is used to dealing with million pound cars or rare bikes like Brough Superiors then he probably has customers paying those sort of bills for rare, impossible to replace parts all the time. Not me though! 😕
 
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Offline bobv7

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #35 on: October 16, 2019, 09:16:25 PM »
Funnily enough I agree with Trigger's comments for exactly the reasons he gives. Not looking for sympathy just a warning to be a bit more careful than me before getting involved in expensive restoration work. However, I wish I had known about the apparently vast number of headlamp brackets going spare 'cos I spent a lot of time looking for the bloody things and I couldn't find any! :(

Offline Rob62

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #36 on: October 16, 2019, 11:23:13 PM »
 You can buy a new set of exhausts for a CB750 for the same money!!! and most enthusiast would still baulk at that......come on get real.... I really do feel for you although you seem to be taking it well to the point of actually defending the chap,  but I presume you didn’t start this thread because you were over the moon with your purchase.... its bad enough having to shell out large sums especially on the run up to Xmas, but just about bearable if you are getting value..... I did it a few years ago when my BMW turbo blew up..... but £1500 for a pair of refurbed headlamp lugs is not value for money. Anyway, the forum exists to share advice and information, promote good suppliers and expose bad ones... so why not share the details of this reasonable supplier, I’m guessing he made a decent job of them?.

Offline bobv7

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #37 on: October 17, 2019, 02:03:57 AM »
If anyone needed to find a classic restorer from around this area they could always drop me an email.

Offline paul G

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #38 on: October 17, 2019, 07:50:01 AM »
I don't care who he deals with or what time it takes, after looking at them his first words should have been do you know what I charge and what they are going to cost.  >:(
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Offline bobv7

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #39 on: October 17, 2019, 02:18:39 PM »
They were from a 1972 CB500 Four. The repair work is excellent, not so sure about the finish but that's that. I decided not to name the company for all the very good reasons you give. It's only my side of the story and without the other side giving their version it can quickly turn nasty and spiral out of control. I only posted it as a reminder that life can be like a greasy cucumber; you think you have a firm grasp and next second your eyes are watering! ::)

Offline Moorey

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #40 on: October 17, 2019, 06:57:19 PM »
You must point your cucumbers in a strange direction. :o

Offline Rob62

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Re: Always get an estimate!
« Reply #41 on: October 17, 2019, 08:32:03 PM »
Good advice oddjob... i think “name and shame’ is probably not the right approach.... but I think “name” is ok... everyone could then make their own mind up....... There is lots of naming of service providers on here.... that’s what makes it useful

 

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