Advice on dropping car off at the interior guy

[Don]

Other checks are the FL Attorney General , FL Consumer Protection, along with being registered to do business in FL. Also, if shop location is owned by the business, any liens on the property and taxes paid.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Blittleton

tcrist,

I understand, but it is really funny the way some owners are about the replicars. I enjoy mine just like everyone else, but it is just a car. Alot of people don't understand that.

Bill

I understand it, and I would be concerned about any shop that I took my Kirkham too. Where do you draw the line? Is just monetary value or something more to some people potentially?

It is just a house.
It is just art work.
It is just money.
It is just time.
It is just a memory.

People care about what they care about and other people shouldn't tell them what to and not to care about or, if they care, how much they should care. We're all made differently.

[tcrist]

Fleiss75,

Sounds like this guy kind of gives you the feeling that you could be on your way to start trusting SOME people again.

Good luck and let us know how this works out for you.

[Don]

Ronald Reagan: " Trust But Verify ". Have also seen the comment attributed to Senator Daniel Moynihan, may be others too.

http://sivers.org/trust-but-verify

[Blittleton]

Rodknock,

These are just items in our lives, I build these cars for a variety of customers. I believe some value these types of cars, more than they should, there are other items in this world more important than these cars. I myself have several of these and a beautiful 69 camaro in the works. I guess what I'm saying is that enjoy these cars and if they get messed up or wet from driving in the rain, they can always be fixed.

Bill

[RodKnock]

I totally understand the matter of fact feeling and that "it's only time and money."

But as you mention, you have multiple nice cars (I love '69 Camaros) and it may not be the same for you as someone else who has never owned an original Shelby Mustang or Cobra (or whatever), but has been a member of SAAC since before they had a license to drive. Now they finally have what they've always desired/wanted since they were a young child and they want a shop to be extra careful with his now prized possession (think parking lot attendents in Ferris Bueller's Day Off).

No, it's not a human being or irreplaceable, but people still do get emotional over their dreams. Cue the violins.

[pablo63]

I'd like to add something from an experience I had with an upholsterer. Make sure that they know full well, they do not make any changes to what was discussed without consulting with you first. I had a guy recover my seats in my Camaro and when they didn't fit like they were designed he got creative.

[Blittleton]

You are right, I have never owned a REAL Shelby, I really wouldn't want one. Ok, maybe I would want one to sell. But the nowaday Shelby are just knockoffs any way, I'm sure I'll get lashed for that one. Just drive these cars and enjoy them for what they are. That's all. Whether you pay bottom prices to high and rediculous these cars are made to drive. Not to sit in a garage.

Bill

[kurtmart]

Dynamat. No matter who does the work. Dynamat it.

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by Blittleton

I'm wondering if you all have trust issues, all the shops I deal with are straight up. Every shop I have taken a cobra treat it as if it is a piece of glass and are very gentle with it. If you think you need to remove the distributor cap and remove wires, you might not want to take it there in the first place. Do you do that with your our vehicles as well? WTF!!!

Bill

Bill, its not a trust issue, its just good business sense. I guess the concept of eyes wide open when dealing with suppliers and or service establishments is a novel approach for some people. Get stung once and you will change your tune. Just don't like to see people getting ripped off and fleiss75 came to this forum for advice. If you have never been ripped off then you are indeed a lucky guy. My two cent, tin-man

[*13*]

It's a cobra? Right? How much work are you having done? I went with my car when the top was installed. Sat & watched til they had completed it. They probably didn't like me hanging out all day but I did get to point them in the right direction a couple times. How many guys will they have working on your car? They may do it all in one day. Just a thought. Good luck!

[tcrist]

Among other things you have to worry if the shop is even going to be there tomorrow/next week whatever.

Have you heard about the Aqua Pool and Spa issue? Large company, many people working for them (sales as well as installers). For what ever the reason they told all of their installers they had no work for a week on a Friday (I think). They come in the next Thursday to pick up their paychecks and the building is empty. Even a sales person that has been on vacation shows up to get his check. The place is shut down. The same day that they told their installers not to come in they took a deposit of over 7K for a pool install. They are also in the middle of a complete landscaping job worth over 100K.

They closed their doors and everyone is SOL at this point.

Now I do not know how it works anywhere else, but out here, I believe that if you have your vehicle in a shop to have work done, and the business closes, it could take you months to get it back. If it is a fresh build and you have not registered it in your name yet it could be even longer and sometimes never. You have to be so careful these days.

[fleiss75]

Well, I dropped it off. I drove behind the tow guy all 22 miles praying for no rain. Should be done in 2 weeks...Thanks for all the help..

[pablo63]

Best wishes. Hope all goes well and the work exceeds your expectations.

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by fleiss75

Well, I dropped it off. I drove behind the tow guy all 22 miles praying for no rain. Should be done in 2 weeks...Thanks for all the help..

Hi, can we see the final results? tin-man

[Ant]

Advice I would give, is you and the Interior guy need to be on the same page, very few people I have dealt with know whats in your mind and unless you have a seat upholstered exactly for them to copy and a plan with illustrations etc.
With my first cobra after hours of misunderstanding with a good upholster we used our industrial sewing machine and made the leather patterns for the seat sides to illustrate how they should be upholstered, then after two years of use the sewing in the squab is visible between the pleats which indicates they know virtually zero on sewing basics and how to fold under the tails in the pleat and where to sew.
A friend of mine took his cobra seats in to a wellknown upholster and the squab pleats and back pleats never lined up and the front seat cnrs were square and baggy do I need to say anymore, but this work happens everyday.........!

[fleiss75]

Thank you Pablo, I need all the good thoughts sent my way. I actually talked to him today and he told me that he has some great new ideas, better than what he already came up with. He does really amazing stuff...so I am so excited.

[fleiss75]

SO Far....So Good. I got some updated pictures today, he stayed in constant communication with me and the car will be ready for pick up on Thursday. Thank you for the advice from everyone...I don't want to jinx myself, but its been positive so far!