I've been in the Auto Body Business for forty years. There are more people with hatchets doing body work than ever before. The WORST thing you can do is give any money up front for body work. If they need your money up front- they shouldn't be in business. When you pay up front the only thing guaranteed is your car gets done last- if ever. If they need actual "parts money" up front, pay the wholesale price- not retail- and order it right then- on your card. Don't let anybody ride on your money.
When looking for a shop, whether it be a family owned, national chain, or sole proprietor shop, check out they're facilities, check out the cars that are being worked on, look through the doors and see which ones have dust piling up on them, are chrome trim parts laying on concrete? are interior parts left out in the open to be covered with shop dust and filth? are tools, supplies, food and drink, being left laying on cars? When you see that- your looking at sloppy bass turds that'll do sloppy work. Look at the finished cars out front. What quality of cars are they working on?
Last but not least- what paint line(s) do they use? Quality or Garbage? Find the local Body Shop Supply House they deal with and get a recommendation. Ask the manager in private- don't go blabbing out bs or anything else for the whole shop to hear.
Any good shop will gladly give you a list of satisfied customers to contact for a reference.
I'll say this again- NEVER give a body shop money up front- their crooks- whether they themselves believe it or not.
thepaintguy
