DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Without mentioning any names of businesses involved, what are people's experiences about payment agreements or experiences for their body shell restorations please, in particular for the labour part?

I would like to find out whats normal and what people consider to be reasonable/unreasonable...

e.g. pay at the end please? interim payments at milestone points (thirds)? deposit + ?

I can imagine that smaller businesses might need the cost of purchasing expensive panels and materials covered by the customer.

Same question for the paint job?

Thank you!

Can only comment on £5k paint job, I paid 25% at the start and the remainder on completion.

Interim payments, but once the work is underway.

For instance I split my paint in to three payments, but didn’t do the first until the car was about to go into in primer, shell colour, and final on delivery. We agreed this before work started.

Thanks guys. Any more examples please?

I bought all the panels prior to restoration and delivered them with the shell. I then got monthly bills for essentially labour and consumables so everything was bang up to date from start to finish. Weekly photos and short email updates of progress provides confidence in making prompt payments. Should anything go wrong or delays occur both parties are happy that nothing is outstanding either way. Decisions about moving forward are then easier to make without one or other party feeling aggrieved.

Did the same at the paint stage. I bought the paint, monthly invoices for labour and consumables and regular picture and email updates makes the job go very smoothly.


Regards
Mike

Opposite end of the spectum for me, but all good.

I used a very local straight forward repair (panel dent) and paint shop, 4 people working there mainly on white hire vans.
Chatted to the man with the car in front of us.
Agreed what I would deliver (for paint only) as a shell and agreed what he would do.

Block flat, no panel gapping, 2 K paint to my spec which he arranged.
Most of the car was down to bare metal, all rust spots sorted by me. I would re-assemble the car when done 2 weeks after delivery date agreed.
I made one 10 minute visit 1/2 way through.

This all happened like clockwork, all as agreed, price and dates, hassle free, done on a handshake

Cost was £1500 including materials and consumables, total paid at collection. The more I did, the cheaper it became when discussing.

I personally think 210's comments very wise.

Going through this process at the moment with the 356 Coupe
Agreed specification of work, and time scales for tidy gaps and paint. Once they had removed all the paint it was a completely different story. So we agreed new work.
I bought and delivered all the panels and now receive regular picture updates for work completed followed by invoice for work completed. They have one guy full time, 3 days a week on it. We also review and approve the next stage of work and costs.
Hopefully no more surprises. There was a slow start to the new works but it has required considerably more complex panel replacement work than expected so needed to wait for a slot in the diary.
For me its about regular communication, there can always be a few issues lurking away, best to get them out and work out solution together. Will see what happens to the new budget, so far right side of budget.

From my recent / current experience.

I agreed varying rates of labour, as stripping the car down, isn't the same skill as welding or beating etc, similarly for parts getting blasted, and working on the interior. There's a trimmer on site. However for the refresh of the vinyl repair to the dash we've agreed a fixed price.

I'm probably in there at least a couple of times a week and I do all the parts ordering. Initially it all came to me and I'd take it up there, now it goes there direct. Aside from some bits from the US, the front seats from Rennsport, and a couple of things that were time sensitive which weren't in stock and needed ordering I've single sourced to achieve a consistent (and happy) discount across all orders / products.

On the labour. Each month all the hours by labour type and person gets written up on a board dedicated to the car which I keep an eye on and then at the end of the month I get invoiced. The invoice also comes with a picture of the board which I match to my recording of it over time and progress.

So far I've not been charged for bacon sandwiches, coffee or distracting folks from working by asking about the Integrale they're working on or the concourse Fulvia they'd done previously that was back in.

(I figured that people who do old Lancias truly know rust!)

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Thanks for your contributions - much appreciated.....

It looks like monthly payments based on work completed for long jobs (e.g. 12 weeks+), interim payments for medium jobs (e.g. 4-12 weeks), and payment at the end for small jobs (e.g. a week or three, £fewthou) could be considered to be a reasonable guide... lots a caveats of course.

Sound aboot right?