Okay, so I needed my TJ hood painted.
Local licensed shops were $750-$850, just to paint the hood.
I thought I could do better with the small guy working in the smaller shop or from his garage. It's a Jeep and didn't need a show quality paint job. I'm flipping this Jeep soon and so I didn't want to put in a ton of money. $600 was a better deal and he would do the cowl as well.
The guy I found was on Craigslist. His price was a couple of hundred less than the big boys. This is what I was looking for in a flip paint job. The problem was that he was in Stead. A bit of a drive, especially when I needed friend to pick me up then drop me off.
I kept telling myself I'm helping the little guy working paycheck to paycheck.
The paint portion went okay but I picked it up at night (never do that) and didn't check it out like i should have.
After the paint cured, and I got it out in the sun, I noticed it needed those final touches like getting rid of the orange peel. So, I called the guy, dropped it off (a second set of picking up and dropping off) and then he started hitting me up for more money to do the buff out. I argued but needed it done and other shops would have really over charged me at that point. Add $150 to the total, putting it right up there where the legal shops would have been.
After rushing it back up to the guy, as he said can I have it there within the hour, nine days later I drove it home. I didn't push the guy on getting it back to me until I had a test drive for a buyer lined up. He said no problem, tomorrow or the next day at the latest. Well, not tomorrow, but the next day, I started calling around noon to ask for an update.
At 2:30 he said two hours. I said see you at 4:45, he said better 5:30. I got there at 5:40 and drove off at 6:45! Again, in the dark.
It still needs another coat of wax or two but should look fine. I still need to see it in the sun light.
For those of you looking to do something similar, get references, hammer down on the details, prices and deadlines.
