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600$ job by a mobile body shop on tailgate paint

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Tacosauro, Jul 20, 2025 at 12:56 PM.

  1. Jul 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
    #21
    auskip07

    auskip07 Well-Known Member

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    It looks better. Did you pay too much? I don't know did you get any other quotes? Bodywork is expensive, it's rare to get anything done under 1k
     
  2. Jul 20, 2025 at 3:15 PM
    #22
    victorneyra

    victorneyra Member

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  3. Jul 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
    #23
    shakerhood

    shakerhood Well-Known Member

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    Why not at least let them try to do the redo?
     
  4. Jul 20, 2025 at 4:06 PM
    #24
    OnHartung'sRoad

    OnHartung'sRoad -So glad I didn't take the other...

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    It just needs more Bondo.:bananadance:
     
  5. Jul 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
    #25
    OnHartung'sRoad

    OnHartung'sRoad -So glad I didn't take the other...

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    Somewhere in the Mojave Desert...
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    …and feed the thieves that steel them.
     
  6. Jul 20, 2025 at 4:25 PM
    #26
    MadKatt

    MadKatt In need of serious help..

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    Life is about expectations what we’re your expectations for $600. I’d say leave it and move on, if you feel the need for some righteous vengeance all bets are off at that point. I try to keep my karma in the positive area but you do you.
     
    Travlr and auskip07 like this.
  7. Jul 20, 2025 at 4:41 PM
    #27
    auskip07

    auskip07 Well-Known Member

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    Yep, it's clear he expected more but at that price and convenience I don't think he should have expected more
     
    MadKatt[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Jul 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
    #28
    Tacosauro

    Tacosauro [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The Chris guy who is the owner but not the tech. Pretty sure he made up the 600$ price without even asking the tech who performed the work, because when tech heard the quote for 600$ he was surprised, i dont want to deal with people like this. If the tech is not able to perform the work and he knows it himself, then its pointless to go back and hear the pusboy mumble about making customers happy and bs. He will just waste more of my time and maybe end up with broken jaw, i dont want to do that
     
    shakerhood[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Jul 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
    #29
    t0p_d0g

    t0p_d0g 私はタコマが大好きです

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    Looks like it was painted with a rattle can.

    You don’t need a new tailgate just have a professional collision shop do the work.
     
    NoVa TRD Sport likes this.
  10. Jul 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
    #30
    NoVa TRD Sport

    NoVa TRD Sport Well-Known Member

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    Recently, a guy on a bicycle crashed into the rear of my parked truck. Luckily, he was honest enough to accept liability for the damage. Here's a picture of the damage, limited to the tailgate. A scratch to the paint, and a small, shallow dent.

    DSCN1622a.jpg

    I took it to my traditional, trusted body shop. The total bill came to $730. For that, they removed the tailgate from the truck, disassembled it completely, fixed the dent, painted the whole tailgate, and reassembled everything. Looks as good as new.

    $600 for the OP's job was not unreasonable. The result, however, was not acceptable.
     
    t0p_d0g likes this.
  11. Jul 20, 2025 at 8:41 PM
    #31
    b_r_o

    b_r_o Gnar doggy

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    Demanding a refund lol..

    Did you get more than one estimate?

    For example, if 2 other shops are both over $1,000 for the same repair, you chose the cheapest option for $600, you don't like the quality and now you want a refund?

    That's not how it works. Its not his job to fulfill your expectations. Your expectations might be unrealistic for that price.

    The responsibility is on you to research the repair and know what to expect before you spend the money.
     
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  12. Jul 21, 2025 at 5:54 AM
    #32
    auskip07

    auskip07 Well-Known Member

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    you also pay for the convenience of the work performed. You went to a full service shop as was without your vehicle for 4 days? the other repair was done in the driveway in an afternoon.
     
  13. Jul 21, 2025 at 6:01 AM
    #33
    skidooboy

    skidooboy titanium plate tester

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    You can drop off a tailgate at a reputable shop, and pick it up when done. No need for the truck to be out of commission for 4 days. Tech here was a hack. Ski
     
    Jakerou likes this.
  14. Jul 21, 2025 at 6:10 AM
    #34
    fxntime

    fxntime Well-Known Member

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    The ''painter'' [I'm being REALLY nice here] spoke American and was in his early 20's wasn't he?

    Find a good ''Mexican'' shop where a couple guys may speak passable English. Be amazed at how good your tailgate looks.

    I'm going to ask a question that is more relevant then you think, did you have ANY ''ceramic'' wax/coating product on the paint? Because if you did, without a VERY good strip, sand, restrip/clean, final sand, re-re-clean, that is what may happen. He also didn't use a fine enough final grit, prime, sand, wipe down, shoot several coats, check his work then clearcoat worth a dang. Looks like 120 grit and he said ''good nuff'.''

    And black shows ALL crappy work, you can't hide it.

    You should have paid with a CC and stopped payment shoddy work. He owes you a refund for that mess.

    I'm too old to get into painting anymore but I recently had my front bumper on my Honda redone because some moron couldn't be bothered to use his side mirrors, back up mirror, back up camera, and back up alarm and backed into me. I had a smaller local shop do it and it was 1. matched perfectly [silver flake is a PITA to match after a few years] 2. prepped very well, [and it was ceramic coated which I told them about] and mixed and shot correctly so the flake laid with the rest of the paint.

    I even asked to speak to the painter and shook his hand and told him he did an excellent job.

    A bigger place would not have done anywhere as good a job, of that I have no doubt.

    FWIW, a dentless dent removing guy, no problem on site, paint, no way in hell is that acceptable, the variables for a proper finish are staggering. And that mess will never last, no way, no how.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2025 at 6:20 AM
  15. Jul 21, 2025 at 6:13 AM
    #35
    HoosierBuddy

    HoosierBuddy Well-Known Member

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    I get the OP's frustration. That "repair" could have been done better with a rattle can from the parts store.

    OP if you really want to pursue this, the section of government you need to get involved is The Judiciary. You should first send the defendant (the owner) a letter demanding your money back. You'll likely want to send that registered mail so you can prove he received it. In that letter you should indicate what section of the contract you signed with him to perform the work he didn't meet OR if there was no written contract, what part of the oral agreement you made he violated during the performance of the agreed work.

    When he tells you to suck eggs, you can follow up by filing in small claims court and put this before a judge.

    If I'm the judge? You'll do just fine. Unfortunately, I'm not a judge and they may rely more on the "Law" and was there any actual breach of contract, and "Facts" and "Proof". In other words, you want a car guy on the bench, not Judge Judy.

    Good luck. I'd say once the judge finds out the owner offered to redo the job and you declined ....it's pretty likely they'll win.
     
  16. Jul 21, 2025 at 6:13 AM
    #36
    Travlr

    Travlr Lost in the ozone again

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    Of course it is the job to fulfill expectations!!! WTF do you think someone in business is doing to demand $600 for fixing minor damage?

    But I gotta tell you, I could do better with an artists brush and a bottle of Testors model paint. Personally I think it's nuts to agonize over such minor damage to begin with. Not going to get a new tailgate? This is why the English language has words like "anal" in it.
     
  17. Jul 21, 2025 at 6:30 AM
    #37
    oldtimertoyota

    oldtimertoyota Well-Known Member

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    Terrible work, no matter if they charged you $300 or a thousand that work is not acceptable. I would think at least a partial refund is due so that you can find a shop that does quality work! Personally I would trust this place to touch my truck ever again
     
  18. Jul 21, 2025 at 6:38 AM
    #38
    auskip07

    auskip07 Well-Known Member

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    did he do that?
     
  19. Jul 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
    #39
    b_r_o

    b_r_o Gnar doggy

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    @Tacosauro did you get any other estimates before choosing the $600 place?
     

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