Help comparing a good black detail and one with holograms/trails

Being in an area that size, I'm sure you could post in the regional forum to see if any autopians would be willing to examine the work. But as already said, I would definitely expect the car to be glazed and filled when returned.
 
I just picked up my car for the second time this morning, get home (73+ mile drive) and look. TERRIBLE. They did a complete repaint of the car when I wrecked it. It took about six weeks to get it back the first time. To no fault of their own it had to be brought back up for more work (someone backed into my front bumper, but the front bumper needed repainting anyhow due to the fact that the insurance company made us use a remanufactured the first time)...however there were some imperfections in the paint that was their fault and had to be fixed, and the rear bumper started cracking about two weeks after I had it. Four weeks later it's "done" (again). I gave it a pretty good look at the shop but still evidently overlooked a lot of points (or light was playing a trick on me at the shop). Get it back home, again, and it looks like ****. Someone scratched the heck out of the driver's mirror with a cable or something (the part that faces the inside of the car). The front bumper they just repainted has several huge scratches not to mention you can see where they buffed up and down and left and right (the actual marks, as if you were vacuuming your house). There is overspray on my windshield (that I saw at the shop but mistook it for just a dirty windshield), overspray on the front of my driver's door, clearcoat (?) drops or something that is rough but won't come off on the driver's door in about 15 places, overspray on the driver's quarter panel, and the rear bumper I can see the scratch marks from the wool pad. It looks like the sides of my rear bumper were buffed with a Brillo pad. I also have a huge buff mark about midway under the driver's door that is about 4 inches long where it looks like a 300lb person leaned into the buffer.



This is all after I paid extra over the top of what the insurance company paid when I wrecked it to have "extra" clear coats and "better" buffing job.



I'm so sick of this BS I seriously don't think I even want the car anymore. It's gotten to the point where there are so few competent people out there without a reasonable distance that can work on my car that if anything happens it's months and thousands of dollars later before I can get it looking the way I want, which is just "normal." I shouldn't see holograms in the paint. I shouldn't see overspray.



I know I'm an adult, and I know it's "no big deal" but I'm seriously borderline tears with this damn car. Why is it so hard to find someone that knows *** they are doing when it comes to paint/body/buffing work?
 
When I moved back to NJ, I interviewed several body shops to have some minor work done. I went back over and over again to check their work on several sleds making sure their work was flawless.

Since more and more people are accepting mediocre service, the service industry is getting worse and worse. There are some shops out there that still care as if it's their car. They are few and far between and it's to your diligence to find the right one.

I know I sound like a Monday Morning Quarterback, but this is more for the next time (hopefully never) than this round.

For this round, I suggest you take what you have and invest in a great detail from a detail specialist like "SpoiledMan" again. I'm sure he's going to appreciate seeing you again. Besides - you already know the Body Shop can't do what you're expecting, so why let them fail you a THIRD time? Your personal time and angst just isn't worth it. You know where to get it done right - take a ride, it'll be a great way to test the sled on the highway for driveability too.

Hope you find the solution soon.
 
I did research. That was supposedly the best place in town, as "verified" by other members on the Corvette forum.



As for SpoiledMan and his amazing work...I just can't afford it right now. I've already spent thousands and thousands of dollars on this car trying to get it to look right, I'm pretty strapped right now. I'm not looking for pity or anything just explaining my situation.





LOL I just got a text from Chris he must've got my PM lol.
 
I hope you get this worked out soon. It's obviously a burden to your soul.

Trying to find a bright side ... wait for your bank account to catch up to SPOILEDMAN'S prices ... it's not that bad as the paint will have several/many weeks to cure. With all the extra coats of clear they applied, it's better if the paint/clear layers have plenty of time to gas-off. Let this time be your long-term friend instead of short term enemy.



Hope that helps you deal with it. Patience is a virtue.
 
I've got wheels and $2500 stereo in there, among other things. And I still owe like $13k so I'm going to end up with a more expensive car payment, I might as well save up and get this fixed.
 
The problem is that most body shops don't consider holograms a problem. Infact, unless you are a detailer (Autopian) most people don't care or even know about holograms. Autopians have a trained eye to see this kind of stuff. Every time a car out of the collection goes in for service, it some back swirled up. They either wash it or just wipe the dust off. All of the cars in the collection are black and you can imagine what a Bentley or Lambo would look like after having the dust wiped off with a dirty cotton towel.



I spent sixty hours polishing a EWB black Rolls only to have it come back from service completely scratched and swirled. I DID CRY!!!!!!!



A body shop will never achieve the results you expect because they don't know any better. Heck, how many detailers out there know how to achieve Autopian standards?? Not many!!! We all see detailers come on here and talk about one or even two step processes.



I totally feel your pain. It happens to me no less than ten times a year. My suggestion is to buy the polisher and the polishes and learn how to do it yourself. You can remove holograms with a PC or UDM and there are many detailers on here that can help you with the process. Best of luck to you!!
 
I agree. If you haven't taken care of this by now, just get yourself a PC, some polish and pads(you choose after doing your research) and take care of those holograms. I can't recall a time I couldn't remove holograms with a PC. Small chance you might need a rotary but buying the PC will be a joy to work with to maintain your vette, once it is done(by you or someone else).

Invest $200-$300 and you'll be good to go. Good luck to you sir.
 
I got rid of the car, it was just too bad and I didn't want to be dealing with this forever. I'll save up and buy a new Vette some day.
 
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