Another Shop Damaged My Car

[Foxtrot]

Tl;dr

Brought my 2017 mustang into a body shop to get it washed and waxed. Came out with a decent scratch, the biggest my car's had. Manager gets ultra offended and blames me. He himself looked the car over before and didn't point out the scratch. Offered to fix it but has been super defensive and belligerent. I don't trust my car with his team now. Don't know what to do.


Saturday I took my car into a body shop for a Wash and Wax. They're the shop that the Ford dealer sent me to for another thing last year. I've been there a few times for a wax. Other than myself, they're the only ones I had trusted to not give my paint swirls etc. Anyway, manager (Carlos he told me his name was) looked over the car before the wash, pointed out a dent on my door, I told him "yeah, got that the 1st few weeks I owned it...sigh") and then mentioned that some other blemishes might show up after the wash. Earlier that morning they told me on the phone they closed at 12, so to bring it in before 11. I did. They didn't pull it in until 11:45. They finished an hour later as I waited in the other car with my GF.

After they finished, I look the car over and point out a big scratch. I ask for Carlos since he's the one who looked it over. As far as I know, he didn't even work on it. I saw some other guys pulled it in and bring it out. He gets ultra defensive immediately, suggesting I'm calling him a liar, though he didn't work on the car to my knowledge. I point out 2 tiny chips on the car suggesting that if I noticed those, I'd sure as fuck notice a 2-3-inch scratch through the paint. He immediately offered to repair the damage in 2 weeks but kept blaming me. Calling himself so honest that he'd even fix it though I clearly had the damage beforehand. I asked "Did you notice the damage on the walk-around?" He remained silent. I asked for his promise in writing while he charged me the $75 for the job and got more offended, saying "my word is better than a contract. I gave it to you, so that's that!"

Anyway, forward to today, I call the shop wanting assurance that he'll keep his word, but mostly to get a record of my complaint with the office. The lady on the phone says to call her Manager "Paco" (the guy who was working Saturday). I call the cell, and it sure as hell sounds a lot like Carlos. He's still defensive and says they have video tapes that prove no one touched my car but will still fix it, but blames me saying "despite it clearly being there before, I'm gonna be a nice guy and fix it." Wants me to come in ASAP so he can show me the tape. Says not to make a big deal about it. Gets shadier the longer I talk to the guy. I'm not good at talking to this type of combative person btw..


Anyway, now I don't trust the guy. Idk if the dude's on some probation at the shop and is trying to hide the problem with the real owner (who doesn't sound like that), but now I REALLY don't trust him and his team to work on my car anymore. It's not really the worst thing, but I just am tired of bringing my car into places, paying them money only to damage my car in some way. What can I do? I'm kind of scared of the guy lol. I'd love to take it somewhere else and make them pay the bill, but what proof would I have?

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[BmacIL]

This is why you do it yourself (or go with very expensive, high-end detailers).

 

[sebounet]

Unfortunately this happen a lot. When i change my tire there is always something happems to my mags. Even if i go to a specialised place and i tell them that i m not in a hurry etc...
They always told me it s not their fault but always offer to repair. I always refuse to let them do something in a place the cheaper they find to do it. So i prefer to live with the damage or repair it myself or choosing a place that i pay with my money to do it. Things could go worse than the scratch with a bad repair in those places.
And i clean my car myself always

 

[stang-man]

I would not let him touch any of my cars ever again.
Get it fixed some place else.

 

[Rock&Roll]

So you pay someone $75 to wash your car ?

Sucks that you live so far away cause you could drop it off at my house and I’ll do it for $74

 

[offroadkarter]

Don't EVER go to body shops for a "wash and wax", body shops 95% of the time don't know shit about detailing.

If you don't want to use an automated car wash and can't handle washing it yourself, find a reputable detailer in the area who offers a basic wash/wax for a good price. A body shop's idea of "detailing" is to put Megs 105 on a wool pad that's been used on hundreds of cars for 15 years and never cleaned, then proceed to put holograms up and down your car.

I'm sure they washed your car with a rag on a stick just like most dealerships do as well.

 

[Monopoly]

I wouldn't of taken it back. Better to lose $75 then have them F it up again and go somewhere else.

Learn to do it properly yourself. Maybe practise on another car like ur gfs first ;)

 

[Foxtrot]

I know how to wash and wax my car, but I moved recently and don't have the luxury of space to doing it myself. I usually take it every 4-6 months for the wax specifically. They've done a great job in the past, and did so this time, minus the extra damage...

 

[Joe B.]

Did he say how it will be fixed? All those denials on the manager's part would make my blood boil.

 

[Zelek]

I had a guy that details Lambos, Bugattis, and is a certified Ferrari detailer do my Accord at his apartment complex with a garage! Best detail job I've had yet with Gtechniq 7 year paint coating. I wish I would have known him when I got my Mustang last year and I would have easily paid him to do that car too.

I found him through Facebook via some friends that recommended him. Those are the kind of guys you want working on your car. Attention to detail was out of this world.

 

[Interceptor]

Why not ask the local cheerleaders to wash it for you on Saturdays, I'm sure the booster club could use the money, supporting the local community, and tax deductible. Plus you could watch . Your car will love the attention.

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