Decal Damage - Really? Im calling B.S. What do you think?

[arkus]

that guy sounds like a loose loose situation ,
I don't think you scratched the emblem.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

A lot of good points made above. There is an excellent training video on the Meguiars YouTube site, that shows the detailer walking around the vehicle with the customer and a clipboard and pen in hand, marking down all defects and pointing them out to the customer before the job gets started.

I wrote the script for the "How to remove paint defects" video back in 2002 and then was part of the film crew when we filmed the video. Part of the script was the segment at the beginning and the end where the vehicle was inspected. Tom MacDonald played the part of the guy walking around filling in the Vehicle Inspection Form.

From 2002 to 2003 my job title was Corporate Write and this was one of my first projects besides the Velocity Mold Release Line. I wrote the script and the copy for the actual front, spine and back cover of the video case. That's Mike Pennington on the cover.

There's one on eBay for sale...

How to Remove Paint Defects Meguiar's Video Cars VHS | eBay

 

[truckbutt]

I wrote the script for the "How to remove paint defects" video back in 2002 and then was part of the film crew when we filmed the video. Part of the script was the segment at the beginning and the end where the vehicle was inspected. Tom MacDonald played the part of the guy walking around filling in the Vehicle Inspection Form.

From 2002 to 2003 my job title was Corporate Write and this was one of my first projects besides the Velocity Mold Release Line. I wrote the script and the copy for the actual front, spine and back cover of the video case. That's Mike Pennington on the cover.

There's one on eBay for sale...

How to Remove Paint Defects Meguiar's Video Cars VHS | eBay

:dblthumb2:There are a lot of good videos on that site.

 

[Deep Gloss Auto Salon]

Replace the H and be done with it....

Next time, follow your gut and don't do business with problematic prospects.... I decline business all the time and this is one of the reasons.. after dealing with people long enough I have developed decent "feelers" for problem people!

Hope thsi works out man

 

[Vegas Transplant]

The boat looks great! AWESOME!!!

I'd also only replace the damaged letter, not the whole thing. Definitely

The whole thing sounds kind of fishy anyway. True

+1.

 

[01GMC]

Surely dosen't look like what I would call a "burn" from a buffer, unless it was hit by the head of the buffer. However, like others have stated, more than likely is not the case.

Problaby done by the owner, however, before the boat was polished it was not as visiable. Problem we all face when a customer wants (x) polished, but not . Hard to explain why dose not look like (x).

It's tough to say, however, you are looking at replaceing the whole decal, more than likely including the lower portion that denotes the boats location. Why? Cause the decal was either a calander or high performace material. High performance only having about a 7 year life span (very deminshed by UV). If you replace just the letter it will stick out like a sore thumb and the customer will not be happy.

It's tough to swallow, but to keep him happy and more importantly say you did the right thing to new or current customers you are looking at the whole decal.

Calander material is running about $2.00 a yard & High Performace is running ~$7.00 a yard depending on manuf.

Good thing is gold & black are not "special" colors. Worse case the gold would be a high performace material due to the metallic in the color.

 

[steve swafford]

:dblthumb2:the boat looks great,i'd just replace the "o" if there is not any fading issue between it and the "n".Before pictures are important for both you and the client .The time it takes to at least snap a few shots all around is minor compared with the peace of mind that you didn't mess up the decal.

 

[Bates Detailing]

Wow - just got home and checked this thread out - Awesome feedback guys! Once again a big reason why I love AG. I have read every response and will soak it all in and decide what to do. You are all awesome :dblthumb2: Thanx for the compliments too.

 

[SeaJay's]

I'd stick to your original statement. You'll pay to have the O replaced. other than that he can't make you replace the whole decal. You "apparently" damaged one letter. So you are obligated (with out proof in the before pics I'd say your obligated) to replace the 1 letter.

Sounds like a PITA for sure and sorry you had to deal with that crap. But it's part of being a business owner your going to have those people that are trying to screw you.

I had a guy from a local business contact me last week about detailing a customer's vehicle. Apparently they smashed her rear wind shield with one of their fork lifts, so they paid to have it replaced. Well they weren't happy with the clean up of the glass guys so she called them back and demanded a full interior detail. This car was a smokers car and a MESS! But she got a free interior detail for nothing.

Some people you just have to deal with and move on. Just remember it and don't do business with him again.

Boat look amazing BTW. You guys did a great job.

 

[catfish07]

I would tell Thurston howell III to pound sand. I can see replacing the "o" but that's it.

Regardless of what you do, he's gonna bad mouth you because he has no respect.

 

[mdb917]

Everyone has provided technical rationale on how this has to be B.S. and most, if not all, of them are experts at this kind of thing.

It seems there are always people who will not be pleased. As to replacement, I'd go with only the "O".

I'll add that the boat looked awesome and if I ever have a boat of that caliber you'll be the guy I ask to detail it.

 

[builthatch]

I would tell Thurston howell III to pound sand.

preferably sand while stranded on Gilligan's Island, amirite??!

hehe.

 

[SkateForGirl]

Dude that sucks.

As a person who deals with customer service on a daily basis (Mortgage loan officer) its not worth it to ruin your reputation.

But if the cost of the decal is more then the cost of the job with supplies and everything included honestly I say screw the guy.

 

[pixelmonkey]

seriously?

here are a few of my thoughts...

a sign shop will be up for doing what the customer "wants", so the replacement of the entire decal will make them more money and bigger smiles.

the employee that does the estimate for the replacement will likely be open to view and state their thoughts on the age of the damage. If there is dirt and staining in the area where the damaged vinyl is present, it happened LONG before you first viewed the boat.

the rest is hindsight.
chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[BostonDetails]

Two things:

1) I wouldn't replace it. Anyone he bad mouths you to already knows he's a d**k

2) He probably requested the least expensive service in the first place so he could blame the scratch on you and get you to pay for it. Most of the time, the people with the most money are the cheapest...

 

[My Detailing Guys]

That boat looks great! :dblthumb2::dblthumb2::dblthumb2: I'm sure you know you and your guys made that boat shine and gave him more value then what he paid you (Hope that sucker paid up!!!). I always worry I'm going to get that kind of ***hole customer someday. That's why I take pictures before I start to wash the property, take pictures after the first wash (just in case something else shows up after the dirt is removed), and a final photo shoot after everything in completed.

 

[Bates Detailing]

Thanx for all the compliments and advice - He still has not hit me up yet, but I will be going by the marina tomorrow and could very well run into him :/ Im not worried about him anymore really, but man I was super upset for a few days after the fact . Thanx again for the support everyone!

 

[KKYS]

Pay, chalk it up to experience and never do work for this guy again! Not worth having your reputation ruined.


BTW, that's one hell of a job. Looks great man! :cheers:

I agree, that boat looks fantastic. .........but 50 man hours on a 31'er.
That vessal must have really been nasty. Did you give him a price up front or did
you stroke him on the back end?

 

[Deep Gloss Auto Salon]

So what happened with this?

 

[Bates Detailing]

I agree, that boat looks fantastic. .........but 50 man hours on a 31'er.
That vessal must have really been nasty. Did you give him a price up front or did
you stroke him on the back end?

Not sure what stroking him on the back end means lol, but yeah we gave the price up front. We cut, polished, then applied collonite to top it off - and yes it was NASTY. Thanx for the compliment man.

So what happened with this?

Kind of funny - cause I went to the Marina today where this guy brings his boat and apparently he came by over the weekend and showed his boat off saying all great things about us I WAS SHOCKED with the way he acted through the whole day and a half! SHOCKED! Maybe keeping my cool payed off?!?!?! Who knows, but apparently no bad words about the service.