EDIT: ITS WORSE!!! Major problem- need advice- WARNING: LONG

[Duc L'Smart]

WoW!
I think you are now entitled to Saint-hood 
He sounds like a poor organizer, & maybe it's your job to be the squeaky wheel 
Keep us posted... It's looking great 

[Qfactor]

Dude,

sorry to hear about all this crap-ola...

Hope you'll be back on the road soon.

Q

[jclin]

Maybe it's time to bring in someone who might work on it more efficiently. Just surprise your current screw-up, I mean, mechanic. Maybe call another shop to get an estimate, then bring the guy in to see what has been done and what needs to be done.

If that doesn't burn your current mechanic in the pants, then just cart it all up and bring it to the other guy (if the estimate is reasonable).

Desperate times require desperate measures.

[Duc L'Smart]

I dunno... If the guy's doing quality work, at a reasonable price, then it sounds like he just needs some encouragement to GIT BIZZY 

[topanga duc]

He sounds like a poor organizer, & maybe it's your job to be the squeaky wheel 

'sounds like you're just going to have to stand over him.
everyone responds to different negotiation tactics.
he already knows he can get away with lying on the phone and by email.
i love the suggestion of bringing another mechanic to his shop to give you a quote.

[Vindingo]

RE: the rear height -  dont forget that there is no weight at all on the rear shock, so it it is fully exteneded.  That added to the fact that there is no tire, it looks like a big gap. 

[duc996]

I would show up and check on it personally once in while,phone calls are good but i would rather show my face and really see how things are progressing.

[paradisecity]

I went in yesterday and there was a legitimate amount of work done.  If he completes last night and this morning what he said he would, then the bike is close to finished.

[Duc L'Smart]

I went in yesterday and there was a legitimate amount of work done.  If he completes last night and this morning what he said he would, then the bike is close to finished.

WoW!!! Sounds like we're close to a happy ending 

PICTURES, or it doesn't exist 

[paradisecity]

I'll definitely be posting pictures once it is finished, though not in this thread since this is a conflict thread and I don't want to shart on the guy putting my bike together as I show it off.  Upon completion this thread shall die.

I'm not a hater     

[gatuso]

MAN, I hope it works out for you at the end, and whatever you do don't ever go back to this clown.
Too bad you are not in Southern California, plenty of help around here, besides is legal to "split lanes" in traffic.

You're almost there, man.

Later.

[paradisecity]

The good news:

it sounds good and looks good. 

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/tomparadis/?action=view&current=MVI_0558.flv







One problem is that the engine paint blistered a little on the pipes near the engine.  Perhaps it didnt cure properly?  Any ideas?




Another thing we noticed is that the kickstand is leaving the bike at a very aggressive angle now.  We lowered the suspension but it is still leaving it standing at quite the angle.



The bad news:

it still isn't finished




The worse news:

So far to this guy I have paid approximately 2400 dollars in $$$ and part for labor swap. Out of the 2300+, the parts that he bought were:
rear tire
250 to powdercoater
250 to welding the ex box to fit
brake pads
a chain
a rear sprocket
probably a couple miscellaneous small parts like banjo bolts, etc
vht paint (btw despite my specific instructions that were repeated he bought a different brand)



I went upstairs to check the curing instructions on the engine online at the end of the night and his girlfriend had laid out the bill saying I had almost 5K left to pay, with a gross labor charge of $6000



Two deposits ago, he said that I had already covered up to where we were, and that thisdeposit covered the prep and painting.  I said after the deposit I said:  "How many hours are we looking at left here?"  He said 6.  I said let's call it 8.  He said ok, we'll say 8 and come in under and leave you happy.


Now we are at approximately 5K left?  I'm 25 and not rich- not even CLOSE.  I worked through this with him in conversations and all the sudden I saw this BOMB of bullsh!t?

I brought the bill downstairs and told him I was in shock and that he and I had specifically discussed this.  At first he said the bill was "more than reasonable", then after i started talking with him he said "tell you what" and he tore it up and said he and his girlfriend and I would sit down together and talk about it, noting though, that everything goes through her, and wanting to know where i thought it should be so that he could talk to her.  I just reiterated that I was in shock, and that he and I had discussed this months ago.   

What the hell am I supposed to do?



I need a garage and tools :-(

[aaronb]

wow.  just wow.

did you get an initial quote in writing?  going from 6-8 to 60 hours (at $100/hour) is not an acceptable practice

also if he used vht paint on the pipes it will all burn of very quickly.  near your engine the pipe can reach temps in excess of 1000F (ever see them glow?  that starts around 1100F).  your only option for the pipes is ceramic coating. 

[EvilSteve]

I'm sorry that this his happening dude. To be honest, you're getting into lawyer territory if the guy's not willing to work with you on costs. Sounds as though you should be discussing with the girlfriend and not him. Also, you'll want anything you have in writing.

Good luck.

[roy-nexus-6]

Ok. Like you, I'm prepared to go so far... but then no further.

Basically, my strategy would be to make things sooooo uncomfortable for him that the ONLY thing he wants to do is finish your bike, and get it out of the shop for the price you agreed upon.

1. I would write all of this down in a formal document. Refer to any emails that you still have, and refer back to all of the conversations you've had with this guy (specially about parts/labor etc). For example, when you agreed on the price,.. did you email any friends to tell them about the great deal you'd organized?

2. email a copy to him.

3. contact consumer affairs (of the equivalent government department). In Australia, it is possible to lodge a complaint for as little as $60. Most businesses will bend over backwards to avoid going before consumer affairs - it goes on their record etc, looks bad. Also, given what you've told me, consumer affairs would most likely side with you.

$5000 for labor? What, $100 per hour for 50 hours? I don't think so.

If consumer affairs doesn't exist, you might want to think about getting a lawyer to draft a formal complaint, and ship THAT off to him.

Remember! His pain is your gain! When the work is done, you have it checked by a dealer - make sure it is all up to spec.