Had a customer bring in a 2018 Ford F-150 with a deep scratch on the passenger door that went down to bare metal.

The owner wanted it fixed cheap and fast, so I had to choose between a quick spot repair with rattle can paint or doing a full door panel blend. I went with the blend because the metallic silver was a three-stage paint, and I knew a spot fix would flash and look awful in sunlight. It took me about four hours total, including color sanding and clear coat. The customer wasn't happy about the extra $300 cost at first, but when he saw the match under the shop lights, he admitted it was perfect. It's tough when you know the right way costs more, but cutting corners just comes back to bite you. What do you guys do when a customer pushes hard for the cheapest possible repair?

2 comments

2 Comments

caleb_ross121d ago

That metallic silver is a nightmare to match. I've seen plenty of spot repairs on those trucks that look fine in the garage but turn into a shiny blotch in direct sun. Sometimes a cheaper fix is just throwing money away.

sage_ramirez421d ago

Ugh tell me about it, is there any color harder to get right? My neighbor's car got a cheap silver repair last year and it looks like a weird mirror patch when the sun hits it. They basically paid to make the dent LESS noticeable and ended up highlighting it instead. Total waste of cash for something you have to stare at every day.