PSTOC Forum

I've had a terrible, terrible experience at this shop. The bottom line is that although I gave this company a chance to fix their mistakes, as no one is perfect and auto repair is probably difficult, they shouldn't need[color="Red"] 6[/color] chances.

Here's my story/saga:

• My Corolla was hit head on in suicide lane by idiot driver of SUV Dec 08
• Towed to Precision Collision after a recommendation by a coworker
• Went over car damage with them, needed new hood, headlight, fog light, bumper, fender, paint, clear coat
• Was called 10 days later that the car was ready
• Upon arrival, the hood was crooked and the front of my car wasn't symmetrical in the SLIGHTEST. They send a tech out to "bang on it" and slightly adjusted it. Made it better, but still not perfect. They said that's as good as they could get it......... (I don't understand since it's all new "OEM" parts they should fit perfectly...)
• I take the car home & wash it a few days later after the new paint/clear coat has cured- notice the paint was chipped off in a large area on the fender, the area where they worked.
• Took it back, they denied chipping the pain but I insisted that I didn't do it, and considering the chip was UNDER the clear coat, it was clearly them. They agree to fix the paint.
• I go to pick up my car a day or two later, and notice they just painted a quick layer over the chip and the existing clear coat- very noticeable; there was a huge indent where the original paint was missing!
• They show it to their painter and they agree to sand the area down and repaint/coat it all.
• I go to pick the car up a day or two later and the side molding that they had to remove to sand and repaint the area was coming off my car, literally hanging by a small sticky area. The adhesive needed to be replaced, which apparently took 2 MORE days.
• I go to pick up my car again and notice that ALL over the top surfaces of my paint (hood, top, trunk, spoiler) were these cloady blemishes in the clear coat that I couldn't wash, wax, or rub out. See picture here:
  
• I take the car back in, showing them what had happened. They said this happens when they repaint cars and water gets under the plastic when they "bake" the car. They buff it out.
• Two weeks later, the cloudy blotches return! They get progressively worse as the week goes on, especially out in the sun. I decide at this point to get management involved. I call their corporate manager and explain my story. They had their "best shop tech" come look at it and said they needed to wet sand all the top surfaces of my car. :/ So they take it to their shop and then drive it back.
• So far, it hasn't come back, but they really sanded down a lot of my clear coat..........

Terrible, terrible experience.

you know I have to admit, I went into this thinking, CRAP. Another newbie getting on the boards with an agenda to just flame. After reading your review, I really appreciate the balanced and fair look you gave and then REALLY apprecaite that you took the time to post it here. Its this kind of stuff that really does come in handy when you want to make a decision, and its really really nice to just get the facts!

Thanks for the review and hold thier feet to the fire! Never surrender and never give up!!!!!! It's thier responsibility to fix the damage to new or like new condition and its your right to not accept anything nearly right or good enough.

thanks for the info. and i agree they should do the job right the first time no matter how long it takes. it just seem like they were trying to rush through it and get it out of their way.

Sara, just to let you know, that Fenders and Fins in Woodinville is the best shop of all time... OF ALL TIME!!!

Sorry you had to go through that. Shops like this are hard to get moving when it comes to re-work, but I'm glad it worked out for you in the end!

But really, if you need an amazing shop for insurance work in the future, give them a hollar. (I say insurance because normal work would be a bit more expensive than the run-of-the-mill shop. This place does show quality work)

Good to see someone tell a story like this. I dealt with that shop, as a used parts supplier, for many years. Personaly, I'd never use them ... or any of that particular "chain".

Reality is, it's tough to find a good body shop, as the employees move around quite often. Your friend probably had work done, when they had some "good" guys working there.

Being out of the industry for awhile, I don't even know where the guys I'd want working on my cars are anymore

Best bet, is a small independant shop, like mentioned above. Find one that isn't a "chain" . get them to let you look at a few cars they are working on, look at letters on the walls from happy customers, etc. -- IE. -- do your homework -- not just 1 persons experience/referal.

I went and looked at some of the work that was being done at Precision Collision in Auburn and thought it was pretty good. Doxon Toyota sub's all of their body and paint to them, so I would hope that stands for something...

A lot, depends on who is at "that" shop, at any particular time. Also, Doxon getting work done, vs. you, getting work done .... though there should be NO difference .... who has the bigger check book ?


In my 18 years in the industry "yeah, i'm bring that up - again". The trend = Chain shops change employees, about as often as you buy new shoes. Who has the "best" service writer, most work, paying the best --- that month "not quite, but, you get the idea".

Some of the best body men i know/knew, moved every 6 months, often, back to a shop they were at previously.