Project builds and Shops.

[Blake Foster]

http://www.thatvideomagazine.com/newyork/autos/vinny-ten-racing

This pretty much sums it up. There have been a couple threads lately about project builds and costs and there have been HUNDREDS of threads about projects gone wrong, I am not saying everything in this video applies but the majority does.
Some good things for customers to think about in here.

[ironworks]

That video is really a good example of the mentality of the this industry.

Just because it seems like and apple to apple comparison does not mean it's so.

You get what you pay for with completed work

Don't expect professional results from non professionals

If some one has to tell you how good they are or how bad some one else's work is to get your work run.

Find out why cars in a shop are not getting worked on. A professional shop cannot afford to store a project in the shop that is not being worked on.

There are 3 sides to every story

Never trust a shop that needs to be paid for labor up front.

[CRCRFT78]

Good video. He hit the nail on the head towards the end about the kid that wouldn't believe what he saw in front of him but believes the **** on the internet. And the phone ringing made me laugh to.

[raustinss]

video shows the other side ....pretty cool. Vinny makes alot of sense ,makes you think

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Good + Fast = Expensive
Choose good and fast and we will postpone every other job, cancel all appointments and stay up 25-hours a day just to get your job done. But, don't expect it to be cheap.

Good + Cheap = Slow
Choose good and cheap and we will do a great job for a discounted price, but be patient until we have a free moment from paying clients.

Fast + Cheap = Inferior
Choose fast and cheap and expect an inferior job delivered on time. You truly get what you pay for, and in our opinion this is the least favorable choice of the three.


Steve I think Sheck hit the head on the nail with that one.

[Flash68]

I couldn't get through it all (ADHD or something) but I liked his delivery of a message about "looking within" - meaning ask yourself what role you take in the project - both in its successes and its failures. Customers often blame the shop and shops often blame the customer. Lots of huge egos in this car world - on both sides.

How about some good ole fashioned personal accountability? Yeah.

[DBasher]

I couldn't get through it all (ADHD or something).

WTF?! Dave, you're reason this was posted! Guys, the intervention didn't work...we're going to need stronger tactics. :poke:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Also remember that alot of people out there are not looking to build a full on race or immaculate show car. Most of my customers are looking for a clean driver with some nice features. A car one would not be afraid to drive everyday.

I build a few "show cars" and they get 1500 miles a year. seriously. Because the owner is afraid to get hit or stolen. Built a nice driver LS car ($60K) for the same customer and he drives the snot out of it. Original paint interior with DSE everywhere and a crate LS3.

Its all total package around the customers budget and sticking to it.

[GregWeld]

Three cheers for Vinny Ten!

[Nine Ball]

Glad you shared the link. It hits home with many people I know, who should have watched the video before they started their path with the shops they selected. Great comments above, also. These important ones seem to get overlooked the most:


Find out why cars in a shop are not getting worked on. A professional shop cannot afford to store a project in the shop that is not being worked on.

I always try to give advice to shops that stack cars. If they have cars sitting around for months, taking up floor space, or worse - taking up lifts, they need to start charging storage, or tell the owner to come pick the cars up. I know many projects that have gotten stalled due to owners losing jobs, or having cash issues. If I owned the shop, I'd volunteer to tow the car back to their house, get it out of my way. I see shops get taken advantage of, all the time - and they allow it to happen. On the flip side, if you are a shop and you keep taking in cars when you don't have the manpower to work on them, that is also bad business. If your techs spend 30 min a day pushing cars out of the way, pushing cars back in at night, you are wasting your own productive time. 30 min a day, times X number of crew, is a large waste per month - when more work could have been done on cars. Plus, it looks bad from a customer perspective, seeing a field of cars sitting around. It makes me wonder if they ever finish a car. Waiting on parts is a poor excuse, that just shows poor planning. Don't tear a car down, until you have all the parts.

Also remember that alot of people out there are not looking to build a full on race or immaculate show car.

Or race car. Some shops don't seem to listen to their customer, and often want to build what they are known for, or good at building. Build the guy his nice cruiser now, and he might come back later for the rotating table display type build. I've seen cars overbuilt for their intended purpose, and cars ruined by turning them into race cars, instead of drivable cars.

Tony

[SSLance]

Finally watched the video in the OP, I like Vinny! Good points made there.

[Che70velle]

Truth in that video!

[transam]

I wish my friend saw that video before he decided where to take his car.

[Vegas69]

It's not much different than many businesses. People see value as they gain experience and have bad experiences.

He makes it sound like rocket science, it's not. However, the details make the difference. Do what you promised, set expectations, and work hard.

[glassman]

It's not much different than many businesses. People see value as they gain experience and have bad experiences.

He makes it sound like rocket science, it's not. However, the details make the difference. Do what you promised, set expectations, and work hard.

I totally agree with everything said here thus far. Todd, specially true with ALOT of business's. I see it in my industry everyday. I see contractors and homeowners everyday with these same "builder" issues....

What i love about experience and reputation, you can't go into WalMart or Home Depot and "buy" a gallon of experience. Or wait, maybe you can, its in the same aisle as the "elbow grease"......