How do you guys deal with delays? - Lateral-g Forums

427gt500E · #1 05-12-2010, 03:48 PM

I'm very frustrated right now guys and I guess I need to vent a bit.My Kama Kaase pro touring Mustang was supposed to be finished May 31st.I signed the contact September 1st 2009 and the builder said there was no problem with having the car finished within the contract date.It's clearly obvious the car will not be completed on time.

A few days ago I told them they better have the car finished by June 30th and they agreed.Now they tell me they need more time and promise to have it to me by July 31st.

Now I know it takes time to build a car from ground up and they have alot of builds going on but it still pisses me off.I don't want to rush them and get a poor quality job.

So what do I do? Just sit back and say ok,no problem,when ever it's finished is ok? How would you guys handle this?

gearheads78 · #2 05-12-2010, 04:04 PM

If you are only talking a few months I would not sweat it. Its when they start adding years you should worry.

awr68 · #3 05-12-2010, 04:26 PM

Best thing you can do is keep in contact with them and have them sign an updated agreed contract...I know you already tried the contract thing and it didn't work...but at least they know you are serious about getting your car this summer.

Frank would say from day one the contract should have stated that for every day they go past the contracted delivery date money comes off the final bill....and for every day you would hold up the project/final payment you pay them storage fees.

You don't want to have this ruin the build or friendship you hopefully have with the builder...but as they get tired and you get anxious things can get weird. You really just have to ride it out and keep everything civil...it's best for all involved.

Best of luck with this! And remember great things come to those that wait!!

dhutton · #4 05-12-2010, 04:33 PM

Unless you see some kind of reasonably detailed project plan I would not place too much faith in any promised delivery dates. If you are happy with the quality that is more than half the battle. Sometimes patience is the only cure for something like this.

Don

**out2kayak** · #5 05-12-2010, 04:53 PM

Agreed that a few months does not a crisis make. Patience is the key, but there is a few things you can do.

First, I would do is push a bit harder in terms of actively going there weekly and checking on progress. Not to be an a**hole or anything, but you don't want your project getting bumped for other projects around the shop.

Second, make it clear that no money will be paid until the work is actually performed and stick to it. Payments are rendered when milestones are achieved and not before.

Personally, if it takes a few more months to ensure a solid build, I would have no problem with it. If its that there were other priorities and yours is not done because your priority was not as high, that's another story. They may simply be bad at estimating the tasks or the job was bigger (i.e. have to deal with more issues) than they thought.

Thoughts?

-- Joe

Vegas69 · #6 05-12-2010, 05:00 PM

I've built a majority of my car and unexpected delays and problems come almost daily. As said, if you are happy with the quality and price of the work, be patient. These things don't go together as easy as it looks. I've been in the hurry up and wait mode back when I was in your stage. It can be brutal. Nothing happens fast building these things except for the flow of money. I'd try to take on a new perspective and think of the finish line. What other choice do you really have? None that make any sense. There are many guys around here that have been bent over after waiting years and have nothing of value to show for it.

Camaroguy · #7 05-12-2010, 05:10 PM

Have you made any changes along the way? Most builds change quite a few times as they go along. Also, is this the only project they are working on at the moment? If so and you are happy with the car I would be patient but keep close tabs!

realcoray · #8 05-12-2010, 05:57 PM

To me it would depend on what was the cause of the delay. I've had to wait months for parts for example (I just ordered something this week and only after it went through did they note it was back ordered..), and it seems unreasonable to hold people to a schedule when there were outside supplier issues.

I would of course make sure to visit regularly to see that work is being done and they aren't trashing on some other persons car while yours sits around.

I personally do all my own work at a very slow pace so nothing other than my own work ethic delays my project but I like the idea of, if there is a strict deadline set, having the cost go down.

awr68 · #9 05-12-2010, 06:21 PM

All good points Guys! Stay positive!

427gt500E · #10 05-13-2010, 04:48 AM

Thanks for the tips guys and listening to my rant

The car is being built 1500 miles away in another state so stopping by every so often is not an option.

I haven't changed the build at all.I was very complete in what I wanted when I signed the contract.They did take on too much work at once as they have about 15 or so custom builds going on now.Everyone's car is late including mine.

It's one excuss after another and it's getting very old.We do have a 100.00 a day penalty for every day the car is late but I know they will not comply with it.

Basically I'm all paid up.The situation is kind of conveluted and complicated to explain at this time but in reality I really don't owe them anything.I know they are not out to screw me or anyone else for that matter.