aikmanmosquito Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 Following on with my previous post titled 'Advice needed', I'd thought I'd post some photos to see what others feel about my restoration, it wasn't cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 Without wishing to detract from the seriousness of your concerns, I think the "face" is trying to say something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikmanmosquito Posted September 5, 2022 Author Share Posted September 5, 2022 That it's a poor restoration that cost it's owner a fair amount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirhc Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 I think that rather than asking for our opinions you need to be talking the company you paid to do the work. You are the customer and they should be ensuring customer satisfaction. If you can’t get any resolution then you might need to take it further. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/somethings-gone-wrong-with-a-purchase/complain-about-a-service/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rootes75 Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 Apologies for asking this if you have already covered it but did you inspect it before accepting or making the final payments and also did they supply updates on the restoration as it was going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikmanmosquito Posted September 5, 2022 Author Share Posted September 5, 2022 My problem was distance, without giving away who restored it, I am around 440 miles from their premises, they had come highly recommended, but haven't lived up to expectations. I was sent a few pictures even though I asked for detailed updates, pictures weren't great. I had complained not long after receiving it home as there are paint runs all over the Jeep, and new welds just left and very poor, however since then more serious issues have arisen like a supposed engine rebuild which i was charged close to £4000 for hasn't happened, and panels I'd supplied to be fitted, haven't been fitted and cheaper alternatives thrown on. I'm on here to ask for people's opinions incase some people might think I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill as some people don't bother about detail on a Jeep. I think the issue is my original tub has a few battle scars, restorer was adamant he wanted to fit a repro tub, but I stuck to my guns and he badly restored my tub, clearly with the view that since I'm happy with the original battle scars I won't care if the rest of the Jeep looks like crap. It can all be put right, but after spending what I have I feel I shouldn't spend any more money to put right someone's shoddy work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 l think you have every right to be angry at the lack of workmanship and attention to detail and all any one can say has been said l would be ashamed if that had left my workshop 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oats and barley Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 5 hours ago, aikmanmosquito said: My problem was distance, without giving away who restored it, I am around 440 miles from their premises, they had come highly recommended, but haven't lived up to expectations. I was sent a few pictures even though I asked for detailed updates, pictures weren't great. I had complained not long after receiving it home as there are paint runs all over the Jeep, and new welds just left and very poor, however since then more serious issues have arisen like a supposed engine rebuild which i was charged close to £4000 for hasn't happened, and panels I'd supplied to be fitted, haven't been fitted and cheaper alternatives thrown on. I'm on here to ask for people's opinions incase some people might think I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill as some people don't bother about detail on a Jeep. I think the issue is my original tub has a few battle scars, restorer was adamant he wanted to fit a repro tub, but I stuck to my guns and he badly restored my tub, clearly with the view that since I'm happy with the original battle scars I won't care if the rest of the Jeep looks like crap. It can all be put right, but after spending what I have I feel I shouldn't spend any more money to put right someone's shoddy work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oats and barley Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 440 miles ? were they in Cornwall or Iceland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesswdg3 Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 Well looks like someone needs to go on a welding course for a start. As to the standard of resto' and what you paid, only you can judge if it was fair. Resto' is not cheap of course and some folk (not necessarily you) are shocked by the cost of good work. Pay peanuts and get monkeys, but as I said, only you can be the judge based on what you have supplied here. If you are not satisfied and there are some real problems (eg engine), as opposed to leaving in some "patina" (or skimping!), then you should have recourse to a fix, but good luck with that and oftentimes it is easier on the heart to just swallow it and move on. But its good you posted this and a warning to others to make sure they choose a good restorer and keep up with the work as it proceeds, in person and via photos, but at the end of the day, you ARE pretty much at the restorers mercy, so choose well! I had a Dodge WC54 restored for me up in Yorkshire by some great lads and that was a nice experience and wonderful to see quality work produced; I visited the build several times and they supplied heaps of photos during the work and that was a difficult job too......it can be done, but as you have found, it is not without risk!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikmanmosquito Posted September 6, 2022 Author Share Posted September 6, 2022 15 hours ago, oats and barley said: 440 miles ? were they in Cornwall or Iceland Where I live is irrelevant? The Fact is I was so far away as there was absolutely no one closer who restored Jeeps, I'd contacted local garages but was told they'd had no experience with Jeeps and weren't interested! I'd rather have gone locally as it would have saved me the small fortune to have the Jeep transported there and back!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikmanmosquito Posted September 6, 2022 Author Share Posted September 6, 2022 49 minutes ago, matchlesswdg3 said: Well looks like someone needs to go on a welding course for a start. As to the standard of resto' and what you paid, only you can judge if it was fair. Resto' is not cheap of course and some folk (not necessarily you) are shocked by the cost of good work. Pay peanuts and get monkeys, but as I said, only you can be the judge based on what you have supplied here. If you are not satisfied and there are some real problems (eg engine), as opposed to leaving in some "patina" (or skimping!), then you should have recourse to a fix, but good luck with that and oftentimes it is easier on the heart to just swallow it and move on. But its good you posted this and a warning to others to make sure they choose a good restorer and keep up with the work as it proceeds, in person and via photos, but at the end of the day, you ARE pretty much at the restorers mercy, so choose well! I had a Dodge WC54 restored for me up in Yorkshire by some great lads and that was a nice experience and wonderful to see quality work produced; I visited the build several times and they supplied heaps of photos during the work and that was a difficult job too......it can be done, but as you have found, it is not without risk!! I paid £21000, and that wasn't even for a finished Jeep! (my choice) but over and above that I supplied all the canvas, seats, and rear panel brackets etc. So I do feel he had a good laugh. I mean he charged me £2000 for a bare M38 engine block, that he then covered in grinding marks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Signals Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 Name and shame mate! It might be a case of last resort but it will help others avoid the particular individual. If he is a member of this forum then he has the opportunity to come forward and defend his work. If he isn't, then the loss of future work through this forum might eventually get back to him? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikmanmosquito Posted September 6, 2022 Author Share Posted September 6, 2022 56 minutes ago, No Signals said: Name and shame mate! It might be a case of last resort but it will help others avoid the particular individual. If he is a member of this forum then he has the opportunity to come forward and defend his work. If he isn't, then the loss of future work through this forum might eventually get back to him? I've been advised not to name at this time, as I may be getting a lawyer involved, but when the time comes I do plan on letting everyone who owns a Jeep see the standard of this apparent specialists work. He's also not fitted good quality panels I've supplied, but pocketed them and fitted cheaper alternatives, which he's then charged me for!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rootes75 Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 If that's the case with not using the good panels you've supplied and then keeping them that's pretty poor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikmanmosquito Posted September 6, 2022 Author Share Posted September 6, 2022 3 minutes ago, Rootes75 said: If that's the case with not using the good panels you've supplied and then keeping them that's pretty poor. Not 100% sure on this, but I supplied hat channels from Joes Motor Pool with the wood inserts, have just discovered there are no wood inserts within any of the hat channels, and I suspect rather than fitting these, the restorer put in a cheaper front floor with channels already in situ, which he claims is a Joes Motor Pool one, in the process of having panel identify confirmed by said company Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 Why have you left it 20 weeks before deciding the work was so poor, a quick walk round would have identified most of the problems on the day it was collected/delivered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchlesswdg3 Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 "I paid £21000, and that wasn't even for a finished Jeep! " Cripes! IMHO you were really ripped off! At the end of the day, the humble Jeep is a very simple vehicle and with all the tinware you supplied, the result should have been 100% and you are 100% justified in feeling properly done over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikmanmosquito Posted September 7, 2022 Author Share Posted September 7, 2022 14 hours ago, radiomike7 said: Why have you left it 20 weeks before deciding the work was so poor, a quick walk round would have identified most of the problems on the day it was collected/delivered? I initially complained to him within the first few weeks, however then I just thought it was paint runs and a few bad welds, since then I have thoroughly checked the Jeep over. I work for myself and as many will know family life gets in the way. But whether I live in Cornwall, or Timbuctoo, or whether I complained within the first five minutes or 20 weeks later! the actual issue here is that I paid a so called well known Jeep expert to restore my Jeep, and he took the P well and truly and laughed all the way to the bank. It may have to go to a lawyer, but I will name this person when the time is rights, as no one else deserves to have their Jeep thrown together the way he's done to mine, as someone on here rightfully said, it's all fixable, but I am not prepared to spend any more money rectifying someone's shoddy workmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rootes75 Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 Can I ask what his response has been when you have raised concerns? Has he been open to explain anything or review his work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikmanmosquito Posted September 7, 2022 Author Share Posted September 7, 2022 18 minutes ago, Rootes75 said: Can I ask what his response has been when you have raised concerns? Has he been open to explain anything or review his work? Initially when I complained, his response was honestly one of, what are you complaining about! My Jeeps tub has a few dents, battle scars etc, we at the beginning spent a week arguing back and forth as he was adamant he was binning my tub and putting on a repro new one, I have since deduced he prefers to do this as it's an easy restoration for him, and the finished Jeep looks good. I actually threatened to take my Jeep back, (now wish I had) so he relented and repaired it, although badly! His response to my complaint was, the jeep is covered in dents, what's your problem, however he threw a few tins of paint at me as I was quite prepared to rectify the smaller issues myself, then more and more serious issues appeared and now it's got beyond this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAmericanPatriot Posted September 9, 2022 Share Posted September 9, 2022 On 9/6/2022 at 7:45 AM, aikmanmosquito said: I've been advised not to name at this time, as I may be getting a lawyer involved, but when the time comes I do plan on letting everyone who owns a Jeep see the standard of this apparent specialists work. He's also not fitted good quality panels I've supplied, but pocketed them and fitted cheaper alternatives, which he's then charged me for!!! I cant say much for the rest of the ordeal but that alone is enough to justify the way you feel i would say. Him doing that is flat out absurd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rangie Posted October 1, 2022 Share Posted October 1, 2022 Any progress on this? Alec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aikmanmosquito Posted October 1, 2022 Author Share Posted October 1, 2022 Thanks for the interest. Well, the guy who restored it has agreed to refund me around a third what I paid him, as well as return items I'd supplied and he for some unfathomable reason had decided not to fit!! I'm happy enough to take my time and rectify these areas and will do so over this winter ready to hopefully enjoy the Jeep next year. It's taught me a valuable lesson, not to trust anyone working on my cars again. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted November 17, 2022 Share Posted November 17, 2022 At least some compromise was reached but I can totally understand how you feel. Hopefully next year you get to properly enjoy your ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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