[slh0616]

I took my brand new ZL1 in to get PPF, paint correction and ceramic coating done by a local tint/graphics shop. When I went in to check out what they offer they had a hellcat/GT350 and a few other high end cars that looked great. After calling around their prices were reasonable and I set up the service. They told me that they would need the car for a week. I dropped it monday (this past holiday week) and as I never heard anything from them I decided to stop in Friday to see the progress and check when it would be done.

When coming into the shop the owner was talking to some other potential customers and the secretary was working the desk. I asked to see my car and the secretary said that no one is allowed in the back to see their ride until it is ready (which would be mid next week). I told her that I have paid a lot of money for the service and would like to see my car. The shop owner spoke up and said that he was to busy and that no one is going in the shop today or any other day. Mind you this is with a bit of attitude.

Now, I am annoyed that a shop told me that I couldn't see my own, very expensive car that I bought a week ago and that I had already had a 50% deposit on (1700).
Am I the asshole for checking up on them? Should I be annoyed? Should I take action or just let it slide and give them a ball of cash next week? Im irritated... what would yall do?

[John_S]

Honestly man, it may not seem "right". But let the man work on your car. Worse case scenario is he is backed up and it takes more than a week. Do you think your paint or body work is damaged? I hope you took photos of your car before you brought it in then. Do I think your an asshole? Absolutely not! I would say I do not agree with their business polices. But what can you do? Its not your business. I would just hope it doesn't take more than 2 weeks, because that is just laziness on the business owners part. Also I do not know the guy, just a rando on the internet giving my $0.02. Your car will be fine, hopefully, I would rather wait a little longer than expected and have my car be looking detailed, shiny and pretty, then have no paint protection. The paint correction job you had him do, could possibly even take 3-5 days depending on how much they care and how much you paid. I had a 3 day detail done before on my last car. But it was on the extreme ends things of bad so that could just be an outlier. Anyway good luck and keep us updated on your experience & whether to avoid this shop in the future or not.

[hawk02]

I've spent close to $10K at Esoteric Fine Auto Detailing in New Albany, Ohio on paint correction, paint protection film, and coatings on two vehicles. Esoteric has always encouraged and welcomed my presence at their shop to see the progress of the work.

I would be more than a little perturbed If I was told I couldn't see my car. I'm guessing they don't want you to see the car because they haven't even started the work. With the kind of attitude you describe the shop owner displayed toward you, I would request my deposit back and take the car somewhere else. There are plenty of qualified installers out there that will provide better customer service than you're getting.

[396ssrat]

Can't see my car? Neither can you bring it out because it's going home with me now. Never pay an upfront deposit. If your word is not good, neither is theirs.

[Smokin19]

I am in Cincy also, who did you go to? I would never give money up front but, that's just me. Being a holiday week, they might not have started yet.

[Anim8er]

Same here... I took my garnet red 2018 ZL-1 convertible to AMC Customs in Amherst, OH. While I didn't want to get in the way, I wanted to see their process. Mark took his time on the vehicle, did all the paint correction and ceramic coated the exterior, did the interior treatment, the wheels, convertible top and windshield.

There wasn't an issue with me seeing them work on my vehicle, so I guess my only presumption is that they hadn't even gotten your vehicle into the schedule yet.

If you have any trouble with that detailer, come visit AMC Customs. Cinci to Akron isn't that far... (I had two that attended UC and have made that drive dozens of times)

Good luck!

[24v]

Not a chance in hell my car would go into a shop that would not let me see it while it was there. Obviously there is a line to be drawn, i.e. don't go check on the car more than every few days at the most, but to not see it at all? Nope. I would tell them to bring it outside, then decide what the next move was based on their demeanor and the condition of my vehicle.

[Sakudog]

Seems shady AF dude, hope it works out for you.

[harner]

I can understand if they don't want you in a clean room. I could also understand if they told you that you cannot see your car due to insurance requirements or something, but they are just being shady. Let them finish the work and show up when they said it'll be done. Good luck.

[Apexslayer]

That seems a little weird, but he may have a bad experience with folks in the work area in the past. I worked with Brad at Custom Shield in Cleveland and his service work was excellent. I could stop by anytime (though i didn't want to get in the way of his working).

[24v]

Not wanting customers in the work area is understandable. No reason he can't let the guy look through the door or something though.

[Heartbreaker]

Originally Posted by slh0616

I took my brand new ZL1 in to get PPF, paint correction and ceramic coating done by a local tint/graphics shop. When I went in to check out what they offer they had a hellcat/GT350 and a few other high end cars that looked great. After calling around their prices were reasonable and I set up the service. They told me that they would need the car for a week. I dropped it monday (this past holiday week) and as I never heard anything from them I decided to stop in Friday to see the progress and check when it would be done.

When coming into the shop the owner was talking to some other potential customers and the secretary was working the desk. I asked to see my car and the secretary said that no one is allowed in the back to see their ride until it is ready (which would be mid next week). I told her that I have paid a lot of money for the service and would like to see my car. The shop owner spoke up and said that he was to busy and that no one is going in the shop today or any other day. Mind you this is with a bit of attitude.

Now, I am annoyed that a shop told me that I couldn't see my own, very expensive car that I bought a week ago and that I had already had a 50% deposit on (1700).
Am I the asshole for checking up on them? Should I be annoyed? Should I take action or just let it slide and give them a ball of cash next week? Im irritated... what would yall do?

I would get my car back and take it to Esoteric. You are close to them. TP

[Alain]

Don’t give that dude your business. Take the car back.

[atiprocharger]

Take it back. Get your car done somewhere else.