Is it common for a restoration shop to...

Hello, looking for a shop to do a restoration on my 70 R/T.The shop I'm currently looking at. Are backed up for about 18 to 24 months. They want $2500 up front to put it in line. Is this normal? It's a non refundable down payment to make sure I take it in. I understand that the shop is just trying to make sure the work is there. But a lot of life can happen in 2 years. Health, accidents, ext. Just wondering if this is a normal deal with most shops

I can only vouch for the shop I used. They only wanted money ($1,000.00) the day it was in their building and before a single tool was used on it. Mind you, it was a 5 month wait, they're super busy too and he's a friend of mine.

Keep looking, any money fronted to a body shop will make no difference and you will get frustrated and look for another shop after three years and won't see your money back. Trust me and several other people who have been in body shop jail, one of my cars has been half completed for 12 years now...

Find another shop. You/they don't even know if they'll be in business in 2 years. I've seen that happen more than once.

i agree find another shop. tell them to put you on the list and you will keep your money until they start. 20-30 deposits and they shut the shop down? nice retirement plan
i have a ex buddy who took 3- 10k deposits on cars and walked away. stripped one to bare metal and kicked it out the door.

It seems to be a business model for shady resto shops to take no-refund deposits and then do nothing but wait until people come back angry and reclaim their stuff a few months or years later. Shop space just sitting there might as well use it to park a car there and make free money is the way they must see it. A shop here that has since closed would charge a small monthly 'storage fee' to keep customers cars inside even when they are not working on it. Most people don't want the hassle of pulling the car out in the middle of it being worked on so they leave it sit and paid it.

Agree with the previous responses.
Another thing to consider: a good shop already has a backlog of work.
There's no need to take a deposit for 18 months or more in the future.
Unless they're robbing Peter to pay Paul, as the old saying goes...

OK, thanks guys. Kind of what I thought. But just wanted to make sure that wasn't common practice. Might have to call a few more shops. Just to get a feel on how everyone does things.

No way I would do that either, maybe put on the list, then a month out give ‘some’ money up front. Another thing, take ALL the parts off yourself that’s not needed for job. A buddy left the whole car after 3 years car was painted and none of the original bolts-screws where left, other parts missing too. They left trunk and under hood unpainted, he complained and they said it gets trunk splatter and painted black underhood! Needless to say use someone who knows Mopar.

not common at all and for 2 years... but I was charged every month for every piece of sandpaper,chemicals, labor and even razor blades, you name it...

I only put money down when I had a date three months from when we were first speaking. Mine was $1800 Canadian.

Then I found out that they were not able to keep up with their overhead as we went along, they would ask for money ahead of work being done.

After a few months got a call on a Thursday to come pick up my car Saturday as they were going out of business, I had two hours to get my car out of there.

Just beware.

Never put money down to wait on a body shop availability. Over the years, I’ve heard dozens of stores of people getting burned on waiting for their car to get done and the shops have never, ever refunded in a single case. One guy out here has been taking peoples money for cars to work on for almost a year, then the guy closes up and declares bankruptcy and people found out some of the cars were striped and parts are now gone.

I’m not seeing the purpose of upfront money on body work, unless it’s to hurt you. It’s not like they will have trouble getting a car for the next slot. Anybody saying they have a years long wait should always be able to get a car in there the next week, so it rings hollow to say they need a commitment from you. If they want money when it goes in to then draw against weekly or monthly I get that.

No way I would do that. When we take in a car then and only then do I take money down. I have never required any certain amount. I always tell the people put down what you can and we work from that. If its a small amount then cross that road when more is needed. I just track materials and time on an excel sheet. When it gets to the point of needing more I email that sheet to the customer so they can see where it is at. I always tell them by all means come in as often as you can and be in contact with me. IT keeps that communication in check. I also tell them that we still have regular work that I have to keep rolling through. This past summer all the shops around our area felt the effects of 2 major storms hitting us. That slowed things down way more than I had hoped for the 2 restos I have going. Seeing where things would be going I made sure I kept in contact with the owners and kept them informed of anything. Thankfully they are understanding and great to work with and for. The end of the day the vehicle owner and shop have to be on the same page and keep in contact. These restos can get out of hand by both parties and if one party is not keeping informed of the other than it sets up a bad ending. Personally I would not put money down to hold a spot. I don't and just keep people informed of the process of the work in house that's going on so as it gets closer to one leaving I can bring in another. If that person finds someone that can get it in sooner. I tell them by all means I hold no ill feelings if that happens. I totally understand and stand behind them in the choice. I did a 68 charger for a guy once. Same time had another guy that wanted to pull his A12 car from one shop and bring it to me. Was up front and told him we could not take it on. He found someone else to finish it. It turned out beautiful. Fast forward a few years and same guy now buys a hemi car. 1st place he calls is me. We took it on and finished it up for him. He has since sold that one and is keeping his eyes open for another 6 pac or hemi car to do and had said when he finds it its coming here. That's how you build work flow not by taking money to, hold a spot and not refund it if they pull it from you.

Just my .02
corey