Well it's been coming for a while i guess but it finally happened over the weekend.i made the decision that i can no longer be bothered with time wasting idiots.
I'm 44 & have been painting cars since i was 14 and have always loved painting, now that in its self seperated me from most painters, they do it because it's a job but i DID it because i truly loved painting. I've worked out what's put me in this mindset.THAT chevy truck (those of you that know will know & those of you who don't, do a MB search of my username) I've done a few repaints of cars since then but my heart has never been in it like it used to be. Also the fact that i have ALWAYS gone out of my way to do a good job for, as some of you know, not alot of money (the love of painting again) but do any of these people show any appreciation.like h*ll they do. So i'm out of the car painting business now. I'll stick to my art (airbrushed ink on canvas) and the small commissions i get (i get lots of small jobs to do like sewing machines, helmets, bicycle frames & motorbike tins).
So this is to the owner of THAT chev', THANKS FOR SUCKING THE FUN OUTA PAINTING.
NEVER thought it'd happen but i'm out.
/ rant.
thejazzpianoma,
Jul 30, 7:16am
Sad to hear that attitudedesignz,
Unfortunately we live in a world surrounded by moron's. I certainly appreciate how much they car ruin your day. The thing is though, if you let them alter your behavior when you don't want them too. they have won.
By all means take a break, give them the finger and vent. But if painting cars is something you would like to enjoy doing for others again don't let some fool stop you. Just learn from the experience and set things up on your own terms as best you can to avoid the same scenario again.
Having been in similar shoes, I can fully appreciate your position but this worked for me to get over things. Great to hear you are enjoying your other work though, you are clearly a talented guy its sad to hear this has got you down.
intrade,
Jul 30, 7:20am
hmmm i dont know i think you should keep doing it but only for good people. Do you have a spray booth for cars!
bellky,
Jul 30, 7:34am
"So this is to the owner of THAT chev', THANKS FOR SUCKING THE FUN OUTA PAINTING."
Well the guy^ was an idiot. Who would get rid of harlequin flames on black, and replace it with just plain black, and expect it to be better!
trogedon,
Jul 30, 7:36am
I agree with intrade. Sound people out. If they??
smac,
Jul 30, 7:42am
That fact that you've come to this decision based on dealings with a customer, and the fact you feel the need to announce it here tell me (IMHO) that you do what you do not for the love of it necessarily (or totally), but for the recognition you receive from it.
As such, you'll always be happier doing it for recognition (i.e. sell your art) rather than as a service (being paid to paint).
It's a small distinction, but an important one.
friendly_prawn,
Jul 30, 7:51am
I knew a guy that was an amazing painter and panel beater. Super quick turn around when he wanted too and amazingly good work. Problem was he just had a mad touch to him. I could see everyone was just using the guy. Taking advantage of his kindness. he would do great work and get paid very little for most jobs.
I gave him my mrs car to do, but went out of my way to help the guy and had every intention of paying him well for the job. I started buying a few extra parts he needed etc. Helping him out with odd jobs etc just to show some appreciation. Before I knew it months had gone by and my mrs car was still there. Nothing I could do would encourage him to finish it. My (then) mrs bowled around there one day and gave him the riot act. Tore strips out of him. With in a couple of days it was all fixed and returned. he did a brilliant job too. attitudedesignz mad people are in all walks of life.I find as a rule the more you go out of your way to help people the worse they treat you. They start to take advantage and start taking you as a fool. Not every one obviously but lots do.
There is a saying I love, 'no great deed shall go unpunished"I live by that.
It is hard to weed out the users from the rats.I think you got to treat everyone as untrustworthy until you learn to trust that they are prepared to give and take.
The other rule I live by is never expect anything in return.
If I do help some body I never expect anything in return, unless stipulated first. That way you are never dissapointed. Just some thoughts for you mate.
friendly_prawn,
Jul 30, 8:01am
a friend of mine used to go around to an old folks home to drop off vegetables. He was a market gardener. Regularly with out fail when he went in to town he would do the rounds. Some time went by where he wasnt able to show upfor what ever reason. The next time he showed up to talk to them they went crook at him demanding to know where their veges were. True story. Unfortunately that is often human nature.
beno,
Jul 30, 8:12am
Hey Atitude, You're not alone, I had a lovely little panel and paint business too, but because i'm a generous person got ripped off enough times to never want to repair another car again. state insurance pricing structure didnt help any either. this industry used to be well paid but not any more. I even walked away from my last job because i couldnt face doing it anymore. I'm a panel and paint teacher now.
attitudedesignz,
Jul 30, 8:23am
Funny you should say that mate.
A couple of years ago i was offered a job as a tutor here in Taranaki at a well established training facility. I thought sweet, i'll be able to teach some young'ins the trade AND keep my hand in.BUT NO, half of them wanted to learn and the other half just wanted to f about, problem was, the half that did want to learn only wanted to know how to paint things matte black and nothing else. So that was dissapointing.
fordkiwi27,
Jul 30, 8:26am
damn i was going to take you up my ambulance for a 1k repaint!
friendly_prawn,
Jul 30, 8:39am
been a long night for me with out sleep as you can tell from my rambling above Im brain dead today. Shortened version. you just got to harden up mate. And I dont mean that in an unkind way. The more you let people take advantage the more they often do. Now thats what I think I was trying to say. lol
edangus,
Jul 30, 8:50am
Sounds, very similar to my reason for walking away from the industry.
Still faff about occasionally, but usually for Jack Schmidt and only for deserving people.
Nowadays I actually spend more time buying cars for other people. Its fun, and it costs next to nothing (mainly time and a bit of gas). The satisfaction you get from matching the right car at the right price to the right person is enough to keep it as an entertaining hobby.
beno,
Jul 30, 8:53am
when I quit, I went fencing for a summer. basically digging holes and mixing concrete. I found it very theraputic. no troubles or customers bitching cos theres a microscopic bit of dust in the paint. a nice out side job keeping fit and never in the same place for too long. "A change is as good as a break" as the cliche' goes.
elect70,
Jul 30, 12:10pm
Same with mostself employed trades ,If thepowers that be dontget to you then a hloe clients , &bad or non payers eventuallydo.Mate had his ownspray & panel shop but chucked it in & now wrecks computers for scrap .Another was deisel mech, fixing contractors machinesall hours, chucked it &drives a logging truck now .I am not faraway from iteither .
gunhand,
Jul 30, 12:29pm
Its the same everywhere mate. Im doing a long term project thats involved alot of work for very little. Its been over 5 years worth off and on. It will be some unit when complete though latter this year. Trouble is the owner will spend $90 bucks on 4 stainless bolts but cough at the price of a ltr of paint. I rarely do homers now. I give a price and if they moan, tuff. People can be very hard work and all you need is on Ahole who once used a spray can to paint his sisters boyfriendsmothersmailbox to ruin ya day cause he found a bit of dirt on the lower sill. I do notice of late in a few car mags have done articles on resprays saying just how long it takes to do things for that show job.The best one was an Aussie book who said one car took at least 100 hours of polishing.Thats 5k at a messly $50 an hour. Most want the panel, paint ,polish and parts for that. And I bet the ones who moan wouldnt budge a $1 on there rates. But least ya still doin some work. I dont think i would want to be a proddy line painter either somehow, get boring real quick.
jason18,
Jul 30, 1:07pm
I love your work mate. Just do it for the real people out there. Sound them out like has been said above. If my brother wasnt a painter. I would happily bring my XA to you
darryl,
Jul 30, 2:22pm
That's a shame.
On the reverse side. I'm sick of some panel and paint guys seeing me as a walking wallet because I'm restoring a classic carLoL
Customers are arses. The only thing is - they don't kow they're arses.
gunhand,
Jul 30, 2:27pm
How is you feel like that! what experinces put you off! And do you think they were over charging and how did you decide this!Not trying to sound smart arsed if that how it may sound but curious thats all.
whqqsh,
Jul 30, 2:32pm
unfortunately the world today is sucking the life out of most trades & good tradesmen, I never thought Id have the attitude I have today but sadly been dragged down to the lowest levels too. Hope you find happiness in your other endevours
darryl,
Jul 30, 2:34pm
Went to a panel shop and enquired about quotes, and when they could do a quote. The guy asked what I had and without seeing the vehicle or its condition, or even asking what type of job I was after - out came $15k
This guy must be psychic. All he had to go on was make model and year.
smac,
Jul 30, 2:36pm
I've found P&P guys the worst at assuming they know the customer and/or their car better than they do themselves. eg I had one place not even bother to get back to me with the quote after they'd spent about 20 mins going over the car. I contacted and asked why not, they guy just shrugged and said "but it would have been a couple of grand".He just lost himself a $2000 job, that was exactly what I was expecting to pay. Had another one not bother doing inside the door closure (exposed when doors open). Reason: it's almost the same colour, and it's only a mini.
SO it goes both ways with the whole tradie vs customer thing.
gunhand,
Jul 30, 2:37pm
Yea he must be lol, but in saying that he prob new a reasonble resto costs and went with it. And some just throw a price out there hoping to scare you off. But without seeing it!And for a full resto 15k would be cheap. But not the topic so Ill stop lol.
darryl,
Jul 30, 2:42pm
True - it's shame to see a tradesperson who's doing it because they enjoy it-stop doing it. And taking pride in their work.
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