What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

[Bob B.]

[Joe L.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?


Bob-------


Sure I've thought about it----many times, in fact. That's one of the reasons that I rarely let any of my stuff get out of my control. When it's absolutely necessary, I try to do business only with folks that will commit to a fast turn-around. "Indefinite" or long turn-around time is a prescription for disaster.

If it's a "one-man-band" type of operation and the person dies, about all you can do is to hope that the family will get your stuff back to you or sue the estate for recompense.

[Jim D.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

Like Joe, that's one of the reasons I do all my own work. The only thing I farm out is chrome plating.

[John D.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

Bob, When you deal with a restoration shop or a one man show this is one of the questions you should ask. One that all should be concerned.

Let me jump ahead and tell how I handle the situation. When a job comes in the door and is unboxed it is tagged. Owners paper work, name, engine build date, email address, phone number.
Then the restorer you are dealing with should do like I do with my son. JT knows that a fuel injection unit is not just layind around here with zero paper work involved.

So ask the shop if they do this. If they are lax in doing so be worried. John

[Frank D.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

Bob, When you deal with a restoration shop or a one man show this is one of the questions you should ask. One that all should be concerned.

Let me jump ahead and tell how I handle the situation. When a job comes in the door and is unboxed it is tagged. Owners paper work, name, engine build date, email address, phone number.
Then the restorer you are dealing with should do like I do with my son. JT knows that a fuel injection unit is not just layind around here with zero paper work involved.

So ask the shop if they do this. If they are lax in doing so be worried. John

You are clearly more diligent than a whole lot of restoration shops!

The same issues exist if a shop goes bankrupt or just closes its doors inexplicably one day.
Horror stories abound...

Then there are the stories of 'parts swapping'; I know of one case where 270hp dual quads were swapped out for 245hp versions and the owner didn't discover it before accepting the car back..

There is a risk to giving anyone rare, expensive parts, separately, or, on the car...

[Stuart F.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

Then there is another wrinkle like mine:
My all original 63 was in a full service Corvette shop in Downers Grove, Il in 1993, for some repair work. I was the one who went in for unplanned heart repair work while my car was there. I got it back in reasonable time, but it was several months before I could even go into my garage and look at the car. Over time I discovered a long list of items that had been swapped out including my starter, my carburetor, fan clutch, master cylinder, alternator and others. Their excuse was something like they thought I gave them a blank check to fix anything that they thought needed fixing, and of course all my stuff they said was thrown out in the junk and long gone (sure). It took me years and lots of money to get correct dated parts back.

Stu Fox

[Tom B.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

This is why you fully document every item you send out for restoration with photos of all the numbers and condition. Also get an agreement in writing stating that if any part is not repairable you are contacted before any replacement is made and you get the old part back, junk or not. This is not an unreasonable request. If you are using a one man shop to do several items give them to him one at a time. Much less risk of loosing a bunch of rare parts that way.

Like was said above I never let my rare parts out of my control. I feel that if someone else can rebuild a part I can too. I may need to do a little research and buy some tools but that's never a bad thing. I'll use them again.

Tom

[Bob D.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

When I get a job in, I have a book that I put the owner's name, address, phone number and email, if they send it. I then write down all of the pieces that come in and describe them. I mark the box with their stuff and put a sheet in each box along with the info in the book. My wife knows what to do if I croak. Most of my work is out in 3 to 4 weeks, but I do little jobs so that is an advantage. Also I don't accept any monies until the work is done. My dad was an old Deutscher and believed in order and taught me that.

Bob

[Edward B.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

Hopefully not in your car but, if so, that they are discovered quickly.

[Chris S.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

Bob
When I get a job in - first thing I do is send the owner an email - documenting what I received, how I received it, and parts I received. Many times the first thing I get is a body with no VIN etc... so it is important to document. If guys are stealing and swapping parts SHAME on them. Too bad they do not have integrity and they should be exposed openly. I have MANY high dollar irreplaceable parts. I would never think about selling them or swapping them. I also label everyones parts so everyone knows. Also the owners have access to all their parts. Its called be transparent !!! I feel sometime one man bands are better than large companies. (less likely to lose parts, often there is better quality, etc..) Also I save all the emails between the owner and I ...and I have a folder with receipts etc... Lastly I document repairs with photos and send them to the owner often. When the body or car leaves I burn a CD with all the photos so the owner has a copy

[Frank D.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

Bob
When I get a job in - first thing I do is send the owner an email - documenting what I received, how I received it, and parts I received. Many times the first thing I get is a body with no VIN etc... so it is important to document. If guys are stealing and swapping parts SHAME on them. Too bad they do not have integrity and they should be exposed openly. I have MANY high dollar irreplaceable parts. I would never think about selling them or swapping them. I also label everyones parts so everyone knows. Also the owners have access to all their parts. Its called be transparent !!! I feel sometime one man bands are better than large companies. (less likely to lose parts, often there is better quality, etc..)

I agree, I'm a big fan of, "....one neck, one noose" should anything go awry.

It also means you don't have the minimum-wage, wannabe kid in the wings working away at your car, learning on the job, and, you still get charged the journeyman's hourly rate.

[Tony S.]

Re: What if Someone Dies Who is Working on your Stuff?

If someone dies while your personal property is in his/her possession, it's still your property. Make sure you document what personal property is in your restorer's hands so that you can assert your claims in probate court if necessary. You'll want to determine if a probate estate is opened. If it is, you'll need to file a timely claim against the estate (if the decedent's family chooses not to voluntarily return your personal property to you).