[goldfive]

So, I took my used '06 Elise to a local body shop recommended by someone. I needed the left rear (basically under the tail-lights) repainted and "blended" because of some scuffs and scratches from the previous owner.

I also had some damage to the front winglets, so I asked them if they could build up the shape again and of course repaint them to blend them in.

I just picked up the car and I was HORRIFIED to see they painted OVER the Starshield behind the rear drivers-side wheel! Oh, they blended the color of the paint just fine, and got rid of all the stuff I pointed out when I brought it in--- but, the new paint/clearcoat caked up against the edge of the Starshield there, and now it's blantantly obvious that paintwork has been done to the car.

The nose was an even bigger disaster, again, because it was covered with Starshield and they didnt want to remove it. But since the area is so low and not easily seen, I can live with it. The guy must have felt guilty because he didnt charge me for the paint work on the nose, just $300 for the rear.

I am simply aghast that a professional body shop would be so stupid as to think painting over the clear film would turn out good. They had my phone number, they could have called to ask if I wanted to either A) paint over it, or B) remove the clear film and leave it off completely. I certainly would have gone with B) since that is the only thing that makes sense to me.

What particularly annoyed me too was that when I got the estimate, the guy was very confident in the skills of the shop and said "oh we won't let anything leave here until it's perfect" etc... all sorts of bravado statments like that. And then he hands me the car back like this??? Un-friggin-believable. So pissed.