Hired a local vinyl guy. Do you guys think this is acceptable?

[ryan450r]

Hired a local guy and this is how it came out. I asked him to fix some things, wrinkles, many of the lines are not straight, and he used a piece that has a crease in it before he even cut and sewed it in. He told me he doesn't care about my expectations and that I owe him the full value.

What do you guys think, am I being too picky?

 

[redneck joe]

nope

 

[ryan450r]

Local trusted(I thought) boat dealer was the one that was adamant that I use him and that he's always done good work. Now they say they have no part in it, even though they set the whole thing up. I'm pissed. I did a websearch for him before I said yes and found nothing. I'm going to post the names here so future web searchers will find these pics.

Guy tells me I pay in full or he sells my seat in 30 days. He said he doesn't care what I think.

 

[tpenfield]

Ryan:

You will probably get he same sort of answers that you got on the OSO forum . . .

It's Awful . . .

Go get your seat back. I'm sure there are plenty of other places that can do a good job for less.

 

[redneck joe]

oh crap he has your seats. Thats bad.

I'd pay, but do all you can. I once had a sticker put on the back of my truck 'I am a dissatisfied customer of Joe Machens Ford, Columbia MO' Kept it on there for the 3 years I had that truck.

I also just got hosed, for the second time(trying to be fair and give a second shot) by a local boat mechanic but just going to chalk it up. I would also hold it against the local boat dealer.

 

[ryan450r]

Ryan:

You will probably get he same sort of answers that you got on the OSO forum . . .

tpenfield, I'm not here looking for opinions other then what I've gotten already. I have yet to find any objections to my opinion on the workmanship. I am here and any other forum I'm a member of posting the same thing again only to reach out to other audiences and hopefully give him the black eye he deserves.

 

[jigngrub]

Guy tells me I pay in full or he sells my seat in 30 days.

Who would buy it???

 

[tpenfield]

tpenfield, I'm not here looking for opinions other then what I've gotten already. I have yet to find any objections to my opinion on the workmanship. I am here and any other forum I'm a member of posting the same thing again only to reach out to other audiences and hopefully give him the black eye he deserves.

I think the important thing is to get your seat back as soon as possible. Vermont is a fairly liberal state. So, I would image consumer protection can be had. I am wondering if you have gone the State Attorney General's office and Consumer Affairs route? I would imagine the threat of legal action by those agencies should get your seat back.

Although any of the forum members both here, on OSO and elsewhere you may post are unlikely to use this company for any vinyl work, I would imagine that you would be much happier to have your seat back. . . . Unless you can find a F-382 donor boat to get another seat for little cost. Then, I'd let Paul enjoy his new seat :thumb:

 

[achris]

Who would buy it???

Let him keep the seat, then have one of your mates buy it, for $30.... THAT is how you hurt him...

Ryan, just be very careful how you post here. Have a look at rule #4 in the forum rules. You are coming up close to it... Let's keep it all on the 'up and up' and we can let this thread run.

Chris.....

 

[bigdirty]

IMO that is not well done, and you should not be paying anything for it. If I built/wrapped something like that for myself, that turned out like that, I'd be tearing it down and starting again. Looks as bad as my buddys worn and weathered seats in his 1994 F31. Look up my "big dirty bayliner" thread (if its still here) and keep in mind I re-built EVERYTHING from scratch, only re-using the foam, and didn't sew or stitch anything. All just wrapped pieces. I sold that wraparound bench complete with a custom drop down table built into it for $600.

 

[tlocus73]

I had a similar situation with a local vinyl guy where I live. Not nearly as much work/vinyl and complexity as your seats.
Mine were plain rectangular seats and back rests for my 17 foot super sport Lim. Whaler.
-My back rests on long one in rear and 2 short ones in front came out a bit 'wavy'.
-The rear back rest is hinged and he didn't leave the vinyl on the top portion of the back rest longer to cover the hinges(I specifically asked him to leave the vinyl longer for that reason before he began work on it).
When I went to pick it up, he goes and grabs a roll of 4" smooth vinyl and just staples it to the back of it :/
-He used very very thin mil. plastic to cover the foam. It's been less than a year and the plastic is deteriorating and you can hear water in foam :/
....
All in all it turned out ok but it still sucked as it cost me a good chunk of change...

 

[Bob_VT]

ryan450r You should PM me who did the seat cover (I am curious). Yes you can call the AG's office in Montpelier.

Now just curios also..... was this done thruough a dealer or was it someone the dealer sent you to? I would be holding the dealer's feet to the fire if they sent you to someone or arranged it. Unless you had something in writing, I am sure he can not hold your seat hostage and threaten to sell it after 30 days. If anything let the installer have his seat cover and the frame and cushion foam is your property.

 

[tpenfield]

Hey Bob: Do you think this could become a police matter?

 

[Woodonglass]

I agree with bigdirty. I'm a DIY'r and I have seen other DIY'r covers of the same complexity and they did BETTER work than That!!! I would definitely be getting the authorities involved and letting him AND the dealer know I was going to pursue this to the fullest extent. NO WAY I would accept that work.

 

[Bob_VT]

No but it can become a civil matter for court. I will wait for a PM

 

[Bob_VT]

Was there a written contract with a publicized "30 day threat policy" that you signed? I would be seeking a lawyer and court.

 

[sphelps]

Was there a chance to see some of his previous work before you hired him ? I would imagine his price wasn't cheap either ..

 

[Axkiker]

Something just as simple as a certified letter sent by an attorney might be enough to change his opinion. Like many on here im a DIY guy and i think I could do just as good. In fact if I did that I would be chalking it up as a learning experience and doing it over.

Cant you have people served certified docs by the police for a fee. I cant remember but if so pay the 50.00 fee and have the police politely deliver your letter written by an attorney to his shop. Might be an eye opener that he cant push you around.

 

[ryan450r]

Was there a written contract with a publicized "30 day threat policy" that you signed? I would be seeking a lawyer and court.

No written contract. Verbal was very straight forward. A phone call from the boat dealer saying "yes he can do it, $1500 and a week or a little more".

I am moving forward with finding another solution. It's not worth what he wants so he can keep it and trip over it for the rest of the summer. He can try to sell, but the hard truth is he will have to remove the cover to sell the seat base as I don't think anyone will buy it as-is.

 

[ryan450r]

Was there a written contract with a publicized "30 day threat policy" that you signed? I would be seeking a lawyer and court.

No written contract. Verbal was very straight forward. A phone call from the boat dealer saying "yes he can do it, $1500 and a week or a little more".

I am moving forward with finding another solution. It's not worth what he wants so he can keep it and trip over it for the rest of the summer. He can try to sell, but the hard truth is he will have to remove the cover to sell the seat base as I don't think anyone will buy it as-is.