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Is this a scam? Need quick response!

A

amnesiac

Lifer
Was outside of home depot today loading a couple doors when this older lady comes up to me and asks if I want to get the dent on the side of my truck repaired cheaply. I tell her I'll consider it and give her my business card. She says a rough estimate would be $175, which is almost $1000 less than I've been quoted at a body shop.

She said she'll meet me at my office in about an hour; I've been looking up scams and haven't found anything that would indicate they're going to rip me off, as she stated "If you don't like the job, don't even pay me $1.75"

Now, I'm very aware that "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" but can anyone here tell me, if this IS a scam, what exactly is their modus operandi? If they even THINK about using a drill and hammer to knock out the dent I'm telling them to ah heck off, but they mentioned that it was a truck-based hydraulic system. Hmm. Any thoughts?
 
I would make sure they tell you EXACTLY what they will be doing and allow you to watch them do it. Get everything in writing.
 
It's probably just a paintless dent repair service. Not a scam, they often will come to your home/office and fix your car out of thier truck.
 
I agree, it sounds like PDR (paintless dent repair) although the price sounds a little high. In my area, they fix them for under $100 per panel. It works great as long as there is no crease in the metal and the paint is not broken.
 
Originally posted by: CaseTragedy
also bring protection.
Click to expand...

It's a 5'2" fat woman with no teeth and her 70 year old dad. I don't think they're going to mug me.

Also, I did some more searching and there ARE scams like this but the main problem is the repainting after the dent repair (some use shoddy paint or primer)

I think I just won't let them repaint the scuffs.
 
Originally posted by: amnesiac
Originally posted by: CaseTragedy
also bring protection.
Click to expand...

It's a 5'2" fat woman with no teeth and her 70 year old dad. I don't think they're going to mug me.

Also, I did some more searching and there ARE scams like this but the main problem is the repainting after the dent repair (some use shoddy paint or primer)

I think I just won't let them repaint the scuffs.
Click to expand...

If it's PDR, there should be no painting involved. Like I said, it only works if there are no creases in the metal and the paint is unbroken. Find out where he was trained, and if he uses tools that are plastic tipped or at least taped. The metal tipped picks will scratch the panel from the inside which can cause a panel to start rusting from the inside out. The paint should not be broken on either side of the panel.

EDIT: IF THERE'S GOING TO BE PAINTING INVOLVED, RUN LIKE HELL!!!!!!!!!! THERE'S NO WAY A GUY ON THE STREET CAN GIVE YOU THE CORROSION PROTECTION AND PAINT DURABILITY LIKE A GOOD BODYSHOP WITH WELL TRAINED AND WELL EQUIPPED PAINTERS!!!!!!!!!!1

 
Just make sure you keep your keys with you at all times, and make sure you watch them as they work.
 
You know, I think I might just take the truck to a REAL PDR shop; I'd rather take it to someplace that has an established reputation even if it costs a bit more. I'll just tell these people that I have to get to an appointment.
 
Well, I decided to get it done by these people.. the guy basically tapped out parts of it with a hammer and use a suction cup for the big parts. They managed to get the paint scuffs off as well. They didn't cheat on the price or anything either. It's about 85%-90% fixed which is good enough for me. I just have to find a place to get the panel repainted.
 
Is that what those Dent Wizard places do?

I had the arm of a toll booth crash down twice on the roof of my SUV denting it in several places. I went to Dent Wizard and they quoted me $175. I thought it was too cheap for them to do a good job and didn't do it.
 

They probably have one of the Ding King tools. Seen a couple of guys that hang around parking lots offering similar services.
 
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