I am old but not stupid

[Inusuit]

If you are getting any body and paint work done for under $1000, consider yourself lucky.

 

[SMSgt]

My response is "I'm not as stupid as I look." That makes them pause and think

Probably thinking, "Yeah, no one could be that stupid."

 

[ACORN]

Have you looked at the price for a quart of auto paint lately? $100 is the new $20.

This!
Plus the fact may of the newer cars are painted with a tri-coat paint. Base coat, mid coat, and clear coat.
Get into to reds or blues and the cost rises dramatically.
I sold a pint of silver yesterday that was $60. There are price codes higher. than that, and the paint brand I sell is on the lower priced side. Get in to PPG or Sikkens paint, and the prices will give you nosebleeds. It all depends on the pigments used in the mixing of the color(s).
Trying to blend a scratch is difficult with many colors, to get an invisible repair.
It's not just smearing paint on with an artist brush and calling it good.
Not trying to say the guy wasn't trying to cheat you, it's just the cost and labor involved can be pricey.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

Why is it people think just because you are old you mind is gone too. My body is not all that good any more but I think I am about as sharp as I always was. I went to get an estimate on fixing a small scrape on my car and the body shop man treated me like I was too dumb to see where he was trying to rip me off. One small scrape above the front wheel does not require over $100 worth of parts that go on the front door plus labor and paint for said door. I have had some other people talk down to me because of my age but this was the most overt example.

You had stated it shouldn't have more than $100 in parts but you didn't state what the estimate amount is. There is nothing to determine if he was ripping you off.
It could be it's a fair estimate but you don't know what is accurate or not.

 

[prairieviper]

Most of the talking down to seniors that I am aware of is from TV advertisements. Reverse mortgages, extended car warranties, home appliance warranties and affordable life insurance immediately come to mind.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Then there's Medicare supplements, prescription plans.

 

[Breakaway500]

Some red pearl colors today are outrageous... $140/pint I paid recently.

Ford had a color called Mystichrome which would change from black to green to purple depending on the light and angle. I was going to paint a car that color about 10 years ago..till I was told $650/gallon by my usual paint dealer. I chose Sonic Blue instead..and that cost $400.

Body shops are extremely busy, as many have closed, and there are more cars on the road every day...so many times they don't want to even look at a job under $1k. Sad but a sign of the times.

People only walk over you when you lay down for them.