Very angry at entitled careless idiots

[RoadtripsOfUnusualSize]

I worked with a maddening woman many years ago. She dented cars all the time and bragged about it. Her coworkers just laughed as she described her latest denting accomplishment. I diplomatically challenged her one time about this and it infuriated her. I suspect that there was some psychological issue under her surface, but she dented cars around her without remorse. I made sure that I parked some distance away from her clunker. There are lots of odd people out there.

Sponsored

 

[mustang marty]

I worked with a maddening woman many years ago. She dented cars all the time and bragged about it. Her coworkers just laughed as she described her latest denting accomplishment. I diplomatically challenged her one time about this and it infuriated her. I suspect that there was some psychological issue under her surface, but she dented cars around her without remorse. I made sure that I parked some distance away from her clunker. There are lots of odd people out there.

Wow that was a scary person .

 

[OrangeStreak]

I'd find out if they have cameras where this occurred. I have done that very thing before. Yes, it would be up to the management if they have cameras, to let you look at them, but I was able to find the person that damaged my previous F150. If it's a vehicle where you can't see the tag and nothing special about it, would do no good more than likely, but in my case it was a company vehicle that clipped by front end in a parking lot. I hunted them down and showed the video, they paid every penny for the repairs. You could get lucky.

Jeff, I liked your reference to cameras. Several years ago, I parked my previous 2011 Ranger at a local Gym mid-afternoon (daylight). The north parking lot looked reasonably safe with a lot of room where you could get an isolated parking spot. I left the premises and as usual pressed the unlock button on the remote, got in and left thinking everything was OK . For some reason later that day, pulled out the key instead of using the remote and started to insert it. Noticed a slight half-moon wrinkle in the metal just below the door lock. Sickening feeling. Found out later that someone tried to force the lock through the door with a punch. The body shop guy said that it was fortunate that I had an earlier model vehicle with a strong lock mount because the newer vehicles have weaker mountings and locks can be punched out with little effort.

The lock guy explained the method. Thieves park in the lot and watch for people going inside knowing that they will probably be in a Gym for at least an hour. Then they make their move with a hammer and punch and take what is inside .

I later checked with the front desk and they previewed the camera footage and sure enough it showed the Ranger entering and exiting the parking lot but not the actual parking. I asked why and she said. “Oh, we only have cameras on the front portion of the lot but none beyond that.” . Is partial camera coverage the new trend?

Even though the lock was still working and the damage barely noticeable, the total repair was just over 1K:

The collision repair shop was one of the best here in the city with top recommendations and reviews. They were so busy that it took 5 days to complete the job. I looked very carefully at the finished job from every angle in the sun and there was not a trace of distortion anywhere on the surface. The metallic repaint was perfectly blended and matched the original. I asked the shop person how they got the paint looking so good and his answer, “The paint guy has been doing it for 30 years! I kept the 2011 as clean as I could and they gave me $3500 less than I paid for it 5 years earlier. Paid 9.5% below MSRP on the 2020 so was happy with the overall deal. It pays to keep them up .

 

[OrangeStreak]

Wow that was a scary person .

Beyond scary!

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Appreciate all the info and details, Dave!! Will look into this. Yeah, most likely will go through PDR.

My father -in-law had a similar dent on his F150 and the PDR guy repaired it in a matter of about 10 minutes. He told me that the PDR guy stated rolling the dents out in aluminum is so much easier than steel because it doesn't have a memory like steel does. I saw the before and after and his looks like it never got tagged at all. So any competent PDR guy should be able to get you fixed up.

 

[Zaph]

Hey Brandon! Cool name and sweet truck! Sucks that happened, check out what someone did to mine at work:
(You can check out my original rant here; https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/thre...ation-and-a-nasty-surprise.13511/#post-267591)

That's about the height and location I expect from car doors. The OP's dent location still seems a bit strange and less likely to me, which made me bring up my shopping cart story a couple pages back.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

That's about the height and location I expect from car doors. The OP's dent location still seems a bit strange and less likely to me, which made me bring up my shopping cart story a couple pages back.

Ahh it was an older suv white Mercedes, it’s one of those diagonal parkings so I’m on the right and a about a foot further back, front passenger door swung open I’m assuming. Left white paint I rubbed off. I was away for 5 minutes to pick up some food, that was the car parked next to me.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

My father -in-law had a similar dent on his F150 and the PDR guy repaired it in a matter of about 10 minutes. He told me that the PDR guy stated rolling the dents out in aluminum is so much easier than steel because it doesn't have a memory like steel does. I saw the before and after and his looks like it never got tagged at all. So any competent PDR guy should be able to get you fixed up.

Appreciate the comment. Some PDR are saying aluminum would be more work but I am sure they are just wanting to charge me more. Thank you for the info, I’ll keep checking around!! 250-350 is the cost looking like.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Jeff, I liked your reference to cameras. Several years ago, I parked my previous 2011 Ranger at a local Gym mid-afternoon. The north parking lot looked reasonably safe with a lot of room where you could get an isolated parking spot. I left the premises and as usual pressed the unlock button on the remote, got in and left thinking everything was OK . For some reason later that day, pulled out the key instead of using the remote and started to insert it. Noticed a slight half-moon wrinkle in the metal just below the door lock. Sickening feeling. Found out later that someone tried to force the lock through the door with a punch. The body shop guy said that it was fortunate that I had an earlier model vehicle with a strong lock mount because the newer vehicles have weaker mountings and locks can be punched out with little effort.

The lock guy explained the method. Thieves park in the lot and watch for people going inside knowing that they will probably be in a Gym for at least an hour. Then they make their move with a hammer and punch and take what is inside .

I later checked with the front desk and they previewed the camera footage and sure enough it showed the Ranger entering and exiting the parking lot but not the actual parking. I asked why and she said. “Oh, we only have cameras on the front portion of the lot but none beyond that.” . Is partial camera coverage the new trend?

Even though the lock was still working and the damage barely noticeable, the total repair was just over 1K:

The collision repair shop was one of the best here in the city with top recommendations and reviews. They were so busy that it took 5 days to complete the job. I looked very carefully at the finished job from every angle in the sun and there was not a trace of distortion anywhere on the surface. The metallic repaint was perfectly blended and matched the original. I asked the shop person how they got the paint looking so good and his answer, “The paint guy has been doing it for 30 years! I kept the 2011 as clean as I could and they gave me $3500 less than I paid for it 5 years earlier. Paid 9.5% below MSRP on the 2020 so was happy with the overall deal. It pays to keep them up .

Wow, thieves are really finding all sorts of methods super happy your ranger got fixed up to perfection and got sold at a good value

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

I worked with a maddening woman many years ago. She dented cars all the time and bragged about it. Her coworkers just laughed as she described her latest denting accomplishment. I diplomatically challenged her one time about this and it infuriated her. I suspect that there was some psychological issue under her surface, but she dented cars around her without remorse. I made sure that I parked some distance away from her clunker. There are lots of odd people out there.

Insane… Stories like these reminds me there are crazies out there who have some mental issue. More than likely a lack of coping skills and lashing out for revenge against the world, just like an arsonist.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Slight update: so yes, like @Bludrok mentioned that I should look into comprehensive coverage. However, I sent them an email and they said since it was a hit and run, I would have to file a police report. the insurance would have to decide if it’s a collision or comprehensive but said more than likely it will be collision since it’s a hit and run. Thus, this would probably add a ping to my car fax, and I would have to go through all these hurdles for a potential couple hundred back. Looks like I am just going to do PDR guys and look into some fender flares/rock sliders. Unfortunate.

 

[OrangeStreak]

Wow, thieves are really finding all sorts of methods super happy your ranger got fixed up to perfection and got sold at a good value

Thanks Brandon,
It was a good feeling to make that deal. No regrets. Thieves have no conscience and are out to take whatever they can from anyone. People who have scruples and are responsible are no exception. Sick society. The only thing we can do is try and stay a step ahead of them and cover our backs. Keep us informed on the progress with your Ranger!

 

[Calmdown]

Slight update: so yes, like @Bludrok mentioned that I should look into comprehensive coverage. However, I sent them an email and they said since it was a hit and run, I would have to file a police report. the insurance would have to decide if it’s a collision or comprehensive but said more than likely it will be collision since it’s a hit and run.

I had two dings right above the door, so basically dented a curved/cornered area, as well as one on the bed of the truck. PDR guy in my town took care of the ping on the bed for 50 bucks and took him half an hour. The above the door ones were strictly a body shop item; no way to access the back of the dent with tools. They had to get ground, filled, and painted.

City was paying for it regardless, but my bill only came out to like 370 total to grind and fill two dents, paint match a tricolor pearl white, and clearcoat it.

Check with your local PDR dude first. If he can't fix it, and you're not claiming it on insurance; let him know and he'll probably recommend a quality shop who can do it and not rake you over the coals while it happens.

 

[OrangeStreak]

I had two dings right above the door, so basically dented a curved/cornered area, as well as one on the bed of the truck. PDR guy in my town took care of the ping on the bed for 50 bucks and took him half an hour. The above the door ones were strictly a body shop item; no way to access the back of the dent with tools. They had to get ground, filled, and painted.

City was paying for it regardless, but my bill only came out to like 370 total to grind and fill two dents, paint match a tricolor pearl white, and clearcoat it.

Check with your local PDR dude first. If he can't fix it, and you're not claiming it on insurance; let him know and he'll probably recommend a quality shop who can do it and not rake you over the coals while it happens.

Noticed you mentioned a tricolor pearl white. Is that a custom color? My 2011 Ranger had a pearlish white essence when parked under the Chevron station lights at night even though it was metallic silver.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

I had two dings right above the door, so basically dented a curved/cornered area, as well as one on the bed of the truck. PDR guy in my town took care of the ping on the bed for 50 bucks and took him half an hour. The above the door ones were strictly a body shop item; no way to access the back of the dent with tools. They had to get ground, filled, and painted.

City was paying for it regardless, but my bill only came out to like 370 total to grind and fill two dents, paint match a tricolor pearl white, and clearcoat it.

Check with your local PDR dude first. If he can't fix it, and you're not claiming it on insurance; let him know and he'll probably recommend a quality shop who can do it and not rake you over the coals while it happens.

Appreciate the experience and tips! Will be checking around, it looks like the local SD ones are roughly 300 average. Going to a 5 star Yelp review for over 600 reviews, for 350. A little bit more, but if I’m going to get it done, might as well be done right the first get go. Regular dent shops recommended me this “specialist” PDR.

Sponsored