Help with scratches from a shopping cart

[shirts_184]

I was helping a buddy of mine pick some supplies up from Home Depot yesterday and long story short the loading cart ended up scraping the top of my tailgate. My questions are 1) roughly how much would this cost to have fixed at a dealer? And 2) how intensive would this be to take on myself? I’m a lot of things, but admittedly not much of a gear head or cosmetic guru. It’s hard to tell, but on one of the pictures you can see how paint was stripped and scratched. Thanks, all.

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[slowmachine]

If you can see primer, I would take it to a to a body/paint shop. Lots of volume, experience, and the right tools, allow them to do it right for a reasonable price.

 

[Augie81]

The same exact thing happened to me last year at Home Depot. Those carts are just the right height to do that it seems. But really it was my fault for not paying attention. My scratch almost looks the same as your second picture and is in the same place where that bend is in the tailgate.

Sorry I can't be of much help though. I took it to a local paint and body shop that is highly reviewed and they quoted me at $1,000. They said they would have to take apart the tailgate including the plastic cap at the top and told me those often break when removed and might also need replaced. They also said they would have to remove the vinyl Ranger letters I added. I think they mostly do larger repairs and insurance stuff so maybe just didn't want my business for a smaller repair without paying a large amount for it.

So long story short I still have not gotten it fixed. I kind of stopped looking after that and need to find a reputable place to do it at a better price.

 

[Toytec]

Add me also to the Home Depot loading cart dilemma. Fortunately it was my last truck which was getting old but still hurt badly when I saw it.
That won't happen again. Lesson learned!!

I think what I would do in the OP's situation is ask several body shop's for quotes if I remove the tailgate, strip it down myself, and all they have to do is prep and paint.

 

[Samsquanch]

The same exact thing happened to me last year at Home Depot. Those carts are just the right height to do that it seems. But really it was my fault for not paying attention. My scratch almost looks the same as your second picture and is in the same place where that bend is in the tailgate.

Sorry I can't be of much help though. I took it to a local paint and body shop that is highly reviewed and they quoted me at $1,000. They said they would have to take apart the tailgate including the plastic cap at the top and told me those often break when removed and might also need replaced. They also said they would have to remove the vinyl Ranger letters I added. I think they mostly do larger repairs and insurance stuff so maybe just didn't want my business for a smaller repair without paying a large amount for it.

So long story short I still have not gotten it fixed. I kind of stopped looking after that and need to find a reputable place to do it at a better price.

I think $1000 is the “we don’t want to do it” price.

 

[1911tex]

Short not so funny story...several moons ago, friends mom driving in grocery parking lot, some stupid funny boy idiot decided to tie two grocery carts together with string 20 feel apart. His Mom hit the string and the carts slammed into both sides of her car. Lucky the store had video cameras that actually worked...yes they arrested two young shit heads. Yes, their parents paid for the damage.

 

[Augie81]

I think $1000 is the “we don’t want to do it” price.

Yeah that was the impression I got too.

 

[myothercarizahearse]

if that was the only ding on my truck i'd be happy. looks like most of it can be "buffed out" and a little touch up pen

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

Agree, most places wont say 'not interested', but will quote a bend over this is gonna hurt price. I've done some blending with air-brush on stuff like that before, kinda self taught with some guidance from a buddy who air brushed t-shirts and gym shoes for hip-hop wanna-bee's and teenagers.

End result is it turned out pretty good, it will teach you how to prep, mask, wet sand, base/clear, etc. You will learn how to buff too. But there is not easy 1-3 step solution, you will probably invest $300 or more in supplies but knowledge is priceless and re-usable for your entire life. Depending on the color you will have some degree of 'flash'.

One benefit folks have now is forums like this as well as Youtube etc. Makes it a lot easier to learn and avoid dumb mistakes.

 

[Stangman570]

Looking at your 1st image it looks like scratches in the clear coat. You may try Mothers or Meguiars scratch remover. Follow the directions to the "T". 2nd scratch your missing paint past the primer. Might be able to recover with paint matched pen from Autozone. You can find your paint code on the drivers door label. I was able to recover mine somewhat, but I still have to wet sand to finish it up.

 

[Rinn69]

Ask them if they have a "cash" price...this way, they don't have to do all the crap and paperwork they normally do with insurance companies. My mom had a scratch on her front bumper of her Escape bigger than that and they did it for $600 cash. When we went to pick it up, she was going to write a check, and the guy said he needed cash for the cash price, so I ran home and grabbed 6 crispy C notes. Cash is king.

 

[Augie81]

Agree, most places wont say 'not interested', but will quote a bend over this is gonna hurt price.

That's kind of what put me off about the place I took it to. When I called them I specifically asked if they did smaller repairs and described my issue in detail. They said yes and I scheduled an estimate. So I took time to go there and then get the 'not interested' price. They could have saved us both time by saying, "We don't often do that kind of work but if you insist it's going to be very expensive."

Then again maybe they were thinking I might be one of those people with a fat wallet and would just say, "Whatever.. Okay here is my credit card, do with it as you wish." ?

I've done some research on a few other places a bit farther than where I live. So hopefully I can find a place to do the repair soon at a more reasonable price.

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

That's kind of what put me off about the place I took it to. When I called them I specifically asked if they did smaller repairs and described my issue in detail. They said yes and I scheduled an estimate. So I took time to go there and then get the 'not interested' price. They could have saved us both time by saying, "We don't often do that kind of work but if you insist it's going to be very expensive."

Then again maybe they were thinking I might be one of those people with a fat wallet and would just say, "Whatever.. Okay here is my credit card, do with it as you wish." ?

I've done some research on a few other places a bit farther than where I live. So hopefully I can find a place to do the repair soon at a more reasonable price.

sooo sorry to hear how ya got jacked 'round.
I was thinking talk to a service writer at the stealership or a good detail shop. for a good t/u guy. sometimes they are mobile. The one up by me has a 'guy' they use when the porters f something up and they dont want to run it thru their own body shop..
some reputable used car lots often have a guy too...
just spit balling ideas 4u!

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