The customer who insisted on bondo over a new quarter panel

Had a guy in Des Moines last spring bring in a 2010 Civic with rear quarter rot worse than I'd seen in a while. I quoted him $1,400 to cut and replace with a used panel, but he kept pushing for filler because his buddy said it'd hold. I told him straight up it'd crack in a season, but he paid for the fill anyway. Six months later he's back with the same spot blown out and wanting a warranty claim. Has anyone else had customers fight the repair method and then blame you when it fails?

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thomas_torres16d ago

Write up a simple form for them to sign before you start. It says they're choosing the cheaper repair and understand it won't last as long. Take photos of the rust before you touch anything. When they come back six months later, you point at the paper and tell them the warranty covers workmanship, not their choice of materials. I've had this happen three times now and the form stops the argument before it starts. It doesn't make them happy, but it keeps you from eating the cost of their bad call.