5 /5 Michael D: UPDATE 6/15/2024: The business reached out to me through google reviews asking me to contact them so they can address the concerns. With some hesitation I called them and scheduled them to fix the issues to the fender and swirls on the drivers side door. I have added photos of the re-work, anything that looks like an issue in the new photos are just reflection of clouds as the clear coat is like glass. The work took less then five days and they really did a good job this time around. The issues are completely repaired and the three panels they worked on (both drivers side doors and front fender) are now the nicest looking panels on the car. Im glad I took it back to them and gave them the opportunity to make things right.
PREVIOUS REVIEW
My wifes car got a small door ding last spring (on driver side rear door) on her 2011 Subaru Impreza (owned since new). The repair was done through the other parties insurance (USAA) in June 2023. The car was completed with swirl marks all over the front drivers side door and the paint was burned through on the bottom of the door body line and front drivers side fender, right in front of the mirror (see pictures). I noticed the swirls immediately so I took a picture but I figured maybe it was normal, assured by a lifetime guarantee, and would go away with a few washes. I didnt notice the burn through marks at this time, wasnt really looking or concerned and mostly focused on the swirls. We washed the car last weekend and noticed the swirls where still in the clear coat and this is when we also noticed the burn through marks on the fender. I went back to Autocraft and the manager said they could fix the swirl marks (no charge) as they just didnt do the final finish but explained to me that they didnt touch the fender (he showed me distent pictures of the work in progress on the front and rear door, mirror removed) and the damage was likely done by a poor detail job with a DA, and mentioned some detail place on 1st then proceed to tell me he doest bad mouth other companies. He assured me that they are professionals and would never do that. I have pictures of the car without the burn marks just months before the work was done (they also took a lot of pictures before work was done, but didnt show me those). I know 100% that the burn through on the fender was done at their shop, he is just as confident that it was done by somebody else, even suggested it could be from a car wash when I told him it couldnt be from a detail job. There is no other explanation, I know the cars history and it was likely washed only twice since the work was done. This is an old daily driver that in the last 10 years doesnt get washed much let alone detailed. The only reason why we had the ding fixed was it was covered by the other peoples insurance, if they would have left without notifying us I assure you the ding would still be in the door. I brought it back to them now because I figured it wasnt a big deal, they would fix it and that would be that. The issues are actually hard to notice unless the car is clean and in good lighting like in the sun. I havent decided if im going to have them fix the swirls, Im still shocked that they blamed the fender burn on some mystery person with a DA, an auto car wash, or waxing it in the sun (all suggested possibilities). My wife doesnt seem to mind much but for some reason this situation upsets me. If this were to happen again I would not use Autocraft, they are probably fine with that too. Writing this I noticed the difference in taking responsibly between the people that damaged the car and the ones that worked on fixing it.
