STOWE AUTOMOTIVE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We work hard to make sure that all our customers are happy. To do that, we both need to know what to expect. We are a custom shop, and we can't read minds, so please let us know what you want from your project, and we'll do the same for you. Let's write it down so we both understand.

Please talk to us first if you are unhappy or have concerns. The relationships we have with our customers are important to us.

Our labor work is 100% guaranteed, but warranties on parts and materials are a different story. If you have a problem and think you need to make a warranty claim, stop driving your car and call us immediately. If you keep driving your car, you might make things worse and create a dangerous situation, we won't be responsible for that. Also, we won't warranty or guarantee work done by someone else after our work.

DO NOT take your car to a different shop and expect us to pay for the work they do. This will not happen.

The hourly rate for bodywork is $100/hr. The hourly rate for mechanical/electrical work is $150/hr. Materials are not included and are charged separately. Before a project can begin, a minimum down payment of 40 hours or 25% of the estimated amount of work must be paid. Before the project can continue, progress payments for 40 hours must be made. The cost to store your project is $30 per day, and you have 5 working days from the day you are told to pick it up to do so. We reserve the right to file a mechanics lien if necessary, and any vehicle left for more than 30 days without written arrangements will be considered abandoned and disposed of accordingly. 

While your car is in the shop, DON'T cancel your insurance. Our insurance covers some things, and yours covers the rest. Depending on the work we do on your car, we may need to take it for a test drive. We'll do our best to avoid accidents, but we can't make up for other drivers on the road. Let's both hope we don't have to use it.

Our goal is to finish your project quickly without sacrificing quality. We will do our best to give you an accurate estimate of how long it will take to finish but be prepared for delays that are out of our hands. Think about broken studs, rusted bolts, body filler that's hard to find, panel damage, and bad work from a previous shop. Also, keep in mind that to get the best possible finish, the fillers, primers, and paints need to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions. Please don't ask us to hurry through any of these steps. Material costs are too high to take shortcuts. You can call, text, or email us to find out what's happening with your car. Our front desk staff can take care of these things. Please limit your visits to the shop as much as possible because they distract our team and slow the work on your vehicle. Also, depending on what we are doing in the shop that day, you may be unable to come in for safety or insurance reasons. 

• New parts installed by us. If you have Stowe buy and install your parts, we will deal directly with the manufacturer if something goes wrong with a suspected defect and we need to get a replacement or get paid back. This is why buying new parts from us may cost more than buying them online or at a swap meet. 
• Parts supplied by you, the customer. We have no problem helping you find ways to save money on your project. However -
  • "NEW" parts must be in their original, unopened packaging and have a receipt proving you bought them. Keep in mind that if the product is broken or has a defect, you will be responsible for all costs, including labor, that we incur to remove, replace, or fix the part.
  • "USED" parts: That engine that "ran when it was parked"... Make sure you believe your buddy when he says the engine won't smoke or spin a bearing in 100 miles. We will put oil in it before we start and guarantee the installation, but we won't guarantee the internals or any other parts.
  • "USED" sheet metal: Since we work on classics and antiques that may not have new or remade parts, we will install "used" parts, which we hope are in good shape, with a high level of professionalism, but we won't be responsible for any problems that may arise in the future because the part is old. This includes rust on steel parts, corrosion on trim, cracking or weathering of plastic trim, lenses, etc.
  • Speaking of old parts. Our business is working on older vehicles, which can bring up problems that every project has to deal with. Plastic parts, glass, emblems, and cracked or worn-down trim. Nuts and bolts that are worn out, rusty, or broken. We can't tell how much extra care and time we'll need to deal with these conditions, and they can change the project’s total cost. We will talk to you about any worries we have so that we can devise a plan for when you can't find that one piece of trim they no longer make.
• Parts used on your project. We expect that when the car is brought to our shop, we will have access to all the parts and that they will all be paid for in full before the project starts.
• You own the parts that were removed from your car. Notice that we don't have any space to store things, so the parts must be picked up at different times during the project or when you pick up your car at the end. We'll write down what happens and have you sign it so we can keep track of what's where. If you don't want your parts back, just tell us in writing, and we'll get rid of them in the most environmentally friendly way possible. If you leave parts after your car is picked up for more than five business days, they will be considered abandoned and taken care of accordingly.

We all want to go fast and be loud and proud, but please don't ask us to remove or change any factory-installed or government-regulated safety or emission equipment on vehicles that don't qualify for those changes. This usually applies to models that are 24 years old or less.

For cars that are 25 years old or older and don't have to go through state inspections or emissions tests, or cars that are "off-road use only," most engine drivetrain upgrades or maintenance will make the car better for the environment. We’ll be happy to put in fuel injection, that monster blower, and 3" inch exhaust.

Specific additives, engine oil, and safety components, as recommended by the manufacturers, will be adhered to strictly.  

If you don't let us know differently, we might share pictures of your car on our website or social media. We will not include personal information (such as license plate number, VIN, names, or addresses).

Return for additional assistance. On occasion, depending on the services rendered, you might need to bring the car back for a quick inspection. Most likely, this will apply when determining the lug nut torque for those brand-new wheels and tires, but there might be other times.

We reserve the right not to work on a vehicle if any of the following are true (or for other reasons). If we think the car is stolen (for example, it doesn't have a VIN) or has stolen parts. If it was used or involved in illegal things (ex., hit and run, drug transport). If there are still safety concerns that have not been addressed (cracked windshield, bald tires, worn brakes). Negative comments about the company on social media. Bad behavior from customers, like being drunk or high, being rude, making physical threats, or verbally harassing our employees. If any of these things happen while your project is in our shop, work will stop right away until the problem is fixed, or you are told to pick up your vehicle after paying the current charges on your bill.

Consumers have rights too! Contact your lawyer if you need advice.

Our Philosophies

• Everything can be figured out.
• Buy what you want, drive what you like.
• The only thing we can't fix is a problem we don't want to fix.