Need advice for pricing sheet metal

Bubusse

A guy from a body shop near my place came to me as he saw I had a couple of spare vans on my land. He's not specialized in westies at all, but he does good work.
One of his customers hit a deer and the front of the van is damaged. Luckilly he was insured and the ins. co. doesn't seem to be reluctant to pay.
Anyway, he would like to cut the front section of one of my vans and he needs the lower grill as well. I wouldn't mind, I've already used pieces of metal from this van, it's why it's sitting there.
What do you think I should ask for it ? $$
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89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia

MarkWard · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 7:51 am Post subject:

Let him make an offer and then you decide if you can live with it. While working with original sheetmetal should yield a better result, it is a painstaking process to remove the metal from a donor van and prep it to install into the repaired van.

Is he offering to remove the parts?
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Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

Whatever the traffic will bear.
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T.K.

Bubusse · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:08 am Post subject:

Yep, he'll be doing the cutting.
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89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

You can ask whatever you think it's worth.
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T.K.

MarkWard · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:18 am Post subject:

Aftermarket retail across the pond. Hope this link works.

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_parts_Type-25-Panels-...ID_762.htm
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Bubusse · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:33 am Post subject:

OK, then. If you were me and had those vans, what would you ask for it ?
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89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia

PDXWesty · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:37 am Post subject:

I wouldn't think a front end clip is worth more than $500 if it's in good condition.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

dobryan · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:39 am Post subject:

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

Plus--and including;

What kind of shape is it in?

Like New?
Beat up?
Rusted up?

On this your going to have to use your own judgement on.
It's tough to price something no one has any idea what condition it's in.
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T.K.

Bubusse · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:01 am Post subject:

Certainly not new, no visible holes either. Surface rust, as they say Wink

He will find out when he removes the windshield, there's probably work to be done there, but it's not my problem, is it ?
I haven't asked him for an offer yet, I just wanted to get an opinion first. I wouldn't let it go for too low a price, whatever shape it is in, just because to me it has to be worth it or else I'd just leave the van as it is. I could use the money, sure, who doesn't ?, but it needs to be significant enough to be worth it.
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89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia

dobryan · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:23 am Post subject:

So it sounds like you have a minimum that you want for it. Ask for a little above that.....
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Dave O
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MarkWard · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:35 am Post subject:

Keep in mind you indirectly are helping a fellow vanagon owner out and maybe one dark night when you are driving home, that darned deer will stay put on the shoulder as you drive by. We build the world we live in everyday.
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Bubusse · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:39 am Post subject:

You're right, rsxsr, and I actually know the guy who hit the deer. I was very sad to hear about his bad luck, his van was imported from Germany brand new by himself, sole owner, and it was in perfect shape.
Now, whatever happens, the insurance will pay and the van will be fixed, one way or the other. The body shop owner will decide whether he tries to fix the existing bent metal or use a part from my van, depending on my price and how much work he will have to put in going one way or the other.
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89 manual Vanagon GL Wesfalia

greenraVR6 · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:47 am Post subject:

My personal thought on it is that I'd rather sell parts for cheap and know I helped another person out who is into the same "hobby" as me than let parts sit around and rot. I quite often sell parts I have for much less than the going used part rates I see. That's just how I roll.

The only time it sucks is when you need a part but can't find one anywhere close to as cheap as you sold the same part for a year earlier. I've been greatly blessed by the vw gods over the years with cheap parts when I needed them so I have no qualms with giving other people good deals...
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Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

Whatever the price that might be in your head, don't go blowing the deal because your dreaming of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

This guy is doing all of the work--which isn't a piece of cake by the way, and the front end isn't new.

He actually doing you a favor--don't price yourself right outa the box--
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T.K.

Syncrozilla · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:09 pm Post subject:

I just sold a perfect front clip to another body shop for $350.00 with the stipulation that they cut it off the car. Sheetmetal is not worth a whole lot because it's very time consuming to prep it to be usable. Most shops would prefer new at 3 to 4 times the cost if it's at all available. Of coarse these vans are still pretty plentiful in our region so that also drives the price.
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JPrato · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 3:48 am Post subject:

What Syncrozilla says.....Right now that clip is worth scrap metal prices to you. It's a lot of work to cut it off. $350 is a fair price and unless some one else comes along, you are going to get what, $35 in scrap value for it? About the only way it is worth more is if you cut it off for yourself, store it and have it ready to go on your own van if you hit something or somebody hits you.
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Joe

87 Syncro Tin Top project
84 Westy, 2.5L Subaru power
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46 Cessna 140

insyncro · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 6:05 am Post subject:

Terry Kay · Banned Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331

And depending upon it's condition, that is a fair price--and you removed exactly what they needed--nothing more, nothing less.
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T.K.


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