[Tommy]

If the future for paint shops is so unpredictable, why give a completion time at all? Why not just tell the customer "I have no idea how long it may take"? . . . If being unpredictably late is the norm in this industry, it feels just dishonest to me for a shop to convince a customer to pick it for the job by providing misleading information.

I recently sought out a specialist mechanic for a job because of his reputation. When I discussed the job with him he openly told me my job would fit in between his other obligations and he could give me no promise of when it might be done. I accepted that as part of the price for picking him for the work. Two months later he had not started on it so I picked up my stuff. There were no hard feelings by either of us because we both knew going in what the arrangement was. Honesty is all I ask in a business arrangement.