Mark DiBernardi at Original Customs and Brandon at Altissimo Paint the Rip Off Kings!

Crappy paint update...

2007-03-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

As you might have heard I got a crappy paint job done by Mark DiBernardi's recommendation at Original Customs where the scam works like this: First Mark DiBernardi lies to you by saying they can do a great job because he "really cares about your car" later when the job turns out crap he says "you got what you paid for" and if you want it fixed you have to pay more.

Here is yet another picture of how his work is degrading. Now my paint is bubbling all over and here is a sample photo. I'll keep a record of the shit work as it degrades.

Eventually, I'll get my car repainted and the underlying body work redone.

Mark DiBernardi is such a smooth talking scam artist I hope everyone takes this as a warning. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH MARK DiBERNARDI.

Pics of Crap Paint on Valance by Altissimo in Napa

2007-03-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some detailed photos of the absolutely crappy, shitty, aweful paint job that Brandon at Altissimo in Napa did on behalf of Mark DiBernardi at OriginalCustoms.

Note the valance wasn't even completely painted black to begin with as you can see on the top edge of the valance the primer is showing through. This can be seen all along the top. When I showed this flaw to Mark DiBernardi at OriginalCustoms he suggested I take a can of black spray paint and spray it. Of course this suggestion is outrageous when it should have been painted correctly in the first place. If I wanted to paint it black with a spray can I could have spray painted it myself.

Note the bubbles forming on the paint. Those run all along the top and through the paint. That is crap!

More bubbles different angle, see the shit job:

Here are the bubbles forming on the rocker panel. I can't believe how I got ripped off.

It's like this tag team of body/paint business lure people in only to give them shitty results.

Currently repairing all the damage done by Mark DiBernardi at Original Customs in Napa

2007-03-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Do not take your car to Mark DiBernardi at Original Customs in Napa!

I've been fixing up my car. Repairing the damage done by Mark DiBernardi at Original Customs in Napa.

When I got my car back I found that I had developed a mysterious transmission oil leak. The passenger side seal at the diff is leaking.

Also, there are jack scares on my transmision end plate and case from them jacking up my car metal to metal.

I have to replace my windshield seal because he let my car sit in the sun while in Mark DiBernardi's possesion thus causing it to get soft and tear. I asked him to cover my car up when not being worked on and supplied TWO covers. He told me it was too much of a pain in the ass to to that so that's why my car windshield seal was ruined.

Mark DiBernardi has also simply STOLEN my rear valance that I had on the car when it was delivered to him.

Other items were not returned either.

I'm repainting my rear valance properly and also painting the back of the rear valance to cover the bare metal that over time would be susceptible to rust.

I have to reinstall my rear bumper as it was installed incorrectly.

I had to adjust and install missing parts on my pedal cluster.

This is just a short list of things that were wrong.

Had to replace all hardware holding my new valence to the car.

I would not recommend to anyone to take their 914 to Mark DiBernardi at Original Customs (www.paintandmetal.com) in Napa if they care about their car or want quality work done without massive amounts of baby sitting to ensure the work gets done right.

Mark DiBernardi at Original Customs (www.paintandmetal.com) in Napa is an amatuer at best.

When a customer points out problems all you get is a long laundry list of excuses or short cut crap solutions.

Original Customs web site claims:

"Original Customs is dedicated to creating the highest quality restorations and customizations on the market. We offer a full range of services including ..."

This is utter bullshit. Don't let Mark DiBernardi fool you! He'll take your money andy you'll be out of luck.
JUST DON'T GO TO MARK DIBERNARDI AT ORIGINAL CUSTOMS IN NAPA. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

I'll provide photos later on.

Oher people speak out about their crappy paint job by Brandon at Altissimo.

2007-03-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

I am a member at the 914club.com and now see it is run by facists. Everytime I tried to get advice about how to save my paint job my thread that I started was closed but not before a certain dunce responsed with stupid remarks.

Luckily the thread helped me get another person that was ripped off and related their story to me.

Their explaination as to what happened to them:

"Let me guess. Brandon did your painting?

He did my car too and I was expecting more professionalism.

I have many flaws and over sprays too. He charged me exta to pain the valences and rockers and do a rub-out (which left all my rubber pink stained.)

Mark needs to distance himself from this guy.

When I picked up my car from Mark (never actually met Brandon in person), he was making excuses for the guy's half-assed work. If I wanted Earl Scheib quality, I would have gone to Earl Scheib and paid less!

Someone paid him 20K to do a ground-up Jag and now he thinks his :stromberg: don't stink."

More people experience the same, like some kind of scam to lure people in...

"Trust me we aren't alone.... several other club members have had unfavorable experiences.

Maybe we're all had unrealistic expectations :confused:

Mark drummed up business for Brandon.

Brandon didn't even meet me at the delivery, nor was he there for the pick up.

Brandon did a half-assed job (aka the amount of effort he felt the [i]nominal[/i] amount of money was worth) and left Mark to defend his work.

I couldn't believe Mark even started to explain the imperfection I was inspecting when I picked up the car ?! [i]Oh that's a fish-eye, it happens when... [/i] Then my dad (who was helping with the pick-up) said to let it go. (To him, it is a great cheap paint job).

But still.... I didn't expect fish-eyes and bubbles and pink rub-out residue on my rubber and in all the cracks.

And I figured when I asked for fresh top coat it included the rockers and valences. Not to mention some professional pride in the effort...

For $1,000 more I could have gotten someone closer to do the work that cared more about the finish. Live and learn, Brother! You get what you pay for most of the time...."

And finally, I must say I'll do the same.

"I should have been more thorough about getting references too. But only remembered people posting positive things about his work. WTF.gif

You do what you gotta do. As for me, I just won't give him any more business...or refer anyone who asks me about his work.

Frankly, I don't think he cares about us 914 types, but he forgets we have other cars and friends..."

At least there is someone nice at the 914club.com offering constructive help:

Hi Olav:
Good seeing you both at the PA Concours!
Sorry to see your basic request for an opinion on the BBS has turned into a mud slinging contest statrted by Sir Andy. FWIW, I don't know why he's involved for sure!

I got my car panted in Las Vegas in part because in NV they can use stonger sovents/paint as opposed to CA's more rigorous air standards, thus a longer lasting paint job. I have not seen the paint job close up but Renegade says the guy they recommended did a great job and equal to any Porsche dealer. I will hopefully be checking the job out soon and I will verify that claim. If it's as good as they say I'll give you the contact info for the paint shop if you're interested.

The total job for me was $4,700 including stripping/prepping/painting the sail panels, doing moderate flares in the rear, filling the luggage rack and tail logo holes, repairing/smoothing miscellaneous dings/scratches, sanding and gloss painting the targa top and re-painting the front/rear valences; I would think your job would cost less than mine.
later,
A great member

Video of crap paint job by Brandon at Altissimo and Mark DiBernardi

2007-03-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

This is a video of the crap paint job done by Brandon at Altissimo Paint in Napa and damage done by Mark DiBernardi at Original Customs located in Napa, CA.

Do not go there. They will "lose" parts and damage your car and provide a million excuses why it's not their fault but your fault or someone elses fault.

You have been warned...