I don't see ANY reason why you "can't run your shop" right now. All you have to do is take a 50% deposit on work ordered(like you should have before). 50% is more than enough to pay for the parts, and a little of the labor. Once the work is done, you collect the remainder. Pretty simple to me. And yes, I've worked in a shop before, so I understand whats involved a bit better than the average bear. I currently own my own business also which, while it's not an auto shop, gives me a bit more understanding as well. So how is it that you are "loosing a great deal of income because of this fiasco"? It seems to me, you are MAKING a bit of income due to this "fiasco. In fact, if you make enough to cover the cost of Joe Dono's car, then you have made $32,000 on a $16,000 job. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. I am seriously jealous that I didn't think this up before.

So, in closing, I understand EXACTLY what you are doing here. You're no t much better than Joe Dono. He tried to take ONE PERSON'S money. YOURS.....You are trying to take a LOT of peoples money....OURS. Sorry, my money is already spoken for. When you get "paid" for this job from the bank, I would seriously hope that you will give all donors their cash BACK. However, I suspect you will simply take the check and go on about your business...Maybe have a big party, and then buy more stuff for your own car. Yeah...kudos to you.