Auto body repair & detailing: Painted quarter panels without my permission, diminished value in california, modern paints

Question
I have an 08 Lexus that needed a bumper replacement after a minor collision.  The body shop replaced the bumper but didn't do a good job matching the color.  They blended into the quarter panels and did a poor job. Most important they did not tell me they were going to paint my quarter panels.  It was discovered after I had another shop look at it.  The clear coat near the bottom of the quarter panels is peeling. They had my car for two weeks and could not get it right.  They lied to me and I don't feel comfortable letting them fix my car. Since the back of my car will be repainted to fix their mistake, will the value of my car drop.  Am I being unfair in not letting them try fixing again. Will be going to small claims court. Should I be trying to collect on diminished value? In California. Sorry for the long explanation.

Answer
Alex, blending is an industry standard- not a way to cover a "mistake". Every painter blends out panels to match one that was repaired or replaced. You see, we don't have a magic wand that we wave over modern paints that let's us get a perfect match every time. Im my own paint system (DuPont) there are at least 50 colors, including dry pearls. Some formulas have 7 or 8 different colors and metallics in them- the metallics ranging from grey and very fine to coarse and very bright. When we mix paint by a formula, the manufacturer only promises a ball park match- simply put, close but not dead on- a blendable match. The painter didn't get over on you here, he was trying to make it look good, using the industry standard of blending. The fact you needed another body shop to discover the blend work speaks volumes to me. DO you think they are going to give a competitor a good review of their work? Would you give one of your competitors a 4 star review? Alex, it's a car- not the Mona Lisa. As far as diminished value, this minor a job will not diminish the value. If you intend to make the shop's life difficult, try to make arrangements with the initial shop's owner to have another shop of your choice repaint the panels. Drop this small claims and diminished value nonsense unless the shop refuses to make it right somehow- including letting them redo the job. Bill