I can't believe this guy hasn't, at least, tried recovering his $1K in
small claims court. I would think that  by just showing a the court those
pictures he's got that would be enough!

   I've had quite a few cars painted at Maaco over the years (was in used
car business) but I learned early to go over & see the capability of the
"painter-at-the-time".  Since it's a mass-production facility, one has to
decide which cars would do ok with their work, which ones deserved better,
and again, what was the ability/skill level of the painter-on-call at the
particular time.  Any store, in particular, could/would do decent jobs at
times as well as do lesser quality jobs at times--all depending on the
'shooter' at the particular time.
   Sorry this isn't much help for those of us who don't know how to
evaluate the skill levels available--I also painted cars myself for several
years--but don't blame ALL Maacos on a job received from just one store at
one particuar time.  I've gotten much-above-my-money's-worth-jobs at times,
tit-for-tat jobs at times, and a couple of do-overs.  But overall, I've been
pleased with the jobs they've done for me; and so have the customers who
bought our cars plus those whom we sent.  BTW: We'd ensure there was an apt
bodyman/painter on duty at the time we sent our customers & neighbors to
them.
   One more thing: I think ANY body man will agree that at times, in spite
of the fact he did everything correctly, by the book, and using no
shortcuts, sometimes there will be a job that turned out such that he'd be
ashamed for anyone to see it.  One good thing in Maaco's favor: most of them
use a heated paintbooth to cure the paint; that way, if it needs re-doing,
you don't have to set it into the sunshine to 'cure/dry thoroughly for 6
months before starting over--often with another bodyshop!!!  I feel sure
most of them use quick-drying paint, like at worst, acrylic enamel; we had
at times to use the old, cheap, slow-drying synthol enamel--or else use
quick-drying lacquer, which had to be buffed after it dried, and much too
expensive for non-deserving cars.  And when we didn't have heated
spray-booths, if the enamel turned out good, fine.  If it didn't, you'd
hafta let it sit outside in the sun, where everybody could see it, and dry
before you could re-do it.  It was virtually a one-shot approach!  Acrylic
enamel can be applied and shine from the get-go, if the painter knows what
he's doing.  Plus, depending on color and whether it had metallics in it, it
could at times be sanded and buffed, similar to lacquer.  Expensive,
again!!!
   With today's base-coat/clear-coat, a car can't get this when it doesn't
deserve it; it's next best is an acrylic-enamel job, and cross your fingers
it turns out good from the get-go.  Else, put up with dry spots, trash,
mediocre shine, etc.
   If a 'plain' car just needs 'roughing-up and shooting', Maaco, with an
adept painter, can give one his money's worth.  If it needs minimum
dent-work, same thing with adept painters/bodymen.  Anything more, consider
one decision to start with: Does this car deserve fixing (right)?
   Different cars deserve different quality jobs, like books and meals:
some are just for tasting, some for gobbling down, and some for chewing
carefully & slowly & enjoying/savoring each & every bite!
   So, quite often, less than satisfying jobs from Maaco are due to the
car-owner's having incorrectly answered the critical question.
   Want a good job?  Get it done right the first time!          Want a gal
who'll 'get by' for the nite?--pick her up just as the bar is closing.  But,
don't take her home to mama to approve.  And don't expect her looks to
last--she'll have dull spots when your alcohol wears off!
   sdlomi