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     The Internet abounds with opportunities to find specialists who will help one customize their motorcycle.   It allows prospective buyers to research products and services, to compare prices and  quality, and to get additional ideas for customization.    The downside is that one might not always get what they think they paid for when buying goods or services on the Internet, so the buyer should always beware. Research the business, speak to the owner, and get referrals or ask other users their opinion.   One can read customer feedback on e-bay,  and have some level of protection by using E-bay and PayPal combined.  A reputable company offering a service might ask the customer to sign a contract, which should be looked over carefully before signing and agreeing to the terms. 

     I recently stumbled across  The Kustom Paint Shop, an e-bay store, and Thompson Graphix, the brick and mortar site located in Roseau, Minnesota, both owned and operated by Todd Thompson.    I did the research and hired him to complete a custom paint job on my motorcycle tins.  The result was so impressive that I wanted to share it with everyone, and I asked our editor to feature Todd on the cover of White Line Magazine.  Todd's success is a result of his quality work, fair pricing and good old American values.  His work is award winning, professional and affordable, and he has a turn around time of just 2-4 weeks from your scheduled start date.  This year he is working on a new line of paint jobs that will fall under $1,000 for 2009.  After reading this interview, please visit his web site www.thekustompaintshop.com and if you're in the market for custom paint, I hope you will consider his talent and skills.  I feel confident in recommending Todd to anyone who wants a quality paint scheme at a fair price.

THE INTERVIEW:

Mary: How did you get started in the paint business?  Do you paint anything else besides bikes?

Todd:  I first owned a sign shop, then once I ran out of signs to do, started in the custom painting, it took off, I sold my sign equipment, and here I am.  Yes I paint some full size vehicles, snowmobile hoods, helmets.

Mary:  Have you always lived and worked in Minnesota?

Todd:  I have lived in Minnesota since I was 11, lived in Fargo, ND before that.  My Dad’s side of the family is from up here.   Went into the Navy after high school, spent time on the West Coast.   Met my wife in the service, she’s a Georgia gal, even spent a year in Georgia. Decided we wanted to raise the kids in a smaller town, so we moved back up north.  Funny, because now we keep thinking about moving south after the kids are off into college.

Mary:  Have you always been an artist, and do you do any other kind of artwork such as painting, drawing, etc?

Todd:  I’ve always been artistic, but have not always had jobs that deal with my artistic abilities. I don’t have time anymore, but I used to do oil painting, acrylic painting, drawings, carvings.

Mary:  How long have you been in business?

Todd:  Thompson Graphix was started in 1999, but the motorcycle painting has been since 2004.

Mary:  How long have you been on e-bay?

Todd:  Since 2004, when I went to custom painting bikes, I started using E-bay as a selling tool right away, at that time there was only about 3 painters on e-bay including myself.

(cont.)