It only takes one bad experience to give people a negative impression.

Nowhere is this more true than in the painting contractor business, where people entrust their most precious assets to a virtual stranger.

Sadly, this week we have another example of shady fly-by-night behavior.

A TV station just did an exposé of a local contractor who allegedly left at least six customers in the lurch.

The story comes to us from Minnesota, where the contractor advertised his skills as a painter on the Lake Minnetonka Facebook Marketplace.

The painter advertised “SAME-DAY house painting for $1,234.”

But it was actually the opposite, say customers who took the bait.

Many of them have the same story: He showed up the first day and then ghosted the customer.

“It was just a constant state of him saying he was gonna show up, then we wouldn’t hear from him for three or four days, then he would call and say something about his vehicle,” one angry customer told the TV station.

Another couple saved up for months to afford the $3,000 it would take to make over their kitchen. The painter took out the drawers and blue taped the plastic tarp, rendering the kitchen temporarily useless. Then he disappeared, leaving them without a functional kitchen.

“We’ve eaten out a ton,” said customer Chris.

The TV station spoke with six customers, three of which have sued the contractor. One asks for $7,037 plus filing fees.

The lawsuit says the contractor still has the plaintiff’s cabinet doors, plus a house key and a garage door opener.

The contractor was proud of his status as a football standout in nearby Edina. To foster trust, he regularly regaled customers with tales of his record-breaking gridiron exploits.

Shortly before the TV story aired, the contractor contacted the station and vowed to reimburse the angry customers. He also said that he got in over his head with too many customers and bit off more than he could chew. He’s no longer soliciting work and has essentially dropped out of the trade.

PCA members shared the story on Facebook. Nick Slavik, who lives in New Prague, Minn., was the first to offer commentary:

“Our trade is full of non-decent human beings,” Slavik captioned the post.

Kevin Hayes, of Hayes Painting, reshared the story with the warning: “Careful who you choose for your home projects.”