I believe that's Paul's Chrome: http://www.paulschrome.com/index.htm They document the process to what I remember of working in a chrome plating factory when I was 16 years old. Yes, it's a very caustic environment, hence the high cost.

I had a single item done on my Amazon, rear trunk ornament that cost $450 Canadian dollars to get re-chromed, done in Montreal and took 3 months to get done. So there's no shortage of business and I suspect this is factored into the cost.

The process involves stripping off the existing material, down to the bare metal, filling and grinding the metal, then comes the coatings of copper, nickel then finally the chrome plating. If you get it done el-cheapo, then the surface is not properly prepared and likely only a thin coating of chrome, that will peel off quickly. You get what you pay for.

It's almost cheaper to buy "new" parts from a supplier that can get things like bumpers directly from Sweden. I had to do that for my bumperettes and I bought mirrors from a Dutch club I belong to.
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Cam a.k.a. CVOLVO.COM