Okay guys,
Sorry for the hiatus.
For those that have read this and are concerned. I have been in contact with Alex again at AOE. I spoke to him extensively on 9/11 about his lack of contact and inability to meet the deadlines for my bumper.
Alex was very forthcoming with me and very apologetic. This is what he explained. His build team had the bumpers built and ready for powder coating. Unfortunately when he was doing his quality control he indicated a problem. The laser cutter had used the incorrect (old solid works plans) to cut the bumpers pieces. This problem would have caused major fitment issues with the bumpers when received by the customers. As opposed to trying to skirt by and cut and correct them in the shop. He chose to have all the metal pieces that are wrong, cut from the bumpers, re-laser cut, and fabricated using the correct plans.
You can imagine having a stack of finished products in your shop, waiting for powder coat, and realizing that they all have to have a significant amount of extra work done to them just to make them right.
He understands that he should have made all the necessary calls at that time to his customers. He thought that he was going to still meet the dead line though.
He got the company that does his laser cutting to work him in and get the pieces done as fast as they could.
Although this set him back quite a while, he thought it better than sending out a substandard product. He admits he should have been in better touch with his customers. Due to the busy schedule and trying to correct the issue he failed in the communication area. He apologized profusely for this and was quite adamant about making it right to us. I spent a good amount of time on the phone with Alex and I am inclined to believe he is being honest about all of this. I do not believe him to be deceiving me or intentionally misleading me.
Alex has been super busy trying to get these done, and keep his shop on schedule. As @lcwizard stated earlier. This is not a huge shop and the market for Land Cruisers is not as strong as it used to be. Alex does not only cater to the LC crowd he also builds products for Jeep crowd and other off road vehicles as well. He has to juggle quite a bit of work to just keep the lights on.
Alex tried to call me this past Friday and Saturday as well. I was unable to speak to him until yesterday. Alex apologized profusely again for not being in contact with his customers like he should have been. He assured me that some of the bumpers have shipped already and mine should be shipping this week.
After speaking to Alex on 9/11. (Which just so happens to be the day after I started the fraud proceedings with my CC company.) And we had the above conversation. I decided then to stick it out with him and canceled the fraud proceedings with my CC company.
I am going to stick it out with Alex and AOE. He was willing to make it up to me by deeply discounting a set of rock sliders for me. I think ultimately there is not another bumper that I like as much as the AOE bumper, especially for the application that I am looking for.
The fact that he was willing to give me rock sliders at such a great price and ship them with my bumper is the only reason I don't have my bumper already.
AOE is a small shop. I think it is worth our wild to do all that we can to support these shops. Don't get me wrong. I am still nervous as I still do not have a bumper or sliders at the time of this writing. I am however trying to be as understanding as I can with this.
No one here is wrong in what they feel or think. Should Alex have been in better contact with us? NO QUESTION, he should have.
Should you, if you feel it necessary, demand a refund? ABSOLUTELY!
Should he give you the refund if you ask for it? For sure...
But please, try to be understanding. Try and understand the plight of a small shop. And the costly mistake he is already dealing with.
I was as upset as anyone about this. But, I sat back, had a beer, and listened to him. That's all I am asking any of you to do.
I will keep everyone updated on this. I will post immediately when I have my bumper and sliders.
Regards,
The frustrating part is if that's true he should not have been ignoring people and responded and told them what was going on.
with the extra $$$$ that you gave him for those sliders !
