AVOID absolute-wits-end.com (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Les Summer
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Ya’ll are funny. Well, I wish I could contribute to everyone’s negative experience/bias with Wit’s End. Unfortunately, I have not been ‘blessed’ with such experiences. I’ve had sometimes slow communication with Joey, but I’ve received everything I have ordered. It was worth it to me to have entire kits pieced together to accomplish tasks like the PHH bypass, heater hose kits, etc., even if it meant it was more expensive than sourcing it from partsouq or rock auto… I saved time (precious and irreplaceable).
I for one hope that Wit’s End does indeed rise from whatever depths, ashes, or rubble it has been reduced to. I liked Joey’s products. I wasn’t enthused about ‘pre-orders’ and feel that may have contributed to the current Wit’s End demise. I am still hoping to get that QPM panel, fire extinguisher mount, plus a host of other innovative Cruiser products that were on his site. I’ll just have to wait longer…
I’m sorry for the negative experience some or all of you have had with Wit’s End and with J.R. I’ll return ya’ll to gloating at his misfortune.
I for one hope that Wit’s End does indeed rise from whatever depths, ashes, or rubble it has been reduced to. I liked Joey’s products. I wasn’t enthused about ‘pre-orders’ and feel that may have contributed to the current Wit’s End demise. I am still hoping to get that QPM panel, fire extinguisher mount, plus a host of other innovative Cruiser products that were on his site. I’ll just have to wait longer…
I’m sorry for the negative experience some or all of you have had with Wit’s End and with J.R. I’ll return ya’ll to gloating at his misfortune.
It's a very complicated feeling, I don't wish for anyones misfortune and have many Wits End parts on my cruiser. His kits, custom products, etc. have both helped and save my vehicle many times and I'll forever be greatful I have those parts & accessories. Thankfully, I never experienced first hand what a lot of people have. But at the same time, I'm sympathetic and understand the anger & frustration that comes with a lack of follow through on many parts (especially $6,000+ turbo kits) and believe that Joey often times either bit off more than he could chew or straight up scammed people into financing projects he couldn't feasibly see through.
Its possible to be both a fan of his products and a harsh critic of his business practices. But communication and customer service are the biggest factors in supporting a business. He's let far too many people down, far too consistently, to offer ongoing & unwavering support. If this is the end I will miss his products & creations but will not say that it is undeserved.
To that end, Wit’s End was something of a ‘Kickstarter’ project of sorts. I did Kickstarter when iKamper brought out their kitchen system. It was already an established company and I felt relatively safe to ‘pre-invest’ in a concept to see it to market. That was about $400. For a $6,000 turbo? Yeah… Love ya’ Joey, but that is entirely too much bread to part with for ‘maybe’.
I absolutely do not doubt that JR has let many customers down over the course of time and whether plunking $100 for hoses or $6,000 for a custom turbo setup, you expect product for $$, not excuses. Therein lies the rub. JR is great as the Wit’s End ‘mad scientist’ developer/tinkerer/product tester. R&D usually takes considerable time and money before you actually see a return on investment. In a niche market like 60/70/80/100 series Land Cruisers as a sole proprietor/operator… it simply could have been too much.
I agree… many of us will miss his creations and products and no business ever really ‘deserves’ unwavering support. Businesses need to constantly and consistently earn customer support, even in a niche market.
Like you with I-Kamper, I felt that after him producing and selling 40+ turbo kits already, and having seen the feedback from happy buyers who received their box of boost within the expected window of time, I was safe to plop down my six thousand or so dollars and happily wait for the coolness to arrive...
It wasn't until many MANY months after the stated delivery date had come and gone, and after excuse after excuse had come from His Joeyness's mouth that I quit believing in him and decided to lawyer up.
It's been a rough lesson in human nature, as i genuinely believed in the guy and didn't expect to get my sphincter stretched quite as I did...
There is NO doubt that His Joeyness contributed a lot to the cruiser community and I take no real satisfaction (despite words to the contrary spoken in anger) in seeing him fail.
For those of you who DO feel that the downfall of WE is unfair and perhaps a witch-hunt perpetrated by some butt hurt customers, know that he was given multiple opportunities to talk to us and make things right before the ax came out.
Joey did this and despite his claims to the contrary, is solely responsible for his downfall.
I hope no one thinks that I believe the downfall of Wit’s End is unfair. Enterprises fail even when they do most everything ‘right’. COVID was a fine example of both developing niche markets and the downfall of long established business models. Anyone on the ‘left’ coast with more than a few solar laps remembers the day that Mervyn’s went under. Certain enterprises are just more susceptible than others. How many restaurants open with fanfare and close within a year? Bicycle shops operate at such a slim margin, you’d be a passionate fool or funded by Soros to open one.
There are probably more complex reasons for the downfall of Wit’s End, but if he were a sole proprietership… in a relatively exclusive niche market… you’d have to believe that he was funding his own R&D. I think his version of Kickstarter is what ultimately bit him in the ass. That, and hiding out from customers and not just being upfront about what was going on will doom any enterprise to failure, unless you make something everyone needs and you are the sole provider… enter big pharma…
That said I, for one, hope that JR can make things right… maybe some 12-step programming could be involved
and Wit’s End can return. Maybe he should concentrate on providing the ‘low hanging fruit’ and shy from those big ticket items? In our exclusive community, we need more ‘enthusiasts’ that provide quality product, rather than cheaply made ‘one size fits most’…He had ample opportunity to "make things right" and chose another path.That said I, for one, hope that JR can make things right… maybe some 12-step programming could be involved
I have no doubt that this isn't the last we'll see of His Joeyness, but he's going to have some serious hurdles to overcome before he's able to pull a Phoenix and arise from the ashes.
That’s the beauty of the 12 steps, ain’t it?
… I would really like to see him succeed… as something other than the proverbial ‘snake oil salesman’… 
Caveat emptor… it bodes well for us all…
Wow, you guys get internet access from jail in the USA ?
Pity as Joey was producing some great items like the bush press tool set for 80's and the fire extinguisher mounts that go under the front of each front seat.
Maybe the long-term effects of Covid, etc. affected his business and he wasn't able to recover? Maybe he was doing everything himself and it was just too much in the end?
We used to have an Australian business called Locktup 4x4 that went away without any real warning. They were selling ARP stud kids, Marlin Crawler seals and stuff like that.
Maybe the long-term effects of Covid, etc. affected his business and he wasn't able to recover? Maybe he was doing everything himself and it was just too much in the end?
We used to have an Australian business called Locktup 4x4 that went away without any real warning. They were selling ARP stud kids, Marlin Crawler seals and stuff like that.
I’m pretty sure the original manufacturer of the bushing press was Trail Tailor? He’s still selling them here:
80 Series Press Tools
Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series Sleeved Bushing Press Set This tool set is used for the removal and installation of all bonded sleeve bushings on the 80 Series 1045 case hardened steel for increased wear resistance that reduces edge rolling, chipping and gouging of tools and parts Modifications to...
www.trail-tailor.com
Also Cruiser Trash (last I heard) was considering making the fire extinguisher mounts for under the front seats. I think he’s currently working on the 60 series.
I’ve been running the prototype fire extinguisher bracket for a few weeks now and the first small batch is arriving next week. These will be for early 60s only (I have an 82 so that’s what I’m testing on), with later 60s and 62s to follow. I’m considering the 80 Series as well and have some volunteer test bed trucks local to me - but that will come after the 60 range is filled out.I’m pretty sure the original manufacturer of the bushing press was Trail Tailor? He’s still selling them here:
80 Series Press Tools
Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series Sleeved Bushing Press Set This tool set is used for the removal and installation of all bonded sleeve bushings on the 80 Series 1045 case hardened steel for increased wear resistance that reduces edge rolling, chipping and gouging of tools and parts Modifications to...www.trail-tailor.com
Also Cruiser Trash (last I heard) was considering making the fire extinguisher mounts for under the front seats. I think he’s currently working on the 60 series.
This is a completely different design than the ones that were formerly available elsewhere. I actually bought one of those a few years ago and one of the bolt holes was a few inches off. Couldn’t mount it, couldn’t return it, offered feedback and to measure my truck but that fell on deaf ears. In my eyes does the product even really exist if it doesn’t work? I ended up giving it away to a friend with a later 60 and I think fitment on his truck was kind of goofy as well.
Interested for the 80 series….hopefully JDM compatible. I missed out on Joeys product.
NLXTACY AKA
Absolute Witts End straight up took $6K for a turbo kit he never provided
many people fell to this scam and he has never contacted any of us.
He cut off all contact and his mailbox is full, yet he stays active in the communities
He has refused countless attempts of contct over every social media and tech platform for years
And now he's doing a big EfU with Otra Vez which in spanish its would you like another or once again and using his kid's name for his new ponzi
