CBI - POOR Experience - Thoughts?

[EVOperator]

Wondering of others experiences with CBI Off Road. I ordered a rear bumper December 2020 and was prepared for the 12+ week lead time. After 14 weeks I called to inquire as I had not heard from them and had not yet received shipping information. I provided the order number and was put on hold. A few minutes later I was advised "I need to get an answer on this bumper, there was a meeting last week about this and I have to get some information, can I call you back in an hour?" I asked him if this is why the bumper is no longer listed on their website? The answer was much the same, I have to get some info and call you back, he apologized and we hung up.

No call came within an hour, in fact it took several hours, like early evening. I was advised by the same person "I have bad news were going to have to refund your purchase." I asked why and what had happened that I had to call to inquire and that the long wait to be refunded was a big disappointment. I also asked why it was pulled from their site. I was told "the bumper you ordered has been found to have a manufacturing defect and it has to be redesigned." I was stumped as they still keep popping up on Ed Martin Toyota LC builds.

There was no mention of the ditch light brackets, which were part of the order.

I really have not idea how to feel about this transaction or company at this point. The bumper was needed as I installed a 40gal LRA tank for towing and travel and would REALLY like the tire out of the cargo area before next month. They had what seemed to me to be a solid base of happy customers. The refund followed faster than the return call.

Disappointing for sure!!!

 

[Gazziza]

@benc at Dissent has you covered. They make a very slick front and rear Lx bumper.

Chiming in to this thread- I recently ordered and had installed a Prinsu rack for my Lx. My shop spoke to the tech that did the J201 build and assured them it was a simple bolt on…. Nearly 40hrs of labor later the rack was installed. The headliner had to be dropped to access the OE bolt holes.

I have been woefully unimpressed with CBI/Prinsu’s competence and customer service.

Thank you so much! I haven’t installed the Prinsu rack as of yet for that reason. Do you know if the Dissent rack will require the same process of dropping the headliner?

You have to be very careful about removing the stock roof bolts. There is a nutplate that is sandwiched in there and if you don't remove the bolts together in an alternating fashion then the nutplate can drop down into the headliner. Then you'll have to drop the headliner to retrieve the nutplate and put it back into place. So it is a simple bolt on procedure but you do have to be very careful with it. @Forerunner my guess is that your installer had this happen to them and thus the 40 hr labor time.

I'm not defending CBI/Prinsu but this is a common install issue with all 200 series roof racks.

 

[sreyes1103]

Wondering of others experiences with CBI Off Road. I ordered a rear bumper December 2020 and was prepared for the 12+ week lead time. After 14 weeks I called to inquire as I had not heard from them and had not yet received shipping information. I provided the order number and was put on hold. A few minutes later I was advised "I need to get an answer on this bumper, there was a meeting last week about this and I have to get some information, can I call you back in an hour?" I asked him if this is why the bumper is no longer listed on their website? The answer was much the same, I have to get some info and call you back, he apologized and we hung up.

No call came within an hour, in fact it took several hours, like early evening. I was advised by the same person "I have bad news were going to have to refund your purchase." I asked why and what had happened that I had to call to inquire and that the long wait to be refunded was a big disappointment. I also asked why it was pulled from their site. I was told "the bumper you ordered has been found to have a manufacturing defect and it has to be redesigned." I was stumped as they still keep popping up on Ed Martin Toyota LC builds.

There was no mention of the ditch light brackets, which were part of the order.

I really have not idea how to feel about this transaction or company at this point. The bumper was needed as I installed a 40gal LRA tank for towing and travel and would REALLY like the tire out of the cargo area before next month. They had what seemed to me to be a solid base of happy customers. The refund followed faster than the return call.

Disappointing for sure!!!

 

[sreyes1103]

You have to be very careful about removing the stock roof bolts. There is a nutplate that is sandwiched in there and if you don't remove the bolts together in an alternating fashion then the nutplate can drop down into the headliner. Then you'll have to drop the headliner to retrieve the nutplate and put it back into place. So it is a simple bolt on procedure but you do have to be very careful with it. @Forerunner my guess is that your installer had this happen to them and thus the 40 hr labor time.

I'm not defending CBI/Prinsu but this is a common install issue with all 200 series roof racks.

Would anyone here have any advice on how to proceed getting my order by contacting anyone there that can provide me a actual answer or would it be best to just cancel order after several months ?

 

[radman]

. @Forerunner my guess is that your installer had this happen to them and thus the 40 hr labor time.

I think there is a fundamental change in the 2016+ LX stock rack. I don’t think they used nut plates and that’s the reason you have to drop the liner (although I’m not sure what the factory used in their place). I can recall at least one guy eBaying nut plates and using them after he dropped the liner.

 

[sreyes1103]

Finally received bumper and sliders from CBI after 7 months. Bumper looked used and damage on several edges. I thought it was from shipping but the some damage was on areas that were wrapped for shipping. Missing several pieces and hardware but I was and able to put it on this weekend.

Roof rack I am still hesitant to spend so much time dropping the headliner.

 

[Forerunner]

Finally received bumper and sliders from CBI after 7 months. Bumper looked used and damage on several edges. I thought it was from shipping but the some damage was on areas that were wrapped for shipping. Missing several pieces and hardware but I was and able to put it on this weekend.

Roof rack I am still hesitant to spend so much time dropping the headliner.

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I love the roof rack now that it’s on. Just not the process to get it there.

On another note, that is a freaking sweet color on your Lx!

 

[tbisaacs]

Finally received bumper and sliders from CBI after 7 months. Bumper looked used and damage on several edges. I thought it was from shipping but the some damage was on areas that were wrapped for shipping. Missing several pieces and hardware but I was and able to put it on this weekend.

Roof rack I am still hesitant to spend so much time dropping the headliner.

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Hey where in Washington are you?

 

[sreyes1103]

I love the roof rack now that it’s on. Just not the process to get it there.

On another note, that is a freaking sweet color on your Lx!

Yeah the rack sigh, dreading to put it on and Thank you!

 

[sreyes1103]

Hey where in Washington are you?

Seattle!

 

[Gazziza]

Finally received bumper and sliders from CBI after 7 months. Bumper looked used and damage on several edges. I thought it was from shipping but the some damage was on areas that were wrapped for shipping. Missing several pieces and hardware but I was and able to put it on this weekend.

Roof rack I am still hesitant to spend so much time dropping the headliner.

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So they sent you a used bumper after you waited 7 mo for it? Man I'd be pissed. I think you should get in contact with them and ask for a partial refund. That's some BS IMO and why their reputation is piss poor.

 

[tbisaacs]

Seattle!

Please drop by if you haven’t already!

Events/Trails - Seattle area role call and planning thread

Creating a placeholder to rally the Seattle area 200s to get together for coffee, beers and trails. There are a couple of regional clubhouses but I don’t have the rights to create a new one on this forum.

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[sreyes1103]

So they sent you a used bumper after you waited 7 mo for it? Man I'd be pissed. I think you should get in contact with them and ask for a partial refund. That's some BS IMO and why their reputation is piss poor.

I was lucky to even get it, I called a couple times a week and every time it was basically different excuses or reasons why it wasn’t being sent. The week they were supposed to send it, they said it had to be remade. Then the next day it was sent. So i dunno and whatever. They also said they would refund me for powder coating for all the scratches but yet to see anything. Always something with them.

 

[Gazziza]

I was lucky to even get it, I called a couple times a week and every time it was basically different excuses or reasons why it wasn’t being sent. The week they were supposed to send it, they said it had to be remade. Then the next day it was sent. So i dunno and whatever. They also said they would refund me for powder coating for all the scratches but yet to see anything. Always something with them.

Unless you're named Clay Croft you won't get good customer service from CBI apparently

 

[sreyes1103]

I was lucky to even get it, I called a couple times a week and every time it was basically different excuses or reasons why it wasn’t being sent. The week they were supposed to send it, they said it had to be remade. Then the next day it was sent. So i dunno and whatever. They also said they would refund me for powder coating for all the scratches but yet to see anything. Always something with them.

Is it that common for customers. Prinsu seems to send on time and no excuses.

 

[grinchy]

Watching from the outside it seems that the flat pack stuff (like the prinsu, which was purchased IP anyway) is fine, but the custom / templates build stuff that’s a bit more involved is a different story. Building items for repeat remote fit up is an entirely different skill than a one-off commission built on site. Getting the jigs and build plan detailed, training and qc activities etc are a big lift.