My SSO rear bumper, purchased, installed and returned

[NMBruce]

Around the first of April, I ordered an SSO rear bumper with Endless Horizon and told them I need by May 23 - 24 and it arrived May 24 after I paid a extra shipping cost, later returned by Kevin at Endless Horizons. Kevin at Endless Horizons has been great to deal with.

The bumper looked very good and is very stout and the welds are very well done. So we got the bumper in the shop and started to get it unpacked, the packing was very good, bubble wrap or foam and plastic covered everything. First thing I saw was that I was sent a ladder and no fuel can carrier, I was told that correcting that would not be a problem. We found that there was paint coming off at the swing arm and no paint at the 2 front tips. I sent pictures to Kevin at Endless and he want me to talk to SSO, no problem. Since I like the looks of the bumper from pictures that I have seen at SSO website and here, I thought I would just repaint it. I thought it was dum to ship it back to them to re powder coated and then them ship it back to me.

After talking with Kevin's mom at SSO, I sent pictures of the problems and also found out that I didn't get the antenna mount, not a big problem, since the bumper need painting again. I was told Kevin was in a meeting and would call me later, didn't happen, not sure it really matters.

So we moved forward and start to install the bumper, follow the instructions on line. Everything went the way it should. After we got the bumper mounted, it was then I decided that it was not what I thought it would be. I had about 1" gaps on the sides and back of the bumper and the body. I could put my hand it there and to see the plastic parts that the stock bumper covered was not a problem. The front point was 1/2" from the fender and look like it was waiting to get caught on a tree branch. I was told this was need because of body flex, but looking at SSO website and the instruction, they don't show this gap or is there any mention of this gap. I found the bumper to look unfinished or build incorrectly, but I was told its build on a jig so that wasn't the problem. I thought it was unfinished because of it not having backup lights, but that I could correct easily, but I could not accept the gaps.

So the bumper is very well build for strength and has some first class workmanship, but I think I was miss lead because of the pictures SSO shows, the bumper would have a better fit. I was charged a restocking fee, which their website says, but because they don't show the gaps, I don't agree with it. Had I know this, I would of waited to see it in person, before I purchased, just like I had planned for the front bumper.

So if you plan to order a SSO bumper, be sure you can live with these gaps and if you can, go for it, I could not and it costed me.

 

[NMBruce]

other pictures

I spent last weekend out in Big Bend, saw a few 80's, and FJ and 4Runners with after market bumpers and none had this big of a gap.

 

[NMBruce]

a few more looking down at the opening

 

[RobertD]

I don't blame you. Metal tech front bumper looks way better IMO so its safe to say they are going to get the rear right.

 

[little_joe]

Um, wow. That really sucks for you and I'm sorry to hear about it - what a disappointment. I agree you shouldn't have to absorb a restocking fee, that bumper appears to be not even close to right.

 

[kbahus]

I know there has to be some space for the body to flex. I know some 80 guys had problems denting their trucks with bumpers that were too close to the body, the question is how close can you actually get it? Looks kind of like what I see in these pics, but I think yours has more of a gap:

 

[GXO]

 

[wingysataday]

the gaps don't look terrible to me. My Tacoma rear bumper had gaps pretty close to that (all-pro bumper) the other issues are to bad. I'm sure they will get things straightened out.

 

[freddydt]

Um, wow. That really sucks for you and I'm sorry to hear about it - what a disappointment. I agree you shouldn't have to absorb a restocking fee, that bumper appears to be not even close to right.

No, it's right, man. Those guys don't do s***ty work. Trust me.

 

[exigex]

Do you have any pictures of it from farther away? It is hard to tell how it looks with only close up shots.

 

[NMBruce]

I thought I did, but I do not, maybe a friend took one, I will check

 

[Mountain]

My rear bumper had some room to adjust to get it nice and square front to back, left to right.

I can tell you that it is a fact that there is body flex and the bumper will rub if close. The front on mine did, but I can live with it since this is a 4x4 and not a show vehicle. On the front it is rubbing with plastic around the fenders which is replaceable. On the rear if you rub it will be metal, so the extra rear clearance makes sense to me.

If you ever slam the ass end of the bumper on a rock it will move separate from the unibody.

Ill take a picture of mine tomorrow and you will see it is the same.

 

[NMBruce]

I can understand the need for the clearance and I said they make a nice bumper, but they don't show or tell anyone that there is a 1" gap and their website & install pictures show a very nice fit. My problem is that and had they shown the gap, I think I would of waited to see the bumper in person before I ordered.

This thread is to show people the gap and if you can live with it, ordered, they have one in stock right now. Also it's to say that I think the 20% restock fee is high because they don't show this on their website.

I thought the bumper was unfinished because there are no back up lights on it, since you loose the backup lights with a tire carry, but that was something I could correct. I decided after install that the gap was too much and to me made the bumper looked unfinished and I didn't like the tips sticking out from the body, looks like they are waiting to catch something and I returned it.

I will wait to see what Metal Tech comes out with and go from there.

 

[SouthernSS]

Bruce,

We are sorry the bumper wasnt as you expected, but those gaps are quite necessary for the style of offroading it was designed for. The original protoype was a bit closer, but after coming down hard on a stair step the rear of the bumper flexed up into the body panel under the tail light leaving a nice crease on my truck. We increased the gap a small amount to try to prevent that. Our bumpers are meant to protect, not damage your truck.

Some manufacturers prefer to leave no gap and make them from thinner material, and thats fine, but put those to task like I've done to our bumpers for the past 4 years and you'll see why the body of my truck still looks fresh. No gaps = trail damage on hard hits no doubt. Despite their history with Toyota's, there isnt another bumper manufacturer that knows the specific characeristics of the GX better than me or wheeled it to any degree as much as I have.

I'd also agree that the restocking fee would be un called for had it been a material defect or some other way our fault. As you stated though, you just didn't like the gaps. It takes over 3 hours to pack it with nearly $100 in packing materials. I'm sorry, but we cannot simply absorb that cost because you decided you no longer wanted it. Also, we have to refinish the bumper because it was installed and it can no longer be sold as new.


Once again, I am very sorry we lost a customer from this, but want you to know that we were willing to work with you on any of the issues you mentioned. We do offer some customizations, so it could have been made to your liking had we known you didnt want any gaps. It would have hit the body of your truck, but if thats what you want you can get it. I'll tell you what, I'll give you your 20% restock fee back on a new bumper order customized to your liking. We can make it exactly as you wish. Please call customer support at (225) 384-5351 ext 104 to discuss this proposal.

 

[NMBruce]

Bruce,

We are sorry the bumper wasnt as you expected, but those gaps are quite necessary for the style of offroading it was designed for. The original protoype was a bit closer, but after coming down hard on a stair step the rear of the bumper flexed up into the body panel under the tail light leaving a nice crease on my truck. We increased the gap a small amount to try to prevent that. Our bumpers are meant to protect, not damage your truck.

Some manufacturers prefer to leave no gap and make them from thinner material, and thats fine, but put those to task like I've done to our bumpers for the past 4 years and you'll see why the body of my truck still looks fresh. No gaps = trail damage on hard hits no doubt. Despite their history with Toyota's, there isnt another bumper manufacturer that knows the specific characeristics of the GX better than me or wheeled it to any degree as much as I have.

I'd also agree that the restocking fee would be un called for had it been a material defect or some other way our fault. As you stated though, you just didn't like the gaps. It takes over 3 hours to pack it with nearly $100 in packing materials. I'm sorry, but we cannot simply absorb that cost because you decided you no longer wanted it. Also, we have to refinish the bumper because it was installed and it can no longer be sold as new.


Once again, I am very sorry we lost a customer from this, but want you to know that we were willing to work with you on any of the issues you mentioned. We do offer some customizations, so it could have been made to your liking had we known you didnt want any gaps. It would have hit the body of your truck, but if thats what you want you can get it. I'll tell you what, I'll give you your 20% restock fee back on a new bumper order customized to your liking. We can make it exactly as you wish. Please call customer support at (225) 384-5351 ext 104 to discuss this proposal.

Kevin. Thanks. I will have to think about your offer.

As for refinishing the bumper, that was need anyway due to prep & paint or shipping as there where 3 places that the paint was not on the bumper when I received it, so that cost will be absorbed by the shipping company or the powder coater or at least that is what I was told by your company and Kevin at Endless.

I do understand why you build your bumper they way you do, just didn't know the space would be a big as it is and like I said, it is well build, but you should of taken the time to update the pictures on your website and the discription letting people know of the gap and why and I don't think we would be here right now.

 

[GXO]

I have no gaps, don't hit or flex into the body. Custom bumper though and welded to the frame vs bolts so clearly a different design

 

[little_joe]

I do understand why you build your bumper they way you do, just didn't know the space would be a big as it is and like I said, it is well build, but you should of taken the time to update the pictures on your website and the discription letting people know of the gap and why and I don't think we would be here right now.

^^^^ This. I just read the descriptions and viewed all pictures on the SSO site and there is no indication of the magnitude of the gaps. I would have had the same reaction upon installing it. Research in this case is a 2-way street - if the info isn't there to be found, well............

 

[SouthernSS]

Kevin. Thanks. I will have to think about your offer.

As for refinishing the bumper, that was need anyway due to prep & paint or shipping as there where 3 places that the paint was not on the bumper when I received it, so that cost will be absorbed by the shipping company or the powder coater or at least that is what I was told by your company and Kevin at Endless. So out of the $520 restocking fee you charged me, there is about $200 that someone else is picking up, but I am still paying for it.

I do understand why you build your bumper they way you do, just didn't know the space would be a big as it is and like I said, it is well build, but you should of taken the time to update the pictures on your website and the discription letting people know of the gap and why and I don't think we would be here right now.

It's always a crap shoot when trying to get shipping damage reimbursements and often they find that they did no wrong, go figure. We eat the cost of shipping damage about 80% of the time in one way or another, so we do our absolute best to ensure it doesn't happen in the first place. So to say that we'll be coming out ahead in this transaction is not accurate. Also, you purchased from EHEO and they purchased from me. He had to deliver it to my shop after you brought it back and I think he mentioned returning some of the shipping cost back to you already? If not, my mistake, but the point is that we actually don't see the 20% restocking because it costs him money to deal with this issue too, so we split that fee.

 

[SouthernSS]

^^^^ This. I just read the descriptions and viewed all pictures on the SSO site and there is no indication of the magnitude of the gaps. I would have had the same reaction upon installing it. Research in this case is a 2-way street - if the info isn't there to be found, well............

I could probably add a picture that shows a direct down shot of the gap, but I thought this picture gave a pretty accurate representation of what to expect. Its not like we're trying to hide the fact that it has a gap except that we make it match the body lines when viewing from the side. Lesson learned I suppose.

 

[NMBruce]

It's always a crap shoot when trying to get shipping damage reimbursements and often they find that they did no wrong, go figure. We eat the cost of shipping damage about 80% of the time in one way or another, so we do our absolute best to ensure it doesn't happen in the first place. So to say that we'll be coming out ahead in this transaction is not accurate. Also, you purchased from EHEO and they purchased from me. He had to deliver it to my shop after you brought it back and I think he mentioned returning some of the shipping cost back to you already? If not, my mistake, but the point is that we actually don't see the 20% restocking because it costs him money to deal with this issue too, so we split that fee.

Kevin at EHEO charged me a amount for shipping and it was $80 more to get to me on the date promised, I said I would pay it and he refund that.

I had offered to deliver it straight to your shop, would of saved me 3 hours, but I delivered it where I was told.

The crap shoot with the damage is your problem, all I know is it came to me needing a repaint. As the part about you needing to repainted because I installed it and that is part of my restock fee and I quote who I talked to SSO "shipping caused the damage, we pack everything very well and have pictures showing it" That was after I said that the part of the swing arm looked like the coating just didn't stick to the metal. So if you eat this part, you are charging me for it, where if I had kept the bumper, you would of being eating it, because I was told by SSO and EHEO I would get a refund on that cost.

Do I think I should get all 20% back, NO. Do I think I should be charged all 20% NO. I don't think I should be charged a restocking fee that is going to pay for a repaint when it was needed before I got the bumper.