ToyotaMatt - what's worked? (1 Viewer)

[jonnyd42]

I reached out to @ToyotaMatt to help with a lock repair project. It seemed like he was the only one with the right combo of know-how, parts on hand, etc, so I sent my hatch lock, passenger lock, and gas cap lock for the project. Matt was super responsive, helpful, and great at providing updates. He was very responsive over text, phone, mud DM.

However, he went totally silent about a week ago. I honestly hope the guy is OK.

My FJ62 now has a few missing locks, and I'd love to finish the project. My gut sense is that he will deliver, but it will be weeks or even months from now.
Does anyone have any tips on what's worked to communicate with Matt? I saw his comms portal got deleted...

 

[jclark]

EDIT: Matt did finish my lock set and did ship them.

I asked Matt about locks around October or November of last year. My situation was unique because of ambulance doors… on four 60 series. I recognized the ask was large and custom, so I’d only ordered a data plate from him up to that point. I also knew Matt’s reputation the last few years and didn’t want to press a Mud friendship by becoming disappointed like many others.

So when I finally asked, he thought it was an interesting project, four sets of locks, all hand-keyed. He said he’d be interested in doing it, so I asked him when he could start… and I asked again, and again, and again. It took quite literally until the middle of January to get a commitment, at which point I reduced it to a single. If it took two months for a commitment to work, I couldn’t imagine how long it would take to get four sets of locks. Jesus would’ve come back by then.

He volunteered to do the single lock set in 10 days. This was a surprising turnaround to commit to, considering this was not an off-the-shelf product, and he was under siege for all the backorders, and it took him an inordinate amount of time to commit to a start date for the work. But he was confident, so I took him at his word

It didn’t take 10 days, and I ended up in the same situation as @jonnyd42.

It took so long that I sourced two complete NOS OEM sets from a country sanctioned by the US and shipped through a third-party forwarding company. It took two months to get them, but STILL faster than Matt's set. To add insult to injury, Matt’s price was 3X the cost, and this vendor I purchased from is known for sky-high pricing on top of the expensive shipping. That was part of the rub. Suppose you charge three times the market rate and volunteer to deliver an item by a specific date, honor that commitment. It’s part of the reason a customer decides to pay a price.

@jonnyd42, you have two options: start the chargeback process with your credit card company or wait. You will likely be waiting months before you get it unless Matt prioritizes your project over other folks. He sees this post, motivating him to prioritize your custom order.

Regarding communication, Matt will respond when he’s ready and at his convenience. Your options are the same: wait patiently or start the chargeback process with your credit card company.

Hopefully, Matt’s new hire will help him catch up on his backorder, allowing Matt to focus on your custom key order. More importantly, hopefully, Matt will get better fulfillment processes in place so that this doesn’t continue to be a regrettable Groundhog Day experience.

I'm not sure what your key project needs are, but I can think of two overseas vendors who may be able to help if you just need new keys. If it is a key issue and you haven’t sent your locks to Matt, buried somewhere on Mud, there is a thread about an old-school locksmith shop in Southern California that rekeys locks, as I recall, for an excellent price. I believe they were in Torrance, CA. I don’t remember the name of the shop, and I don’t have any keywords that come to mind to find it.

Sorry, you have to go through this.

 

[jonnyd42]

I asked Matt about locks around October or November of last year. My situation was unique because of ambulance doors… on four 60 series. I recognized the ask was large and custom, so I’d only ordered a data plate from him up to that point. I also knew Matt’s reputation the last few years and didn’t want to press a Mud friendship by becoming disappointed like many others.

So when I finally asked, he thought it was an interesting project, four sets of locks, all hand-keyed. He said he’d be interested in doing it, so I asked him when he could start… and I asked again, and again, and again. It took quite literally until the middle of January to get a commitment, at which point I reduced it to a single. If it took two months for a commitment to work, I couldn’t imagine how long it would take to get four sets of locks. Jesus would’ve come back by then.

He volunteered to do the single lock set in 10 days. This was a surprising turnaround to commit to, considering this was not an off-the-shelf product, and he was under siege for all the backorders, and it took him an inordinate amount of time to commit to a start date for the work. But he was confident, so I took him at his word

It didn’t take 10 days, and I ended up in the same situation as @jonnyd42.

It took so long that I sourced two complete NOS OEM sets from a country sanctioned by the US and shipped through a third-party forwarding company. It took two months to get them, but STILL faster than Matt's set. To add insult to injury, Matt’s price was 3X the cost, and this vendor I purchased from is known for sky-high pricing on top of the expensive shipping. That was part of the rub. Suppose you charge three times the market rate and volunteer to deliver an item by a specific date, honor that commitment. It’s part of the reason a customer decides to pay a price.

@jonnyd42, you have two options: start the chargeback process with your credit card company or wait. You will likely be waiting months before you get it unless Matt prioritizes your project over other folks. He sees this post, motivating him to prioritize your custom order.

Regarding communication, Matt will respond when he’s ready and at his convenience. Your options are the same: wait patiently or start the chargeback process with your credit card company.

Hopefully, Matt’s new hire will help him catch up on his backorder, allowing Matt to focus on your custom key order. More importantly, hopefully, Matt will get better fulfillment processes in place so that this doesn’t continue to be a regrettable Groundhog Day experience.

I'm not sure what your key project needs are, but I can think of two overseas vendors who may be able to help if you just need new keys. If it is a key issue and you haven’t sent your locks to Matt, buried somewhere on Mud, there is a thread about an old-school locksmith shop in Southern California that rekeys locks, as I recall, for an excellent price. I believe they were in Torrance, CA. I don’t remember the name of the shop, and I don’t have any keywords that come to mind to find it.

Sorry, you have to go through this.

Did Matt ever successfully finish the project? He now has my passenger lock, gas cap lock, and hatch lock.

At this point my options are wait and pray or get a replacement matching set.

 

[jclark]

Yes, he did and I’ll edit my post. All the keys worked. But, I had already found a solution so I’ve got a extra lock set I’m sitting on.

 

[ToyotaMatt]

Yes, he did and I’ll edit my post. All the keys worked. But, I had already found a solution so I’ve got a extra lock set I’m sitting on.

- Justin , what came 1st ?

- You placed a special made to order full vehical lock set form me , it was delivered in the time window + 2 days longer

- the solution you found in the mean time talk about above was a pre-owed set ,that you then mailed me for parts . Used locks that do not fit ignition and don’t have a barn door lock don’t count here …

- so , you sitting on the used and random mis-matched locks and keys that you bought during the production time window of your set I built your new set is some how my fault or error ?

I do not think so .

Your facts are wrong here Justin


Except , I am glad my keys worked , in all 5 locks …

 

[jonnyd42]

Update for everyone: Matt and I connected yesterday. He's finished my project and working on sending my locks back. I have no doubt that they'll work great & will update the thread when I get them.

 

[jonnyd42]

Final update - received my locks from Matt. He repaired my broken hatch lock cylinder, cut me new keys based on the passenger lock code, and rekeyed a driver's door lock cylinder & ignition to match. Incredible work & done with really high quality.

He's clearly a first rate technician / mechanic, but it was a frustrating experience since he works in sprints of super good communication and then radio silence.

My experience matches other folks' - exceptional product but not the easiest customer experience...

 

[ToyodaDude]

Hey yall,
Hoping to reach @toyotamatt about my order. It seems that he doesn't reply to emails, and I can't direct message him here.
Any update on my order or method of contact so I can get my parts would be great.

Cheers & Thank you,
- Rory

 

[Mudder]

Hey yall,
Hoping to reach @toyotamatt about my order. It seems that he doesn't reply to emails, and I can't direct message him here.
Any update on my order or method of contact so I can get my parts would be great.

Cheers & Thank you,
- Rory

Good luck. He had his account deleted or reactive on here earlier this week. I would suggest a charge back if you can.

 

[ToyodaDude]

Good luck. He had his account deleted or reactive on here earlier this week. I would suggest a charge back if you can.

Damn, well I appreciate the advice, I'll make the necessary arrangements. Any tips on where to get an 80 alternator tensioner?

 

[ToyodaDude]

Damn, well I appreciate the advice, I'll make the necessary arrangements. Any tips on where to get an 80 alternator tensioner?

Using the photos from Matt's kit I believe I found the necessary primary components for the tensioner. Anyone who reads this, feel free to reach out with questions. Getting it all from Toyota, 3 days away.