People that have ordered from Todd / Helion

[jimtweet]

I am writing this cause I have just about reached my limit. This is the second time doing business with him and thought this time would be different.

Today marks 3.5 MONTHS, yes you read right 3.5 MONTHS I have been waiting for a hood, after I was told a few weeks.

I paid for everything up front when asked and now have been getting some what of a run around for last month, responses to emails have been slow.

Anyone else deal with him or these absurd time lines

3.5 months for a part is just unacceptable.

[Fly911]

This is a common problem for several vendors that operate on this forum. They are quick to take your money, they over-sell and under-perform. I had the same experience with Helion Composits when I bought a set of carbon fiber brake ducts for my 911. Many months, emails and phone calls later, I finally got my parts.
Many vendors here are not real businesses, but more like a garage hobby/business, and even if they have good products, they don't seem to understand the correlation between taking someone's money, and deliver on reasonable time.
If you search the forum, you will see that there are MANY people in your situation, not only from Helion, but a lot of other vendors too.
Before you purchase from these "hobby vendors", make sure they quote you a delivery time, and pay 50% up front and 50% on delivery. If the vendor can't accept that, find another one!

[75 911s]

I ordered the Helion sunroof panel and got it fast. I had read some of the other complaints and I honestly expected it to take months.

I get the sense if he has them ready in stock, they get shipped. If not, you are waiting for him to make it. Purely speculation though.

I've had good luck with most "hobbyist" vendors on here with one exception. I'm waiting over 2 months now for a steel sunroof panel, with zero communication. PM's get ignored (I can see when you log on) and emails ignored too.

A simple one sentence reply can go a long way.

[jimtweet]

Don’t even get me started on Clint and Rebel Racing. Just took 4 months to get my parts from them. Unreal.

[jimtweet]

Amazing how you post a thread and get email 4 minutes later with tracking number

[Pfitz911]

I bought some sport seats from a guy here on the forums. Sold quite a few sports seats so I thought I was safe.
His emails were daily until he got my money
Over 8 months later I get my seats. The guy was a moron, just couldn’t care less. If I did get an email it would be “yeah, boxing today” and that’s it.
I heard every excuse under the sun from depression to hurricane Irma
Finally threatened to run a thread about him, got my seats within 2 weeks👍
I don’t understand why people just don’t give a ****

[Helix8]

Unfortunately, I too have just gone through this with Todd. Ordered a hood after being told it is a 10 day turnaround. Yesterday was day 60 which was the limit of my dispute period for my Credit Card provider. I explained this limit to Todd and that I would file a dispute if the hood had not been received, therefore filed yesterday. I do not think you can believe any FedEx "Pro" tracking (if provided) as I too got this after letting him know my dispute date (also got someone else's based in Canada first). FedEx does not recognize this number and have not provided any further tracking information as assured by Todd. I received many excuses along the way and also progress photos (to make me feel better I guess). If the hood shows up soon I will happily retract my CC dispute but I am through wasting time discussing this with Todd. It is with my Credit Card company now. If the hood shows up I will post that information here. Sorry to hear another experience like this as it looks like a very nice hood.

[betterair]

Placed my order,via email,with a po. no. and all necessary correspondence info for Helion to bill me .
I did not receive any confirmation of the order and some mos. later I followed up asking for an update... with no response.
I formally cancelled the order via e mail since I lost hope on receiving a lightweight CF hood from them.

AND, I am sure this why my DE season sucked this year!!!
Soon,If I had that damn awful lightweight hood ,my car would've been much faster ,my driving would have been better ,my mood would hv been better and Evil Twin #2 woulda have run and looked better too.
DAMMN IT ,I'm goin to therapy now .

[SkunkWorks]

This is really unfortunate to hear. My shop placed an order with them and received a bill of lading on Jan 3rd but so far the hood hasn't arrived nor does the Fedex tracking number work... Hoping it all works out.

[Tbone1209]

You guys realize Getty makes CF body parts, right?
Doors, Fenders, Hoods, Decklids | Getty Design LLC

[jferrante]

Originally Posted by Tbone1209

You guys realize Getty makes CF body parts, right?
Doors, Fenders, Hoods, Decklids | Getty Design LLC

+100 here. Great guys to work with good quality too

[Evan K.]

I ordered a set of Todd’s Targa bars several months back. I received them in about two weeks. Honestly they look really well done. Quality of construction, powder coat and fitment were all excellent. I’m sorry to hear of your difficulties. Hopefully this gets resolved soon.

[mb911]

I understand long lead times as it took my 3 month's each to do my group buy for the 914-6 heat exchangers and then again for the quiet 2 in 1out mufflers for the 914-6. The customers never hounded me as they new it was process. Difference was I had just asked for a deposit not the full balance until ready to ship.... I am slow with my projects as again it is a process undeveloping products.

That said if its in stock it ships right away. If I build a set of heat exchangers I don't collect money until its ready at this point unless I have no idea who the person is.. As you can see it takes a long time to make parts like this

[john walker's workshop]

Very cool setup!

Yeah, if you pre-pay in full, there's no incentive for some people to get er done.

[mepstein]

Originally Posted by mb911

I understand long lead times as it took my 3 month's each to do my group buy for the 914-6 heat exchangers and then again for the quiet 2 in 1out mufflers for the 914-6. The customers never hounded me as they new it was process. Difference was I had just asked for a deposit not the full balance until ready to ship.... I am slow with my projects as again it is a process undeveloping products.

That said if its in stock it ships right away. If I build a set of heat exchangers I don't collect money until its ready at this point unless I have no idea who the person is.. As you can see it takes a long time to make parts like this

It's usually not the time it takes that is a problem, its the communication. Ben's parts take some time to be developed and produced but he gives at least a weekly update with pics and always responds to calls, PM's, ect. Its the guys that have you send money and then go radio silent for months that cause concern. Even when they deliver, the anguish of not knowing if and when you will ever get your part makes you wonder if its even worth it.

[jimtweet]

Originally Posted by mepstein

It's usually not the time it takes that is a problem, its the communication. Ben's parts take some time to be developed and produced but he gives at least a weekly update with pics and always responds to calls, PM's, ect. Its the guys that have you send money and then go radio silent for months that cause concern. Even when they deliver, the anguish of not knowing if and when you will ever get your part makes you wonder if its even worth it.

I’ve been in sales for 13 years, had a small sales team of 4, expectations should not be met. They should be surpassed. Under promise over deliver.

[Evan K.]

Originally Posted by jimtweet

I’ve been in sales for 13 years, had a small sales team of 4, expectations should not be met. They should be surpassed. Under promise over deliver.

Truth.

[SkunkWorks]

As an update, Todd called me back yesterday morning stating there was an error with the shipping last week and that it would be shipped in the afternoon yesterday with an updated tracking number sent to me once it's out.

Haven't heard from him since.

It is disappointing especially when he was extremely responsive back in November when the order was placed and paid for but now I can't even get an e-mail reply back from him.

[Trakrat]

Not on here... but I've bought many items from other forum users.

The problem is that the sellers simply don't communicate enough with their buyers.

If the seller says that the process should take 6 weeks...and 6 weeks after the seller still hasn't shipped the part, then they need to communicate this.

I always believe that a good experience is when the buyer NEVER has to be the first person asking for an update. It's poor business, and those sellers need to be banned from forums.

[LUFTKUL]

Banned is a bit harsh. Search function works well for others' experiences. I was going to order something from Rebel, but then I searched. Same goes for Helion. There are good and bad experiences. Let them all be heard. Caveat Emptor.