Restoration Design

BK911 · BK911's Garage

This guy's a real piece of work. I ordered stuff over 2 months ago, which was supposed to ship out the next week. I've called and faxed at least once a week since then and never received any type of response. Finally 2 weeks ago he actually answered the phone and told me the parts were there and were going out that night. Ok, over two weeks later and the parts still aren't here. Surprise, he won't respond to my calls or faxes, again. Finally I've given up and ordered from another supplier. I called again, left a message, and sent a fax cancelling my order. Unfortunately he will probably never respond confirming my cancellation, so I had to cancel my credit cards so he can't charge to them. If not, I may or may not be liable for the charges and would definitely be liable for shipping to and from. Just a heads up to anybody who may be considering ordering from him. Very unprofessional.

With all that being said, I hope he is well. I know many of you have had good experiences with him. Unfortunately that doesn't help me get my parts.

Rant off.

benman0034 · 08-29-2006, 08:17 AM

BK911 - I agree with you about your rant. I ordered a gas tank support piece from this place 5 1/2 months ago and I still don't have it. I called him and he gave me the same story he gave you. He told me they just stamped them out and they'll be shipping out on that Friday --- 4 weeks ago and still no front tank support.

Ben

Kemo · 08-29-2006, 10:54 AM

BK911,

where did you source the parts? I was looking to them for the rear pans and the front suspension pan/tank support package deal. but if i can get them else where...

thanks

Zeke · 08-29-2006, 12:13 PM

I think all know my feelings about this guy. Pelican dropped him as a vendor because they didn't get any better treatment. but, you say you canceled your "credit cards." How many cards does it take to buy some sheet metal. FWIW, I did the same deal, cancelled my order back some 2 years ago. I have not had any problems with my CC. The guy may be a total slouch, but I don't think he's a thief. Maybe all you did was drop your credit score a bit.

Oh, and a friend of mine ordered a 356 battery pan a month ago that I'm welding in. It came within 2 weeks. Go figure. That actually caught me oof gaurd becasue I hadn't alloted time for the project so soon.

It would be nice to make a living and not have to be responsible unless the spirits move you.

Someday, someone will knock this guy off his perch, but he'll probably have retired by then and couldn't care less. That's how it looks to me.

jkarolyi · 08-29-2006, 12:16 PM

Pelican can supposedly source most of the parts that RD carries through Dansk, but you need to call them as they are not listed in the online catalog.

RD is well-known to not be a reliable source...Pelican used to source the parts from him but he gave them the same run-around so they no longer do.

Wish Pelican would get around to adding the Dansk pieces to their online catalog...

BK911 · BK911's Garage

I originally gave him my main credit card number. Then I called to change the card to one that I get money back from. So I have no idea which card he may charge on, if at all. I didn't mean to call him a crook. Since I haven't been getting any feedback from him I have no idea if he even knows I want to cancel my order. He may end up shipping the stuff out tomorrow like he's promised for about 10 weeks now. That's what I wanted to avoid.

I ended up using Stoddard. The stuff was in stock and they said it will ship out today. We'll see!

http://www.*************/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=206&cat=Floor+Pan+Parts

I didn't know Pelican sold this stuff or I would have purchased here.

catspaw · 08-29-2006, 12:37 PM

I ordered a front valance for a 74 911 on 12-05, I had it within 2 weeks, a week later I ordered a suspension pan and tank support, I haven't seen it yet. I called and spoke to him, he says " yeah I have your order right on the top of the pile, I'll weld it up tonight and ship in in the am" I'm thinking not. It hasn't been a big issue because I wanted to keep the car on the road for the summer. I think it's time to start calling again so everything will be ready for next spring.

Classic · 08-29-2006, 04:37 PM

I found that Stoddards was great to work with after i waited 6 months for left and right rockers i think i spent just as much on phone calls to the U.S.A. as i did on the parts.

84toy · 08-29-2006, 04:54 PM

I needed a repair part myself. I have called 3 times. No answer, and no return phone call.

911quest · 08-29-2006, 05:17 PM

Don't get me wrong Iam not defending him but I think it is a case of not being able to keep up with demand sounds like a small time organization that has gotten popular for the quality of the parts he sells, and has gotten way behind

patkeefe · 08-29-2006, 05:21 PM

He is a small shop. I got stuff in a week, but you have to keep faxing him. He never answers the phone. I just think he needs to work on his time management skills, or hire some help.

Ron.G · 08-29-2006, 05:47 PM

Apparently he has had some trouble with the town he is in.
The land that the building sits on is of great interest to the town . It is located near a river and they want to turn that area into condos to generate more tax revenue.
So he has been battling the legal system, looking for a new location and trying to run a buisness at the same time.

I'm not making excuses for Bill. If I had to wait that long for repair panels I would not be to happy either.

It's really to bad, he makes some nice parts and is Porsche enthusiast.
I've used his panels thoughout my project and have recieved them within a week or two. I guess I've been lucky.

So thats the story I got when I mentioned that some are not happy with his service.

kenrinc · 08-30-2006, 09:55 AM

Oh this is sad to hear. I sourced all my sheetmetal from Bill @ RD a little over 18 months ago and never had a problem. Always got the stuff within a week. Frontpan, fuel tank supports, rear license panel, rockers.. All on separate bills at separate times. Bill even sat on the phone and offered suggestions on how to do the replacement. He said he was also finishing up more sheetmetal parts that were sorely needed for early 912/911s. I'm sorry to hear this.

Ken-

jkarolyi · 08-30-2006, 10:42 AM

Somebody with a good business sense needs to buy this guy out and move the location. I imagine you could turn a pretty good buck on parts like this.

randywebb · 08-30-2006, 11:53 AM

RD is supposed to have better pieces than others - thicker in stressed areas & better finishes. Just a report from other posts - never seen it myself.

Porsche_monkey · 12:21 PM

I bought stuff six years ago. No problems back then, all the stuff he sold me was very good quality. Maybe he's too busy?

benman0034 · 08-30-2006, 12:18 PM

I'm sure the product is very good, that's what I heard and that's why I ordered from them ... But, if a company takes your money and they don't send you the product you've ordered, they don't respond back, you can't find them and there are numerous complaints about them from others on this thread. What next?

Do they deserve to get classified under the Motor Meister list? Or is that a bit too extreme?

BK911 · BK911's Garage

I think the comparison to MM is too extreme. This guy has high quality parts, but very poor customer service. Maybe he did just bite off more than he can chew. If he hadn't strung me along for over 2 months, I would have ordered elsewhere and my car would have been on the road by now.

randywebb · 08-30-2006, 12:47 PM

"Maybe he did just bite off more than he can chew."

- I think this is endemic to our little 911 world. Dunno if RD is a 1 person operation or not. But in general, the businesses involved with 911s are very small. If something happens to the sole proprieeter (or he has a family emergency) then things go out of whack really fast. It's basicly a cottage industry.

petrolblue83911 · 08-30-2006, 12:49 PM

"I'm sure the product is very good, that's what I heard and that's why I ordered from them ... But, if a company takes your money and they don't send you the product you've ordered, they don't respond back, you can't find them and there are numerous complaints about them from others on this thread. What next?

Do they deserve to get classified under the Motor Meister list? Or is that a bit too extreme?" ""

-Benman:

-lets be carefull here, so far no one has said the guy took $ and didnt supply the materials, It sounds like he's just slow in getting the parts out, there's a big difference between the two, the first is stealing, the second is bad business!

I ordered from him 3 yrs ago or so, and was extremely happy with the quality but it did take 7-8 weeks for delivery...I just figured that us left coasters get second dibbs...