What is going on with Heritage Trim?

[gr jetson]

Heritage Trim advertises in Panorama and promises the highest quality. They have an impressive looking website, but is it all just a hollow shell? They have pictures of what looks like a massive plant with all kinds of employees, but nobody ever answers the phone, and I have left a few messages but have never received a response, and never received the samples I requested.

Anyone can make their company look viable with an impressive website, but for me, it really all comes down to the details of personal and intelligent customer service.

One of the very best things about Pelican Parts is that it is a great place to learn who is fair, informed, and passionate about working with Porsches. There are so many I have learned about here that are exceptional: M&K, Jason Cullen, 928 Leather, Rennline, Car Audio Innovations, Steve Wong, Elephant Racing, Steve Weiner at Rennsport, and Pelicanetc. Of course, there are many more, so if I did not mention you, please forgive me! Perhaps others will add to the list.

But my point is this: Without such a group of talented, innovative, principled, and ethical businesses owning and working on a Porsche would not be as much fun as it is.

[efhughes3]

I'm not sure this is worth the bandwidth used up here. I've never heard of them. There are several other companies mentioned here often that could provide you with carpet, why lose sleep over a company that doesn't seem to respond to your inquiries?

[gr jetson]

Wow Ed,

That is just a tad harsh, isn't it? But, I think you have missed my point. For some of us here we actually had a Porsche life before we found Pelican Parts. For us, it has been discovered to be a wonderful resource, but now we know that we have an infallible authority on all Porsche related businesses. We can always ask you if you have heard of a particular business. If Ed has not heard of it there is no reason to look any further.

My point is that just because something is advertised in Panorama that does not mean it is going to be in the least bit helpful--better to look at and in Pelican Parts.

Cordially, Greg

[efhughes3]

Geez, I guess when you "lost your life" in finding Pelican, you got pretty sensitive.

I guess I should've been like everyone else here and just ignored this thread.

[FastCarFan]

I don't have a Panorama mag with me here at work, but I think Heritage is the company I have posted about before that can convert regular 911 seats to sport seats. They advertise the conversion in Panorama & they have photos on their Website that make it appear that they do quality work.

I have considered sending my (standard) seats to them to have them converted to sport seats, some day.

I will follow this thread to see if anyone else knows about the company.

[mossguy]

Greg - I have seen work done by Heritage and it is really beautiful. CharlieV from Vancouver had his SC done there and it is very nice. I saw the car at the Canada West Weekend and was very impressed. Check with Charlie.

I think I have some pictures. When I find them, I will post them.

Tom

[mossguy]

Greg - Here are some pictures:

[mossguy]

More pictures:

[gr jetson]

Hey Tom,

Thanks for the fantastic pictures. That upholstery and carpeting looks as nice as any I have seen. I think it is hard to match the brown exterior but they have done a great job. It is one stunning targa.

I wasn't questioning Heritage's quality but their customer service. As we all know, the first signs of trouble are often detected with nonexistent customer service. As well-documented on Pelican many have been taken in by MotorMeister because of their slick website. I was not putting Heritage in that category but I was simply trying to find out why nobody answers the phone, emails are not returned, and samples are not sent out. It just makes one wary.

Cordially, Greg

[gr jetson]

Ed,

1. Hmm, your originally wrote that my questions concerning the customer service at Heritage Trim was not worth the bandwidth. (Yet, I think it is a question that could actually help some people on this forum. Upholstery work can be staggeringly expensive and we all know that sometimes the lack of customer service is the first sign that something is wrong.) But now you seem to be complaining about me: that I “got pretty sensitive.” How is that helpful to anyone? Who is wasting bandwidth?

2. You are mistaken in claiming that I got sensitive after finding Pelican. Nothing I wrote stated, entailed, or remotely implied that. I have always tried to treat people, especially strangers, with the respect they deserve. There are a few here on Pelican who are consistently condescending and insulting. Happily, most here are helpful and refuse to be intimidated by such rude behavior.

3. You wrote: “I guess I should’ve been like everyone else and just ignored this thread.” One day has not passed and over 250 people have looked at this thread, so I guess your argument there is also groundless. I am sorry that my thread was not relevant to you, but why take that possibility away from others?

However, you were right on one point, you should have just ignored this thread as you had nothing constructive to contribute.

Cordially, Greg

[mossguy]

Greg - CharlieV and several others in the Vancouver area dealt with Heritage. I am familiar with only the results.

Why don't you shoot CharlieV a PM and get some first hand answers?

Best,

Tom

[gr jetson]

Tom,

Thanks for the reference. I will send CharlieV a note. His experiences here will be helpful. Few SCs look as nice as his. I hope Doug (FastCarFan) writes him also to get a clear answer on his previously unanswered question concerning Heritage.

Cordially, Greg

[dave egan]

I agree, when I got into this hobby/passion back in 2002 ', I subscribed to Panorama, and figured if Porsche busineses were advertising in their magazines, then they were ''good/honest''. ,but found out the hard way , that just because Panorama magazine vouched for them, allowing them to advertise in their publication meant nothing, as far as the merrits of the companies, (eg) , "Windward Racing" , real ''snake-oil-salesman'' , and "Fabspeed" , (ie) , buy their product , (eg) , 930 muffler, "it breaks", on first drive, they run you around and then hang up the telephone when you call back, requesting a refund or exchange., I even attempted to offer written complaint of the circumstances to Panorama , and they just blew me off, I guess it's all about the all mighty buck from their advertisers. If anyone would like to hear of my personal experiences with the above mentioned companies , just e-mail me , and save yourself from the financial loss I suffered, Dave e-mail = dei_cvh@charter.net ps , hopefully this text will cost that'' Fabspeed '',like maybe ,10 or 20 muffler sales, "Hit em' in the ol' pocket book I always say"!`~

[slw911SC]

It's there! I've toured the Heritage set up in North Vancouver, BC. It's next door to SCAN Porsche and is very modern and impressive. They have the right machinery, the right stock of materials, and qualified staff. They do work on all classic/ collector foreign cars - not just Porsche. Don't give up just because of a phone call. And, yes, I've heard they can be hard to get hold of. As someone else said, best to try and contact folks that have dealt with them directly for an opinion.

[FastCarFan]

Originally Posted by gr jetson

I hope Doug (FastCarFan) writes him also to get a clear answer on his previously unanswered question concerning Heritage.

Greg,

To clarify, I never attempted to contact them. I have simply seen their ad in Panorama & visited their Website. I never asked them any questions -- I am not ready to pull the trigger on any upholstery work.

I just wanted to advise that, based on photos on their Website, the quality of their work seems to be top-notch. Very, very nice.

I don't want anyone to think they haven't answered my question -- I never asked one.

[gr jetson]

Hey Doug,

I understand that you were just gathering information and you never tried to reach Heritage. I just meant that when you raised the interesting question of converting standard seats to sport seats there was not much response on the Pelican forum.

However, I think we have learned some valuable things about Heritage: they apparently do beautiful work; they are a going concern, not just a website; and, we now have a first hand account from SLW911SC that the plant and staff are cutting-edge professional. So, perhaps we should not give up on them and we should keep calling.

To me, this is just what the Pelican forum is meant to achieve.

Cordially, Greg

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Are we done?

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

Are we done?

Maybe, maybe not!

Tom

[FastCarFan]

Originally Posted by gr jetson

Hey Doug,

I understand that you were just gathering information and you never tried to reach Heritage. I just meant that when you raised the interesting question of converting standard seats to sport seats there was not much response on the Pelican forum.

However, I think we have learned some valuable things about Heritage: they apparently do beautiful work; they are a going concern, not just a website; and, we now have a first hand account from SLW911SC that the plant and staff are cutting-edge professional. So, perhaps we should not give up on them and we should keep calling.

To me, this is just what the Pelican forum is meant to achieve.

Cordially, Greg

Fair enough Greg. Thanks for your clarification. You're right -- there wasn't much response to my previous post. I just wrote if off to Pelicans not having much experience with Heritage & their sport-seat conversions.

And by the way, your summary of the "learnings" is very good.

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by gr jetson

Ed,

3. You wrote: “I guess I should’ve been like everyone else and just ignored this thread.” One day has not passed and over 250 people have looked at this thread, so I guess your argument there is also groundless. I am sorry that my thread was not relevant to you, but why take that possibility away from others?

However, you were right on one point, you should have just ignored this thread as you had nothing constructive to contribute.

Cordially, Greg

Just to note, at 12 hours into the thread, nobody else had posted. Obviously, you must've agreed to a point, since you edited first post. I think your comment, that was deleted, that went something to the effect of "farewell Heritage Trim, I won't miss you" was a little bit overly dramatic, and it was the reason I posted. I'll say that your edited first post now looks a little more useful to the community, and sets a more adult tone. I'll leave you to your thread now.