experience with addicted off-road

[rcmsdc]

hey guys I just wants some feedback with dealing with addicted off-road.
i ordered a front plate bumper back on September 2nd and i was told its a 6week turn time. its currently going 14 weeks. Im trying to be patient but ive called and emailed them about 8 weeks out and was assured maybe 2 weeks more. now i cant get a response at 14 weeks. has anyone had this problem??

 

[Twitchstyle13]

It took me about 8 weeks to get my test tube bumper. It was well worth the wait. But the customer service is lacking and he does need another fab guy to help out.

 

[MrPiBB]

I am also in the same boat as you however he said from the get go it was going to be 5-8 weeks. I will call in January if I don't not see a tracking # hope it makes it here in plenty of time so I can install it before my trip.

 

[AZ_Trails]

When I ordered my front hybrid bumper I was quoted 8-10 weeks. Didn't receive the bumper until 20 weeks. Along the way, I received less than stellar communication from them as well. I love the bumper, but can't say the same thing about their customer service.

 

[BrianSD_42]

You live in Canyon Lake, CA.

Should have just bought a Savage Off-road bumper. Roy does very high quality work and he lives < 45 minutes from you.

Local pickup aka free shipping.

 

[GhostRing]

3-6 months? I would lose my mind waiting for something that long. Especially if I had paid the money up front and couldnt get a response.

I take it you've never dealt with NFA transfers...

 

[99Runnr]

I realize that we/I am on a 4runner specific website, looking at feedback for specific bumpers... but is the market for these aftermarket bumpers really that small?

I worked in fabrication shops for the last 10 years. I have dealt with similar products, designing, r&d, on small to large industrial scales and demands. It is pathetic that some of these shops, build stuff on a 3-6 month delay. I recently had bumpers built for my truck by a local guy. He is just starting out, and it took him 2 weeks to get mine done, and he had to build a JIG for the damn things in the process.

No offense to any of the mainstream bumper builders for these trucks. However, in the process of choosing who I had do mine, I spoke to 4 shops in total. One of them flat out told me they had zero bumpers being built, zero materials in house, but he was ordering all the material AFTER the black friday sale ended. Who runs a business that way?

2 of the 4, told me they would get it done/had one on the shelf within 72 hours. I ran the machine making the parts for all my employers, in all cases it was poor time management that would put me/the customer under the gun. There isn't much of an excuse for a small time company, making someone wait 5 months for a damn bumper that comes BARE steel.

Can't blame it on anyone but yourself at that point. Especially when your grinding out the same product day after day, or month after month.

 

[Rjsimeon]

^^agree completely.

 

[andyv760]

Ordered my 3rd gen. plated front bumper on 01/26/2015. Arrived at my doorsteps on 04/20/2015. Took 12 weeks. I was told 4-6 weeks lead time.

Lesson learned, will not order from them again.

 

[Unner]

I realize that we/I am on a 4runner specific website, looking at feedback for specific bumpers... but is the market for these aftermarket bumpers really that small?

I worked in fabrication shops for the last 10 years. I have dealt with similar products, designing, r&d, on small to large industrial scales and demands. It is pathetic that some of these shops, build stuff on a 3-6 month delay. I recently had bumpers built for my truck by a local guy. He is just starting out, and it took him 2 weeks to get mine done, and he had to build a JIG for the damn things in the process.

No offense to any of the mainstream bumper builders for these trucks. However, in the process of choosing who I had do mine, I spoke to 4 shops in total. One of them flat out told me they had zero bumpers being built, zero materials in house, but he was ordering all the material AFTER the black friday sale ended. Who runs a business that way?

2 of the 4, told me they would get it done/had one on the shelf within 72 hours. I ran the machine making the parts for all my employers, in all cases it was poor time management that would put me/the customer under the gun. There isn't much of an excuse for a small time company, making someone wait 5 months for a damn bumper that comes BARE steel.

Can't blame it on anyone but yourself at that point. Especially when your grinding out the same product day after day, or month after month.

A lot of these small shops have one guy running around doing fabrication, design, customer service, bookkeeping, running a website, etc. In my experience the longer wait is worth it for a higher quality product. These companies have a lot of orders to fulfill for how few people they have working there.

The only part of it that most of us see/think about is the 3rd gen part, then you have to back up and think about the other generations of 4Runner. Most of them that make stuff for 4Runners make stuff for Tacomas too. They have an arguably larger market there as well with more orders. Then there's all the companies that make stuff for Jeeps too which are about a dime a dozen modified. While a lot of there orders come from members on forums like this, I'm sure they get a lot of orders from people who aren't on forums, or are on but never post anything.

These people have lives and families as well. I don't expect them to work 18 hour days trying to get stuff built. I'd rather support a small company and have a quality bumper that I like, if you want something ASAP go order an ARB on Amazon and have it on your doorstep in two days with Prime.

I'm not disagreeing that sometimes the customer service could be better with these companies, but I wouldn't say that the wait times are pathetic. Obviously there is a reason for it since just about all shops have a wait time.

 

[JeepKiller]

I called asking about their front bumper and I never got a reply.... And I called several times. So I went with CBI, first call and I got an answer. I can't say enough good things about CBI's customer service. 5 week turn around too!

 

[98OzarksRunner]

I bought my ARB bumper from 4WheelParts (four years ago). It arrived by truck in 3 days. There's something to be said for buying a product made by a company that makes them in the thousands instead of one-offs (who are always robbing Peter to pay Paul to buy materials). First-rate quality (and QA), super-tough powder-coating, exact fit and finish.

 

[rbgerrish]

I was told 8-12 weeks, and I dont mind waiting longer, although if it pushes 20 weeks I'd wonder a bit. The features make it worth it for me.

 

[JayRolla]

It took me a good amount of time also. I was impatient just like you. But after I got it realized it was well worth the wait. They are a small crew, do great work. Its coming, dont worry.

 

[white_n_slow]

Scotty is a good guy. I have met him in person and visited his shop, and I can personally vouch that he knows his stuff and makes a good product.

I think the problem is that the orders are far outpacing his capacity to make them. It is a small shop and last time I was there, he only had one guy working with him. Sounds like he needs a receptionist to handle the orders and follow up, and another guy in the shop to help him actually build product. Keep in mind he also does custom work (link suspension, SAS, etc) for local guys. Just spread too thin, sounds like.

 

[AZBub]

I think they are going through growing pains. Larger facility, and if I'm not mistaken they have been hunting for more fabricators.

 

[99Runnr]

Look, I don't open my mouth on anything like this without personal experiences and logical input. I have no personal vendetta or anything against this business. Honestly, they are regarded as a great bumper. I didn't order, as many others, because who the hell wants to wait 4 months or 5 months for a bumper on a vehicle? Those wait times in this day and age are ridiculous.

If your manufacturing bumpers, for a niche vehicle, and charging $500+ EACH an your so busy it takes MONTHS to get to it. You either need to a) loosen the purse straps and HIRE PEOPLE, b) stop distracting yourself, trying to make more parts when you can't handle the current, c) go check out a competitors business layout.

I can assure you, good products or not, you gotta move with the current or get sucked under. If one guy is doing research, programming, customer service, fabrication, that dude has no business worrying about additional customers when he is losing them currently due to poor operating characteristics.

If someone had told me a realistic number when I called, like 1-2 weeks, I understand how busy it currently is with the holiday sales. Each place I called was either 2-3 days or 2-3 months though. Just my .02, if they make a good fabricated product, under any business, that's awesome. I took pride in what I did on a large scale, I appreciate the end product probably more then the next guy.

 

[white_n_slow]

Scotty is a good guy. I have met him in person and visited his shop, and I can personally vouch that he knows his stuff and makes a good product.

I think the problem is that the orders are far outpacing his capacity to make them. It is a small shop and last time I was there, he only had one guy working with him. Sounds like he needs a receptionist to handle the orders and follow up, and another guy in the shop to help him actually build product. Keep in mind he also does custom work (link suspension, SAS, etc) for local guys. Just spread too thin, sounds like.

One thing I'd like to add to this comment is that Scotty is the type of guy who is present/in the moment with his local customers. Meaning if a customer walks into his shop and wants to talk about suspension setup, 4-link calculations, tires, whatever, he will actually stop what he is doing and talk to you, share his experience and give you advice. This is both a good and a bad thing. It means he is a genuinely good guy willing to help those who ask. It also means he is not working when someone walks into the shop to bug him, lol.

 

[9494runner]

It takes awhile... that's all I'm going to say about the lead time. Scotty is awesome and his product is awesome! Many compliments from different people, mostly from non yota folks :redbrick:.

Our lead time was beastly:washing:, I got mine as part of the infamous group buy that is sworn to never happen again.

You will really love his product, the plate bumper is by far one of the most awesome bumpers out there. I love mine!

I got one for a 2nd gen and I was warned that they do not do many at all for our years. I had to sawsall a good inch off the top deck plate to get mine flush up with the front. This will likely NOT be a problem with yours. I would just recommend fitting it before you paint it just like the heads up Scotty gave me :nod:.

I also recommend getting the reinforcement plate from either them or somebody else - that improve the fitment. Once again this is for a 2nd gen not a 3rd. But I figured why not share some personal exp.

Bottom line would buy this bumper again and wouldnt mind waiting even longer and i still wouldnt mind cutting even more metal off than I did!:whipping2


Worthhhhhh:gun6:

 

[ABADYOTA]

Addicted off road issues

Happy holidays,

I had a trip setup for the second week of December 15, and had to cancel. I spoke to Scotty on several occasions and got nothing but excuses. I ordered back on Sep 09,15, and the flyer said 4-6 weeks delivery. It is now 26 Dec, 15 they are not answering emails and screening their phone lines.

How many others out there are having the same issues with Addicted Off-Road or is this solely a problem I'm having.

What are you doing about this type of service on this Forum?

Please advise? Thanks.