GOBI Roof Rack *Group Buy* Spring 2015

[jicko]

March 20th. No modifications, and this wasn't a post to complain about the time. I understand it's extremely difficult to get this kind of order out, but they should also have known that. My only problem is that if they don't want people calling, and they are threatening not doing group buys because of customers pestering them, than just say it will be 12 weeks and if we got it before great, if not they built in enough time for delays.

My only complaint was they never updated you. After I contacted them they said it shipped a few days prior.

I agree. And that's one of the "improvement" that will be listed out next time - expect 12 weeks of delay. Everyone will be happy if their come early, people just can't take extensions. So, rather set the bar low and beat it, than trying hard and fail.

I will also feed back to them for a simple "notify" at the time their ship, will be a great thing.

 

[Pkniland]

I agree. And that's one of the "improvement" that will be listed out next time - expect 12 weeks of delay. Everyone will be happy if their come early, people just can't take extensions. So, rather set the bar low and beat it, than trying hard and fail.

I will also feed back to them for a simple "notify" at the time their ship, will be a great thing.

Thanks Jicko..I appreciate you being the go between

 

[MTG-MAN]

There weren't a requirement for members to update me when they receive their racks, so how am I supposed to track?

Sandra did give me a call today, saying that they are working REALLY hard to try to complete our order. She apologize for the delay, but they got hit with our 50 racks order, plus another 50racks of spring rush.... so just the 4Runner racks, they are working on more than 100 of them. They are nice enough to allow for a lot of customizations that also extended the lead time.

Basically, for our group buy, please expect 8-12 weeks of lead time instead of 6-8. The freight company that they use also have standard delivery routes and day of the week delivery restrictions for certain part of the country, so after the rack is shipped, please expect as much as 5-10 business days.

So, in short, please don't get too worked up about the delay, and it will come when it comes.

PLEASE try not to call in and bombard the poor 1 person customer service/sales department - Sandra. She and the company had really been working hard.

For the sales volume that they have these days, they don't really need to entertain a nice GB like this with us. Originally, they were only to let me order 20 racks, but due to the fact that it is so popular, I went back and beg them to take more, that's may be one of the main reason why the original 6-8 weeks estimate is off. I apologize, but the alternative is that anyone beyond #20 on the list will NOT be able to participate.

Lastly, if we are behaving and pressuring them like this, there WILL NOT BE another group buy with Gobi in the future, they are considering not doing these "special offerings" any longer, due to members being "hard to work with" and "unreasonable" (calling in to cancel like 6 weeks into the production, calling them every 2 or 3 days and asking "are we there yet", etc..). You guys will ruin it for everyone coming after us. :-(

Please be considerate. I know there are delays, I know that everyone are anxious to get their hands on this fine product. But, there are pros/cons about group buys. If you can't be mature enough to play in this playing field, consider not to take advantages of group buys.

- Jicko

Jicko,

What I meant was: After some of us members post that we have received ours, it would be nice if you went back to the original list on page #1 & added (RECEIVED XX-XX-2015). That would give us an idea of how long it's taken others to receive theirs & guesstimate who's next on the list.

This of course is only possible if we (members) notify you or post on this thread.

By the way, I personally have not been impatient. I have yet to contact them regarding my order. I just check here periodically to see what others are saying.

Thank you for your understanding & help throughout this entire process.

 

[jicko]

Jicko,

What I meant was: After some of us members post that we have received ours, it would be nice if you went back to the original list on page #1 & added (RECEIVED XX-XX-2015). That would give us an idea of how long it's taken others to receive theirs & guesstimate who's next on the list.

This of course is only possible if we (members) notify you or post on this thread.

There you go..... I added a POLL to this thread for members who received their racks to respond to YOUR REQUEST if they want.....

I personally do not keep staring at this thread to see who has received their racks or who has received their notifications or who has only been waiting. I also do not know the exact order dates for everyone. And, I don't work for Gobi (or even have an association with them). So, it is pretty difficult for me to keep track. If members are nice enough to vote in the poll after they received the item, then you may be able to "guess"....... but IMO, I think that just adds anxiety.

:bathbaby:

 

[Range]

jicko your job is done. You really don't need to be doing anything from this point on.

 

[Range]

March 20th. No modifications, and this wasn't a post to complain about the time. I understand it's extremely difficult to get this kind of order out, but they should also have known that. My only problem is that if they don't want people calling, and they are threatening not doing group buys because of customers pestering them, than just say it will be 12 weeks and if we got it before great, if not they built in enough time for delays.

I placed my order on 3/2 and received it on 5/15 so figure you've still got about 2.5-3 weeks left, maybe 2.

 

[jicko]

jicko your job is done. You really don't need to be doing anything from this point on.

I just don't want to ruin it for the people in the future. I may still be around and helping and throwing more "group buys" together. And I really like Gobi, and I am behind their products, I hate to see that this being the last Gobi group buy ever.

:mmph:

 

[patch]

Finally got it installed.. ordered 3/2 got it 5/12.

 

[jicko]

Anyone of you in San Diego? I saw a silver 2014+ with probably a new Gobi rack and ladder strolling around Sorrento Valley area yesterday.

 

[BeachRunnerSD]

Anyone of you in San Diego? I saw a silver 2014+ with probably a new Gobi rack and ladder strolling around Sorrento Valley area yesterday.

Mine arrives tomorrow, and it'll be a lifted red runner with a nice new rack��

 

[jicko]

You got it yet? need helping installing?

 

[reidbailey]

I got mine and installed it Monday.

It was a fun install by myself but I was too excited to wait for help! It took about 3 ½ hours solo.

 

[alexb]

I got mine and installed it Monday.

It was a fun install by myself but I was too excited to wait for help! It took about 3 ½ hours solo.

What light bar did you go with?

 

[reidbailey]

What light bar did you go with?

Night Stalker from Desert Rat. Couldn't justify the price of Rigid for as much as It will be used. I also worry about it getting stolen here in SoCal. Apparently this is the new upgraded model. Haven't wired it yet but I'm happy with the fit and finish. Also UPR (same company as Desert Rat) has always taken care of me with any warranty issues.

 

[Bonyfattony]

Got mine on. Just gotta get the led bar wired up!

 

[alexb]

Night Stalker from Desert Rat. Couldn't justify the price of Rigid for as much as It will be used. I also worry about it getting stolen here in SoCal. Apparently this is the new upgraded model. Haven't wired it yet but I'm happy with the fit and finish. Also UPR (same company as Desert Rat) has always taken care of me with any warranty issues.

How well does it fit in the GOBI brackets? I got a 40" curved off Amazon that looks to be the exact same shape and housing, and it is a very tight fit. So tight that the only way it fits is if it's angled up a little as the back corners catch on the top tubing. I think I may have to take the dremel and notch out the opening in the bracket so I can slide them out a bit further and let the bar drop down some more. Right now it's squeezing it so tight it won't slide all the way down into the notches on the bracket.

I will say, this thing is bright as hell though, just lights up the trees at the angle it's at now.

 

[reidbailey]

How well does it fit in the GOBI brackets? I got a 40" curved off Amazon that looks to be the exact same shape and housing, and it is a very tight fit. So tight that the only way it fits is if it's angled up a little as the back corners catch on the top tubing. I think I may have to take the dremel and notch out the opening in the bracket so I can slide them out a bit further and let the bar drop down some more. Right now it's squeezing it so tight it won't slide all the way down into the notches on the bracket.



I will say, this thing is bright as hell though, just lights up the trees at the angle it's at now.

It didn't just drop in like I hoped but wasn't too bad. Had to change out the carriage bolts to spread it wide enough to fit but it looks good overall. Overall it fits well and has good adjustability. Considering adding weather stripping between the fairing and bar to reduce the wind noise though. It's slight but less is better.

 

[TBrock]

After seeing some of your LED Bars / LED's .. I might buck up and purchase one much earlier then I anticipated! Damn $$ pit .. but so satisfying!


*Rant to Follow*

Moral of this GB .. You have to understand that through any group buy, the lead time will almost always go well beyond what is "estimated."

That being said, if you are impatient and don't think the savings are worth it, then don't participate in GB's.

*End Rant*


Thanks again Jicko for putting this together!

 

[alexb]

It didn't just drop in like I hoped but wasn't too bad. Had to change out the carriage bolts to spread it wide enough to fit but it looks good overall. Overall it fits well and has good adjustability. Considering adding weather stripping between the fairing and bar to reduce the wind noise though. It's slight but less is better.

Nice thinking with the carriage bolts. I'll stop by the hardware store and pick some up and try that.

After seeing some of your LED Bars / LED's .. I might buck up and purchase one much earlier then I anticipated! Damn $$ pit .. but so satisfying!


*Rant to Follow*

Moral of this GB .. You have to understand that through any group buy, the lead time will almost always go well beyond what is "estimated."

That being said, if you are impatient and don't think the savings are worth it, then don't participate in GB's.

*End Rant*


Thanks again Jicko for putting this together!

This is the bar I ordered.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MW54I0O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I just got it in yesterday so I can't say much about it, but initial impressions are great. It is very sturdy and has some heft to it. Feels pretty well made and is bright as the sun IMO. I've never seen a rigid or other high end bar in person, but this one has more than met my expectations. Long term reliability is up in the air but for $199 it is well worth it.

Also keep in mind, most of the bars out there come from just a few of the same manufacturers in China and rebranded. Hanma is one of the big ones. Seeing the pictures of the Desert Rat bar people are buying, I wouldn't be surprised if it comes from the same place.

 

[TBrock]

Nice thinking with the carriage bolts. I'll stop by the hardware store and pick some up and try that.



This is the bar I ordered.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MW54I0O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I just got it in yesterday so I can't say much about it, but initial impressions are great. It is very sturdy and has some heft to it. Feels pretty well made and is bright as the sun IMO. I've never seen a rigid or other high end bar in person, but this one has more than met my expectations. Long term reliability is up in the air but for $199 it is well worth it.

Also keep in mind, most of the bars out there come from just a few of the same manufacturers in China and rebranded. Hanma is one of the big ones. Seeing the pictures of the Desert Rat bar people are buying, I wouldn't be surprised if it comes from the same place.

I checked out your build and saw you mentioned it was finicky with the Gobi rack ready mounts. Any reason why and or have you found a solution?

Also, how did your rear LED's turn out? (any pics of them mounted / switches installed / lighting?)