Heinous hefty fabworks fab time

[Trixx]

There's lot of varibles...the vendor is at the mercy of the metal supplier, a cabaple labor force that doesn't create considerable issues, supply and demand (which changes when the wind blows) and the occasional "custom order...that can upset the apple cart. These folks suffer from every other pitfall any other contractor is susceptible to....never a shortage.

I get the aggravation many folks experience...then they take to the internet to unleash their wrath...sometimes warranted...many times not.

We should remember, our trucks are mass produced, but most times our accessories are not. We keep saying there's no excuse for someone not to answer the phone, or answer an email in the timeframe YOU expect them to...chances are, they are there working 12 hour days, and when you can't take another minute standing on your feet, you collapse into your office chair to answer phone calls and emails....sounds like fun.

Anyone that has had the distinct pleasure of running their own business (me, 26 years before I went to my current job working for the man the last 12 years) knows there is no life/work balance....only work.

All I ask is we at least be somewhat understanding of the obstacles a vendor must overcome to try and make us smile.

Sorry, I don't buy that. I find it interesting that some companies are able to actually build a stock and have reliable 3-4 week lead times (less in many cases) while others notoriously have 14-16+ week lead times?

Are you examples valid? Sure, in the isolated incidents.. Gobi is not running out of steel on every single rack, and if they can't find a "labor force" then it's probably more on them. These 16+ lead times on products aren't isolated incidents, they are the standard for many companies.

My mom owned a successful restaurant for over 20+ years before she sold it, and she averaged around 30 hours a week most of those years other than holidays. So I'm not unfamiliar with small businesses. Sure, she profited less personally because she didn't want to work 70 hour weeks, but it isn't like she tried to turn the place into a 1 person show and let the customers suffer because she was greedy or couldn't succeed otherwise.

Also, in my field, I have audited and worked directly in oversight of many fabrication shops over the last several years. Auditing quality, construction, testing welders, etc. I'm familiar with the "fab shop" environment.

I'll still stand by my statement that companies with garbage customer service do not deserve business. If you are SO BUSY that you can't even return a phone call or an email, then you need to hire/delegate. Sure, it may take a few hours, or a day, but never returning paying customers calls? Come on..

 

[Titanpat57]

Sorry, I don't buy that. I find it interesting that some companies are able to actually build a stock and have reliable 3-4 week lead times (less in many cases) while others notoriously have 14-16+ week lead times?

Are you examples valid? Sure, in the isolated incidents.. Gobi is not running out of steel on every single rack, and if they can't find a "labor force" then it's probably more on them. These 16+ lead times on products aren't isolated incidents, they are the standard for many companies.

My mom owned a successful restaurant for over 20+ years before she sold it, and she averaged around 30 hours a week most of those years other than holidays. So I'm not unfamiliar with small businesses. Sure, she profited less personally because she didn't want to work 70 hour weeks, but it isn't like she tried to turn the place into a 1 person show and let the customers suffer because she was greedy or couldn't succeed otherwise.

Also, in my field, I have audited and worked directly in oversight of many fabrication shops over the last several years. Auditing quality, construction, testing welders, etc. I'm familiar with the "fab shop" environment.

I'll still stand by my statement that companies with garbage customer service do not deserve business. If you are SO BUSY that you can't even return a phone call or an email, then you need to hire/delegate. Sure, it may take a few hours, or a day, but never returning paying customers calls? Come on..

You obviously have your mind made up...not much that needs to be explained to you.

 

[Trixx]

You obviously have your mind made up...not much that needs to be explained to you.

Obviously.. I would be open to reasonable explanations as to why some companies find 16 week lead times the norm while others are at 2 weeks.. I just have yet to see any.

 

[slvrblt]

got email with tracking number.

ordered 4/6/2017 - shipped today, day 1 of week 13. Sliders and skids.

I still haven't heard on mine that I ordered on 5/3/17. I am surprised they didn't batch out all of the existing orders they had at once.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[83Mule]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attac...nt.php?attachmentid=258963&stc=1&d=1499466150 Mounted my sliders up on the 4th!:cheers:

 

[ahbot]

Man I'm in the market for sliders and I had Hefty on the list. Waiting 2-3 months for some sliders is madness.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[Pitorican]

U can't believe everything u read either or get on here making bold statement like that because the guys at hefty fabworks!!! they have been completely on there game since I place may order and have always responded in a timely fashion and have been 100% professional!!! Just because u didn't get responded to immediately or within a day shouldn't make or break a deal!!! There is one person in charge of handling the endless phone call and emails and ordering material and and shipping and receiving and delegating work to his very very small group of guys that built these products!! AND STILL MAKE TIME FOR HIS FAMILY!!!

I was one his waiting list since the end February!!! AND IM NOW SPONSORED BY HIM And it was completely worth the wait!!! I REPLACED MY ALUMINUM CBI BUMPER FOR HEFTY FABWORKS BUMPER AND THERE BUILD QUALITY IS HANDS DOWN BETTER!!! U can't put a price on quality!!! And customer service after the SALE!!

This is a small family ran shop!!! This isn't CBI Off-road OR just some run of the mill shop!!! They pride themselves on have the best quality on the market and customer support.. SO FOR THOSE GUYS ON HERE COMPLAINING NEED TO STOP being self entitled DIVA'S!!! �������� that expect there bumpers 2 weeks to a month after order placed!!!OR WANT THERE HAND HELD AND GET HOURLY UPDATES!!! You need to get over yourself and stop acting like A LEFTIST BOTTLE FED PRICK!!! AND HAVE SOME PATIENCES

There is a reason why HEFTY FABWORKS has such a backlog and u don't EVER hear anything about his bumpers having failure issues on the mounting points!!! LIKE SOME OUT THERE AND IM NOT SAYING ANY NAMES!!! HELL I WAITED almost 3.5 to 4 months on my aluminum CBI BUMPER!!

THIS ISN'T WALMART

This is why I hate forums!!!

Sorry, I don't buy that. I find it interesting that some companies are able to actually build a stock and have reliable 3-4 week lead times (less in many cases) while others notoriously have 14-16+ week lead times?

Are you examples valid? Sure, in the isolated incidents.. Gobi is not running out of steel on every single rack, and if they can't find a "labor force" then it's probably more on them. These 16+ lead times on products aren't isolated incidents, they are the standard for many companies.

My mom owned a successful restaurant for over 20+ years before she sold it, and she averaged around 30 hours a week most of those years other than holidays. So I'm not unfamiliar with small businesses. Sure, she profited less personally because she didn't want to work 70 hour weeks, but it isn't like she tried to turn the place into a 1 person show and let the customers suffer because she was greedy or couldn't succeed otherwise.

Also, in my field, I have audited and worked directly in oversight of many fabrication shops over the last several years. Auditing quality, construction, testing welders, etc. I'm familiar with the "fab shop" environment.

I'll still stand by my statement that companies with garbage customer service do not deserve business. If you are SO BUSY that you can't even return a phone call or an email, then you need to hire/delegate. Sure, it may take a few hours, or a day, but never returning paying customers calls? Come on..

 

[Bighead2001]

U can't believe everything u read either or get on here making bold statement like that because the guys at hefty fabworks!!! they have been completely on there game since I place may order and have always responded in a timely fashion and have been 100% professional!!! Just because u didn't get responded to immediately or within a day shouldn't make or break a deal!!! There is one person in charge of handling the endless phone call and emails and ordering material and and shipping and receiving and delegating work to his very very small group of guys that built these products!! AND STILL MAKE TIME FOR HIS FAMILY!!!

I was one his waiting list since the end February!!! AND IM NOW SPONSORED BY HIM And it was completely worth the wait!!! I REPLACED MY ALUMINUM CBI BUMPER FOR HEFTY FABWORKS BUMPER AND THERE BUILD QUALITY IS HANDS DOWN BETTER!!! U can't put a price on quality!!! And customer service after the SALE!!

This is a small family ran shop!!! This isn't CBI Off-road OR just some run of the mill shop!!! They pride themselves on have the best quality on the market and customer support.. SO FOR THOSE GUYS ON HERE COMPLAINING NEED TO STOP being self entitled DIVA'S!!! �������� that expect there bumpers 2 weeks to a month after order placed!!!OR WANT THERE HAND HELD AND GET HOURLY UPDATES!!! You need to get over yourself and stop acting like A LEFTIST BOTTLE FED PRICK!!! AND HAVE SOME PATIENCES

There is a reason why HEFTY FABWORKS has such a backlog and u don't EVER hear anything about his bumpers having failure issues on the mounting points!!! LIKE SOME OUT THERE AND IM NOT SAYING ANY NAMES!!! HELL I WAITED almost 3.5 to 4 months on my aluminum CBI BUMPER!!

THIS ISN'T WALMART

This is why I hate forums!!!

I would recommend decaf.

 

[rayofsi]

U can't believe everything u read either or get on here making bold statement like that because the guys at hefty fabworks!!! they have been completely on there game since I place may order and have always responded in a timely fashion and have been 100% professional!!! Just because u didn't get responded to immediately or within a day shouldn't make or break a deal!!! There is one person in charge of handling the endless phone call and emails and ordering material and and shipping and receiving and delegating work to his very very small group of guys that built these products!! AND STILL MAKE TIME FOR HIS FAMILY!!!

I was one his waiting list since the end February!!! AND IM NOW SPONSORED BY HIM And it was completely worth the wait!!! I REPLACED MY ALUMINUM CBI BUMPER FOR HEFTY FABWORKS BUMPER AND THERE BUILD QUALITY IS HANDS DOWN BETTER!!! U can't put a price on quality!!! And customer service after the SALE!!

This is a small family ran shop!!! This isn't CBI Off-road OR just some run of the mill shop!!! They pride themselves on have the best quality on the market and customer support.. SO FOR THOSE GUYS ON HERE COMPLAINING NEED TO STOP being self entitled DIVA'S!!! �������� that expect there bumpers 2 weeks to a month after order placed!!!OR WANT THERE HAND HELD AND GET HOURLY UPDATES!!! You need to get over yourself and stop acting like A LEFTIST BOTTLE FED PRICK!!! AND HAVE SOME PATIENCES

There is a reason why HEFTY FABWORKS has such a backlog and u don't EVER hear anything about his bumpers having failure issues on the mounting points!!! LIKE SOME OUT THERE AND IM NOT SAYING ANY NAMES!!! HELL I WAITED almost 3.5 to 4 months on my aluminum CBI BUMPER!!

THIS ISN'T WALMART

This is why I hate forums!!!

sorry bro, if i got free shit, i'd got onto every forum and post something positive too. A company needs to be responsive to customers, regardless of how busy or great their shit is. IF shit is ALWAYS late, they need to change their lead times.

 

[LOLSNOW]

Copy and Paste from the FB group. I don't think Hefty is on the forums so hopefully this helps you guys here.

"For 95% of our orders we are right on time. On occasion we run behind, sometimes due to order volume, material delays etc. It's a very difficult business to be able to give exact lead times. No one hates the lead times more than I do. We could build our products with no available options and build ahead but that would limit the ability for customers to choose what options they want. We don't ever intentionally mislead customers. 4runner rear bumpers were running slightly behind because we did a redesign in Feb/March in order to increase the strength, add a high clearance hitch and recovery points and strengthen the hinge assembly. The process and testing took a little bit longer than expected. If the only complaint we ever hear is "your lead times suck" well, quality isn't something we will compromise on so I'm ok with that. There are always customers who will never be satisfied and they tend to be the loudest. We are blessed to have so many extremely satisfied and return customers, many of whom we have become friends with. On a side note, we have been expanding our operations in order to bring lead times down."

 

[codyHTX]

Anybody experience this or have any advice? Im at 21.5 weeks on a rear bumper with an advertised 14-16 lead time. I was told bumper would ship last monday and be emailed shipping info, called today and got no confirmation of shipping nor a promised return phone call. Mind you I placed this order january 30, was never contacted with updates or notification of time extensions. I'm frustrated to say the least...

I get the frustration and don't want to take sides, but hang in there!

- ordered 1/24/17 and it was 22 wks before mine shipped out. I was told 14-16 wks was still the typical lead time when i ordered, but I also did customize/add a few minor things along the way, which possibly could have added to the increased wait time. They opened an additional fab shop in the last 6 months as well, which bit into there production a bit. If they can get the staffing up they should now be able to reduce the wait times...

- The rear bumper i received is a redesign, which happened a month or 2 after I placed my order, so I am sure that slowed my order down some. The updated design and has some subtle but great improvements.

- I agree that i didn't get much in the way of communication that was being initiated by hefty fab, but any call or email (of which there were +20 combined) I sent was answered either immediately or within about 1 day. I was told when i ordered that I could call anytime for a status update, which kind of told me up front that I would likely be initiating most communication. When i did reach out to them i always received a friendly and professional response and never felt I was being mislead about anything.

- Payment was 50% upon ordering and 50% prior to shipping, so i at least wasn't out the full amount up front. This was for front and rear bumpers, I am not sure if that's their policy when ordering other items like a set of skid plates.

 

[cheeser]

- Payment was 50% upon ordering and 50% prior to shipping, so i at least wasn't out the full amount up front. This was for front and rear bumpers, I am not sure if that's their policy when ordering other items like a set of skid plates.

That must be new. I've purchased a number of things through them...it's always been full payment up front.

 

[83Mule]

Honesty would be the best policy. And under promise and over deliver as well! Maybe if you don't meet a promised date there is a discount! Finally, these forums are crucial to get the information out to like-minded folks about the experiences being had with these companies. Yes, there will be some hype and anger, but praise as well.....giving YOU the chance to sort through it and decide where to spend your hard earned dollar!

 

[Trixx]

U can't believe everything u read either or get on here making bold statement like that because the guys at hefty fabworks!!! they have been completely on there game since I place may order and have always responded in a timely fashion and have been 100% professional!!! Just because u didn't get responded to immediately or within a day shouldn't make or break a deal!!! There is one person in charge of handling the endless phone call and emails and ordering material and and shipping and receiving and delegating work to his very very small group of guys that built these products!! AND STILL MAKE TIME FOR HIS FAMILY!!!

I was one his waiting list since the end February!!! AND IM NOW SPONSORED BY HIM And it was completely worth the wait!!! I REPLACED MY ALUMINUM CBI BUMPER FOR HEFTY FABWORKS BUMPER AND THERE BUILD QUALITY IS HANDS DOWN BETTER!!! U can't put a price on quality!!! And customer service after the SALE!!

This is a small family ran shop!!! This isn't CBI Off-road OR just some run of the mill shop!!! They pride themselves on have the best quality on the market and customer support.. SO FOR THOSE GUYS ON HERE COMPLAINING NEED TO STOP being self entitled DIVA'S!!! �������� that expect there bumpers 2 weeks to a month after order placed!!!OR WANT THERE HAND HELD AND GET HOURLY UPDATES!!! You need to get over yourself and stop acting like A LEFTIST BOTTLE FED PRICK!!! AND HAVE SOME PATIENCES

There is a reason why HEFTY FABWORKS has such a backlog and u don't EVER hear anything about his bumpers having failure issues on the mounting points!!! LIKE SOME OUT THERE AND IM NOT SAYING ANY NAMES!!! HELL I WAITED almost 3.5 to 4 months on my aluminum CBI BUMPER!!

THIS ISN'T WALMART

This is why I hate forums!!!

For one, you're sponsored by them, so obviously you're biased.

Two - it's hard to take a post with such terrible grammar seriously. I'm 100% positive most 6th graders could make more sense.

 

[deedubb]

Hefty is aware of the thread, but apparently doesn't care much, or need the business

 

[A.Wilson013]

Maybe this was not the best medium to discuss this. I have heard nothing but positivity about their product. Im just frustrated and feel like i'm not being taken seriously or appreciated as a customer

Unfortunately this is a common occurrence in this market. Small (like, REAL small) shops produce a great product and simply cannot meet demand without hiring a bunch of extra people, which they cannot do without raising prices, which in turn, would lower demand.

They raise their prices to start kicking products out more quickly, we lose, we complain.

They increase their lead times so they can keep prices low, we lose, we complain.

I do agree that a heads up isn't too much to ask, "Hey, we're flooded with orders and need more time..." but again, sending such an e-mail (and responding to all the customers that need to respond to such an e-mail, likely complaining) eats up even more time.

 

[Trixx]

Hefty is aware of the thread, but apparently doesn't care much, or need the business

Funny because I work in the industrial field/nuclear industry where both quality AND production times are important. I could probably contact a nuclear piping fab shop and get 100 pipe spools fabbed up with insanely stringent quality requirements met, faster than Heft can make "one" bumper. But yeah.. keep hiding behind your "quality" excuse.

They are BUMPERS. once they are designed, any mediocre fabricator could build one pretty easily.

 

[rayofsi]

went to pickup my freight today. at fedex

had a freak out moment. because sliders had some missing powder coat on them already due to poor packing onto skid.

that and my entire set of aluminum skids with 6-8 week lead time to ship. (ordered 4/6/2017) was missing. called hefty, and found out that they were NEVER SHIPPED, and that they are being shipped separately.

Good going? Luckily i went to fedex when they were still opened, otherwise i would have rejected the freight.

so i finally have my sliders with the 8-10 week leadtime after 13.5 weeks.

But no skids. Fedex delivery manager indicates no such shipment yet. So the wait continues.

Really dropped the ball, by not informing a customer about whats arriving, and whats not arriving. Skids are now 5-7 weeks overdue now. No explanation anywhere along the lines.

Also know why shipping is so expensive now.. They don't like to ship things together.

 

[Grug556]

I don't get why some of you try and justify crappy business dealings even if the end product is worth it. The fact is they charge money up front and do not ship for months. All that time they have used your money to pay off their own debt and or collect interest on your payment. ITs highly irregular, at most take a security deposit. However the real point should be just post actual build times whatever they may be and stick to them.

I would rather hear 8 months and have it arrive in 8months than a bag of lies and excuses on how 4 weeks turned into 8 months. The other fact is with them taking all your money up front, what the hell happens if they go bust or close up shop? Your screwed at that point as I don't think you can even do a charge back with visa due to lengthy time period.

There is no security for a customer under this kind of transaction method. I would avoid it just for these reasons....good product or not.

 

[Simpleman74]

^ get that canuck a safety pin!