Pelfreybilt - See Update on Last Page

[sn_85]

After going to OE West and seeing a few of the aftermarket bumper options - Expedition One, CBI, C4 Fab, Pelfrey I'd say the Pelfrey was the best one. Fit, finish, design, and mechanical mechanism it felt the best. It is a very high quality product.

I'm not in any rush to get a rear bumper but at some point in the next year or two when the car is paid off I'll be looking to get one. Even with the long lead times I think I would still go with the Pelfrey, so I'll be closely monitoring this thread. I will say that the longer it takes them to produce then that only gives me (and others) the opportunity to reconsider and look elsewhere. It's probably in their best interest to keep up production and not let lead times get too long before all this thread becomes is complaints of lead times. I would be a little peeved about paying the full $3500 upfront for something that could take a year to deliver. Perhaps the ordering process needs to change. Take a 50% deposit up front and 50% upon delivery. People are a little less upset when you aren't holding the entire amount hostage for a year.

[MENTION=131444]C4 Fabrication[/MENTION] went through a similar thing with the Lo-Pro bumper GB last year. A few guys left and it put a strain in the entire process. I think they contracted out to a local fabrication company to help keep up with the demand and time estimates. More importantly, they were very open and honest about the process. No one was left out in the dark and they updated on here weekly. I thought that went a long way in keeping people satisfied. Now I know they are two very different products with different complexities but still the challenges were similar.

 

[Peripateo]

I'll be ordering soon

Just got my Pelfreybilt sliders...couldn't be more pleased.
I'm ordering my Pelfreybilt bumper and will be showing it off in January or whenever, will be worth the wait.

 

[Sifrk]

If for whatever reason you don’t cross paths with them at the show or don’t make, hit me up and I’ll be happy to show you when I get mine installed. Mine is actually in powder coat this week and should be ready. Unfortunately, I lagged on pulling the trigger on a new suspension and am working with Michael on procuring parts and will be waiting for those to arrive before driving down to San Diego.

Thanks man! I'll definitely keep your offer in mind. Also very interested in how your build goes. I had the same thought about beefing up the suspension with 200 lbs sitting at the edge of the rear. Where about are you in SoCal?

 

[ChrisJHarney]

Thanks man! I'll definitely keep your offer in mind. Also very interested in how your build goes. I had the same thought about beefing up the suspension with 200 lbs sitting at the edge of the rear. Where about are you in SoCal?

I’m very interested in how it turns out too, lol!! I had very high expectations for my Bilsteins and superflex rear over stock, and was mildly disappointed. So I’m tempering my enthusiasm until I get it on a good hard trail. Although with the coin I’m dropping I do expect a solid difference, especially out in the desert. I’m in the San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena area.

 

[Hawthorne]

And the saga continues.....

So I had been having trouble contacting Michael about my order for the past couple of weeks. Today I thought I should send Satin an email to see what is going on. By her timeline written in her last email on 7.26, I should be receiving my order around this time.

This is the email response, now I see it is that same thing that was posted on their FB page around the same time I got my email this morning:

#PelfreybiltFamily

Tyler and I are going through some pretty rough stuff personally so I temporarily stepped away from FB to focus.

Business is going through some changes but we’ll be able to update everyone in the next few weeks

Appreciate your prayers and support

Satin Pelfrey

This is simply an insane way to run a business. Many of us have trusted this company and handed over thousands of dollars without even seeing anything in person. Based on trust. Seems like their party line is to keep everything vague.

I totally understand if they are having personal or family problems, however, you cannot send out an email like this and say "we'll update you in a few weeks".

 

[srsrogerissrs]

#pelfreybiltapproved #pelfreybiltfam

 

[Engineer]

So I had been having trouble contacting Michael about my order for the past couple of weeks. Today I thought I should send Satin an email to see what is going on. By her timeline written in her last email on 7.26, I should be receiving my order around this time.

This is the email response, now I see it is that same thing that was posted on their FB page around the same time I got my email this morning:

#PelfreybiltFamily

Tyler and I are going through some pretty rough stuff personally so I temporarily stepped away from FB to focus.

Business is going through some changes but we’ll be able to update everyone in the next few weeks

Appreciate your prayers and support

Satin Pelfrey

This is simply an insane way to run a business. Many of us have trusted this company and handed over thousands of dollars without even seeing anything in person. Based on trust. Seems like their party line is to keep everything vague.

I totally understand if they are having personal or family problems, however, you cannot send out an email like this and say "we'll update you in a few weeks".

The main thing is making sure you are protected , while I certainly hopes its not the same type of thing/event - thing of the TrailDuty/Gobi fiasco............Don't let it be to long to get money back on the credit card. When/If I ever order something thats $1000+ and 3m+ I will see if the vendor will either take a partial payment OR let me essentially cancel the transaction and do it again with them at 3m so you never loose your protection (if its 3m, I am not sure what the current Credit Cards protection length is).

 

[comtn4x4]

I should have gone with my gut on this one. Unfortunately I didn't. We'll see if they'll honor refunds without penalty

 

[1984d]

I've tried calling with no answer and emails with no response, what's going on?

So I had been having trouble contacting Michael about my order for the past couple of weeks. Today I thought I should send Satin an email to see what is going on. By her timeline written in her last email on 7.26, I should be receiving my order around this time.

This is the email response, now I see it is that same thing that was posted on their FB page around the same time I got my email this morning:

#PelfreybiltFamily

Tyler and I are going through some pretty rough stuff personally so I temporarily stepped away from FB to focus.

Business is going through some changes but we’ll be able to update everyone in the next few weeks

Appreciate your prayers and support

Satin Pelfrey

This is simply an insane way to run a business. Many of us have trusted this company and handed over thousands of dollars without even seeing anything in person. Based on trust. Seems like their party line is to keep everything vague.

I totally understand if they are having personal or family problems, however, you cannot send out an email like this and say "we'll update you in a few weeks".

 

[rayofsi]

prayers out to pelfreybilt.. Hope all is well

Hopefully they are going to fulfill all the orders after they get this figured out.

I'm still missing 2 screws.. and 4 covers where bumper is mounted to hitch spots.

Feeling really bad for everyone that still hasn't gotten anything.

 

[Hawthorne]

I've tried calling with no answer and emails with no response, what's going on?

They are being very vague. All I know for sure is that they are not returning calls or emails and have a lot of deposits and full payments on un-delivered product.

It is not good business to just stop and walk away from a business when you are in production. They should not have taken money from customers until they were sure they could do a production run.

 

[comtn4x4]

They are being very vague. All I know for sure is that they are not returning calls or emails and have a lot of deposits and full payments on un-delivered product.

It is not good business to just stop and walk away from a business when you are in production. They should not have taken money from customers until they were sure they could do a production run.

They have been vague for the last 6 months. Customer service is definitely lacking. No response to any e-mails here either

 

[deafsmith]

Character. I so badly wanted one of their bumpers. My principles will drive my spending.

 

[Bonyfattony]

Just announced. Are they going under?

 

[Soccer13]

Does not look good...probably means no bumpers will be ready during this time...

Just announced. Are they going under?

 

[TEN613RPro]

Isn't paying before you get your product made, cash flowing?

Safe to say if you paid your money it went to whoever was first in line, or squawking the loudest.

 

[sn_85]

But but Instalanders abroad have said the bumper would be worth the wait

In all seriousness this is a crappy situation, mostly for those customers who paid to have a product delivered. Now the money is trapped in limbo. I wonder if they're looking for investors to increase production to keep up with demands and promises or if they need money to keep the lights on. Sounds like the latter to me. Also sounds like a few fabricators left too. Could be some sort of internal strife going on. Either way it sucks for all parties involved since Pelfrey builds great products and customers are out $3k+ on a bumper they may never see. I hope they can at least get their money back somehow.

Just gonna put this one out there but [MENTION=131444]C4 Fabrication[/MENTION] came out with their new rear bumper and it looks awesome. A good alternative for those who don't want to take the risk on an unstable situation.

 

[ECUDrummer]

But but Instalanders abroad have said the bumper would be worth the wait

In all seriousness this is a crappy situation, mostly for those customers who paid to have a product delivered. Now the money is trapped in limbo. I wonder if they're looking for investors to increase production to keep up with demands and promises or if they need money to keep the lights on. Sounds like the latter to me. Also sounds like a few fabricators left too. Could be some sort of internal strife going on. Either way it sucks for all parties involved since Pelfrey builds great products and customers are out $3k+ on a bumper they may never see. I hope they can at least get their money back somehow.

Just gonna put this one out there but [MENTION=131444]C4 Fabrication[/MENTION] came out with their new rear bumper and it looks awesome. A good alternative for those who don't want to take the risk on an unstable situation.

Definitely agree on it sounding like the latter. You don't use that type of language if business is so good to the point of not being able to keep up.

Sounds like a shitty situation all around.

 

[RcMantis]

Pelfreybilt ::: 5th Gen T4R - Dual Swing Out Rear Bumper ::: Pre-Order Now!

I have been a big fan of Pelfreybilt. My T4R has Pelfreybilt sliders and a front bumper which I love. I have have been on the list for a rear bumper since October 2017. A month a go I got an email telling me that my bumper was completed and off to powder coating. Shipping in a week. It sounded like I got close to the finish line.
Obviously I did not revive a shipping notification.

I understand the challenges a small business can face. I am looking forward to hearing what Satin and Tyler have to say after the holiday weekend. I am hoping for some transparency and solutions. Knowing the commitment to quality that this small family owned and run business has I still have faith in them. Worst case scenario we call our credit card companies and make a claim for product not delivered. After waiting 11 months I see no reason to not give the Pelfreybilt Family another week or so to reorganize themselves before making the call to our credit card companies. I would really like to see them succeed.

 

[mrblah]

and this is why i stay away from small boutique fabricators.

Always the same story.....

build up hype on the forums and IG

take your money

give you a promise time that comes and goes

then comes the excuses, and the fanboys who jump in to build more hype for vaporware.

wait months to years for a product to be delivered.


I don't mind risking a few hundred, but a few thousand is too much for me to put on the line.

I did inquire the preorder, and the price they quoted me was pretty shocking and the fact that they wanted payment in full for something that didn't even exist..... I would have dropped the cash if it was half now and half at delivery, but that wasn't a option in the quote they gave me. Sounds like what happened to me and Prinsu prior to them getting bought out...... Fool me once, won't fool me again.

Good luck to those who dropped the cash, but I'd be calling my CC company and if they don't have a resolution, i would be lawyering up.

As someone has mentioned, this is not how you run a business.