Pelfreybilt - See Update on Last Page

[messeduprex]

Too many of these botique companies operate too much like a pyramid scam. Using other people's money to build previous customers products. I dont have any skin in the game, or know any of the owners like some posters. But i do know buisness practices and i can tell you, nobody ran their company into the ground other then themselves. You cannot run a buisness that produces an product without intimate knowledge of supply chain management, meaning increased raw supplies cost should not have made a difference in product already paid for. The only way out of the mess they made for themselves would be to liquidate and close up shop (which i fully expect to happen).

 

[Drunner97]

No, I’m a nobody on the forum who isn’t connected to any of this. But you? Let’s just say yours is an oddly detailed response for someone claiming to not be connected to the company. Your post is quoted for posterity.

Let’s break down the numbers. I’ve read 79 orders deep. $3,000 to $3,500 each backorder, and that’s just for this rear bumper, not counting other open orders paid up. That’s a low total of $237,000 to a high of $267,000.

Approximately a quarter of a million dollars has been spent and has disappeared.

This isn’t the first time a family-run company mismanaged funds (or purposely disposed of; we’ll probably never know) and leaves hundreds of people with nothing.

Let's not forget that they make bumpers for Tacomas and 4runners. I want to say there was mention of a 400+ item backlog on TW so I'd bet they're closer to 500k+ in back orders. Half a million disappeared and there's been nothing but silence from Pelfry until this new guy shows up who just happened to get information out of them to post online but yet they haven't been bothered to talk with anyone else. Give me a f'ing break.

 

[Engineer]

The saving grace is there is a warehouse full of finished product just waiting to be shipped and fulfilled, so it makes sense that I am rooting for them to open again with a new game

Address of said warehouse?

 

[Drunner97]

Address of said warehouse?

San Diego, and I highly doubt it. They would have shipped it all by now just to calm the storm.

 

[ChrisJHarney]

Address of said warehouse?

Should be somewhere near the bottom of this website.

Pelfreybilt - High Quality Off-Road & Overland Toyota Components

 

[LawnDart]

I'm getting hammered in the PMs across various social media platforms. I know some people think I work for Pelfreybilt, or have some inside information, and I know people are worried/mad/freaking out.

I don't have much that can console those of you who are pissed and need someone to vent to or at. I don't want to deflect blame here, but I don't want to kick a company when they're down either. Either I stay out of it and people think I knew about something being wrong at the company, or I defend their business practices and become a face for what is obviously an ailing business.

Where I'm at personally is feeling deeply troubled by the whole situation. People who have their product have defended Pelfreybilt's products and quality, and frankly I agree, it's great stuff. But quality doesn't mean anything if the means of production and distribution aren't functioning.

I don't have some hyper specific explanation of what went wrong, I watched this all fall apart in real time like the rest of you. If you'd have told me this situation was coming 2 weeks ago I would have told you to get bent. And yet here we are, and my heart really does go out to those of you who either have to file chargebacks, or paid with cash/debit and are praying for a refund or have to consider legal action.

I'm an agnostic, which means I open myself up to the possibility of a greater power. I don't work in absolutes like an atheist. The same applies to my belief in people, and I am trying to position myself not to sound like I'm writing Pelfreybilt off. I'm not betting on the plane to auger into the ground. I want them to pull back on the stick and fix the company. But right now the plane is neither flying nor has it crashed. And the vague-ness of the situation does nothing to help those affected by it. It's not how a business should be run. While Pelfreybilt was smart to say "after labor day weekend" that's an open ended timeline, and it does nothing to make you guys feel better.

Pelfreybilt was a small operation, they didn't give product away to me, I paid for my stuff, and in fact I put in 2 years of back and forth contributions towards the rear bumper design. I can vouch for that product, but right now that means nothing, because you're not seeing product shipped. That bothers me greatly because a bumper I had a hand in, that I spent countless emails discussing the design with Tyler, will always have a stink associated with it. And that bothers me because of so many people who are stressed about their financial well being as a result.

The vagueness of the communication is hard because people are struggling to fill in the gaps, either with leaps of logic, or blowing smoke out their butts, but it's something that makes sense in a situation like this. And none of those details people are trying to elaborate on make people feel better.

That's not condemnation of people being upset. I run pelfreybilt stuff, I run their logo on my doors, and I'm deeply embarrassed by the strife that people are being subjected to now. It's also not my goal to get into the mosh pit and say "**** pelfreybilt!" because I want to see them fix the situation, do whatever it is for as long as is required to earn trust and their reputation back. I watched as Satin would respond in real time to random FB and forum questions, because customer service was her priority. I stayed with Satin/Tyler before and after my Baja trip, they put me up in their house, and we worked on the 4Runner for 1.5 weeks before and after. And this situation was absolutely, hand to heart, a shock to me.

I don't want people to think this post is me absolving them from blame, the situation is murky, it's troubling, and it should never have happened. I want them to fix the company, but I'm deeply upset at the grief this has caused. I don't want you guys to think I'm defending them in an effort to make myself look better. I wanted to jump in and clarify my position that "Oh I know them, they're good people" or "oh man I have this bumper, it's fantastic" only goes so far, and while my position has not changed on those aspects, that I firmly stand with the customers (aka you guys) who are deservedly pissed.

 

[1996_Valencia_Owen]

Bro, stop overthinking and overtalking about this.

You don't work for them. It's clear. They've seemed like nice people in the past, but they are acting like cons right now.

Hopefully they solve things before they don't get put away as part of a white collar crime. And hopefully they don't even get fined huge amounts of money for making poor decisions while WORRIED about being accused of white collar crime.

They can be wide-smiling, happy campfire people... but when you take a ton of money and live a fake life or try to keep a business afloat using sketchy methods, they deserve to get what they have coming.

Their silence right now seems lame, and likely the result of some lawyer telling them what to do now to minimize the consequences for themselves.

 

[LawnDart]

Bro, stop overthinking and overtalking about this.

You don't work for them. It's clear. They've seemed like nice people in the past, but they are acting like cons right now.

My post was a bit longwinded. I'm sorry about that.

And that stems from being extremely torn by both sides of this, and separating out Pelfrebilt as products, as people, and unfortunately as a business.

 

[comtn4x4]

My post was a bit longwinded. I'm sorry about that.

And that stems from being extremely torn by both sides of this, and separating out Pelfrebilt as products, as people, and unfortunately as a business.

I think you hit on a really good point that I also arrived at yesterday. Even if I got the bumper that I already paid cash for 7 months ago, I'd always remember this crap.
I unfortunately never got to experience good customer service or communication so all I am left with is a lighter wallet and bad feelings.
If Pelfrey gets things worked out I won't take the bumper. I'll either take a refund (hopefully 100%) or sell it.
That being said I've got my doubts that things are going to work out and it'll be a long time till I find out if I'm getting my money back.
I made the decision to go a different direction yesterday and that gives me something to look forward to.
Bottom line is I can earn more money but I'm pissed as hell at this B.S. and I don't forget very well.

 

[HOJeepster]

Maybe CBI Offroad will scoop up Pelfrey next and become the big dog of the fabrication world.

At least CBI has amazing customer service along with quick shipping and killer product.

 

[weiasian]

Divorce

I am sorry, this is a shitty thing to say and or to think of...

Are Satin and Tyler filing a divorce... that is one way to sink a ship fast.

Their first bad facebook did stated, "Tyler and I we are go thru some rough time personally... One want to keep the shop going while one don't, and the one that want to keep the shop need to find fund to run the shop, because one of them is taking half... Just maybe

Because this shit came out of nowhere. Unless they are really bagging everyone's money.

 

[1996_Valencia_Owen]

My post was a bit longwinded. I'm sorry about that.

And that stems from being extremely torn by both sides of this, and separating out Pelfrebilt as products, as people, and unfortunately as a business.

It's ok, man. Absolve yourself!

 

[inv3nt]

My post was a bit longwinded. I'm sorry about that.

And that stems from being extremely torn by both sides of this, and separating out Pelfrebilt as products, as people, and unfortunately as a business.

I still appreciate the honesty and transparency though. While it's unlikely we'll ever know the full truth of it, the reality is this isn't the first time, nor it will it be the last, that something like this happens. It could be misuse (like Hennessey Performance) or it could truly be poor management of working capital. Still doesn't make anyone feel any better.

I'm now 50/50 - got a drabbits roof rack but no Pelfreybilt bumper. Life has a funny way of proving out the law of averages even with unfortunate situations.

 

[comtn4x4]

I just received this crap from Satin:

We are working with investors so as soon as we have an answer from them we’ll be able to update everyone

 

[comtn4x4]

This followed after I made light of the breach of contract that they have opened themselves up to:

Feel free to go to your credit card company. Our hands are tied until the investors get back to us

Satin Pelfrey
President
Pelfreybilt Off-Road, Inc.
1148 N Marshall Ave | El Cajon, CA 92020
1.844.726.3373
Pelfreybilt - High Quality Off-Road & Overland Toyota Components
Pardon any typos, sent from my iPhone

 

[comtn4x4]

Update:

I We aren’t acting like anything we’re doing what we are LEGALLY required to do when dealing with investors

As we’ve said over and over again we will have an update to everyone the minute we have word from the investors


Satin Pelfrey
President
Pelfreybilt Off-Road, Inc.
1148 N Marshall Ave | El Cajon, CA 92020
1.844.726.3373
Pelfreybilt - High Quality Off-Road & Overland Toyota Components
Pardon any typos, sent from my iPhone

Sent: Thursday, September 6, 2018 8:25:46 PM
To: Satin Pelfrey
Subject: Re: Refund Information

An apology and accepting some responsibility for everything would help too. You can't keep acting like this is normal business practice and everyone should be fine with it

On Thursday, September 6, 2018, 7:01:24 PM MDT, Satin Pelfrey <[email protected]> wrote:


There was no dishonesty. We are working with investors.

Satin Pelfrey
President
Pelfreybilt Off-Road, Inc.
1148 N Marshall Ave | El Cajon, CA 92020
1.844.726.3373
Pelfreybilt - High Quality Off-Road & Overland Toyota Components
Pardon any typos, sent from my iPhone

Sent: Thursday, September 6, 2018 7:36:55 PM
To: Satin Pelfrey
Subject: Re: Refund Information

By your suggestion I paid cash. And regardless it was 7 months ago. Well outside of the refund window.
So therefore I'm stuck using a lawyer


On Thu, Sep 6, 2018 at 6:34 PM, Satin Pelfrey
<[email protected]> wrote:
Feel free to go to your credit card company. Our hands are tied until the investors get back to us

Satin Pelfrey
President
Pelfreybilt Off-Road, Inc.
1148 N Marshall Ave | El Cajon, CA 92020
1.844.726.3373
Pelfreybilt - High Quality Off-Road & Overland Toyota Components
Pardon any typos, sent from my iPhoneedited my name out of the e-mails but you can get the idea

 

[HOJeepster]

Seems to me like you got duped.:toilet:

 

[comtn4x4]

Seems to me like you got duped.:toilet:

Yeah. Me and a bunch of others.

 

[mrblah]

It looks like they are headed for bankruptcy and are using the investor story to buy time to move/liquidate/hide their assets.

At this point, I don't think they have any intention of making it right with their customers. Their only intention is to make it through bankruptcy with as much of their assets (...er..your money) intact.


My advice: lawyer up and get aggressive now before they enter into bankruptcy...b/c if they enter into bankruptcy, your money is either frozen or gone.

I hope I'm wrong...so good luck

 

[comtn4x4]

It looks like they are headed for bankruptcy and are using the investor story to buy time to move/liquidate/hide their assets.

At this point, I don't think they have any intention of making it right with their customers. Their only intention is to make it through bankruptcy with as much of their assets (...er..your money) intact.


My advice: lawyer up and get aggressive now before they enter into bankruptcy...b/c if they enter into bankruptcy, your money is either frozen or gone.

I hope I'm wrong...so good luck

I agree although I hope you're wrong too. No one would invest in a company with no employees, a trashed reputation and a bunch of charge backs/people who want their money back. They could just wait for it to go to bankruptcy court and buy it for pennies on the dollar