To any company that builds/sell custom stuff....

[t4rFL]

i normally don't complain, especially online like this, but i'm just very annoyed since this is my 2nd experience like this. i'm not going to mention company names, as the products are very well built and received in a timely matter.

two custom products i ordered recently from 2 different companies, did not come with instructions or some sort of diagrams showing how they are installed. do they not realize we are not all "experts" with fabrication/installing things. it may be obvious to you (since you designed it) or even to some enthusiasts who do their own custom work, but there are people like me who need to see it or at least read instructions. obviously you can contact them regarding this issue, which i have done, but with a delayed response, but it is a waste of the little time some people have, and it would be a whole lot easier on everyone if some type of instructions were included or even just posted on your website. hopefully someone takes this into consideration.

 

[Sean K.]

i normally don't complain, especially online like this, but i'm just very annoyed since this is my 2nd experience like this. i'm not going to mention company names, as the products are very well built and received in a timely matter.

two custom products i ordered recently from 2 different companies, did not come with instructions or some sort of diagrams showing how they are installed. do they not realize we are not all "experts" with fabrication/installing things. it may be obvious to you (since you designed it) or even to some enthusiasts who do their own custom work, but there are people like me who need to see it or at least read instructions. obviously you can contact them regarding this issue, which i have done, but with a delayed response, but it is a waste of the little time some people have, and it would be a whole lot easier on everyone if some type of instructions were included or even just posted on your website. hopefully someone takes this into consideration.

Totally commonplace in all industries.

Got a custom trigger shoe this week from a manufacturer with zero install instructions.

I agree that it would be really nice if there was a YT video or instructions on the company website....but if you plan to do mods in the future on anything....get used to having to figure it out on your own....especially from smaller, custom builders as they don't have time (or often the written acumen) to write out instructions as they are trying to make a living designing/making/selling the parts we order.

Just sayin'......

 

[t4rFL]

ok, i understand if its someone work out of their garage, but the 2 in my experience are bigger well known companies.

 

[Vinsil]

Not to defend the companies that do custom fab work because your concern is legit, but most fab shops that do custom metal work for our relatively small community are fab guys.

They do great fab work, good with layout, design and in some cases engineering.

But they most likely don't know or can't do instructions or video. I worked for a small hot rod and off-road shop 10 years ago and it was a part time hobby shop for two brothers. Great fab and mechanics....couldn't use a computer or camera to save their life. They existed solely on word of mouth. For that reason...it would always be a hobby shop and not able for them to quit their day jobs and go full time.

You have to have marketing, office management, someone to actually run the business and then your shops can thrive into markets for the average consumer.

So, I think these shops that you think are huge..might not be as big as you think.:thumb:

 

[Sean K.]

Not to defend the companies that do custom fab work because your concern is legit, but most fab shops that do custom metal work for our relatively small community are fab guys.

They do great fab work, good with layout, design and in some cases engineering.

But they most likely don't know or can't do instructions or video. I worked for a small hot rod and off-road shop 10 years ago and it was a part time hobby shop for two brothers. Great fab and mechanics....couldn't use a computer or camera to save their life. They existed solely on word of mouth. For that reason...it would always be a hobby shop and not able for them to quit their day jobs and go full time.

You have to have marketing, office management, someone to actually run the business and then your shops can thrive into markets for the average consumer.

So, I think these shops that you think are huge..might not be as big as you think.:thumb:

Exactly what I was referencing about "acumen".

 

[fourwd1]

Moved to OT section.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Do they not have anything on their websites?

I know occasionally I have ordered some stuff from a company and if the instructions weren't thrown in the box for whatever reason I could usually get a PDF from their website.

 

[t4rFL]

Do they not have anything on their websites?

I know occasionally I have ordered some stuff from a company and if the instructions weren't thrown in the box for whatever reason I could usually get a PDF from their website.

nope. some pics but not detailed enough. the latest incident, i found someone with the same problem and he shared with me instructions the company emailed him.

 

[T4R2014]

I think a lot has to do with the vehicles their products are for. We drive 3rd gens, which are old and not worth as much, therefore we are expected to not be as picky when you it comes to their products since we are likely to have less money to blow, and that we should be handy enough to figure out installation since we are keeping older vehicles running.

Then we have 5th gen guys. This is a different market. They probably have more money and they probably aren't as handy. They are probably going to be a lot more picky when it comes to an overall purchase experience. If the instructions or service sucks, they are more likely to complain. Therefore, they have to try harder when it comes to these products, since they are probably going to make more money from the wealthier 5th gen buyers.

This is just something I noticed in the demographics of various vehicle owners. It allows vendors to cut corners when the buyers aren't picky. Obviously I don't fall for it, and I'm as picky with my old vehicles as I am with my new ones. This isn't something I noticed on just 4Runners either.

 

[wcjeep]

I have bought nice aftermarket equipment for my Non Toyota vehicle. Great Quality, well built does not mean good instructions. Poor pictures and bad instructions make no sense.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I agree. Good instructions and diagrams/good pictures are always appreciated. If the instructions are not clear and the pictures/diagrams suck, there might as well be no instructions then. I worked 10 plus years in the pickup truck accessories market and you would be surprised how many times I came across this. Then there are some companies that surprise you with very detailed instructions for the simplest of items.

Really though, the lack of instructions is in all industries. I work in the electrical generation field and the lack of instructions, particularly lack of operational instructions is surprising.