Bruteforce Fabrication - Buyer's Beware

It's not about being patient at this point. Did you even read the whole complaint? Month after month they are being pushed back again and again. Patience is knowing when you purchase the product that your wait is x number of months. Then if something goes wrong the VENDOR calls the customer and lets them know what exactly is happening and why it needs to be pushed back. A refund should be offered in the chance they can't wait longer than they were quoted. $2000 isn't pocket change for everyone. To hand over that kinda money and not receive a product is very frustrating.

 

Thanks, Babytaco. I'm a hybrid fan myself thats why I built my own . To answer your questions It takes me about 6 hours to build a hybrid and 9 for a full plate. which is 3-4 days part time after my armored-cars.com day job. But you do have to be honest with people it goes a long way. Exp My bender broke on my bedrack group buy. I pm'ed everyone and let them know. Took three weeks to be custom built and mailed..

 

This is most of our frustration. No one is questioning Billy's workmanship or his personality. Everyone knows his armor is kick ass and he's a nice guy. We also knew it would take time. Even with the first and second delay, still good to go. But the fact that we are all in the dark about what is going on isnt ok. I'm in no time sensitive rush, but the lack of communication is my tipping point. After I talked to him at the begininng of this month and got those timelines, I would have expected that whatever came up again, a quick phone call or even email to one of us to let us know what the deal is.

 

It's sounds like when you are giving your money you will hear quickly. When you are waiting for a product (s) you have already paid for it, it seems like who cares I have your money I'll get you the bumper when I get it to you. I understand this may not be accurate at all. But this is how I feel after reading a lot about it lately. Ya know opinions and ass holes.

Me personally. Word of mouth is your biggest advertising asset. And if people are posting negatively on this scale then your business isn't going to do so hot.

 

Received a call from Billy today, so far I personally have had zero communication problems with Brute Force.

He said his new laser cutter jacked up some of his patterns, but is back on track. Looking forward to getting my bumper! Sounds like he's ready to crank these things out.

Long waits is something anyone on TW should be familiar with, especially for something hand fabricated. I am fine with that and supporting US made products and small businesses. Hoping I don't eat my own words.

 

When did you order yours

 

January

 

I read the whole thing - and everybody's bitching. I have had a rear bumper on order with Billy for a few months and when it shows up I will be stoked.

One-off stuff takes a long time. Don't be frustrated, be excited for a custom bumper.

 

I'll get back to you in 5 months and if you haven't received it, I'm sure you'll be a little frustrated. Then when you call several times over almost a month to get update no one answers the phone and doesn't call you back after leaving several messages.

 

No problem man. Ill be looking to order around September or early Jan 2015 depending on finances . Looking forward to some reviews of your bumper .

 

Yeah a few months is different than 8. We've had other folks in our tacoma group order stuff like bumpers ands sliders from billy and they arrived in a timely manner. Now I don't know what the deal is. All would be good if we could get some feed back from billy

 

The other problem we're all having is that Alaska has such a short window to really get out and enjoy our rigs. We all ordered thinking they would be here with PLENTY of time to get them installed before spring. Us Alaskans can get pretty moody when things start to cut into our summer plans...

 

I waited a good while longer than the estimated lead time for my bumpers and custom built sliders...
custom fab isn't an assembly line at a Toyota plant.
so many variables come into play when giving someone a lead time on custom made products.

 

Yup, and that's why I was OK with the 4 month time frame then 5 month time frame, 6 month, 7 month.... and now its the unlimited that I'm not OK with.

The only person I'll give $2000 to with an unlimited time frame to payback is ....uhh no one.

 

imagine the patience of the guys in the Elite offroad GB.
its been over a year since they ordered
and many of the bumper vendors are 8-12 behind.
im sure billy will get everything straightened out he isn't going to let one customer ruin his whole reputation for building good products

 

First no one here ever stated Billy does not make a good product.


If I would of known it was 8-12 months going into it then I may of went elsewhere and most likely with a local fabricator. The expectation Billy set was originally 4 months.

 

I can understand what the AK dudes are saying, down here we can pretty much wheel whenever but the spring/summer window is the best; they dont have nearly as much time to go out and wheel. Just one factor you have to take into consideration, the other is the timeline.

I think it's rather unfortunate that this is happening to y'all. I put my order in for a H/C and it should be ready in the next 3 weeks.

Cam

 

While I'm just as anxious to get my bumper as everyone else remember Duncan that you also ordered two months before the rest of us and agreed to wait for our bumpers to be done so you could save some money on shipping. We still had people sending in their deposits halfway though November, so for most of us it's been much less of a wait than you. I too, have emailed Billy a couple times looking for updates and have received no response which is definitely unfortunate and not good business practices.

 

That's the other concerning piece is that I called Billy a month ago asking for him to go ahead and ship my stuff up since it was supposedly finished....I've received no reply.

 

I get the lack of communication issue, correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think the time-frame would be as big of an issue had communication been there before you made your OP.

I went through a round of this with American Motorsports. He had my parts sitting his shop and I was unable to get ahold of him through phone calls and TW PM. Aggravating the situation was hearing of him speaking to others and seeing him active on TW after I sent him a PM. Knew it would take awhile, just keep me informend and that stopped near the end. We got it cleaned up though.

I will stick up for Billy, he is hard to get a hold of at times but I usually end up getting in touch with him sooner or later. You've tried to call I assume...you could also try sending an email through his website, it's been known to be helpful for some others. Billy/Brute Force is also on facebook, so there is another avenue to try and get a hold of him.

I've also been waiting on a totally custom project from billy. A front tube for my truck, it's also taken a bit longer than originally planned, getting almost 2 months, but surprisingly I'm cool about it. Dude is busy, has a ton of work and for what its worth has always been an incredibly pleasant person to deal with.