Just saying

Maybe I’m venting. I’ve used two fab shops this year. One for a rear bumper on my Taco and another for a front bumper for my 4RNR.

Both companies I waited the 16-18 weeks before checking on the order, depending on the shop, and got the exact same BS response. Your order “fell through the cracks”. Unknown ETA.

WTF is with this industry?? I’m in construction and run multi million dollar contracts. This is the kinda crap people get fired over. All these guys give is a, my bad.

I’m in the wrong industry for sure. But, I digress….

 

Almost all of them are little 1-2 person shops in a garage. Very few have an actual business which employs 20-30 people. They don't have a "you" to manage things or a "me" to design and engineer things.
Give them a break and know what you are dealing with.
It's easy nowadays to design a slick website that makes it look like it's a huge company with all kinds of process and employees, when in reality it's one guy who does purchasing, billing, design, fabrication and shipping.

 

The slow boat from china syndrome.
No one makes anything in house

 

Fabricator first / business man last, business model. If they do have help its a wife or girlfriend manning the phones. They are busy because they do good work not be cause they do things on time.

 

^^ These are very accurate depictions of many fabricators.

As I had been for 5 decades. I bet you "NEVER" had a sub who got behind or was overwhelmed by a project and "NEVER" got behind schedule.
If you actually did (and I'm sure that's reality) you either adjusted the schedule to accommodate OR tried to find an alternate supplier. The alternate supplier probably still affected your projects' schedules.
In today's construction climate I'd bet supply chain issues or staffing issues have contributed to many schedule slips.
As hiPSI says:

 

Lmao! I’m a dick aren’t I! I didn’t slam anyone’s name did I? I asked WTF? When my subs fall behind, there’s writing on the wall my man. The cost impacts and schedule delays come at a price. And people pay. You should know that.

I didn’t complain about the time frame either, did I? I love the whole “ fuck you it’s a good product, you get what you get” ever heard the saying, don’t write checks your ass can’t cash… more victimhood bs imo.

 

A wise man once told me, when getting work done on your house, car, etc., you’ll only ever be able to pick two of the following three:

Fast service, good work, inexpensive.

 

You ok boss? You’re pretty upset about this. We’re gonna get through this. I promise.

 

Larger companies will have shorter lead times and a reputation they want to uphold, though you’ll have to pay for shipping.
It sucks you got burned twice, and you have every right to be upset about that, but I’m not sure that you’ll find a lot of people here willing to commiserate with you on the vague implication that you are a victim and could do better than these unnamed shops.
Get up and try another local shop or pay more to get something from a larger operation you can “hold accountable” if they burn you

 

Manager of a successful 30 man fab/machine job shop here. I don't know the exact circumstances of your order but have been in those situations before with small non-repeat jobs. We run jobs similar to yours just because we have a hard time saying no. We've been through lean times when part orders like yours were essential to surviving. It is currently a different business climate. Shortages of skilled labor, management resources, materials, supplies along with our customers having the same issues has made survival in this industry challenging. Currently, sales is the least worrisome aspect in this industry.

If you are involved in "multi million dollar contracts" and are successful, wouldn't those customers needs get the most attention?

 

Even if you are a single person shop you can run a customer focused business. People gave him crap for it but the reason Meso had everyone waiting on drops is because he didn't want customers on an indefinite waitlist. There is always a way to manage customer expectations throughout the process.

The short answer is that they do this because they can. Customers keep coming in the door. It's the same reason why doctors are always late. Because they can be, and because you have no other option. Not the case in most commercial industries with healthy competition.

 

It is what it is buttercup

 

Would not that involve you, the customer, withdrawing your payment? Or do people in the construction industry also post online to complain?

Interesting non sequitur...

 

You said it, not me.

 

Getting parts for your truck is a full-time procurement job... except you aren't spending someone else's money.

Like others said, either they're disorganized or prioritized bigger jobs over yours. Either way you need to check up on them more often. Halfway to the ECD, just before the ECD, weekly if past due, etc. Don't wait 16-18 weeks before checking.

 

OP do you have enough followers on the gram? Might be the issue right there

 

^No. @Hotshot says he has a real job.

 

I had my other vehicles intake worked on, cut open, smoothed out for better flow and welded back together, it only took 2 years to get it back after being lost. The intake i got back wasnt even mine lol. Great welding work though.

 

I don’t get it either. People tend to bite more that what can chew. And something that I learned long time ago is to not mess with peoples time or money. No excuse for poor admin since it’s part of the job. Cheers man!

 

Apparently we’re wrong. Still haven’t slammed any company or said my shit don’t stink. Boy oh boy did I piss in some cheerios! FYI, not on instagram girls! Life’s pretty good on my end! Not sure bout you ladies!!! Get some!