Folks Of Interest Hot Rod Works (Texas), did you have problems????

**Update** 1-17-25

My order was waiting for me when I got home today. Never received a tracking number to confirm it shipped, but it was shipped out 1-10. Had I known, I would have never made this post. Anyway, the parts appear to be good quality parts. Can't wait to get them installed!!!



I hate to even post this, but when someone chooses to not reply to multiple attempts to reach him, I have to do something.

Has anyone had problems with Ryan at Hot Rod Works billing a credit card for parts (charged on Dec 12th) and not sending them out? It has been over a month and no parts!!!! I was told they would ship on Dec 17th, and still no parts. I tried leaving voicemails, and emails, with no reply from him. Finally on Jan 6th I got him to reply on Instagram. He said he was waiting on rods ends for one of the parts, I asked him to send what he had and he said he would. So now it's Jan 14th, and still no parts. I asked for a tracking number NO reply, I left another voicemail NO reply.

Let me say I run a shop as well, and I would never treat a customer like this.

If anyone in Texas knows him, can you ask him to check his voicemails?

Thanks,
Larry

 

Not trying to defend someone that I don't even know. Sometimes, especially if it's a one man operation, the owner of the business has to do it all, answer phones, e-mails, social media and on and on. Then manufacture or acquire the ordered parts, perhaps****emble, package, ship, notify clients etc. Sometimes promised deliveries don't make it on time. Weather across the country has been atrocious, snarling transportation. I would try to be patient (I know that's not easy) and hopefully all will work out.

 

I understand what you are saying, but a return phone call ends a lot of aggravation! It is even more aggravating when I can see he has read the messages on Instagram, and still chooses to not let me know what is goin on.

This is a perfect example of how to NOT run a business!!!! Oh, and maybe just be honest with the customer!

 

I understand all that and weather and holidays make things complicated but PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE, send a text, something. Website says they've been around 25 years but that Ryan is the new owner-probably a bit overwhelmed with more to do than he thought there would be. All that aside, there must be some HAMB guys in Waco. Start another thread with HAMBers in Waco in the****le and get some help. And keep us posted.

 

I agree, communication solves a lot of problems.

 

One of them being a returning customer!
Hoping for a happy ending for both party's.

 

Call your credit card company and dispute the charges. Generally, CC companies do not tolerate companies that fail to ship merchandise. The vendor will get the charge back and then maybe he will call you, if not, then you know what he is.

 

Update:

Ryan contacted me yesterday, the parts are supposed to ship out today. He also said he would supply a tracking number. I hope so, this is the 3rd time I've been told the parts where shipping.

Larry

 

It’s not just the car business that’s for sure! It’s everything you go to do now. You would think in this day and age communication would be easier. It’s harder than ever to get a hold of someone to get an answer for anything.

 

When Hot Rod Works was in Idaho I sent all my T5 customers needing an open drive conversion there. Due to some negative feedback from referrals to Texas I am currently not sending my customers there. There's the Speedway kit but it's very iffy as to a good fit. A return call or e-mail is mandatory. I have always made it a priority to do a return message within 24 hours. Many successful business's fail after a change of owners.

 

Good luck and please keep us posted.

 

delays are acceptable because stuff happens, a phone call or text takes just a few minutes.

 

Not to first time I’ve read pretty much this exact problem. Hopefully they get it ironed out moving forward.

 

It may be as simple as more orders on pieces that are a bit complicated than they can handle in an expedient manner.

 

I can tell you first hand that when the Hot Rod Works was in Idaho communication was NOT a problem! Those guys were great!

 

If I call a vender and I get a live person or return call, I’m a customer for life and a permanent referral service.

 

Once my credit card is charged, if I don't get my stuff within two weeks, I call my credit card company for a refund. I will not tolerate BS from someone I am giving my hard earned money too.

 

He's promised twice to send it and hasn't, those are red flags. Check on what the time frame is for filing a dispute with your credit card, and make sure you don't give him the benefit past that time limit.

 

Bingo.***** or get off the pot. (or communicate, damn it!)

 

There's stuff that takes more than two weeks to fabricate so you may not want this as a hard and fast rule. It is also maybe not reasonable to expect a company to put all their work up front, hoping you'll actually pay when it's done. It's reasonable to put down a deposit with the balance paid when it' shipped.

 

Ditto^^^^. I have their banjo axle conversion. Very nice. The guys in Idaho made the adapter pieces but bought the axles from Dutchman. I would use the parts again if available.

 

Yup, they used Dutchman for their axles. Dutchman moved over to Idaho from Portland Or. some years ago.

 

The vender is not suppose to charge your credit card until the product is shipped. Not when they start to make the product. The rest is*********. They are using your money to build product that may or not be your product. It's just good business.

 

Correct. I was able to get everything I needed just before the sale apparently. I was informed the business was 'probably" for sale.

 

BJR is correct, the ONLY thing we take deposits for is frames/chassis, otherwise, we do not charge a card until the product is in the box ready to go out the door.

 

Parts showed up today. I edited the original post.

I spoke with Ryan today as well, he apologized for the communication issues. I'm looking forward to get everything installed!

 

That's great.

 

I found this thread by doing a quick search before starting a new one. I have been holding off saying anything hoping that My issue would be resolved. I purchased a Rodsville QuickChange case on the 2nd to which Ryan told me UPS had already run for the day so it would not ship until the following morning July the 3rd. UPS ground from Waco Texas to Missouri is normally a 2 business day trip. (I know this because I have a supplier there who I get parts from all the time) Maybe a 3 day trip if there is a delay. I never got a confirmation of my order or anything I just called him on the July 1st and he gave me a price I said sounded good I would check with my wife to see what rewards points card she wanted me to use and I would call him in the morning and order. Well next morning he called me and said give him my card number and he would ship it out following morning because UPS had already been there for the day. He also told me to text him my address info which I did. I ordered some other parts off his site on the 7th and text him asking for a tracking number for the QuickChange I ordered on the 2nd and heard nothing. So Later that night I messaged him through his website to which he replied he would get me a tracking number first thing in the morning when he got to the shop. All day and night never heard from him so then I messaged him again through email and still nothing. Now I know I can call my charge card company and they will cover my**** here but I want and need the parts. Plus I understand all to well about trying to be a one man show while also trying to keep the wolf away from the door. I personally think that he is most likely in over his head on this new business venture of his with buying hot rod works and acquiring Rodsville. I do not know him personally but I feel for him if it is a case of him being in over his head as the trouble is too much of doing business like this will ruin what is most valuable about the business. And that is A good reputation! hot rod works has always had a good reputation and if that turns bad he could be out of business fast. He is the same Guy who took over the Bob Wilson (Speed Demon Quickchanges) years ago. And we all see how that ended up. However that was along time ago and surely he has grown up and matured since then. Anybody can*****up and Everybody deserves a second chance. But I have to say from my experience so far and finding this thread so fast he is off to a rough start. I wish him well in this endeavor. But for now I just want my parts. or at least good communication so I know I am not being Screwed around. I'm not a kid anymore and life is too short for all that nonsense. I don't know, I keep wondering if I am just being impatient about this! But*********! It shouldn't be this way.

 

No matter if the shop has 10 employees or a “one man show” all it takes is for the OWNER to pick up the phone and take the time(only takes 1 minute of their “valuable” time)to “explain” what is happening/waiting for a NO REPLY is unacceptable. So many people on the HAMB ASK FOR HELP or looking for answers and nothing is worse than trying to help someone out with a reply or answering a need they want and not getting a reply of some kind from the parties asking for help or wanting part. It’s called COMMON COURTESIES AND MANY HAMB members don’t get it or were never taught this phenomenon.

 

I called HRW about a month ago and got no answer. A few moments later the phone rang and it was
Ryan. He explained that he had been out in the shop working and was unable to get to the phone on
time. I then placed an order for a Halibrand V-8 QC open drive line seal plate and seal. He quoted me
the price and shipping costs. I gave him my credit card info and my address and received my order in
less than 10 days. The plate and seal are quality parts. I think that possibly HRW is currently a 1 or 2 man operation, but that's just my opinion. I think that if the parts are in stock, they ship rather quickly.
I think if the part has to be made things slow down. I don't want to see HRW go under as who knows what would happen then. I wish HRW was still in Idaho mainly because it was much closer to where I
live, but that's not the case. I wish Ryan well. It can't be easy running a bussiness with little help.
CKH