Folks Of Interest Walden Speed Shop

he has had a 1000.00 of mine for a 35 roof insert he tells me every week he is shipping it cannot get ahold of him phone does not work now what do i do

 

I received my early style stainless tie rod ends about a week ago so he is shipping parts. I think he is still producing his skins, inserts and other parts but at a slower rate because of his day job. I did wait for my 32 sedan insert for about 6 months and it was prepaid (3000.00) When I finally got the skin it fit perfect. While getting my parts have taken time and I also get impatient he's never cheated me.

 

i understand but he charged my credit card 3 months ago and said i would have it in 2 weeks i need to get this car done for Goodguys DesMoins July 2 he can credit my card and will have it made local

 

I understand. He charged my CC for the 32 top insert. I suppose if I hadn't previously used 2 of his roof inserts I would have had the credit card company cancel the charge. I am spoiled and like using quality parts sometimes worth the wait?

 

if i could just get ahold of him some way

 

Have you tried his e-mail? waldenspeed@yahoo.com

 

Call the BMW dealers in his town and speak to him.

 

I'm thinking that with the roof filler panels it is take a number and take a chair and wait, Those aren't stamped out with a cookie cutter, each one is hand made and takes some serious time to complete. Along with other orders that may be in that line depending on how much hand work he has in them. I'm not making excuses for him but you have to figure the actual hours he has tied up in each one.

Meanwhile My Walden Speedshop T shirt sure is getting ragged to the point it is now one of my welding T shirts.

 

Sadly,this all sounds like another case of a good guy with a great product who gets behind on orders for whatever reason and then has fantastically poor communication regarding items customers have paid for and are waiting far beyond the promised time. A broken record playing too often on the HAMB. Ryan could make it a Sticky. Hope it works out.

 

I watched the Walden 3 w roof insert video & no doubt an extremely talented effort but hard to believe 3k for an insert, think I would find another way if a a steel roof was in the cards.

 

I checked with 2 of the better fab shops in our area when I was looking for my last 32 sedan insert and they were both over 2 grand and weren't particularly excited about doing the job. Mine are not welded in but covered with black Mercedes top material glued directly to the top insert and bolted to the wood from the inside.

 

In my opinion...Waldens makes the best roof incerts and door skins around. He is very good at what he does.

 

Just saying nothing is more traditional than an insert top & no doubt an all-steel roof would greatly provide structural integrity to a body, in particular sedans with plenty of wide-open space be it welded & finished or fit & tacked with a faux insert, just seems crazy money where a bit of home brewed ingenuity may well suffice, & I do cast a vote for the top material remedy, but then give the individual or customer in this case what they desire, it keeps America working.

 

I watched his 20 part roof chop video series on YT and was thoroughly impressed that he does things one way; the right way.
I own a small business and have been in my field for 39 years. Most of my competitors who are gifted in the creative side of the business are terrible at running their business. It's a completely different skillset. Not sure it applies to Bobby Walden, but quite often the better someone is at one thing, the more likely they are to be terrible at something else.

 

The roof panel showed up today and its beautiful

 

Don't take someone's money if you can't deliver in a reasonable amount of time, and it doesn't take much effort to shoot someone an update if you are running a little behind. Common courtesy....do unto others...

 

I agree with this sentiment.

Unless you are doing it yourself in-house, Walden's is the only player on the market for a roof insert for these old Fords. I have one on my Model A, it was worth the money and time to get it.

 

Ordered more parts from Walden a few days ago. He had them in stock and they shipped yesterday. He's doing his best to keep his customers happy. I think the high quality of his parts is why I keep going back.

 

Stopped by Walden's Thursday while out in Pomona touring shops. I picked up the parts he had made for me. There were 2 large piles of boxed ready to ship roof inserts and door panels. He explained that he was having trouble with both UPS and Fed X and their new rates based on dimension and not weight. He said that because of the size of the box they were charging a rate base on 60-70 lbs which made most of the boxes cost in the $500 area to ship. I suggested he communicate with the customers explaining the situation. He also said that possibly in the near future he would be back in the shop with regular shop hours?

 

We've had a similar change in shipping prices here in the UK with the same impact on costs. Seems its a world wide change of policy.....

 

Does anyone know Walden personally? Having an issues receiving parts from him going on 11 Months.

• Contacted him via email May of 2024 and spoke with him on the phone early may.
• Order a 1932 Ford Sedan top and hood tie downs
• He told me that he had another sedan top to do and would do both at the same time.
• Called me in June 1st to tell me the top and tie downs were ready to ship. Paid $3,970.40 same day which included crate and shipping.
• He has since been non-respondent and will not return emails or phone calls for the past 11 months.
• I check in once a month with no response. I know that he is alive because he is posting on Instagram etc.
• Looking at his reviews online I see he has done the same to others
• He is changing his business name to Walden Hammerworks per his website. Not sure if it is due to his poor business practices?
• Return the money or send the parts. As I don't want to have to take legal action/fraud

If you know him or can get his attention that would be great. If you are planning to purchase something buyer beware.

I'm a small business owner also and stuff like this boggles my mind on how he is still in business

 

If it has been this long, legal action is unfortunately probably your answer.

 

Hate for it to come to that or reporting it to the bank's fraud department. Hoping someone here could get through to him.

 

Same ole shit, I paid him $5500 for front & rear Kinmonts last year at the LARS and brought home 75% of the parts. I know he hasn't had the money to complete the project because of the cost to produce the rear rotors. Last week he promised???????? I can pick up the rotors at his shop in June. 2 weeks ago he was shipping the rear calipers, the necessary fittings and some rotor spacers so I can continue my roadster mock up. The dam brake parts must be lost because it sure as hell doesn't take 2 weeks for one small box to get to Nebraska from Pomona. I have defended this guy thru the years, but I think I've reached the end??????

 

That is a huge bummer. At least he is responding to you.

 

I am wearing my Waldens T shirt today , it from his Open House 2012,after So Cal Open House we would shoot around the corner to visit his shop and have a free ice-cream

 

Did the same rotation many times.

 

Update on my prepaid order for the Kinmont brakes. Oh wait, there is no update. Paid for them the middle of June 24 and still can't finish the back brakes? I'll be on his front door in 6 weeks, we'll see?

 

Update:

Received my top and hood tie downs. He texted me photos of it and the crate as it left the shop.

Thanks