Getting screwed by chrome shop(Houston)

On 1, 26 I took my front and rear bumpers for my 49 Ford to SUPERIOR chrome (do not use them) for the usual straighten and chrome, they said 2 week turn around and I would have them back. At about 3 weeks I called to check the status and they said that they would check and call me right back and 2 days went by and I called them to see what was up and they put me on hold and told me that my front bumper was done a week or so back and that "somebody dropped the ball and by rear bumper was not even chromed yet" and that they would have it ready in a couple days. Well I saw them at the Conroe swap meet and I asked them what the hold up was and they said that they had a problem with the chrome pealing up on the rear bumper and it had to be redone and I said Why did NO ONE call me and tell me that, I would have understood that. Well 3 more days went by and I got a call and said that my bumpers were done and to come get them so I hauled' ass to get them after 5 weeks I was tired of seeing "the old girl naked" when I got there I checked them out and asked them why No one ever called me and they said that they have had alot of buisness lately, that is what the hold up was. When I check them out they looked "Good" when I dropped them off they wern't straight and and needed to be chromed and now they were both. I paid and home I went. When I got to the shop to put them on the rear went on no problem,BUT when I got to the front I unwrapped it and held it up to the car IT WAS NOT MY BUMPER. I called them pissed and told them what the deal was and he said he would check into it and call back So after 3 hours I got a call back and he said that they lost it and it probably got shipped out to someone else by mistake (((WTF))) That is the bumper that was supposed to be done for a couple weeks. They said that they would get me another one and over the weekend and get it ready for me by the middle of the next week and NOW There are 2 people pissed off Me I paid for these bumpers and got one (mine and one someone elses) and someone else that has mine and I asked them what they were going to do about it now and they said that mine was going to be shipped back to them and they wanted me to ship this one back to them and whey would ship me mine. I said No I want it delivered to me not shipped only 40 miles or so and they said last friday that it would be today and STILL NOTHING. SUPERIOR CHROME HOUSTON SUCKS BALLS I feel thet I have been more than patient didn't write anything until it came to this!!!!!!! Dropped off on 1/26 and told it would take a couple weeks (I think it has been a couple weeks and I have made about 12 calls to them and I have gotten 2 calls from them and still NO bumper. I have heve asked for a discount of a refund if I did then I can't bitch. But I they are THAT busy then maybe the more people that i tell then maybe they woln't be so busy. SHITTY BUISNESS...........................KYLE COUNSIL

 

wow super lame

 

Sad story and all... and I hear ya. This isnt the place for whining about this though. What do we have to do with it,tell it to the moon.

 

that sucks bad

 

In my very limited experience, it seems that many chrome shops are just store fronts that farm the work out to others. Unfortunately, I doubt they have much more control over timing or quality than you do. I've worked with a few really good ones, but that seems to be the exception, unfortunately.

Personally, Im glad you posted this. You probably feel a little better and you may have kept a HAMBer from getting burnt.

 

every chrome shop ive ever delt with took them at least 3 times longer than they said it sucks........you got screwed on the front bumper ? at least i know no to use them................as far as the 1st 2 asshole posts i hope the same thing happens to them.............

 

that's why when i'm in cali I go to TJ to get my chrome done....

 

As long as you are going to be shipping parts
These Guys Get My vote I spoke to them at GNRS about a very pitted
hood ornament
http://www.advancedplating.com/

 

I think the guys that do chrome breathe too many fumes. I have not had a good dealing with a chrome shop yet.

 

I could tell you stories about a chrome guy named Domingo that makes your story look like a fairy tale. BUT-you have been screwed. And you had better go get your stuff, chromed or not. Those guys are never going to quit lying to you.

 

Thats actually one of the least shit chrome bad luck stories ive ever heard.

you got off light, Boyo.

Front grille in my 51? 14 months. Get to a year..Then start whinging

 

I think Advance Plating is probably good.
In Nashville, TN.
They say they do "show chrome", triple plated, etc.
I emailed them for a quote and they sent a timely reply.
The only thing was they were about twice as expensive
as a place I got a quote from in Kansas City. But, their
quality may be higher - I don't really know.

 

Should have used speed /sport on broadway

 

That's why none of my cars have nice chrome. I don't like dealing with people, I'm as self sufficient as possible and do just about everything myself, but I'm not set up to do chrome, so I do without. Once a chrome shop, or anyone else has your part, they got you by the balls, especially these days, when there aren't a lot of choices. It really is the finishing touch, but it's just sparkle, if I can buy a part already done and know what I'm getting, great, otherwise, I can live without the shine and the hassle.

 

Advanced Plating in Tenn did some pieces for me last spring. They may not have been the cheapest , but they were great quality, and this was on pot metal. Oh they did miss their delivery, said it would take 6 weeks and it took 5 weeks and 6 days. I highly recommend them

 

The long post?

 

I feel you brother.People have no concept of customer service at all.When i go to my job i have to do it right or people start dying.But other people get away with out day in day out.Service is not what it used to be...could someone tell me why a bumper takes 3 to 5 weeks to chrome????

 

Advance Plating in Nashville, TN is the way to go. Their completion date was correct, their communication was great, and the price was reasonable - considering that I received what I paid for. The price isn't a bargain if you don't receive what you thought that you were purchasing. I'll use Advance again, and again.

 

agreed.

Since there is no complaint of price, for some reason I assume it was also unbelieveably cheap.

Ya, they said 2 weeks, but for a chrome shop 5 is still quick. Damn quick.

 

The return key is your friend.

 

any time a business deal falls short it's a real bummer BUT FUCK DUDE it's really tough to feel to shitty for ya when ................................................................................... get me?

 

No one ever tells you the real time it takes, and many times, not the correct price. We all live and deal with this, it's a fact of life. However thank your lucky stars they are responding to your/their problem. They are offering to help remedy the situation, and that's a good thing.

Just relax a bit and let them get on with it. Be polite when you phone them, a kind word gets you further than an 'earful.' Ask nicely and calmly explain how you feel and you may just get the part delivered to you. If not suggest to them they help you fit the part when you call to collect it (after all, you want to be sure it fits this time).
40 miles will go real fast when your on the way home.

 

I quess my sentence went on to long, and and spelling sucks.But I got my point across I don't mind the time frame (kinda) they never returned calls and never callled and kept me updated. When you tell someone that you will have it monday then I expect it monday. As for whinning, why do me all put up with this shit. I wanted to post this after it got to this point and maybe help a HAMBer out. At least im not asking "What color shift knob should I get" ... KYLE

 

Dude, they sniff bad chemical all day.
NO chromer can remember to call people, its an effect of their workplace!!
I had one lose a handmade part I had about twenty hours in last year, took him three weeks to trawl the bottom of the tanks and find it...I didnt call him every day because the anxiety of him saying " what was it again? you sure you havent picked it up? what did it look like?" every day would have broken me into a sobbing, ranting mess..

 

guess it all comes down to communication.
im real good at being upfront and straight up but im constintly let down buy those that arnt. thats life i guess.
i hope it all works out for you. i think it will.

 

Bottom line - that sucks what happened to ya.

I'm reluctant to give anything of value to anyone I don't know. They can promise us anything in order to get our business - then forget what they said afterward. Too many lo-lifes out there with a what I call a D-GAS (Don't Give A Shit) attitude when it comes to being responsible for stuff like this. But we all make mistakes, both in judgement and actions taken. Maybe they did forget about it but then erred by trying to cover it up instead of telling what really happened. 2 wrongs never made a right, eh?

Hey don't worry 'bout the editorial stuff. I read your story and understood it okay. I'm more wordsmither than mechanic in my real job and have seen much worse. (I write and edit service manuals) If folks could witness my wrench-turning ability they'd never stop laughing.

 

At least they found your bumper, they could have left it in one of the tanks and forgot about it, only to have it dissapear into liquid never to be seen again acid. Thats why I take pictures and itemize.

 

You must be a newbie.
It's a RARE chrome plater that doesn't have any problems.
I think I've got you ALL beat....3 YEARS waiting for a bumper to get chromed at Frankford in PA.
Finally picked it up, still in copper.
I've had one-off, hand made stuff disappear, beautiful valve covers SOLD by the plater, given a 58 T Bird grill, when I dropped off a 54 Chevy one, chrome peel off a part, while the plater was unwrapping it to show me how good a job it was. and on and on and on.
There are a few that are good, timely, and don't lose stuff, but they are in a minority!

 

if you have a BBB call them up. They will HAVE to give you whatever you want then. That is ridiculous, im sorry

 

Next time call Ramos plating in Oklahoma City. 405-232-4300
Ed ramos started that place in 1966 and is still doing the same quality of work they did back then. I worked in a chrome shop for many years and omly seen a few mistakes with customers parts. The most problems you have is the guys working there might mess up a part once in a while.
Ramos Plating Company
1320 South Walker Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73109-1325 - (405) 232-4300
ask for Donny.