last refuge hot rods,delores,co

May 6 of this year I sent a cashiers check for $5100.00 for the purchase of a rolling chassis for a 29 roadster pickup.He was to deliver to me within 2 weeks when he came thru my area.This is august 21 and I have no frame yet.Repeated calls to him gets promises abnd sob stories.I asked for my money back and he said it would break him to do that.Just this week he promised to deliver frame monday or tuesday.Today is thursday and not even a phone call.Same BS!This man(norbert) is a scam and a thief as far as I'm concerned.He has lied repeatedly to me when I have called him.I have contacted better bus bureau in colorado and intend to sue now.Do not do bus with this jerk.

 

BBB is a joke. You will need to have a lawyer file in CO or else your just waisting your time.
Why not pack up and take a little road trip? Stop by the local law, and bring them with you.

 

He's legit, just slow to deliver. Several people have bought beds from him and the only complaint was the wait.

Glad you could join just to complain, if you would have done some research you would have already known about the deliver times.

 

Geeze lighten up.. Some new guys dont know the search function real well and besides if i was promised a delivery date like that id be upset too.. How can you say the guy is that fucking great with all the complaints about him? Slow to deliver inst an excuse its selling something you dont have and arent really manking an attempt to deliver on the deal.. If he is swamped with business then he needs to quit making bull shit promises on delivery dates.. Oh he could quit sellin on ebay till he fills all his comitments also.
Dave

 

this should be an entertaining thread

 

I bought a bed from him...delivery was slow but quality was great...not defending the guy as I know in my business if I am one day late people go crazy...tell him to make it worth your while for the wait...have him do some custom stuff...flared holes, louvers, extra options...BBB is definitely a joke...good luck...now use this forum to post some positive stuff and not just to blacklist a guy...it's not a pitch a bitch and ditch site

 

my bed took 31 weeks to get ,It was suppose to take 6 weeks..

 

Yeah he's slow but the quality is good enough and his prices are fair.
Definitely has a problem stating times,
should just say that it takes longer but that's what happens when your a "yes" man.

Hey Norbert,
you should have 2 prices,
the 2 week price and the 4 month price.

While your waiting finish the body, interior or the engine or something is all I can suggest.

TP

 

What a way to introduce yourself...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=18

Looks like you should take some time and do an introduction, have a look around this place instead of just signing up and airing your situation.

Just a suggestion and your situation is noted.

 

Might be your attitude parts aint no drive thru restaurant chit happens calm down n wait it will happen and it is a lot cheaper than anybody elsenext time plan on a wait I got my stuff in a reasonable lenght of time from him cut some slack
my 2 cents worth

 

You signed up today. You bitch right off the bat. You don't use the search function. Who are you? Thats right, this is your first post.

 

I checked, and last refuge hot rods is NOT on the Alliance Vendors. Seems like you should sent that fat check to JimA @ So Cal, Bear Metal Kustoms, Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle or one of the other dozen or so who build great frames. That's why they're an Alliance Vendor, to perpetuate the hobby - in a positive way.

Do an intro. Look around. Read a couple hundred posts. Then complain. It's more fun to complain when you're fully informed.

And since I got the popcorn last time, it's someone else's turn...

Vance

 

I think the big problem is that he tells you 2 or 3 weeks and doesn't deliver. I waited close to 6 months with repeated sob stories and empty promises. When I finally called and told him that I was with a shop that had at one point thought about buying more of his stuff but wanted to see what the turnaround time was like he continued with stories. I told him that all the lies and bull shit had screwed him and I wouldn't do buis again he said he'd find a way to make good. I recieved the bed two days later. Still didn't make good in my book. people do business with places like last refuge because they either can't make the part themselves or want the fast turnaround. In my case it's easier and ultimately cheaper to just build the beds in house and get any body sheetmetal from places like brookville who deliver on time. If he had been straight with me I probably wouldn't have bought the bed but I would still considder him for future business. Now He'll never see another nickle from me and I tell anyone who asks to be ready to wait a looonnng time.
johnny

 

No shit, why go outside the "Family" when there are so many guys here who do well-documented great work.

 

ah the joys of being a FNG.......

 

i considered buying a frame from him but was put off after i read some post on the hamb

 

"Been there done that"
This thread is getting better by the minute..........
$5100.00 is a lot of money to pay out for parts you have not received - GOOD LUCK !

 

I bought the RPU package from him. Cab, bed and bare frame. I knew about the wait going in and gave him plenty of lead time. It still went about a week longer but well worth the wait. Nice stuff for the price ya pay. He seems to be a good guy but defintely needs to work on setting more realistic delivery times.
As far as using Alliance vendors, I highly reccomend it. The first thing I did when i joined was become an Alliance member. I have had great experiences with everyone I've dealt with.

 

If you try to buy cheap you get crap goods or service.
Don't complain cos your a cheap ass.
Buy quality goods get quality service.

 

I've been through all this with Norb. The good news is that you'll eventually get your stuff. The bad news is that Norb will never change.

 

I been to the shop. Not really a shop but an old saw mill building. A couple of acres under one roof. I had money in my pocket to put down on a frame or take one with me. Norbie handed me a price list and said to call him later. I was really put off by his attitude. There was NO, NONE, NADA inventory. No finished bodies, no finished frames, no finished beds just some bed parts. There were a couple of projects around the buliding that got all the attention. He seemed more interested in making parts for Bugattis. One young man (looked like he was from the high school shop class) was welding on a frame and the customer was sitting there waiting for it. The customer was pissed and would not talk to anyone.

 

cut the guy a little slack fellas, you'd be pretty pissed if you were in his situation. Not everybody reacts in a calm level headed manner when they are out 5 grand, i sure as hell would be pissed off too

and look at it this way, hes informing the rest of us who dont know about this guys business practices, the truth about how he works

 

Been in this position too. I ordered a RPU kit in December of 05' with countless empty promisess finally ended up cancelling after 4 months of waiting but said I still needed to purchase the frame because it was a custom build and already completed so I agreed. I waited another 3 months for the "already completed" frame and STILL waiting for the balance of my deposit. Multiple sob stories and unreturned phone calls have really worn me thin.

 

After I sent Norb my money for a frame , body, and bed I kicked myself in the ass for nine months while I waited and prayed. So I know what it's like. Next time I will use a credit card. Norb doesn't take credit cards.

 

WOW - 2 pages within 2hrs
I want to know how he gets good feedback on egay!?!

It took almost a year for Norbert to make things right with me.
Buyer beware of LAST REFUGE HOT RODS

THANK GOD FOR THE HAMB and the HAMB ALLIANCE VENDORS !!!!!

 

I have also been through this with Norb. Sounds like a nice guy, so you go a long with the crying. Ends up costing way more than its worth. My customer could not believe my excueses I made for Norb. Very late bed some rework and never got the 29 package. But every alliance Vendor I have used worked out OK........Jim

 

Thats what I said earlier and now again the truth comes out... Ive seen his ads on ebay but id also caught the first posts about him on here so id never send any money his way.. Has anyone gone over and saw him face to face and offered to kick his ass on a bad deal? If I was out 51 hundred bucks or what ever it was i think id be camped out on the door step and loading my truck with what ever he has of any value.. This can and does work ive seen it. The cops were called and told the guy the other guy had a reciept and.....
Dave

oh ya norby will be out here pissing and moaning in a bit how he is so busy and shit.... just like the last how ever many posts

 

Btt

 

I have met the guy and I have been to his shop and I have seen for myself.
I have also had to wait a little longer for my order.
I picked my stuff up as was always the arrangement with my deal.

His products are good and are well priced, yes his delivery is poor.
In his defense, he is a great guy outside of business and his heart is in the right place intentions wise, but I fear that he is not taking enough time to focus on dealing with the lingering problem of delivery times.

I know Norbert could do better he has the orders and the product is fine, he is missing the organizational stuff it would seem and he needs to realize that things need to improve by making some changes.

Only he knows what is causing this but he will need to address it soon.
Reading the posts from this and other threads about Last Refuge certainly seems to come up with the same concensus about his response times and each time there are so many HAMBers willing to give him another chance.

Norb, bite the bullet and address your issues and your business should thrive, but do nothing about it and the you will the lose the support of the guys who are still willing to give you the benefit of the doubt for now.

 

Just a shameless bump to the top.