this thing is sweet!!

 

Interested in following the progress.

 

Enjoy the popcorn, sorry for the lack of pics recently. Guess I just need to take them off the camera and upload them to the server then post them here

 

 

Tiremann watch out Spunky is eating your popcorn

Come to think of it,

 

Ok so you may have seen my previous post about the Hoffman group AKA AutoLoc... Well I was on E-pay and saw they had the window and door kits I need for a good price. I live 5 miles from their office so I tried to pick them up instead of paying $15 to ship them... Well I may as well have asked them for a million dollars. I called a few times talked with Matt and he supposodely asked Jake his boss and no one could help. Yesterday I sent an e-mail explaining the issues I had with the Hoffman Group before and now. The first reply was great, but read along and you will see to my amazement that the reality is that customer service is not in their vocabulary...


From: Alan Kantor [mailto:Alan.Kantor@thehoffmangroup.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 9:19 AM
To: Ryan@1939Cummins.info
Cc: Jake Johnston; Anthony McGee; Michael Murrell
Subject: Dissatisfied

Dear sir,

First let me apologize for the frustration you had with attempting to purchase products on our site. As a point of information, anytime you feel frustrated and disappointed with our site or sites, please contact our office immediately. Not only will we make certain all your questions are addressed, but we will honor any price or program that is currently advertised on the site. Any of our professional account managers will be pleased to assist you and make certain to meet you in our showroom for you to review and discuss our programs and products. If there is ever another problem, please do not hesitate to contact me directly and I will make certain we do whatever is in our power to solve the problem. My direct extension is 7312.

Sorry again for your frustrations.

Regards,

Alan Kantor
Director of Sales
Alan.Kantor@thehoffmangroup.com
503-693-6608 ext 7312
800-873-4038 ext 7312
818-530-8593 Cell Phone


On Oct 7, 2010, at 12:55 PM, Ryan wrote:





I tried to call you but had to leave a voice mail, guess I need to wait another day to hear back.

In reality I have contacted the Hoffman group directly when I had issues and that is why I am so frustrated and disappointed. Jake is one of the people who said he could not do anything for me, actually he told Matt to tell me, he would not come to the phone… I have talked with the Hoffman group many times and every time I am shocked and amazed, not in a good way.

If your employees actually acted in accordance to your reply that would be fine.

I do not really have enough time to delve into all of the issues with the company, I had considered offering my consulting services but am not sure if I can devote the time to your project right now.

Instead I would highly suggest a complete investigation and retrospective into the policies and procedures of the many brands you have, question why you maintain several brands and different policies for each group.

If you offer a Lifetime Warranty why does it matter which channel you sell through in terms of service?

If one customer takes the time to address these issues to you imagine how many just wrote you off. Why are you not advocating a proactive approach to customer service? Perception is everything, it is not what you do or say it is how it is perceived, look at Toyota if you want proof. They had a bullet proof reputation until cars gas pedals got stuck, or that is what people perceived, in reality it was a tragic case of people smashing down the wrong pedal (after review of all of the black boxes in the cars).

Those are a few things to get you started, it is a shame because in the 90’s I had a positive perception of AutoLoc.

I am still in need of the window kit and door locks.

Cheers,

-Ryan
503.997.2298





From: Alan Kantor [mailto:Alan.Kantor@thehoffmangroup.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 1:47 PM
To: Ryan
Subject: Re: Dissatisfied

Ryan,

I hardly ever will answer my telephone as I am away from my desk, in a meeting, or in the middle of a project that needs attention. What I guaranty is 100% of the time I return phone calls. It might be in 24 - 48 hours but you can count on the call. If you are still in need for the products, I would ask you to contact Nick at extension 7334.

Alan


On Oct 7, 2010, at 2:41 PM, Ryan wrote:




He did not answer either…


From: Alan Kantor [mailto:Alan.Kantor@thehoffmangroup.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 2:50 PM
To: Ryan
Subject: Re: Dissatisfied

I just got an email that his car died while he was at lunch. He gets into the office at 930AM. Please call him tomorrow.



On Oct 7, 2010, at 3:39 PM, Ryan wrote:



So he is the only one in the whole company who could help me… see what I mean about poor customer service??? I have spent much of the day again trying to purchase something, that is just wrong!


From: Alan Kantor [mailto:Alan.Kantor@thehoffmangroup.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 3:57 PM
To: Ryan
Subject: Re: Dissatisfied

Ryan,

I do not think that I can do anything to help here. I am doing my best to give you someone that I am confident will not drop the ball. If you want, any of the account managers can help. Just call our number. It is up to you


On Oct 7, 2010, at 4:08 PM, Ryan wrote:


There is no point in calling no one answers the phone and obviously no one there cares or knows what customer service is. Your first e-mail gave me a glimpse of what I was talking about but you have failed miserably. I guess I was correct that the company needs some real help, or they just need to go out of business because they are not providing any service at all. Economics and the power of the dollar will eventually prevail and AutoLoc will go out of business. It will be a shame to see a local company go out of business but the writing is on the wall for the Hoffman group, you have grown too large and lost focus. If today’s back and forth is not proof that there is an issue then I do not know what is. I have spent a lot of my time trying to give your company money and no one cares enough to assist??? Saying it is up to me, WTF I have been trying all avenues you have given me. Should I just write a letter to Santa Claus next maybe he will respond faster.

I love your first line in the latest reply “I do not think that I can do anything to help here” only 7 hours ago you were saying “Not only will we make certain all your questions are addressed, but we will honor any price or program that is currently advertised on the site. Any of our professional account managers will be pleased to assist you and make certain to meet you in our showroom for you to review and discuss our programs and products. If there is ever another problem, please do not hesitate to contact me directly and I will make certain we do whatever is in our power to solve the problem. My direct extension is 7312.”

At least you could have kept your word, but alas that is the issue at the Hoffman group!



________________________________________
From: Alan Kantor [mailto:Alan.Kantor@thehoffmangroup.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 4:17 PM
To: Ryan
Cc: drew.hoffman@thehoffmangroup.com
Subject: Re: Dissatisfied

Ryan,

I am sorry but in this case there is no way to satisfy you. There are 8 people right now in the sales queue to answer phones so you stating no one answers is just wrong. I really am sorry but in some cases we are not the right fit for an individual. This might be the case here. I have tried to work with you. Give you a person I know that would be able to handle the questions and order for you effectively and professionally. I can not help it there was an issue with his car. It is not like it was planned. If no one else is good enough, I am sorry. Right now there is only a couple of people in queue as it is end of day. If you are interested in calling, please do as there is no one right now on hold.

Alan

 

Sorry to hear about the frustruation. Go enjoy some and , and then lets see some new pics.

 

Yes, sorry after welding and grinding all day since I got the cab back I have been to tired to load the photos... SORRY.

After that crap I went out to dinner, sat for about 10 min and had to ask for a waiter... finally got served, ordered a beer off their special, then was told that the beer I wanted was not part of the special... But he went and told the manager we had to wait and when we looked at the final bill they basically gave me a free beer and great service. That is how it is done, problems happen, it is all about how they deal with them.

 

Hello All,

Much progress has been made since the last update. Sorry for the delay.

After the frustrations with AutoLoc I was pleasantly refreshed after leaving a message for the owner of Exile Audio… A local Audio manufacturer of Amps, Subs and speakers, founded by previous employees of Phoenix Gold. I left the voicemail at his office late in the day and figured it would be the normal wait two days for the owner to call you back. It was only an hour or so when he called from his cell phone while out of town, then he gave me the time of day answered some questions and invited me to meet him at his office the following day! Man talk about good customer service! I met with him, he showed me around the show, showed me the products and helped me determine what I wanted to go with. So I guess there is still hope that there are businesses owned by good smart professional people. I had to buy their Component speakers for the front, they are amazing!

Also I have been working with Airbagit AKA AIM Industries for over a month now to design the suspension for the truck. I have talked with the technicians and even the owner there and we finally came up with a winning plan and they are actually making me a custom brackets and things just for my truck. They went way above and beyond for me and I ordered the system last week. They hope to finish fabricating everything over this week and then ship it up here. I am going with a Triangulated 4-link for the rear and a Parallel for the front just because of the mounting options due to that large engine being in the way. I will have full air ride suspension and have a few extra lines for hooking up my air tools, or air jack while on the road… nothing like having a flat tire and being able to use an air-hydraulic 20 ton jack, then a air gun for the bolts  Although I hope it does not happen it would still be fun just because I can.

In addition to the already low prices of the AIM stuff, they did offer me a partial sponsorship which helps a ton with the busted budget.

As far as actual work on the truck, I have welded up the firewall, fabricated and welded in a new section for the floor, fabricated and mounted the drivers seat bracket (ran out of material to complete the passengers), I started in at replacing the door catches and am about ready to weld them in. I need to mock up the power window and power lock solenoids before welding the catch in, otherwise assess is very tight. I am making headway on my Heating and AC system, I had to order a new evaporative core for the AC, but will be able to use the heating core out of the 95 Dodge. Don’t tell Kenwood but I was able to modify the touch screen monitor (for AV and NAvi) to allow the wire to exit the top of the screen so it will not be seen when flipping down and out of the ceiling.

I keep trying to get the wiring all put together but end up not making much headway. I need to add the Alarm, Brake Controller, AV, Nav, Speakers, Amps, Subs, Window and door switches and other components to the wiring harness before looming it back together and installing it. I want to be able to look into the cab and see the old truck, then be able to have modern features accessible out of sight.

The Engine gasket came the other day, I bought a full upper and lower kit so I can go through the whole engine and make sure everything is perfect then bolt it back together. I wish I had the budget for Head studs because I will already have them out.

The Leather came in last week as well it looks amazing we went for a rustic leather look, and the upholsterer is getting started stitching them up. I must say that it was an absolute pleasure working with Rich Leather, great prices and great service.

The body work and paint quote finally came in today, and it looks like I am either going to need to sell a kidney or figure out how to do it myself. The truck is not that bad but there is definitely work to be done, after all it is 70 years old. The body work came in at $4800 and $3500 for paint  I am trying to sell my G-35 to help cover this build, but even then the budget is busted.

I already had enough work left for me to handle myself without having to worry about body paint and upholstery. Has anyone figured out how to clone themselves yet, that would really help!

So now for the photos…