MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: lino6 on September 12, 2013, 06:08:18 PM
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For 7 months now we have been waiting for the canopy we ordered from the Albury camping show in February from a company, lets call them feral pigs (FP for short) and paid our $200 deposit. When we ordered with FP they told us that it would be around a 6 week wait for delivery as they had none in stock to suit our DMax in our colour. So after the initial 6 week wait an extra week, then I contacted the fitter in Albury to see if it had arrived. I was told by the fitter that the delivery wasn't expected for another month (that should have been the first sign).
So I email FP and let them know I am disappointed to find out this way, and get a reply from FP salesman all apologetic. I ask for the roof rails to be upgraded to tracks which is agreed upon. So after waiting this extra month I contact FP again only to find out our canopy "missed the boat" and would be in the next shipment 6 weeks later (more alarm bells should have gone here). As this was the canopy SWMBO and I both liked, we were still prepared to wait. So at the start of August (around 6 weeks later) I contact FP again to see how things are going and am again told out canopy has "missed the boat". SWMBO and I are starting to get a bit pi$$ed at this stage. We are now looking at a September delivery but history tells us not to get our hopes up. We ask that as compensation for waiting so long, we get the roof bars to go with the tracks at no cost - which FP agree to. The also offer to fit a temporary canopy (a return from a warranty job) to our ute till our proper canopy shows up at no cost. At this point we decline
After several attempts to contact FP via email, I get no replies. So its now SWMBO's turn to email, resulting in again no reply. So she fills out the online form and not so subtly suggests that not contacting a customer is not a good thing. The finally get back to us initially saying end of October for our canopy, then change their mind an tell us November in further communication. At this point we say we will get the temporary canopy fitted to which they agree. Yesterday I get a phone call from FP customer service person saying they can fit this canopy on Friday, but can't wire it up as they don't have enough time. I tell them that won't do as the non-operational brake light is un-roadworthy. They then call back and offer up next Wednesday, but now I have to pay the majority of the canopy price as the installer now needs to be paid (alarm bells start going now, I know, better late than never). After a 3.5 hour drive home from Ballarat I have a bit of time in the car to stew over this. So I email them and decline the fitment and ask for our deposit back. Today I am still yet to get a response.
I don't think at any stage through this we have been "unreasonable" customers. We have fairly patiently waited for months and haven't ranted or raved, and until this post, haven't really been negative towards FP. But I have reached the end of my tether and now will not and could not recommend this company to anyone. If you are talking to them and ask them what the lead time on a canopy for a 2010 DMax and give you an answer less than 9 months then they are either lying to you, or have been giving us the run around for all this time. Please not I have no information on the quality of their product as we have been waiting 7 months to see it but never got to. We will at some stage be looking into other brands, but for now it appears that we may have a fight to get our deposit back.
So unless you are ordering a FP canopy from something they have in stock, my advice is to walk away.
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Mate you must have more patience in your big toe then my whole body. In no way have you been unreasonable. If they had said up front 9+ Month wait then fair enough, but that is ridiculous, Id suggest sending a not so subtle email that if your money is not refunded within 48 Hours you will be on their doorstep.
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Thats pretty piss poor for a company, they should have offered you the deposit back after the initial 6 weeks.
Hope you get it all sorted out, just hope that we dont fall into this with anyone we go to buy off.
PS: are they only local to Albury?
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Cut n run, hope you get your deposit back guys, that is terrible service. Imagine trying to get a warranty claim!
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PS: are they only local to Albury?
Nah they are fitted at TJM dealers and since we ordered at the Albury camping show, they were going to fit it in Albury as there is no TJM at home.
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Cut n run, hope you get your deposit back guys, that is terrible service. Imagine trying to get a warranty claim!
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Ynot that was one of the things starting to worry me if we had to make a claim, this second hand one was from a warranty claim last year which is why initially I wasn't thrilled to fit it even as a temporary thing. Can't believe people can do business like this (or not do business) and has put a cloud over purchasing a canopy we had ummed and arred about it for awhile before ordering too whether we just stick with the tonneau or get canopy ??? Has taken all my effort the whole time not to post on here about the situation when we were still waiting.
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Cut n run, hope you get your deposit back guys, that is terrible service. Imagine trying to get a warranty claim!
Yep, temporary canopy was a return from a canopy fitted to a ute in November, and it was replaced about 2 months ago or something.
Perhaps to get good service out of this mob you need to be a fleet company or something?
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dont let raz.. sorry FP tell you that they are the only importers of those steel canopies from thailand, another importer called PROEX also imports them. You might find they will look after you a little better too
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This story is one example of why people should never complain about the prices asked by large scale national chain store retailers. Unless of course this company falls into that bracket?
I endured a similar scenario when purchasing a Bali hut several years ago, however I got lucky with the contact I had and did manage to eventually get the product and a $1000 rebate. Good luck, I wish u all the best in your quest to recover the deposit.
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dont let raz.. sorry FP tell you that they are the only importers of those steel canopies from thailand, another importer called PROEX also imports them. You might find they will look after you a little better too
Thanks for the heads up. I've tried to google Proex and only seem to come up with an exhaust shop. But we will continue looking.
FP seem to be associated with TJM as they seem to be the ones that fit them, but I don't know if you walked into a TJM store if the FP canopies are options they offer up. Perhaps if the TJM stores were caught in the middle of this they might have a different opinion. I only contacted TJM Albury once and didn't want to "drag" a 3rd party into this when they really had nothing to do with it. But I could see that sometimes customers would try and bring in the 3rd party.
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Thanks for the heads up. I've tried to google Proex and only seem to come up with an exhaust shop. But we will continue looking.
FP seem to be associated with TJM as they seem to be the ones that fit them, but I don't know if you walked into a TJM store if the FP canopies are options they offer up. Perhaps if the TJM stores were caught in the middle of this they might have a different opinion. I only contacted TJM Albury once and didn't want to "drag" a 3rd party into this when they really had nothing to do with it. But I could see that sometimes customers would try and bring in the 3rd party.
When I get to work tomorrow I will send you their number. Brisbane based they are easy to talk to and less hassle than FP
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When I get to work tomorrow I will send you their number. Brisbane based they are easy to talk to and less hassle than FP
Cheers thanks for that.
BTW, hope you are having some success with your camper too.
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]still no contact.
at least I have lots of love and support here !!!!
Honestly, dont expect a call or email- so i will just keep plugging away at the list. Ordered a few parts today to replace and improve a few items, this part i love doing... starting to feel like mine
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From what I understand the owner of Cut.throat.front owns 2 x TJM stores now, thus why they are selling their canopys..
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If it all falls apart i think Alpha do a steel canopy for the Dmax
I had no choice with mine as it was already on the car EGR canopy it does the job but i can see a lot of foam being packed around the tail gate and other holes for the central trip next year
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Having lived in Albury for nearly 7 years (not now thank God) that pretty much sums up the standard of customer service across the board. In all the places I have lived around this great county, Albury was the worst for shonky businesses. Sorry to any folk who are living there but this was just a fact. I feel for ya mate. Good luck. :-[
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Having lived in Albury for nearly 7 years (not now thank God) that pretty much sums up the standard of customer service across the board. In all the places I have lived around this great county, Albury was the worst for shonky businesses. Sorry to any folk who are living there but this was just a fact. I feel for ya mate. Good luck. :-[
Hi there actually they aren't an Albury company and it is not TJM in Albury that we have been having the trouble with it was a company who was at the Albury camping show in Feb and TJM do their fitting. Earlier this year we had trouble with an ARB agent in Victoria and ARB Albury were more than happy to help us try and sort it out and have had other good service up there but a shame that you didn't as I think good service goes a long way also.
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Take the loan canopy have it fitted dont hand over any more money drive away with a smile on your face knowing it only cost you $200.00 if you don't like it sell it .....
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Take the loan canopy have it fitted dont hand over any more money drive away with a smile on your face knowing it only cost you $200.00 if you don't like it sell it .....
This thought did cross my mind but since they are asking for more money for fitment I doubt it would go our way. Just want my deposit back now and be rid of them. As I understand it lino6 has not had a reply from them again today I will chat to him when he is home from work.
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Get your deposir back.
Don't forget the freebies either. Tell em, you'll like a refund on the free roof rails that they offered also.
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If you're after a steel canopy, Opposite Lock are selling these ones now.
http://smmcanopies.com.au/smm-canopies/smm-v1-pics (http://smmcanopies.com.au/smm-canopies/smm-v1-pics)
There aren't many photos around that I can find. I saw them at the Melbourne 4WD show, and getting fitted at Opposite Lock Dandenong next week. If you're interested after it's fitted I can put up a few pictures.
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If you're after a steel canopy, Opposite Lock are selling these ones now.
http://smmcanopies.com.au/smm-canopies/smm-v1-pics (http://smmcanopies.com.au/smm-canopies/smm-v1-pics)
There aren't many photos around that I can find. I saw them at the Melbourne 4WD show, and getting fitted at Opposite Lock Dandenong next week. If you're interested after it's fitted I can put up a few pictures.
That would be great thanks Jasjul, much appreciated.
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So a bit of good news today FP have said they will return our deposit. I get the feeling that they were mucking us around on purpose because of the extras we wanted for nothing they thought it would be easier to fob us off. Fingers crossed we get the money and will move on.
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Got out full refund today for Razorback. Thus ends our dealings with the company. Now to seek out an alternative.
I have emailed a few other suppliers and am just waiting for replies. But we are in no hurry, after all, we have had plenty of practice waiting...
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Excellent news !!
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What about the free roofrails?
They still owe you them!!!!
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What about the free roofrails?
They still owe you them!!!!
I actually thought they were going to have a crack at keeping our deposit with some excuse!
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(http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu263/jchamxr6/0012_zps18c18fa5.jpg) (http://s654.photobucket.com/user/jchamxr6/media/0012_zps18c18fa5.jpg.html)
(http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu263/jchamxr6/004_zps469faff0.jpg) (http://s654.photobucket.com/user/jchamxr6/media/004_zps469faff0.jpg.html)
(http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu263/jchamxr6/0022_zps5d4c9a3c.jpg) (http://s654.photobucket.com/user/jchamxr6/media/0022_zps5d4c9a3c.jpg.html)
(http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu263/jchamxr6/0032_zps3409227e.jpg) (http://s654.photobucket.com/user/jchamxr6/media/0032_zps3409227e.jpg.html)
Slam lock back door which is connected to central locking. I've got a slider on one side and flip on the other. I've heard these used to be/still are rebadged as Razorback canopies? Sammitr are the actual company that manufacture them. Mine was supplied/fitted by Opposite Lock. They may also be supplied by Ironman dealers as well.
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(http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu263/jchamxr6/0012_zps18c18fa5.jpg) (http://s654.photobucket.com/user/jchamxr6/media/0012_zps18c18fa5.jpg.html)
(http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu263/jchamxr6/004_zps469faff0.jpg) (http://s654.photobucket.com/user/jchamxr6/media/004_zps469faff0.jpg.html)
(http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu263/jchamxr6/0022_zps5d4c9a3c.jpg) (http://s654.photobucket.com/user/jchamxr6/media/0022_zps5d4c9a3c.jpg.html)
(http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu263/jchamxr6/0032_zps3409227e.jpg) (http://s654.photobucket.com/user/jchamxr6/media/0032_zps3409227e.jpg.html)
Slam lock back door which is connected to central locking. I've got a slider on one side and flip on the other. I've heard these used to be/still are rebadged as Razorback canopies? Sammitr are the actual company that manufacture them. Mine was supplied/fitted by Opposite Lock. They may also be supplied by Ironman dealers as well.
Thanks for the info Jasjul.
Looks good on the Mazda! Might try and get into Opposite Lock and make some inquiries one day when work doesn't get in the way of important things!
How is the vision out of the canopy? We fitted up a reverse camera when we ordered out Razorback as a "just in case" to help with the vision. Now we don't have a canopy its just a bonus.
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The vision isn't great, but probably no worse than a Prado/Pajero with the spare tyre on the back door. I also have a reverse camera.
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Glad you got your deposit back.
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So on the recommendation of Jasjul I contacted Opposite Lock. I place the order and paid the deposit for a SMM canopy. They had one in stock that needs to be painted in our colour and then fitted.They believe the whole process should take about 2 to 3 weeks (a lot shorter than the 7 weeks from Razorback!)
So fingers crossed we will have a canopy before Christmas! (Hope you like the present dear ;D ;D)
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Look'n good Jase :cheers:
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So on the recommendation of Jasjul I contacted Opposite Lock. I place the order and paid the deposit for a SMM canopy. They had one in stock that needs to be painted in our colour and then fitted.They believe the whole process should take about 2 to 3 weeks (a lot shorter than the 7 weeks from Razorback!)
So fingers crossed we will have a canopy before Christmas! (Hope you like the present dear ;D ;D)
EDIT 7 months wait from razorback
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Yep I meant 7 months...
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Got a call from Opposite lock Dandenong yesterday. The ute is booked in for the 4th to get the canopy fitted. So 3 weeks from order, slightly better than Razorback!