Originally posted by DesertHB:
[b]Originally posted by WolfmanX:
Not to hijack the thread, but the extra $$$ is not a result of customer service. The extra cost comes from the added time that goes in to every product. IMO Calmini only goes as far as they have to go to put out a product that will "work" at a low cost. While SLR for example, goes that far and then three steps more, using higher quality metals, superior design techniques, heat treating, superior weld quality and so on. Do you think Steve at Calmini sits there and manufactures every Upper Control Arm that goes out? No, it gets outsourced. Spencer does it all, and his high standards go in to every product.

Most importantly, they stand behind their products. They don't make excuses or try to blame the customer.

I'm not an SLR rep by any means, I have just discovered facts that were already there. I gave Calmini a chance. They blew it.

NOW BACK TO THE SAS JOB

Jason,

Everyone has issues, but just to set the record straight.
Calmini works on a product until it is as right as they can get it. Must I remind you the reason why SLR is not on XOC currently is because Ian tossed him off because they had upper control arm and rear spring pack issues that they refused to resolve? It's my understanding that they did finally get around to fixing things, but it took them a very long time to do so. So long in fact a number of folks ended up buying whole new kits from Calmini. Everyone has an issue or two in a product line. I personally never had an issue getting something resolved.
Calmini does their welding in house (far better than any welds than I’ve seen on SLR products –IMO), it is not outsourced. Some parts of the manufacturing processes do have to be done outside including those parts that have to be forged.
Some products sell out and have to be restocked and sometimes products take longer to restock than others and sometimes there are delays. I make no excuse when someone says that a product has shipped and it hasn’t, that’s poor customer service.
As for SLR being so honest and upfront about things. They literally stole the design for their “Econo” line of products from Calmini. Lastly Spencer has never made any efforts to pay me back for a steering system that I sold back to him. I had left numerous voice mails, sent emails with not even a “the check is in the mail”. A member of XOC even approached him about it a few years back. In short, I hope Spencer gets run over by one of his own trucks.

-Doug[/b]