Howells fordor sheet metal

[ezloader]

Hi All,
Bought some parts from Howells,funds were taken on Jan 20th,
got an invoice but no parts or communication so far.
Left messages,sent email etc no response.
Now phone is always busy.
Anyone else in the same Boat?
Cheers
Daryl

[Bob C]

That's why you buy Howells parts from one of the good Model A vendors and
not from Howells themselves.

[ezloader]

Yes,first and last time,live and learn

[Oldbluoval]

If on CC, dispute
Probably not

[ronn]

11 days and youre moaning?


try running a small business...............

[cas3]

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Yup, you can buy Howell's parts from Ebay or from another vendor, but never ever buy direct from them. Lots and lots of horror stories about this over at the Hamb.

[Reds34]

I think there are quite a few stories here too.

Red

[ezloader]

ust looking for a contact incase theres a problem,pretty tough job to answer the phone'

[chrs1961815]

Yes they are absolutely horrible when it comes to customer service. I am getting tired of experiencing and hearing about companies like this.

[Joe K]

For a time around 2015 or so I was stationed in my work in Beaumont. Of course while I was there I HAD to see the place reproducing the 28-29 CC pickup doors.

A call during the week: "I see from your website you're open Saturday until 1 p.m. Will you be open this Saturday?

"Um yes. Somebody will be around."

"Good, I'll swing by."

So I cut short my overtime day at work and arrive about 11 a.m. thinking I could see the shop or inspect the parts and get a better sense of going forward. And then go somewhere in town for lunch?

I pull in and the shop looks curiously dark. Coming up to the door I note again the posting of hours. Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Door is locked.

In the back I see a light on - so I knock on the door. No reply, but sound within and I catch shadow of someone moving in the back.

So I knock again. "Hello is anyone inside?" Now quiet - somebody turned off the radio?

About then I got the message.

"Maybe another time", I said loudly.

Joe K

[ezloader]

little update bought the parts Jan 14/23
invoiced Jan 20th'' still no contact of any kind..
Guess Im allowed to moan now Yes?

[Oldbluoval]

Yes….but it won’t do any good except emotionally.

[JoeCB]

This sounds like a small, busy shop with no "front office" ... don't want to put a "gal Friday" on the payroll to answer the phone.

Joe B

[ronn]

Guess Im allowed to moan now Yes?

you have my permission.......

[mhsprecher]

You can moan. Maybe you'll get it in a year. That was my experience.

[Chris Haynes]

Not only is their customer service nonexistent their parts are crap.

[wuga]

I had a bad Howell's experience. I live in Canada and ordered a 30 Tudor roof insert from them. They were to ship by UPS to Niagara Falls NY where I would pick it up. I had to call them at least 8 times, most times not getting an answer and their machine didn't seem to be working. Finally they told me it was shipped and on what day I could expect it. They sent me a receipt by e-mail so I went to pick it up on the assigned day. There was some delay at the border but I finally drove to UPS. As I was approaching the UPS terminal, a truck was pulling out of the driveway and the name on the side was similar to a notation on the invoice. I blocked the truck (not UPS) and asked if he had just delivered my roof to which he replied they would not accept it and it was on its way back to Texas. I finally convinced the driver and his dispatcher to give me the pallet. Had I arrived one minute later, he would has been on I-90, the entrance being next to the UPS terminal. To make matters worse, I paid $240 for the insert and $240 for shipping and what I received was a piece of 18 gauge sheet with two corners rounded off. It came no where near fitting and required hours of cutting and trimming to work. I could have bought the same sheet of 18 gauge locally for $40 and used the $480 to pay my body man to trim it like he had to with the Howell piece.

Warren

[chrs1961815]

In this economy, if you have vustomer service and products that are horrible, you don't deserve to be a business. Leave it to the vendors who actually care about their customers.

[Oldbluoval]

I am a maker of a limited line of parts (not major sheet metal). I’ve had conversations with several major parts vendors about quality and specifically Howells. The problem is there is no one else. Several providers had quit or belly-up (Ahooga).
There is little else.
It be what it be!

[ronn]

I am surprised Howells is still in business with all of the negativity.

If unhappy, vote with your wallet and we will yet have one less supplier.
that should make everything "better".

I pay with credit cards, and thus generally protected. Of course that still doesnt provide the part.....

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by ezloader

little update bought the parts Jan 14/23
invoiced Jan 20th'' still no contact of any kind..
Guess Im allowed to moan now Yes?

Why don’t you cancel the order and avoid future frustrations ?

[1931FB]

Hello ,I have ordered from Howells sheet metal direct and no one ever answered the phone. As well.No one ever answered any emails ….I did however just send an email to them requesting them to cancel my order ,and believe it or not my credit card was refunded … no one ever spoke to me ,no one ever answered the email. That’s all I did, so try that.

[ronn]

easier to just call your ccd company and cancel. takes all of 5 minutes.

Chase has always taken care of me wo a problem.

[31a]

Learned a long time ago not to order from Howells direct.

[Ron Blissit]

I ordered a set of running boards from them and was assured that they were exact copy of Oem. They were not. Like getting Ohio fried chicken,Its close to Kentucky but not quite there.

[k gilmore]

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Gee, I bought several Model T panels from Howells over the phone, they told me the panels were in stock; I gave them my credit card info, hung up and prayed (Langs told me I was wasting my time). Sure enough the stuff came 2 weeks later, and there were many panels to boot....so you can never tell.

[ronn]

could it be that Langs wtd the sale?????

[Rockhaven Rodder]

Does anyone know if Howell's sheet metal is open to the public? I ordered parts and cannot get in touch with them. I have a friend in Texas that will travel to pick up the parts if they are open.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by chrs1961815

In this economy, if you have vustomer service and products that are horrible, you don't deserve to be a business. Leave it to the vendors who actually care about their customers.

Unfortunately when places like Howell's and Vintique are the only ones making a particuler parts, those parts are the ones that "vendors who actually care about their customers" sell to you.

[Oldbluoval]

Ronn…
I’ve always found Lang to be a straight shooter

Rodder….read thru this thread and then decide if they are open to anybody!!!

[Dondmar]

Ronn,


Did you ever get you parts? I ordered a 1930 roadster p/u body and bed from them on 3/2, website said 3 months lead time. Charged my card next day, no problem. Been calling and emailing for the last 2 weeks and no response. BofA says I am past my 60 days and there is nothing they can do. Did your parts show up eventually or did I just lose a chunk of cash?

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Dondmar

Ronn,


Did you ever get you parts? I ordered a 1930 roadster p/u body and bed from them on 3/2, website said 3 months lead time. Charged my card next day, no problem. Been calling and emailing for the last 2 weeks and no response. BofA says I am past my 60 days and there is nothing they can do. Did your parts show up eventually or did I just lose a chunk of cash?

Most reputable vendors won't charge you until they ship... I think I would have been concerned when they charged your Credit Card. Sorry to hear this happened.

[Chris Haynes]

I was screwed by Howell's. They sent me a door panel for my AA truck that is completely unusable. Many phone calls and E Mail remain unanswered. I was in TX traveling from San Antonio to Austin and had no idea where I was when I spotted Howell's at the side of the road. My friend who was driving saw how pissed I was and refused to turn around. Probably best that he did that.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

I was screwed by Howell's. They sent me a door panel for my AA truck that is completely unusable. Many phone calls and E Mail remain unanswered. I was in TX traveling from San Antonio to Austin and had no idea where I was when I spotted Howell's at the side of the road. My friend who was driving saw how pissed I was and refused to turn around. Probably best that he did that.

Chris, if your were traveling from San Antonio to Austin, are you certain you saw Howell's Sheetmetal building?? If so, you have some really good eyes!!

Why I would doubt you actually saw Howell's building is because it is probably at least 250 miles east of where you all were. Y'all should have been traveling on I-35, -and Howells is about ¼ mile off of Interstate 10 in Beaumont, TX which is over by the Louisiana border.

[rotorwrench]

Yup. It's no where near New Braunfels or San Marcos. Houston to Lake Charles, LA maybe.

[old31]

It sounds like I might be a lucky one. I bought 4 items directly from Howells about 3 weeks ago and the products came in fairly quickly and with no problems.

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Chris, if your were traveling from San Antonio to Austin, are you certain you saw Howell's Sheetmetal building?? If so, you have some really good eyes!!

Why I would doubt you actually saw Howell's building is because it is probably at least 250 miles east of where you all were. Y'all should have been traveling on I-35, -and Howells is about ¼ mile off of Interstate 10 in Beaumont, TX which is over by the Louisiana border.

A yellow metal building that said Howell's Sheet Metal on it.

[Randy in ca]

Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

A yellow metal building that said Howell's Sheet Metal on it.

-
He does have good eyesight!!

-

[Oldbluoval]

Likely coincidence on name? Not that rare?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

The building that Randy is showing looks like the same place, but it has been several years ago. The building that Randy is showing is more of a dirty white and maybe crème than yellow, but maybe it has been repainted from yellow.??.

Probably a good thing Chris' friend didn't turn the vehicle around to go back, -or some unsuspecting HVAC sheetmetal guy from middle-Texas might have got his hind-end kicked that day!!

[Oldbluoval]

“unsuspecting HVAC sheetmetal guy from middle-Texas might have got his hind-end kicked that day!!”

Texas is known for six-shooters and gun toters…..never know what might get kicked……or shot. This day and time, confrontation is not wise.