I'm sorry it has come to this but I just can't take this lack of service anymore. I have tried to behave and be very understanding but I have to draw a line.

My situation is that Brad received a B16A head from me mid. February and I was told it would take 5-6 weeks before it would be shipped out. I have had Jeff from IB ship a lot of parts to him that should be mounted and send with the stuff at RLZ so the shipping costs to Europe would be less.

The first problem is that Brad responds to 1 out of 10 IM I write and never reply my emails. This makes it very hard to follow the process.

Second thing is that Jeff paid up front and people who have shipped later then me and first paid later have received their heads before me. Wtf is up with that??!!

3 weeks ago Jeff was told the package had been shipped. I have not received the package by now and I'm starting to get worried. There are no excuses for this bad service. I have tried many times now to get the tracking number for the package but no respond as usual.

Things at Brad's place I need to get are:

Stage2 headwork on my B16A head
Custom IM
IB Spec cams, cam gears, valvetrain and valves
Short Ram intake
Gaskets and other small items

I just want Brad to write me a IM and give me the tracking number so that I can see if the package has been send or not. That should not be so hard.....

Got my anger away now.....

 

Sorry to hear about your situation
I too have been waiting for a head from Brad since mid-February. Brad has assured me that it will be done soon. Hope this works out for both of us...

 

Try giving him a call at his shop, 704-262-7948.

 

Don't feel bad my head was sent back in January paid in a full. A perfectly good gsr portflow head w/valvetrain and valves to get re-work done on it supposely his stg.3 head with new valves seats etc..etc... When talked to Brad on IM he said it was gonna get shipped last week but still have not seen any head yet. I hope 9 months going on 10 of wait is well worth it.

 

nothing is worth that much trouble to get. I hope people start using another shop to get their stuff done because this is not acceptable

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ce &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nothing is worth that much trouble to get. I hope people start using another shop to get their stuff done because this is not acceptable </TD></TR></TABLE> AMEN to that. there's plenty of pro head porters on the west caost hope you guys get your heads back and see if it was worth the wait

 

He's not going to run off with your head or not send it to you. I know he's backup. I assure you will get it. Just of matter of time.

Funny, posting this on here I wonder if he will do any more heads for anyone. Ruin a good thing for the public


Beside, I waited like 10 months or so, if it makes you feel anybetter!

 

I still remember when he first started posting on here about him modded LMA's and everyone was like "who the **** is this guy?". I sent my LMA's and got them back within a week of him getting them but that was almost a year ago.

Now he gets so much business no one ever gets their **** back.

 

wow is it really worth the wait?

 

brad is so backed up with heads its unreal. but it is worth the wait.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spooncivic1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">brad is so backed up with heads its unreal. but it is worth the wait.</TD></TR></TABLE>

True! Brad is SUPER BUSY!!!!!!! He has assured me that everyone that is waiting for their heads will get them as soon as he can get them done and out the door! He is only one man and the only one who ports and polsihes and does teh valve jobs and all that is needed for these heads. It is worth the wait IMO. Give him time, he has BEEN OVERWHELMED with the EXTREME DEMAND he has now, that is very very good for his business but BAD since bad words travel fast. I assure you that you all will be satisfied and happy once you get your product. To the original poster, the other stuff could've been sent separate from the head and was not needed to be sent with the head, I know Denmark is super expensive for shipping and I feel for you on the cost for that. Good luck to everyone! I am waiting patiently but knew I would have to wait. I truely believe in Brad's and RLZ's work and Brad is good guy and very knowledgable and a good FRIEND! He will take care of everyone in due time.

 

i was just down there friday.. he said he hasnt accepted any heads in the last few months, and he still has ALOT of heads to do.

people dont realize that RLZ is a ONE man operation, it takes time to work the magic he does.

just teh basic port job is a good day's work..

dont feel bad, my stuff has been there since january, i knew before i even took my motor down there that it may be 10 months or a year before its back in my hands. the best dosnt come cheap, nor is the turnaround quick.

jason

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spooncivic1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">brad is so backed up with heads its unreal. but it is worth the wait.</TD></TR></TABLE>


yep, sorta like why his website isn't active, he's got more work to worry about bring some

 

I think the point of this thread is not to dispute the magic Brad is capable of working on a cylinder head.

Rather it is about a poor way to operate a business. There has been at best a total breakdown of communication. If Brad is so busy and business is so good that he has to turn heads away, I am sure he has enough positive cash flow (all heads were paid up front) to hire one or two Customer Service Reps to return calls, respond to emails, IM's and generally keep his customers in the loop.

A great product will only get you so far. You have to be able to present excellent customer service along with that great product for it to be truly great.

All of these folks will undoubtedly recieve there heads back from Brad and I am sure will have nothing but raving reviews for the quality of work/ craftsmnship. But they will also have a bitter taste in their mouth from being left in the dark for so long about the status of their heads.

 

This is the main reason I will not send my head to RLZ.

Of course they are not too busy when taking your money.

 

I think if you have a spare head laying around and are not needing the head back for your daily driver than Brad may be a very viable, pleasant, rewarding option for head work.

If you need the head back ASAP and do not have a contigency plan, I would say Portflow here I come.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EdBoon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is the main reason I will not send my head to RLZ.

Of course they are not too busy when taking your money. </TD></TR></TABLE>

actually, i sent brad out an intake manifold before even collecting payment from him... i said if he liked it he could pay for it...or he can return it.

he paid for it not too long afterwards.

you guys have got to understand RLZ does not have a customer service department and a full staff of generals to run the show.

if you guys go to a mechanic's shop, one day you'll see 3 cars there, the next day maybe 30. same with brad and heads and what not and also orders for custom cams and such coming in. it's just most of you shipped the heads or what not out to him and cannot see all the stuff he has goin on.

edit: although i must say since mid february is a very very long time. hopefully you get your stuff.. although he may have backlog stuff goin on...i don't think brad would do anything half ***.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EVOL &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

actually, i sent brad out an intake manifold before even collecting payment from him... i said if he liked it he could pay for it...or he can return it.

he paid for it not too long afterwards.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

So he paid for something he bought? WOW.

 

Just curious.. All who have said they are paid in full, who did you pay? IB or RLZ directly? I notice that its all IB customers that have had issues. Or I should rephrase , Most of the complaints are from IB customers.. What does Jeff say?

 

Jeff paid Brad up front i February and has also been been missing his money since. It's not his fault so he drawed the money from my account a month ago.

I know Brad is super busy and I would not have made this post if he had not said the complete package was shipped. The tracking number would help me out a lot so I don't lose a 2k package full of goods. If you guys knew how much shipping costs are to Denmark.... like $300 for a 10 kg. package through FedEx. So with a very heavy head and other parts the weight would be around 25 kg. The only way it could be around $300 or less was thorugh USPS and that's not the best way to get a package transported. I just don't understand if Brad said it WAS shipped why can't I get the tracking number??!!

 

I'm sure brad will take care of you, he always does.

like has been mentioned...Brad is a BUSY man. There's more than just porting heads, that he has to do....

THe parent company of RLZ, Speed Innovations, still has it's regular customers coming in...bringing lots of work for Howard to do. A lot of times, brad has to help him out.....just to get cars out of the shop. That's the way it goes when there are just 2 ppl.

brad's work speaks for itself though. Brad rarley, RARELY, ever boast about his own work. he lets his customers spread the word for him, and he's never asked anyone to say a good word...they do it own their own.

Also, remember, RLZ does have a race car. Sometimes he's got to put down the grinder and work on some shop stuff.....rarley, but it does happen. They missed like 3 races this year, so things could be caught up. More than likely, they'd have won C4 as well....but sometimes customers are more important.

 

From what is said around HT he has a large amount of heads to do, and Brad told me to contact him, gave me a number to explain he was about 7 weeks backorder.

But since February?? Seems a bit too long.

 

he was getting upwards of 10heads a DAY.....that's just from regular ppl. Ib was sending a lot his way too. That and other custom parts he has to make....it was all just adding up...it still is, too.

 

Tbone-All of my contact with Brad has been direct-phone, AIM, and IM's here on H-T. Jeff was not involved. Brad has been really cool in my conversations with him; I don't get the sense that he is scamming me. He just lags really, really, really badly.

 

paid up front 9 month ago and still waiting??? please!!!!! what kind of service is that?