Hey everyone, here are the answers to the post by TEMPUS. If any further information is needed, feel free to post, or PM me with your
number that way I can call you personally and make sure your questions are answered.
Question - Rang through during normal business hours and never went through. Also had multiple options on the answering machine.
Answer - As I stated in a PM as I was not able to post on the thread myself, we have been busy moving from our location in Wallaceburg to London (1034-1036 Dundas Street, London Ontario, for those that would like to know) and that is why we are usually not able to take calls during the day, also, the answering machine is set up that way because while we are switching facility there is no phone in either of them. While this may sound fishy for a full blown business I can assure you it is not, and I have the Business Licence as well as the Vendor Permit to prove it which I would be more than happy to scan and post. Also, I have checked my voice mail daily and have not received any messages, not sure if it is a problem on my end with my phone service or what, but feel free to PM with your phone number and I will be MORE than happy to call you and answer any questions.
Question - So I start digging on their website, FAQ is short, and doesn't address my questions. Customer gallery is 'coming soon' Link to a video is 404.. Link for prospective dealers is 404. Site says stuff about now offering suicide and gull wing doors, but no product info for them on the site. I am concerned that all I can get off their site is a picture of ONE car with their hinges installed. Most other lambo places have lots of pictures of different rides with their products installed.
Answer - While the FAQ is short, it addresses the most common questions we receive hence the title FAQ. As for the customer Gallery, it is not up yet and neither is the video, why, because not only do we run this business designing kits and manufacturing them, but we also do everything on the website ourselve (my brother Chris actually). We have switched to a new format for our website and it takes a while to get everything up and running while trying to run the business at the same time, and moving definetly does not help this. As for the suicide and Gull wing doors, yes we do have them, and yes we are now offering them, but again we just have not been able to get the site fully functionally yet so I do apologize for that. As for the lack of pictures, I will post some pictures of customers cars, I was not able to do this on the other threads so please forgive me. Again, we are a new company.
Question - What google found me were several forum postings by XD on various car specific and tuner forums, trying to drum up interest in their products, and two group/test/sample buys, started around the same time ours was, both of which have gone very poorly so far. Many people never got product and ended up asking for refunds from their credit card companies Other folks got product but the boxes were damaged and parts missing (so either DHL is really really sucky, or these people don't use strong enough boxes or wrap/pack their stuff very welll). People that got complete products are having fitment issues.
Answer - What happened with these packages is we shipped using Purolator in Canada, I will never use them again. I have the bills to prove (can scan and post) to prove that all of these kits were shipped out but were either damaged or lost all together. This is what caused all of the delays. We have since sent out any parts that customers may have been missing, as well as replaced any parts that were damaged. Also, when shipping with Purolator in Canada, once it reaches the US, it switches to DHL which again make it harder to track missing packages or to file claims. Also, most of these kits were "test" kits that people bought to help us ensure fitment and to address any fitment issues. Some people received the kit and we not willing to do this when they realized that it was neccessary.
Question - IMHO the phrase 'not ready for prime time' comes to mind. I don't THINK The XD people (husband/wife??) are trying to rip people off, but there seem to be an abnormally high number of shipping problems, product lost in shipping, and more than anything serious communication issues. It feels to me like a small startup, which is trying hard, but also trying hard to look llike an experienced established company. The address given on their website turns out to be a townhouse. XD started out communicating with both groups directly, via their forums, then suddenly stopped. They started their own forum as a way to communicate with people online but then suddenly shut it down as well. They are supposedly moving their 'shop' but do not give an address of the new shop.
Answer - As for the phrase "not ready for prime time" no we are not, we are a new company trying to get our name out there and to work our way up. Every company has to start somewhere. As for this being a Husband/Wife operation, it is not. We are two brothers who are both Mechanical Engineers and we decided we wanted to open a company that would allow us to supply people in the car industry with high quality Kits for Lower prices. Again to address the shipping issues, I can Scan and post the shipping bills to prove ALL kits went out and then I can scan and post all of the claims I have filed with Purolator as well as DHL. I apologize for the communication issues as during December and the end of November, we were without a phone due to construction, and the shop in Wallaceburg does not have a phone. Also, we are a small business which is trying very hard, however we are not trying to look like an established business, check our website, you can see when we first began in the About us section. Also, yes the address on our website is our townhouse, as that is where we want correspondence going. Again, we did not say it was a 30,000sq/ft facility, rather it was an address where we could be reached.
Question - Forum Shut down
Answer - Yes the forum was shut down, but before hand, we posted on the website that the Forum would be down as were are trying to get all information posted on it (such as instructions) and we are revamping the layout. Everyone on the forum was notified that it would be getting shut down for a while.
Question - Right now I'm not comfortable with this group buy. Frankly I'd like to see us hold off a bit, and see how these other buys settle out. I especially want to see how fitment issues get resolved, and want to see better communications between XD and their customers. I'd REALLY like references to a few people who have installed and lived with their products for at least a few months, to see how they 'wear in'.
Answer - If you are not comfortable with this group buy, by all means wait and see how the kits work. We are not going to force anyone into purchasing a kit and again I will answer any questions you may have so that you have all the facts before the kit arrives at your location. Again about the fitments, these were TEST kits, and with testing there are bound to be some fitment issues. I will also be MORE than happy to post a few customers as reference.
Question - I also seriously think that for this to work right, we're going to need someone who is 'local' to these folks to be "MX-3 Customer #1" so that we can pre-resolve any fitment issues, and get a product that is truely 'bolt on' for our cars, and not a universal kit that has to be modified (or the car extensively modified) in order to work right..
Answer - Anyone who is local to us are MORE than welcome to come and meet with us during this group buy period once we are settled into our new shop (very soon). Also, these kits will be TRUE bolt-ons and we have purchased an MX-3 so that we have a car there that does not have obligations and so we can take measurements as we need them as well allowing us to test fit the kits thoroughly before hand. Again, not forcing anyone into a purchase, if you are not comfortable, please by all means wait and see what others have to say.
Question - Outstanding orders.
Answer - To answer this question is very simple, we use a Merchant Account that is set up in a way that if the customer does not receive the product, we do not receive their payment. Anyone who has not received a product should have received a refund already. And again, the forum was shut down for updates and this information was posted on the website to alert people ahead of time. As for the calls, never received them so I apologize for this.Furthermore, ALL packages are shipped with couriers that provide full tracking information.
Thanks,
Kyle Wesley
Xtreme-Doors
Also, My personal email is
kwesley@xtreme-doors.com . Feel free to email me.