Paging Denny Doler, Hard Labor Creek Fabrication

fninabx

Member
Aug 29, 2011
5
0
VA
Anyone heard from Denny?

I've had an order pending, and haven't been able to reach him at all for the last 2 months. Hope everything is OK with him.

Thanks
 

DiscoPhoto

Well-known member
Jul 23, 2012
2,581
76
Vermont
Look at the bottom of page 1 here, you would find that this thread was already done...by myself. Denny is going through some personal stuff and should be back around soon enough.
 

fninabx

Member
Aug 29, 2011
5
0
VA
DiscoPhoto,
Thanks for the quick reply.

Yes, I've found those threads, but they all appear to be older than my most recent interactions with Denny; although perhaps I'm reading the last date posted info incorrectly. In fact, about each week I search those threads and the Internet, just to see if anything Denny Doler has popped up.

Yes, I understand this has happened before, and as a former small business person, can definitely understand the challenge of balancing a small business against other professional and personal demands, and because of your previous posts, and Denny endorsements, to people who have had similar issues, I waited as long as I did.

Last time I saw him at his shop, in person, and the order was basically done, but delayed a day or two in powdercoat.

Real nice guy, and I like his work. But 2 months later, after driving 10 hours down and back without being able to pick up the bumper, since then no replies to numerous patiently worded calls, emails and texts, and I think my post here is not out of line.

I just need to know he is not dead, or out of business. A short reply from him, or anyone else, to that effect, is all I need, with some ETA, however long, that I can then plan around. That's all.

:cool:
 

fninabx

Member
Aug 29, 2011
5
0
VA
Got it; thanks.

I'll just keep trying. Again, I am a patient, loving, understanding man. But silence is tough after a while. Most important thing, of course, is that I hope everything works out well for him. My bumper is not the most important thing in the world; i get that. I'd just like to be able to have a plan.
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,930
203
Lake Villa, IL
Got it; thanks.

I'll just keep trying. Again, I am a patient, loving, understanding man. But silence is tough after a while. Most important thing, of course, is that I hope everything works out well for him. My bumper is not the most important thing in the world; i get that. I'd just like to be able to have a plan.
Shit goes downhill fast when the vendor/seller stops communicating. Unfortunately kindly worded emails just don't get some people's attention. There have been a couple vendors that I have had to give an ultimatum; respond in some way in 24hrs or I'm filing a dispute with my credit card company.
It takes seconds to send a short email updating the buyer of the order status. I think some vendors are afraid if they give the buyer bad news the order will be cancelled. What the vendor doesn't realize is that by giving the buyer NO news their reputation is hurt far worse than a pushed back delivery date would.
Everybody has personal shit come up. But if you've taken money in exchange for a product you have a legal obligation to deliver in a time frame mutaully agreed upon.
 

seventyfive

Well-known member
Jan 3, 2010
4,280
100
over there
Shit goes downhill fast when the vendor/seller stops communicating. Unfortunately kindly worded emails just don't get some people's attention. There have been a couple vendors that I have had to give an ultimatum; respond in some way in 24hrs or I'm filing a dispute with my credit card company.
It takes seconds to send a short email updating the buyer of the order status. I think some vendors are afraid if they give the buyer bad news the order will be cancelled. What the vendor doesn't realize is that by giving the buyer NO news their reputation is hurt far worse than a pushed back delivery date would.
Everybody has personal shit come up. But if you've taken money in exchange for a product you have a legal obligation to deliver in a time frame mutaully agreed upon.

you do realize, never mind you don't.

denny has a following. at least with some of us, he is an artist with steel.

if you want cookie cutter shit, want it tomorrow, then do your research and avoid him like the plague.

people like you make me giggle. give somebody an ultimatum? over the phone? over email? over text? that definitely works in corporate type business' but people like YOU need to understand when you deal with certain companies/people in the motorsport/offroad world you're dealing with people that could give two shits about your opinion or your e-tough guy refuse my credit card charge shit.
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,930
203
Lake Villa, IL
you do realize, never mind you don't.

denny has a following. at least with some of us, he is an artist with steel.

if you want cookie cutter shit, want it tomorrow, then do your research and avoid him like the plague.

people like you make me giggle. give somebody an ultimatum? over the phone? over email? over text? that definitely works in corporate type business' but people like YOU need to understand when you deal with certain companies/people in the motorsport/offroad world you're dealing with people that could give two shits about your opinion or your e-tough guy refuse my credit card charge shit.

I've dealt with plenty of small vendors, Widener. It's BECAUSE they're small that I expect a higher level of customer service from them. I ordered front and rear bumpers and a swing away from RockStar Fab, a one man show who had a FT day job too. I received numerous communications from Brad including emails with pics of the work in progress and phone calls asking how much I liked my rear wiper because he could make the tire carrier even tighter to the body like I asked. Brad invited me into his shop twice and assisted with the installs.
At the other end of the spectrum I ordered a rear bumper and sliders from Bottorf. That time I had to constantly call and hound Nate for any info and it was only because I did that I actually received product.
One was a professional, the other not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ereonDlE5Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The only time I have given ultimatums is when the vendor forced my hand with ceased communication or outright lies. I will grant small businesses a LOT of leeway but when they start pulling either of the two above I start getting pissed. I won't tolerate it and it's not how I do business.
I don't know Denny and I've never done business with him. I harbor no ill will towards him and wish him only the best. It sounds like he's got some personal shit going on which I'm sure everybody can appreciate, but you can't fall off the face of the earth and leave people hanging and expect everything to be all rainbows and unicorns.
 
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fninabx

Member
Aug 29, 2011
5
0
VA
Original poster here. Still no Denny, and now his voicemail box is full.

Is this another Bortoff situation? Do I write this off, as they are out of business, or heading this way?

Too bad, I liked the guy, and liked his work. I just can't afford to lose the money, but I can't wait any longer. It is several months overdue, and I can't reach him at all.

Appreciate anyone with specific insight.
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,930
203
Lake Villa, IL
He's active on FB. Maybe try him there. It sucks that he's treating people like this. Time for him to man up and apologize and make things right.
 
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STLGrrover

Member
Jan 23, 2013
21
0
St. Louis, MO
Original poster here. Still no Denny, and now his voicemail box is full.

Is this another Bortoff situation? Do I write this off, as they are out of business, or heading this way?

Too bad, I liked the guy, and liked his work. I just can't afford to lose the money, but I can't wait any longer. It is several months overdue, and I can't reach him at all.

Appreciate anyone with specific insight.

I sent you a pm of what I've heard.
 

fninabx

Member
Aug 29, 2011
5
0
VA
OP here.

I've heard from a number of people in the same boat, and with Denny's site down now, and no word from him, I guess we're all just screwed.

So much for "Denny's a good guy, he'll make it right".

Several months ago I drove 10 hours down to pick up the bumper, and met him, and agree, he seems real nice. But the bumper wasn't ready, and he hasn't returned any messages, texts, emails, and now his site is down.

This was real money to me, and with my OEM bumper scraping my wheels every time I turn (one snow bank too many this winter), was something I needed pretty bad, so I'm kinda bummed over this. But, based on the PMs I've gotten, there are several in the same boat.

So - anyone out there have a DII bumper of his that can share a plan/design?

At this point, I can't afford to order another one, so I'm going to have to have a local friend weld me up one. I really like Denny's design, which is why I went with it.

Appreciate anyone who can help me out. Particularly any of his previous customers whose "Denny is a good guy" comments helped convince me to buy from him.

Thanks!
 

Nomar

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
6,078
13
Virginia
Well, that's too bad.
I too have met Denny at several events, seems like a good guy.

I thought RTE was out of commission now too??
Didnt someone post that they were no longer taking orders?



.
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,183
72
Raleigh, NC
Well, that's too bad.
I too have met Denny at several events, seems like a good guy.

I thought RTE was out of commission now too??
Didnt someone post that they were no longer taking orders?



.

A little bird who is close to the owner of RTE told me they are having financial problems. They cant even afford to be a sponsor of Safari this year.
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,930
203
Lake Villa, IL
i need to publicly apologize to Brett, for my previous statements.

to the original poster, good luck. try rovertym.

Thanks Mike. Honestly I'd rather be wrong on this, though. It saddens me to see quality fabricators/vendors disappearing for one reason or another. And you were right, Denny was an artist. He didn't have cookie cutter stuff and it all looked very solid and well thought out.

The whole situation sucks. Sucks for those that got hosed and for the Rover community in general who now have one less choice for a quality bumper.

Good luck to the OP!
 

SGaynor

Well-known member
Dec 6, 2006
7,148
162
52
Bristol, TN
Thanks Mike. Honestly I'd rather be wrong on this, though. It saddens me to see quality fabricators/vendors disappearing for one reason or another. And you were right, Denny was an artist. He didn't have cookie cutter stuff and it all looked very solid and well thought out.

The whole situation sucks. Sucks for those that got hosed and for the Rover community in general who now have one less choice for a quality bumper.

Good luck to the OP!


I agree. I got a front bumper from Denny and love it. My daughter recently busted the rear, and I was hoping to get one from him. I guess not....