I am about to place an order with GTS.

I am NOT interested in hearing gripes of people from years gone by but rather more recent stories....eg, if you ordered a kit in January what happened??!! Have you got it?!

As I said in a different posting, I work for a national bathroom installation company but if you google them you get nothing but bad reports as people are always quicker to moan than compliment.

Constructive feedback would be very welcome,

Thanks!

Stuart

call darren and ask him!

I can call Darren but will he tell me if Mr X or Ms Y or Mrs Z are in the process of suing him for whatever reason?

I'm not suggesting for a minute that anyone is in litigation with GTS but I'm sure anyone would appreciate an impartial view is much more preferable

They were very helpful with me and quick to respond via email in identifying the correct shocks for the car.

Ordering was a problem as the person that answered the telephone twice to me in 2 days couldn't take the order. Darren phoned and we completed the order on 18th May.

Since then my card has been charged (22nd May) with about £30 more than the agreed price and no shocks have arrived.

My email to them earlier today asking why the charge is different and why they've not arrived is unanswered. At this stage I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt but it does look like they've charged my card with the wrong amount before sending the goods out which is a big no no in my book.

Stuart, see your U2U.

Mine is finished now, All in all a Darrens a great guy...sometimes needs a little chasing after, but then again, who doesn't.
Really chuffed with my car too....been on the road 18months.... looking to sell it to build another.

I'm sure if you get one, you'll be well impressed.

The price is great too!

I think things have been alot better recently....except for one person!!

I still wouldn’t, not worth the risk IMO

Mind you it is a nice looking 7, one of the better looking ones but on close up i was not impressed with the quality of the chassis or bodywork.

[Edited on 30/5/07 by donut]

I can only go by what i have seen at Brands Hatch 2 years ago. Tiger are the oppisite IMO with an over engineered chassis. I'm not saying the GTS chassis is bad or not fit for the job, far from it as you and others have proved a great car can be built but there are others that i would say were better.

But hey what do i know, i'm no engineer so my opinion is just that, for all i know it could be the strongest, lightest and best designed chassis out there.

I do still go with the opinion that it's probably one of the best looking kits and thats what people see 1st and it's obviously up to the job so if you like what you see go for it!

I had logged on this evening to ask whether people were having problems with GTS (as indeed I am) and I didn't have to look far.
I placed an order on 01.05.07 for wishbones based on the positive feedback people seem to give for the GTS 'bones. The card was charged and I followed up the order a week later with a call, which was answered by someone, but I never got the call back. I then e mailed a couple of times and got no-where, and now the phone isn't being answered and the phone message service is full. I am now concerned that GTS may be having more than just a bad month here... I will be writing a letter next demanding goods or re-fund as it is all I have left. I am sure they are all nice chaps/good to their mothers etc. but that is little compensation for being £220 down and wishbone-less. If I were you Stuart, I'd hang on to your cash until service appears to have cleared up.

Funny that, I have had several emails and called once in the last week, and all were answered by the man himself.

A month aint bad, remember this isnt tescos or amazon. I seem to remember it says on the website allow 28 days for delivery. Its only just got to that time, so to be honest I dont see where the problem is.

As for the chassis/bodywork. The bodywork fit is far better than many I have seen at shows from other manufacturers. I challenge you to find cars with closer panel gaps and more symetrical panels for a start . The chassis is also well engineered, certainly have no gripes with mine and I have heard some positive comments from those who have had their GTS's SVA'd from the testers.

David

David,

Glad to hear you have had some response out of GTS, it at least proves they haven't burned down or similar.

28 days delivery as per the website? Well you have done better than me to find those Ts & Cs because all I can find is 'for full details on our terms and conditions please contact us'. If I had found a statement of '28 days' though I would have thought twice. You are right that this isn't Tesco or Amazon, but then neither is it some mail order company fronting a Chinese sweatshop. It is supposed to be an engineering business, and if anyone needs to understand better why the kit car industry is held with such distain in the broader motoring press then they need look no further than these sorts of episodes. With 18 years experience in the engineering R&D business I can only say that such a lack of responsiveness of a supplier rings alarm bells. I would be absolutely delighted to get the order fulfilled, but I'd think real hard about repeat trade thereafter and certainly would not reccomend it to others.

We Brits don't like complaining about service provided, and tend to be over-forgiving when it comes to service associated with hobbies compared to more mundane every day stuff (like Tesco, for example). As customers, however, we do deserve our calls answered or returned even if they don't have good news to give. If you offer a service then you shouldn't be surprised when you have to deliver, it really is that simple.

I am not getting into an argument because its all been said before.

I think 28 days is a perfectly acceptable delivery time for something which is not off the shelf and is made to order. Especially if you are running a business almost on your own. I know some proper large businesses that would struggle to meet that at busy times. Sure ford can get you a bit the next or sometimes same day. But they are emplying thousands and turning over millions. Your average kit car supplier employs probably 3 or 4 people and probably only just turns enough over to scrape a living.

You cannot compare the kitcar industry to mainstream industry its streets apart and always will be unless you look at someone like Caterham or Westy. There are not the resources available to provide instantaneous supply of parts.

Unless we get a few billionaires investing in the industry this is the way it will stay as well. Which is never going to happen because its such a low profit margin industry.

Some people still have unrealistic expectations of kit car component suppliers. Some are slightly better than others, but they all suffer the same root problem - lack of resource and investment.

See your U2U, phone Darren on his mobile and talk to him.

i love watching this forum, as soon as someone seems to have a problem people jump to darrens aid and dont seem to care about other peoples problem.
yes you may ring and email and get an answer but it isnt the same for everyone.
i posted on here the end of last year asking for help and all i got was abuse.
i paid for my deluxe starter kit from darren on the 28/11/04 i still have not recieved everything that i paid for and am now stuck trying to find out where i can get the parts from.
i even sent darren a recorded letter and ended up getting it back.
i am sorry to put this as i find the kit of good quality and would have bought more of his stuff if i got everything i paid for.

I purchased some part in november 2006 directly with darren. Got some of the part at the end Jan 2007 and in September 2007 finally got the rest of my parts.

They kept on saying the parts are in the post! I eventually turnt up on there door step and asked for my parts.

I personally won't ever buy anything from them again. I wish I had researched this site before buying anything from them.

quote:

---

Originally posted by insanenim
I purchased some part in november 2006 directly with darren. Got some of the part at the end Jan 2007 and in September 2007 finally got the rest of my parts.

They kept on saying the parts are in the post! I eventually turnt up on there door step and asked for my parts.

I personally won't ever buy anything from them again. I wish I had researched this site before buying anything from them.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by flak monkey
Goes for all companies/manufacturers in all industries.

---

As has been said, it's not only GTS who are slow in delivery. I ordered goods from another company for whom I have seen nothing but praise on here.

Ordered middle of July, card debited the same day. Chased 4 weeks later and found that he hadn't even started on my order but would do the following week (about 20 August). The website gives no warning of delivery up to 28 days or similar.

Still waiting for news and will chase again Monday if nothing heard.

It's all part of the game and GTS is not the only one. I've found the best approach is to drop in to have a chat with Darren. I appreciate this is not terribly convenient if you live in the Outer Hebrides but hey - you've got the scenery

The problem here is that cards SHOULD NOT be debited until parts are ready for despatch. I never do in my business, and it's really bad works practice to do so.

I have ordered a complete bodyset for 11 weeks ago, but nothing so far that the money left my account the same day. No parcelnumber that is valid - no phonenumber to the courier - nothing.I have try email, phone on both numbers etc without any sucess! I will send two friend to pay a personal visit this o the next week - thus I live in Sweden. I am really pissed off now! If I do not get any further with this I will give them a hint on how it is to get fraud.

quote:

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Originally posted by Macbeast
As has been said, it's not only GTS who are slow in delivery. I ordered goods from another company (Premier Wiring ) for whom I have seen nothing but praise on here.

Ordered middle of July, card debited the same day. Chased 4 weeks later and found that he hadn't even started on my order but would do the following week (about 20 August). The website gives no warning of delivery up to 28 days or similar.

Still waiting for news and will chase again Monday if nothing heard.
[/quote

Called today (12 Sept) and he says will try to send out at the end of next week

It's all part of the game and GTS is not the only one

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designer - 13/9/07 at 09:00 AM

"You cannot compare the kitcar industry to mainstream industry"

Why not??

All industries, businesses are exactly the same!! Large or small, they make a product and retail it; simple. It just has to be done right.

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flak monkey - 13/9/07 at 11:34 AM

quote:

---

Originally posted by designer
"You cannot compare the kitcar industry to mainstream industry"

Why not??

All industries, businesses are exactly the same!! Large or small, they make a product and retail it; simple. It just has to be done right.

---

Read the rest of the post, numpty. A quote out of context is alway irrelevant.

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designer - 14/9/07 at 08:56 AM

The quote is NOT out of context. You tried to use it as a defense.

Whether you sell widgets or aeroplanes, whether it has a value of £2 or £2000K business principles are exactly the same, .

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flak monkey - 14/9/07 at 12:00 PM

quote:

---

Originally posted by designer
The quote is NOT out of context. You tried to use it as a defense.

Whether you sell widgets or aeroplanes, whether it has a value of £2 or £2000K business principles are exactly the same, .

---

I made the comparison on supply times. Any business manufacturing parts to order cannot compete on lead time with another business who holds huge amounts of stock. That was my only basis for comparison. It was not a comparison of customer service, supply chain or anything else, all of which is common between all businesses.

Small businesses cannot invest many thousands into holding stock, which could become obsolete before it is sold due to slow stock turnover rates.

Perhaps you need to read a few business books, and learn a bit more about the differences between varying types of business. Its not as simple as you seem to think.

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iank - 14/9/07 at 01:16 PM

Flak is right in this respect different businesses should have different expectations on them.

Order 100 M8 stainless washers expecting them next day is reasonable.

Order 10,000,000 M7.5 titanium washers and expect a first batch when you're told they will be available, and expect the following batches on some kind of agreed schedule.

Order a 777 and see if Boeing will give any kind of delivery commitment beyond the quarter some year in the future.

I've always considered communications issues and GTS's relationships with their suppliers to have been the major issues from watching the endless popcorn flamefests.

The whole some people finding it easy to phone while others who are waiting for stuff never getting through sounds like caller id being used to filter to my cynical mind - but I have no proof.

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designer - 14/9/07 at 03:09 PM

I created and ran a business for twenty years, producing Hi-tech aero engine parts and, even though, in your opinion, I have no idea and therefore must be no good at it!!

How come Ihave retired twenty years early!!!

Take a deposit only, then take the rest on day of despatch. Simple. easy, and, above all, fair to the customer.

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scotmac - 20/9/07 at 04:27 PM

quote:

---

Originally posted by flak monkey

quote:

---

Originally posted by insanenim
I purchased some part in november 2006 directly with darren. Got some of the part at the end Jan 2007 and in September 2007 finally got the rest of my parts.

They kept on saying the parts are in the post! I eventually turnt up on there door step and asked for my parts.

I personally won't ever buy anything from them again. I wish I had researched this site before buying anything from them.

---

Letting it drag out that long is your own fault. Same goes for anyone who is waiting for parts for longer than a reasonable time (28 days or whatever you were told when ordering). Goes for all companies/manufacturers in all industries.

---

"Blaming the *victim*" at it's worst. The victim here is the person that ordered the part and did not receive it. NOT the supplier/company that was not "prodded" enough to do it's job!!! There should be NO NEED for prodding.

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flak monkey - 21/9/07 at 12:06 PM

Think a few people have got the wrong idea about what I am saying. I cant be bothered to expplain myself anymore. If people want help getting in touch with GTS forget it, dont come to me.

Its all been said before about what reasonable expectation of businesses are, and I am not going to repeat what I have said elsewhere, yet again, for the few people who cant be bothered to take in the whole picture.

I was happy to help before, but I have had enough now. I shan't be drawn into any more discussion regarding GTS and I expect this will be my last post in this section. I am happy to help some people privately, thats all.

David

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RK - 22/9/07 at 02:12 AM

It's a common theme it our world, unfortunately. I fluctuate between saying "well, he's really OK, and he's trying" and "damn it, please give me what I've paid for". If we, the customer were a child, we would be considered abused.

To clarify, I have had no dealings with said company, but i have been tempted. So I really should not have posted at all.

[Edited on 23/9/07 by RK]

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gazza285 - 30/9/07 at 12:42 AM

quote:

---

Originally posted by flak monkey
I was happy to help before, but I have had enough now. I shan't be drawn into any more discussion regarding GTS and I expect this will be my last post in this section. I am happy to help some people privately, thats all.

---

No harm to youself like, but why did you bother anyway. You might have had a good experience of GTS, but you definately seem to be in the minority, lucky you. No smoke without fire and all that, and this ones a 'kin inferno. I know all kit makers are a bit lax but you have to draw a line somewhere.

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mattgriffiths2002 - 30/9/07 at 08:58 AM

I bought a roll hoop off them in mid May. They took the money straight away and it didnt arrive at the end of July after some chasing up and ringing whenever I could get through. However, the backstays were missing and I have just received those in the past week. I was fuming!!

To sum up:

Terrible service, uncontactable, they say they will ring back and never do!! Would certainly not use again if at all possible and would really NOT reccommend buying parts from GTS!!!

It is not a way to run a business and treat customers. It has made me think myself about setting up in competition and offering a much better service. I cannot understand where GTS are comming from when they obviously have demand for the business they are in and yet obviously dont care!! They need to keep to their word and perhaps employ some staff!! The problem is that they are the only company which make a lot of the products they sell so people dont have anywhere else to go.

Nevertheless I would stay well clear of GTS - They really need to get their act together!!

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scotmac - 3/10/07 at 09:52 PM

I bought some engine mounts off their web site, as i mentioned in another thread. They dutifully took my money immediately, but *never* replied to my requests as to when it was to be shipped. After 4 mos of waiting, i gave and reversed the charges on the credit card. Still didn't hear a word from them.

I also sent them a question on ebay about their seats. Got a reply back over a month later.

All-in-all, the worst service i have ever seen from a company.

[Edited on 3/5/09 by scotmac]

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Charles - 9/10/07 at 03:26 PM

ordered some bits off him a few weeks ago (carbon wings & Cortina stays). Can't get in touch with him at all (tried email, mobile & landline), yet he was more than happy to answer my questions before the sale.

Is this a sign of things to come? Should I cancel and go elsewhere.

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Taz Surfleet - 18/10/07 at 03:21 PM

I won some stuff from Darren off e-bay at the weekend, sent him an e-mail asking if he had some other pieces to which he replied to within hours, as it happened he does and he did me a great deal on price, He did ask me to tell you all, that the works number on the website is no longer live but Ive called him twice on his mobile and got straight thru.

[Edited on 18/10/07 by Taz Surfleet]

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Hellfire - 18/10/07 at 07:10 PM

Strange that he asked you to tell us all, considering that he no longer supports the Locostbuilders site. (I use the word support very loosely)

Phil

[Edited on 18-10-07 by Hellfire]

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Taz Surfleet - 18/10/07 at 11:07 PM

Dont start on me !!
He asked me after I pointed out to him it did'nt work. apparently thats the number of the old work shop their waiting for BT to install a line at their new place. And god help em cos BT's service is a lot worse than anything Darren might have been accused of!

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DarrenW - 19/10/07 at 08:30 AM

On this occasion i think Darren can be excused. He is not the only company at the mo to feel the full force of BT's inaquacies. Anyone would think they are communications experts!!!

I have heard several horror stories of people being left weeks / months without a land line and broadband connection.

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Charles - 19/10/07 at 09:26 AM

Well he's seems to have been kicked off ebay so I've opened up a paypal dispute.
Everytime I ring his mobile all I get is either full voicemail or 'The person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls' and all of my emails have been ignored.

[Edited on 19/10/07 by Charles]

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mistergrumpy - 19/10/07 at 09:38 AM

The only thing that solved it all for me in the past was to open a Paypal dispute. They then locked up his Paypal account and fortunately for me he was trying to sort his accounts out at the time and couldn't because he was all locked up. He then started E mailing me almost daily to unlock his account!

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Charles - 19/10/07 at 10:19 AM

Yeah four years and 300 transactions on eBay and this is the first time I've had to open a dispute (Very careful with what i buy).

I will now be telling people to avoid GTS like the plague.

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Taz Surfleet - 19/10/07 at 11:12 PM

shit what a prat I turned up to get my stuff today and it was all there !! was most disapointed !! Also got to see the gt40 its going to be impressive if you do read this thanks Darren am well pleased with the stuff !

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scotty g - 20/10/07 at 09:42 AM

a satisfied customer? How dare he!!!
Doesn't he know he has a reputation here?!!!!!

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jono_misfit - 2/11/07 at 08:18 PM

I had written a full explination of the problem i had, but just lost it. Doh!

Appbridged version

Ordered on-line

Called after 3 weeks, told being sent that day.

No sign of them after 3 more weeks.

Call twice a day (double calls each time) 7 days a week for 1 month. No answer

2 months after supposedly being sent i have now reversed credit card charge.

In my opinon. GTS may do good products (no idea, nothing has arrived) but they have the worst customer service ive ever expereinced.

Unless you live next door and can visit in person id leave GTS alone.

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Charles - 5/11/07 at 05:43 PM

Managed to get £90 out of £112 back off him.

To anyone reading don't use him he's a con artist, you will lose money.

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oudakontrol - 8/11/07 at 11:36 AM

Hello Junior builder

You'll be a senior builder before you get any satisfaction.
I am in the process of getting my 1538.00 back from this person.

Its your money I'd leave it that way....

[Edited on 10/11/07 by oudakontrol]

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oudakontrol - 10/11/07 at 03:19 AM

Hello

It appears that this fellow has enough bad publicity and seems to be doing a great job getting it so I'm not saying anything...... "for now"
Can anyone help out with some info, I am after a manufacturer of clubman parts. Someone that has good quality, and someone that returns your calls and emails after they take your money. I understand that delivery dates can be changed due to issues unto their control but feed back if this happens would be appreciated. Seven to ten days 28 days what ever but after three months, four months and so on a curtious call to explain why is all I am after.
If anyone would like to assist with some good customer service they have received they dont have to post it just send it to my in box.

Cheers...

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gabbes - 10/11/07 at 09:38 AM

Now it has gone 20 weeks and no sign of my dashboard. I think when I am ready I will give him a personal visit he will know why I did.....
Even if it was only 1 pound - no one likes to be cheated and in this case it is some more...
I try to phone on all available numbers - email and so on without any success - no answer at all. It is easier to contact GOOD himself than Darren.
TO EVERYONE - BEWARE TO MAKE ANY ORDERS FROM HIM - YOU WILL LOOSE MONEY.

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Macbeast - 10/11/07 at 03:36 PM

Gabbes

I was down there 2 weeks ago collecting prop shaft etc and there were several newly- moulded dashboards ready. Yours may be being shipped. I will try to get hold of him Monday.

Best regards

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scotty g - 11/11/07 at 08:22 AM

Gabbes is waiting for an orange dash, there was an orange one their the other day, almost certainly yours gabbes.
Cheers.

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welshboy - 15/11/07 at 05:57 PM

i orderd a full body kit off gts 6 weeks ago to start with i tryed to contact him after 4 weeks to see when it would arrive but had no joy contacting darren i posted on here and everone told me i would be lucky to see it ! then 1 kind person on here u2u me and said they were going to gts that week and would ask darren when it would be ready and with in a few days darren and the kind guy on here mailed me saying it was sat there ready but the courier was messing him about so as luck happened i was going to france last week so on my way back i called in at gts and there it was sat there ! all in all hes a nice guy i just think the left hand dont know what the right hand is doing . i know this is not much help to people who have lost money but my advice is to go see the man him self !

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gabbes - 18/11/07 at 07:32 PM

Thank you all for checking this up for me - I appreciate it much - I hope I can help you out someday.

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phongshader - 21/11/07 at 12:12 AM

Well it's been 9 months and no parts, no response. I wish I could just show up at his shop to collect but it's a 10k mile trip so hardly worth it. So I guess this would NOT be an endorsment. If you want to throw money away why don't you send it to me?

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gabbes - 23/11/07 at 09:28 PM

Today - after 21 weeks - I finally got my dashboard.....................
I would be one of a kind to be lucky to get items delivered....
I will never make the same mistake twice!

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Fozzie - 23/11/07 at 10:29 PM

quote:

---

Originally posted by gabbes
- I finally got my dashboard.....................

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Great news gabbes!

Fozzie

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