FESLER, SEMA and making parts. Sorry for the long post

[fesler]

Sorry to all that FESLER has offended and for the long post.

I have heard a few rumors about how people were treated at SEMA and let me be the first to tell you that we in no way meant to offend anyone or treat anyone like they were not welcome in our booth. Please understand that when we are at a show for 7 days we get tired, people get cranky and it should never come off to anyone who steps in our booth at a show that we attend.

With that being said some people are stating that they have a problem with the way they were treated because they may not have had a buyer’s badge. Please understand that it was no way intended towards anyone person and it should not happen but if it does we apologize for it and would hope that you would tell the people in charge instead of running your mouth on a board to try and start stuff.

We had over 1000 dealer inquires and imagine how many people that is to try and talk to in 4 days at SEMA. Does it make it right absolutely not so again if anyone that was at SEMA or any other show for that matter feels that they were treated bad they should tell us so that we can fix that. I would also hope that people understand that we are very busy at shows working the booths, dealing with cars and running around taking care of things. We are people and we all have good and bad days.

SEMA cost a ton of money and we are there for one reason to get dealers and that’s it, everyone wants to take time up asking about this and that but at the end of the day SEMA is not the place for that its about getting new products out and getting dealers. To the guys that just want to shoot the S%$T we love to do that just not at the largest dealer show of the year. We have over $50,000 invested in just SEMA and that does not include the hotels for 7 guys for 7 days or for the cost of getting to the show. So as you can see we are all in a mind set to sell sell sell. Ask the others that attend Marquez, DSE or Airride and they will all tell you the same thing. If we can’t go to this show to get dealers there is no reason for us to be there it’s a waist of money.

So again we never meant to offend anyone at the show, if we did not give you the proper attention I AM SORRY and that should not happen. We try to spend as much time as we can with each person but when 50 people hit the booth at once and there is only 3 people working its impossible to help everyone in a short show. We try to do our best but obviously we did not at this show. If you would like to talk about a part or something we did my PM is open and I will personally respond to you.

I also know there are a few guys just trying to start some stuff with everything that went on at SEMA this year. So no matter what we do they will post what they want and we can’t stop that so keep in mind that everything you read on this site is not always true or to the point just people moving air around. Many of you know we have some people out there that don’t like us and there is not much we can do about that. What’s done is done but if there is anything we can do to fix something we will be man enough to try.

I would like to set the record straight on some things. We manufacture parts, we sell parts and we do a heck of a job marketing parts. Some of the competition just wants to say we steal everything out there well you guys can be the judge on that. No matter what I do some parts will cross over because you guys are asking me for them. If you cant get them from the currant manufactures and keep asking me to build something I am going to build it, we will redesign it and make it better. There are only so many ways you can build something and only one way all of these parts will fit the car so when someone out there says they took my part and copied it well think about this who did they copy it from. We are making cool parts that were designed 40-50 years ago and we are making them better. None of us designed the hood hinge, tail light, fender brace, door jam vent or striker they have all been done for years; we are just making them better with a cool design to them or different look to them.

If you guys were getting the parts you were asking for I would not be in the parts business because there would be no need for me to do it. We designed a few parts and went to the competition about some private label work and they were not interested because they stated that those cars will not sell, keep in mind we already had it designed and ready to make. So we started to make parts and as you can see we have more applications than all of them. I have tried over and over to work with the competition and they just push us away, I try to work with them so we don’t have the same stuff but they refuse us to carry their products or buy their products so that only leaves me one choice start building my own. Remember I build the part for a car in my shop before I ever think about selling it but now that I make parts I think of all the stuff that you guys need and want.

So we are building parts for all cars not just a few, I have so many designs on paper for all the cars in our shop and right now that is 18 cars so as you can see that is a lot of parts coming out. Someone else might be making them or trying to design them as well and that is good because some people like one part over another so competition is good, creativity is good and having stuff sitting on the shelve ready to ship out is great.

I am not going to stop making parts in fact we are gearing up to make more. We have two full time machines right now prototyping parts and we are just now buying another one to make more. Yes we do everything in house from design to manufacture its all under the FESLER name so I guess that means I make stuff in house and not sub it out to someone else to make. I don’t have to wait for the machine to make a part and if I think of something that would be cool its on the machine for prototype with in the week. That is how you see so many new parts coming out from us and as you can see the competition is no where near us on producing parts.

Sorry for the long post and if you actually read it thanks for taking the time. I hope this clears some things up and not causes more problems.

[rwhite692]

Geez...As an outside observer, and taking no position on any side one way or the other...seems like you guys can't attend anything (Sema, SMOTY) without some kind of conflict, and all kinds of on-line image-repair work going on after the fact. Wonder why that is?

[fesler]

Geez...As an outside observer, and taking no position on any side one way or the other...seems like you guys can't attend anything (Sema, SMOTY) without some kind of conflict, and all kinds of on-line image-repair work going on after the fact. Wonder why that is?

So do I, it must be because we are a threat to the competition and they are worried about it. If you know us we dont look for anything and we dont talk crap but if someone has an issue we dont back down either. You can not survive in business if you do. Maybe one day people will get over it if not its not a big deal because the majority of people that start stuff with us wont sign their name to it. As you can see in all my post I put my name on anything I say not affraid for anyone to know whats going on.

[sniper]

Remember; it's not what people call you, it's what you answer to.

Having said that, it sounds like arrogance is starting to set in. You guys can be the best in the world at whatever you do, but if people can't stand you, how far do you think you'll go?

As far as the "buyers" badge, I'll tell you this, I was there and had an exhibitors badge but am a buyer. So why you would pigeon hole anyone by their badge is a little dense.

Lastly, you employees manning the booth are an extension of YOU. Sounds like you may need to gain some control of them, and stop worrying about what anyone is saying about your company.

[JamesJ]

So do I, it must be because we are a threat to the competition and they are worried about it. If you know us we dont look for anything and we dont talk crap but if someone has an issue we dont back down either. You can not survive in business if you do. Maybe one day people will get over it if not its not a big deal because the majority of people that start stuff with us wont sign their name to it. As you can see in all my post I put my name on anything I say not affraid for anyone to know whats going on.

I dont think that is it. I may not be up to date but I, and the rest of the general public have no idea what you are talking about. So all I see is you starting a new thread about some issue that I dont know anything about.

And any normal person should know that SEMA is just what you said, its a place to get dealers, not sell parts to one person and if they get mad who cares there are the selfish ones. NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC for a reason and most people in the booths dont know much anyways!

[mosconiac]

...I may not be up to date but I, and the rest of the general public have no idea what you are talking about. So all I see is you starting a new thread about some issue that I dont know anything about...
Part of learning how to do business is learning how to handle PR. That is why there are professional PR firms in every form of business. Rule#1 is that it's always a VERY bad idea to spread your dirty laundry in front of the masses. The vast majority of those that see the dirty laundry have no idea why they are seeing it. This makes them wonder what else is going on behind the scenes...your image is tarnished just that quickly. For a fledgling company, this is akin to cutting your own throat. The hope that an open appolgy makes you look honest/real/genuine is a fallacy.

My humble recommendation to the OP would be to delete this thread and try to do better next time when in the spotlight (SEMA). Those that were offended will probably never see this thread anyway...and apparently were not the intended target of the show.

[Bowtieracing]

I can see Chris point of sema clearly. While i am working i am not taking my friends phone calls at all. There is allway another time for BS with friends.

[surreyboy]

i dont get this whole "stealing of ideas" stuff people talk about, do these people not have toothbrushes, windows,door handles,electronics, toasters,light sockets, bulbs, aka everything they own is pretty much a "copy" of someones idea if you want to call it that, unless we want monopolies its called competition,and every other industry has it, the custom car market isnt any different.thats my opinion and im sorry if offends anyone.

[rwhite692]

So do I, it must be because we are a threat to the competition and they are worried about it. If you know us we dont look for anything and we dont talk crap but if someone has an issue we dont back down either. You can not survive in business if you do. Maybe one day people will get over it if not its not a big deal because the majority of people that start stuff with us wont sign their name to it. As you can see in all my post I put my name on anything I say not affraid for anyone to know whats going on.

I think that a common pair of characteristics that are shared by the companies/people who do the best job in the aftermarket, is

A) being humble and
B) what I'd call "let the product do <most of> the talking"

[fesler]

Geez...As an outside observer, and taking no position on any side one way or the other...seems like you guys can't attend anything (Sema, SMOTY) without some kind of conflict, and all kinds of on-line image-repair work going on after the fact. Wonder why that is?

Because people hate us and want to start things. I try to just stay out of it but can only do so much. I dont just sit back and let people rip me up.

[fesler]

I think that a common pair of characteristics that are shared by the companies/people who do the best job in the aftermarket, is

A) being humble and
B) what I'd call "let the product do <most of> the talking"

I agree and with that said we will do that. Sorry for all the problems

[shiftytim]

Geez...As an outside observer, and taking no position on any side one way or the other...seems like you guys can't attend anything (Sema, SMOTY) without some kind of conflict, and all kinds of on-line image-repair work going on after the fact. Wonder why that is?
I second that sentiment. I've received rude treatment by both yourself and your staff a couple of times. Seems the ego outweighs the customer service. :thumbsup:

[slownova]

i tried to talk to someone about what all products you had comming out for the chevelles, but no one would really answer me. i tried a couple times acctually and just walked away with less then i walked up with. but its whatever to me, alot of people are comming out with products and its just a check on my list IMO.

[JETSET700]

I went to the Fesler shop & was greeted by a nice young lady who showed me some products I was interested in. Then Chris showed up in the 69'
Camaro that was all over this site. He showed me the car, told me how
much was spent etc. When I told him what I was doing, car mostly done
DSE through out, LS7. He changed.

"DSE stuff is so over priced, if you want to see handling I got this truck in
back with Airide that will out do this 69'......"

That 69' although very nice is a stock sub, stock arms, stock steering gear,
no GS mod car with a heavy 502 and lowered. No $&@!t it doesn't handle.

I have been to many other shops & most have a better disposition.

People doing this stuff are doing it to have fun! Chris is probably a nice
guy but like was posted earlier let your products & customer experience
form image & reputation. After all this is discretionary income that people are spending here.

Peter

[70TWO NOVA]

The way I look at it is that word of mouth is HUGE in this industry, and by ignoring the "little guy" the negitive word is going to spread like wild fire. I think that addressing it on the forum at least shows that Chris is concerned about the problem and that the "little guy" does matter to his company. Truth be told, if I had to run a booth at SEMA and deal with all of this I would have probably done the same thing.
Unfortunately empoyees can tarnish your rep if they dont have the same pride in the company/products that you do as an owner. I dont think the company as a hole should be held accountable for one or two peoples actions.

[Efi69Cam]

I ordered all my Vintage Air stuff from Chris, Front Runner and evap kit. Chris was nothing but polite and helpful. Even going so far as to make sure that the stuff I was ordering was going to be correct for what I'm doing when he could have just taken the part numbers I gave him and taken my money. On top of the personal support I got, he gave me the absolute best price anywhere.

[rich-allen]

Just because someone is a good business man doesn't mean they should working with the public. I'm a glowing example of this statement.
While my business doesn't work with the public we do have vendors; tons of them.
They just show up anytime they want and expect to talk with you. Over the years they all learned to stay far away from me. About 4 years ago this steel salesman would come to our office every other week or so, I got so sick of hearing his voice I told him that he could only come by twice a year. When he showed up three or four weeks later I closed my account. They were my largest vendor by far.

I hate having to act like I like someone, according to my brother I'm not good at hiding the fact I want to punch them the face.

Now a days everyone knows not to bug me about...... anything.



I suggest you hire professionals to sell your product and attend the shows. If you think your customers need to see your face then nail up a huge poster in front of the booth.

Just my 2 cents.


Hey Rob, when are you coming over to get those WF Beams for your shop?


Rich

[rwhite692]

Rich I agree 100%...Not everyone can run the business and at the same time be the “face” of the business…it takes a lot to be able to do both things. Not saying this applies to Chris since I don’t know him…different people have different skill sets…

Hey regarding the WF beam material thanks, I will send you an email.

[Gardner]

Because people hate us and want to start things. I try to just stay out of it but can only do so much. I dont just sit back and let people rip me up.

I'm not sure people have replied here because they hate you. I believe the majority feel the need to express an opinion because of a personal experience with you as do I. That's the great thing about this country.

First of all your novel is one of the most self serving pieces I have ever read. From a marketing perspective it fails, from a sincerity perspective it fails and from an apology perspective it is embarrassing. The only thing you have thoroughly covered is excuses.

I visited your booth on 3 occasions during the show only to receive the attitude that has been referred to in this post. My opinion after speaking with you personally and two of your people is the name of your company should immediately be changed to "Legends in Our Own Minds".

If anyone was as good as you all asserted you were and all of the competition was as bad as you took the time to mention you would be in every hall of fame in the business and build 90% of the custom cars in the country.

After seeing your two cars this year and several cars in prior years I only have a couple questions:

1. Why do you never show a completely finished car?
2. Do you not consider fit and finish important ?

I have never seen gaps and finish in a quality show car like the Nova. Is it a new thing to see inside the trunk with the lid closed? Why don't you show the car with the doors open? you could avoid highlighting the 1/2" gap in door front vs. the 1/4" in the rear or the 1/4" variance from top to bottom. Trim throughout the car is also meant to fit flush and tight. Although, please keep in mind these are minor things I look at when I am having a car built or buying parts.

The Mustang isn't far off but I didn't spend as much time on that one.

You should spend more time with your fabricators on quality than editorializing on the web. I guess there is always Wyotech.

[1970cuda]

I have known Chris for some time now. Everytime I have spoken to him or his staff, they have been polite and conciderate. I know that first impressions are everything but taking the time to give people a second chance is a good thing. Chris is very detailed individual and I know that it pains him to display a non completed car and he always has the best intentions to have them completed, but with the design and parts business and everyone that is in and out of the shop everyday, sometimes things get out of control. Chris and the majority of the builders build cars because they love cars and love to see what they can do and not for the money or to win a popularity contest. As for products, how many companies produce light bulbs or shampoo. Someone was the first to invent these things, all everyone else is doing is to make them different or better!

[Rellim51]

I'm not sure people have replied here because they hate you. I believe the majority feel the need to express an opinion because of a personal experience with you as do I. That's the great thing about this country.

First of all your novel is one of the most self serving pieces I have ever read. From a marketing perspective it fails, from a sincerity perspective it fails and from an apology perspective it is embarrassing. The only thing you have thoroughly covered is excuses.

I visited your booth on 3 occasions during the show only to receive the attitude that has been referred to in this post. My opinion after speaking with you personally and two of your people is the name of your company should immediately be changed to "Legends in Our Own Minds".

If anyone was as good as you all asserted you were and all of the competition was as bad as you took the time to mention you would be in every hall of fame in the business and build 90% of the custom cars in the country.

After seeing your two cars this year and several cars in prior years I only have a couple questions:

1. Why do you never show a completely finished car?
2. Do you not consider fit and finish important ?

I have never seen gaps and finish in a quality show car like the Nova. Is it a new thing to see inside the trunk with the lid closed? Why don't you show the car with the doors open? you could avoid highlighting the 1/2" gap in door front vs. the 1/4" in the rear or the 1/4" variance from top to bottom. Trim throughout the car is also meant to fit flush and tight. Although, please keep in mind these are minor things I look at when I am having a car built or buying parts.

The Mustang isn't far off but I didn't spend as much time on that one.

You should spend more time with your fabricators on quality than editorializing on the web. I guess there is always Wyotech.


100% TRUTH!

[jst8a5.0]

I talked to Chris at the sema show and he just seemed a little cocky and barely interested in my questions even though I was the only one in the booth at the time. I just chocked that up to the fact that I look young and am young as is my business. The problem with this is even though that's the case, I have a customer that I have already sold on some parts specifically from Fesler because I wanted to support the vendors on this site. When I asked about the certain products that were actually at the show, there was hardly motivation for an answer to my questions. Even when I gave him another chance and asked a different way I got a less motivated answer. I figured he was tired of dealing with B.S.ers and young'uns, but I left feeling like I maybe needed to buy somewhere else. Mind you I really look up to companies like Fesler, Squeege's, Ironworks, etc. because I hope to be at that level someday. It's sorta like the feeling like an older sibling made fun of you in front of their friends. I would not have said anything to anyone about this, but this thread deserves this input. By a business perspective, I'm just a little guy but everyone I met at the show was beyond nice, JF Lanier, the guys from Killer Customs and all at the party, and everyone at the Lat-g party, etc but this was the one exception.

[novanutcase]

What is interesting to me is how hot or cold a lot of the comments are. People either love or hate Chris and his company. It seems like the word "cocky" has come up more than once and that is the one thing that sticks out in my mind from this post along with my limited personal experience with him and his company.

I'll say this.....Fesler Built certainly evokes strong emotions, be they good or bad, from all concerned!

John

[70TWO NOVA]

well, like they say "there is no such thing as bad press!" lol

[Cread01]

I wasn't at sema unfortunately and I dont know about what bs is goin around but I have said it before and I will say it again, Fesler has been comin out with some of the coolest products lately.

I am not sure about what products are in question but how many ways can you build a hood hinge and still have it work properly. or a tail light and still have it fit properly.

like I said I dont know all of the details but it may just be your taking too much of the market share

[XLexusTech]

Why with a crew of 7 it was difficult to handle both the dealer inquires and good ole customer relations.

I don't know anything about this situation but I read though most of it and that question dawned on me.

:cheers:

[fesler]

I'm not sure people have replied here because they hate you. I believe the majority feel the need to express an opinion because of a personal experience with you as do I. That's the great thing about this country.

First of all your novel is one of the most self serving pieces I have ever read. From a marketing perspective it fails, from a sincerity perspective it fails and from an apology perspective it is embarrassing. The only thing you have thoroughly covered is excuses.

I visited your booth on 3 occasions during the show only to receive the attitude that has been referred to in this post. My opinion after speaking with you personally and two of your people is the name of your company should immediately be changed to "Legends in Our Own Minds".

If anyone was as good as you all asserted you were and all of the competition was as bad as you took the time to mention you would be in every hall of fame in the business and build 90% of the custom cars in the country.

After seeing your two cars this year and several cars in prior years I only have a couple questions:

1. Why do you never show a completely finished car?
2. Do you not consider fit and finish important ?

I have never seen gaps and finish in a quality show car like the Nova. Is it a new thing to see inside the trunk with the lid closed? Why don't you show the car with the doors open? you could avoid highlighting the 1/2" gap in door front vs. the 1/4" in the rear or the 1/4" variance from top to bottom. Trim throughout the car is also meant to fit flush and tight. Although, please keep in mind these are minor things I look at when I am having a car built or buying parts.

The Mustang isn't far off but I didn't spend as much time on that one.

You should spend more time with your fabricators on quality than
editorializing on the web. I guess there is always Wyotech.

This is exactly what I am talking about, YOU ARE RIGHT FIT AND FINISH and I think I have stated my two cents about that enought. We only had 4 days into both cars sorry we could not please you. I bring what I want to SEMA to show work I dont really care if you think we can or can not finish a car. You must be talking about the wrong booth.

[fesler]

Why with a crew of 7 it was difficult to handle both the dealer inquires and good ole customer relations.

I don't know anything about this situation but I read though most of it and that question dawned on me.

:cheers:

This is the kind of stuff that you guys just start running with and making it worse. I have a crew over 10 and had 7 guys in Vegas at anytime. I had over 8 cars there with going between meetings, cars, venders and so on so as you can see from a business owner its difficult to please everyone out there. As I stated before we dont have time to BS at a show like this and it obviously upset some people and for that I am sorry but I am not going to SEMA to make friends I am going to get sales......

[XLexusTech]

This is the kind of stuff that you guys just start running with and making it worse. I have a crew over 10 and had 7 guys in Vegas at anytime. I had over 8 cars there with going between meetings, cars, venders and so on so as you can see from a business owner its difficult to please everyone out there. As I stated before we dont have time to BS at a show like this and it obviously upset some people and for that I am sorry but I am not going to SEMA to make friends I am going to get sales......


Good luck with that. I suggest you hire a face person and stay off the boards.
But I don't see your attitude reflective of that wisdom
Rock on Rock star !

[fesler]

Cocky I am and obviously it offends alot of guys but I am here to build cars, make bitchen parts and live my life. If I talked to 1000 people and 5 are upset I apologiezed to you guys but for some reason that is not good enough.

I was told by several to not post this up but I dont run from problems I try to fix them. I did this post to first tell the ones that felt we did not treat them right we were sorry, to the guys that did not get the time they wanted we were sorry. If we talked to someone wrong we were sorry.

Its a show we are working we get tired after 14 hour days for 3 months straight. I had a lot of cars at SEMA not just the two in my booth so please stop saying we dont finish anything. I will always have a car at a show in the half stage so everyone can see whats under everything.

I think if you look at our magazine history we finish plenty of cars and or fit and finish is beautiful IMHO. If you guys dont like it there is nothing I can do and I understand that. Just sick and tired of haters that have nothing better to do then to run their mouth about stuff they dont know or understand.

[fesler]

Good luck with that. I suggest you hire a face person and stay off the boards.
But I don't see your attitude reflective of that wisdom
Rock on Rock star !

Why so I can hide behind something, I am a big boy and can take it so dont you worry about me I will be just fine. Funny thing is I dont consider myself a rockstar and I know a lot of them. Dont consider myself famous either because I knwo alot of FAMOUS people just consider myself a cool car builder and I guess I have the reputation that most of them have. I am cool with that and can live with that because there is no way to please everyone on this site. Haters unite and attack away

[fesler]

100% TRUTH!


100% TRUTH well if you few people feel the way you do when you see a post with FESLER stay away from it. If you dont like us then dont come to us you already know the outcome and no mater what I do it cant be fixed. In your eyes it doesnt mater what I do it will never be right. I cant post right, I cant appologize right, I cant run my shop right, I dont build cars right and so on. What kind of cars do you build and how many parts have you built for them. Maybe I can come work with you

[DOOM]

Chris just keep doing what your doing !!!!!! Let some of these guys start their own buisness and see how much fun it is.. Anyone that was around your both could see how busy everyone was ! I waited NO ATTITUDES your guys were very pleasent... As for the comments on the cars .... I want to see the cars of these "BUILDERS''!!!!
Done...
Mario

[fesler]

Yes time to close the post because no mater what I say its going to just keep going. I know what we do and if people think I am stuck up there is not much that I can do about it. I love what I do and am pumped to talk about it.

[XLexusTech]

Chris just keep doing what your doing !!!!!! Let some of these guys start their own buisness and see how much fun it is.. Anyone that was around your both could see how busy everyone was ! I waited NO ATTITUDES your guys were very pleasent... As for the comments on the cars .... I want to see the cars of these "BUILDERS''!!!!
Done...
Mario

I don't think he is wise enough to recognize that damage he is doing now is worse as well a everlasting and easily Googleable. I love watching this train wreck!
:cheers:

[fesler]

I don't think he is wise enough to recognize that damage he is doing now is worse as well a everlasting and easily Googleable. I love watching this train wreck!
:cheers:


Exactly you love to post stuff and watch it unfold :(

[XLexusTech]

Exactly you love to post stuff and watch it unfold :(


Effect not cause. Check the mirror for that

[jy211]

Just imagine if SEMA was open to the general public...imagine all the drama! :D

Chris, keep doing what your doing. :thumbsup:

[rich-allen]

Chris, for the good of your business... close this thread or better yet; have it deleted.


Rich