Dennis Carpenter made it right- well done

Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

flathead34 said:
We have had problems with '35 repro parts from Dennis. They have bent over backards to correct the problems and even went to the manufacture, Vintique, to resolve them. Maybe it is time to quit bitching about Dennis and Bob and instead thank them that they are willing to produce parts for our V-8's. Without them we would be up the creek without a paddle for keeping our V-8,s on the road. THANKS BOB AND DENNIS FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR HOBBY!!!!
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X2 you have some new door handles, you tweak them a little,your done, not a big deal,
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

It was not a matter of simple "tweak". The handles could not even be mounted in the hole without the other end of the handle scratching off the paint each time the door was opened. They clearly did not have the correct angle built into them. Another issue was the lack of the left hand threads on the end of the shafts. These are required for converts to secure the escutchon plates on the door panels. Please excuse my mentioning the issue in the first place.
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

I am not going to criticize you for complaining about Carpenter or any of the suppliers. I wonder if some of the guys on here praising him have not dealt with Carpenter in recent years. I bought stuff from him for years probably getting close to forty years and never a complaint early on,plastic dash stuff for 46 Ford, roof mount antenna for 46 coupe ,convertible and a 39 convertible all pretty nice. All the rubber seals door,windshield etc for a 53 F-100 all nice. Mayby it is certain years he is or was good at but not much has worked for my 37 coupe. None of the windshield rubber ,back and quarter glass was a fit all sent back at my expense for shipping,was just happy to get the money back to send to Drake,it all fit. In September I ordered a 37 Ford Standard roof mount antenna from Carpenter,he makes the antenna in house supposedly, no need to get the same item from say Mac's. This is a $100.00 plus item with shipping. When I got it I imediately called for a return # because I felt the antenna had been messed with before and mayby a previous return, box was missing several parts,gasket,instructions a washer and though it was boxed specifically for a 37 standard the knob was for a deluxe and the antenna stop was for a 40 convertible,these two items are listed at $30.00 total to replace but were replaced. Antenna brings in a good signal but will not stay up,flops over and flies around while driving or hitting a bump in the road. Called them back and was described an adjustment that was supposedly on the instruction sheet I didn't get,but not on the original Ford one I ended up using that is in 37 Ford book. Piece of junk far as I am concerned, and now I was told I am over the 30 day return. If I had to do over again I would have used a cowl mount from Ebay,not original but wouldn't need viagra to keep it up. So complain on,no sacred cows to me.:mad:
 
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Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

You seem to be missing the main point of the first post. Y he buyer should not be responsible for shipping when the supplier is at fault. Carpenter stuck me for shipping back their "NOS" 34 woven brakes . They advertised that they had 40 sets but when I asked to exchange one set that had old grease or cosmolene on the lining they replied that all the rest were bad and I would have to send mine back at my expense to receive a refund of the purchase price. Their parts picker made the mistake and I paid the price.
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

why would anybody waste their time modifying repro closed car crappy pot metal door handles to fit a conv when you can still find good original closed car stainless steel handles to modify to fit a conv? you will still have a cheap looking repro pot metal door handle that only will devalue your conv. i thought drake made a conv door handle even though its pot metal and is listed separately from his closed handles in his catalogue.---- barry
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

I agree with Dick Spadaro, speaking to a knowlegeable person on the phone is a must. Due to the many differences in parts... car to car in the same year it would be impossible to repro everything. Some tweakin' on many parts is the rule rather than the exception. Not to take anything away from the other suppliers/vendors......I have done business with Dick ( & Bill ) for many, many years, they are a truly invaluable knowledge source to our hobby. True Fordmen
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

We pride ourselves in supplying quality parts for the automotive hobby, Countless hours and large investments are taken to bring just one product to the market. We also stock other vendors product which is the case in this situation. Many years ago these handles had a slip of paper that noted the shafts may need some modifications and that is not the case at this time. All of the 1932-40 outside door handles that we stock from other suppliers are like this. When you stock parts from 1932-79 car and 1932-96 pickup it is highly possible that you are going to miss telling a customer all he needs to know about that part. This situation obviously could have been handled better, the customer service rep should have answered the e-mails as “yes they will fit a 1940 convt. but with modifications” and this whole issue would have not come to this. We try to use these types of situations as training so hopefully it does not happen again.
Due to this situation this information will be noted in our catalog and on our web store so this is not an issue in the future. I would like to thank Roadster36 for bringing this situation to our attention, and to Dick Spadaro for his great input. Your customers are sometimes your best research and development tool. Lots of notes, pictures, diagrams etc. are in our parts and catalogs due to a customer relaying information to us. We will also contact the supplier of these handle to make sure they are supplying all the pertinent information with their product. Just for the record Mr. Carpenter has spent a large part of his life to build a reputable business that celebrated 40 years of satisfied customers in 2010. You don’t do that by doing it the wrong way. To follow that up, Roadster36, your credit card was refunded $17.99 ($9.99 original postage & $8.00 return postage) on 11/10/11 at 8:06 a.m. If you have any question please feel free to contact me here at Dennis Carpenters.

Regards
Ronald Harkey
Customer Service
Dennis Carpenter Reproductions
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

Thanks for the reply Ron. I don't know who's account you credited on 11/10/2011 for $17.99 but it was not mine. I just checked with the bank and no such credit has been issued. I appreciate the attempt anyway.- Dennis
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

When a credit is issued on a credit card, it takes a couple days to show up. If they did a credit it should show up in 4 or 5 business days.
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

Keep in mind the banks were closed on Friday due to Veterans day,so it may take longer to post than usual, if it has not posted by Friday please let me know. my direct e-mail is rharkey@dennis-carpenter.com

Thanks
Ronald
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

I have read each of the posts and find myself thinking about the situation. Perhaps my perspective is a little different as I too have a 40 convert and I've also dealt with Dennis in CA and Dennis in Carolina. Both men have been excellent to deal with over the years and I would not hesitate in the future. As I really don't want a chrome plated pot metal handle on my doors, I am going to reskin the originals with SS cladding from original sedan/coupe handles. Kinda tricky and very time consuming but this seems to be the only solution (other than finding perfect ones which aren't dinged up. When I started my 40 projects I soon realized that although the aftermarket is very good and covers alot, I would still have to rebuild old original parts or make the missing item. This has slowed me down a bunch, but after quite a few years I can see some results. I appreciate all the vendors and the Fordbarners too. Without them my projects would not be possible. My 2 cents. RPM
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

rpm--- if you can reskin your handles successfully you will be the first i have ever heard of or seen and would love to know how you did it. to me it is a lot easier to make up new threaded ends out of 5/16 square stock or cut the ends off your unrestorable conv. door handles to correct length and weld them on to a set of nice closed car handles. good luck. ---barry
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

Barry,keep in mind that to when making new ends and threading them, one is left handed thread. Most of us don't have the proper die for this. RPM
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

just remember that aftermarket or reproduction IS NOT ORIGINAL and we are suppose to be capable of building a car that was NEVER perfect to start with...without suppliers we would up the creek !!!! thanks that we atleast have parts to work with.......

GREAZY HUBCAPZ CC EAST TENN
MIZERVILLE KUSTOMS
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

First, I have purchased from DC and likely will again.

My two bits: The seller should pay for return postage because the buyer was led to believe that the part was a duplicate of the original and it wasn't. The seller needs to disclose if the part needs modification to work (we've all seen this before, so why not here?). Lots of parts have cross references and/or can be adapted to work. I recently bought a NOS Lincoln door handle (with a Lincoln part number) for my Merc. It is exactly the same and requires no modifications, but when I bought it, it was ME that took the risk, not the seller.

As a seller, you are charged with (expected to have) superior knowledge than your customer, after all YOU are IN the business and you either created or procured the things you are selling, and you are responsible for your representations, or lack thereof.
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

Just a quick note to let people know that Ronald from Dennis Carpenter saw to it that I was issued a full refund. I checked my account this AM and the charges were credited to my account. I would like to thank Ronald, Dennis Carpenter Industries, and everyone who replied here and by private e-mail. It is nice to know there is a venue like this.-Dennis
 
Re: Deal with Dennis Carpenter at your own risk

roadster36 said:
Just a quick note to let people know that Ronald from Dennis Carpenter saw to it that I was issued a full refund. I checked my account this AM and the charges were credited to my account. I would like to thank Ronald, Dennis Carpenter Industries, and everyone who replied here and by private e-mail. It is nice to know there is a venue like this.-Dennis
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Wow, seems like a square ending afterall.

May I suggest that you edit your thread title for if someone would glancing over it, they may certain walk away with a different understanding of how it played out. Just a thought...
 
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