Lake Street Industries

Review: DID not receive the services paid for and received substandard parts needed for project. The project was a 1957 chevy 210 4-door car that needed an engine and an upgrade for a 5-speed transmission, which I supplied. I made physical contact with [redacted] the owner before bringing the car to the business to explain what I needed to be done and was told that the business could handle this project. I was told by [redacted] the owner that it could be done in 2 to 3 weeks ended up closer to 5 weeks. I knew there would be some issues but had no idea that this would be out of their league. I was quoted $1,750.00 plus any additional parts and fluids needed which ended up being around $1,000.00. I was surprised that ended up costing an additional $700.00 for labor and didn't feel comfortable with the explanation.

I was called and told that the car was done and ready to go so I went to pick the car up and upon loading I expressed that the clutch didn't feel right and was told it should be fine because it was driven back and forth in the garage, car couldn't be driven very far because it needed the exhaust system so I loaded the car on my trailer and took it to have the exhaust system installed, the car was unloaded and we tried to drive the car into the muffler shop but had no clutch so I called [redacted] but no answer so I waited and called [redacted] again after the exhaust system was installed which took a couple hours still no answer so I took the car to another automotive shop to see if they could identify the problem, it took less than 10 min to figure out the problem, which was a weak support for the clutch slave mount to the bellhousing. It was recommended that the correct bellhousing be installed in order for the clutch to work properly. I made the decision to go ahead and have the work done because I wanted it done right. It was brought to my attention that the bellhousing that was used by Lake Street Ind. was cracked and had some bad welding done on it and wouldn't recommend using it. It was also brought to my attention that the ignition coil was cracked. I was very up set at the quality of the bellhousing and the coil which I would never agree to install in that classic.Desired Settlement: I went to Lake Street Ind. and explained my disappointment to [redacted] the owner and asked to be refunded for parts that couldn't be used and for the cost of the labor to have the problem fixed. [redacted] said I could have brought it back and they would have fixed the problem, my reply was I had no confidence in them based on their performance and the shoddy parts used.

I asked [redacted] to be refunded for parts that couldn't be used and the cost of the labor to correct the problem. [redacted] refunded me for the starter and the ignition coil and wouldn't agree to refund the bellhousing or the labor to fix the problem which I feel would be fair. Total amount requested for parts $388.07 which included transmission tail shaft which I was told would traded out but wasn't and the total for the labor to fix the problem $$699.50 for a grand total of $1,087.57

Business

Response:

In Response to [redacted]s Review:

Several Issues need to be addressed:

This customer is essentially a used car dealer and looking to profit and cut corners anyway possible. The 1957 Chevy was being built with selling for substantial profit as the number one motivator.

1.) Customer stated that all parts would come with the project except minor things like fluids, belts, and hoses. Project arrived with engine, trans, car, and a pile of used parts out of his friends garage. The wrong bell housing (Customer supplied) was the primary reason for the project delay, Project ran from the projected 3 weeks to 5 weeks due to some delays in shipping. Unavoidable on our end. Secondary reason for delay was that the customer lived 1 hour out of town and insisted on replacing wrong or non functioning parts, i.e. drive lines (several), alternators, and fuel pumps. Again Re-sale and profit was the underlying factor.

2.)Customer stated complaints on the coil, welding (bell housing), and crack in the bell housing. The coil pack was indeed damaged and we offered to replace (high quality MSD unit) customer elected to have a cash refund. The bell housing was ordered with permission of the customer off of [redacted], 2 different ones, 1st one was wrong, 2nd was used. Customer previously consented to installing used bell housing. Bell housing did arrive with small crack and some previous repair welds on it. All welding done on vehicle there were no issues and all welds were fully inspected.

3.) Customer was billed an additional 8 hours of labor on the project. Extra labor came from re-pluming fuel system from rear of car to engine (Supposedly done previous to cars arrival to the shop), Customer supplied fuel pump was non functional. To diagnose no fuel no start, and replace said components was 4 hours, to replace tail end of transmission with the correct one that was rotated 30 degrees to meet trans cross member at correct angle was 2 extra hours. During the tail shaft swap T-5 transmission was upgraded from a standard t-5 transmission to the World Class T-5 model. Free of charge. The last 2 hours extra was to cover more then 7 hours of driving around to parts houses to get all necessary parts to complete basket case project. We realize we can not charge shop labor rate to go on delivery runs. We charged only the dollar amount of vehicle operation and having an employee out running the parts from warehouses to the shop.

4.) Customer mentions week support. That is in reference to the slave support bracket. Very easy fix that would have required under 1 hour of warranty work to resolve. The reason issue went unnoticed at time of pick up was that the car was unable to be road tested or even driven do to front tires being less then 1/2" from fenders. Customer installed over sized tires on car before all the weight of complete car squatted suspension to the point of being UN-drivable. Driving and road testing vehicle would have caused substantial damage to front ( very rare and expensive ) fenders and brand new front tires. Customer was told the reason test driving the project was out of the question. Car was only driven forwards and backwards in the shop. The best we could do under the circumstances.

Lake Street industries takes great pride in our mechanical and fabrication abilities. This project was completed under very difficult conditions. With shipping delays, large amount of parts needed from various sources, and the very hard push to get the project completed in timly fashion. Lake Street Industries overcame all obsticles to take this project delivered to the shop with a pile of used parts and good amount of new yet completly wrong parts Customers phone call was returned with-in 24 hours of calling on the problem. No answer, message was left, then customer calls 1 week later claiming a large bill.

Lake Street Industries fully stands behind any and all work performed with a full warranty. Lake Street Industries will never pay an outside shop to repair any warranty work that may come from a job. All new parts supplied by us are 100% under warranty with an exchange, used parts requested by customer from outside parties such as [redacted] will be returned or exchanged subject to Outside parties return policies. We at Lake Street Industries will never grantee a used part from anybody with the exception of passing along whatever warranty if any is provided to us on the used part(s).

We at Lake Street Industries had very serious reservations about customer from the very beginning of the project. Customer mentioned many projects that he has had completed over the years by various different shops. The one common theme in all of the stories was that Customer had since had a falling out with several of the shops that he had worked with. The greatest reservation was that the customers greatest objective was to sell the vehicle for profit. Customers primary goal was to achieve finished great looking classic 1957 Chevy using used wrecking yard parts and other parts sourced from buddies garages.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this [redacted]er to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received, your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Revdex.com,

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

[To assist us in bringing this [redacted]er to a close, we would like to know your view on the [redacted]er.]

Regards,

I responded to the response from Lake Street Ind. by delivering it to the office of the Revdex.com on Jefferson street. on Mon. 11/10/14

As stated in my response,the focus needs to be on the amount charged, and the quality of service, based on what Lake street advertises.

Business

Response:

This in response to [redacted]s 1957 Chevy

1st: Off in response to * details on bill. All fittings and hoses were used to re-plum car from fuel tank forward. Including drilling and tapping fuel tank to accept new hard ware.

2nd: Tail shaft conversion was not done to convert transmission to a "world class" optioned t-5. That was an added bonus. The purpose for the tail shaft conversion was to rotate the crossmember mount of the transmission 30 degrees so as to line up with cross member the way it needed to mount. Tail shaft and internal bearings were swapped into customer trans out of donor transmission. This has been explained to the customer on several occasions.

3rd: Bell housing was verbally authorized by customer to order off of [redacted]. Item showed up as a used bell housing which is what was ordered.

4th: Customer was refunded cost for starter and coil. Both were under warranty and supplied by us.

5th: Leaking rear main seal. Was provided by customer or engine builder. Am not sure on the origin.

Customer states many things. I believe this as an attempt to be reinbursed for a bill at another shop. As policy all work done is fully waranted through our shop. There is never a warrantee through another shop, written or implied. [redacted]'s minor grievances could have been easily resolved had he brought the car back for any warentee work that was needed. As the car was undrivable due to front tire and suspension set up there were sure to be bugs. Every car after major work gets test driven. This car was supposed to return after the trip to the exhaust shop. It never showed back up.

[redacted] has a way of cheating businesses by these types of actions. One other shop for sure I know he has tried this crap with. Bottom line is. You have an issue bring it back to the shop that did the work. This is an industry standard. We are all professionals.

In addition I would like any and all grievances initiated by [redacted] through the Revdex.com to be attached to this complaint. This is an issue that needs to be looked at as a whole. I already have enough evidence that there is a pattern in this type of behavior.

Our warantee is the industry standard. If you have a problem bring it back and we will resolve it. No attempt was made on [redacted]s part to follow the industry standard that is commonly known. [redacted] really made no attempt to resolve situation that we were unaware off other then showing up and demanding reimbursement to another shop.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this [redacted]er to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received, your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Revdex.com,

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

[To assist us in bringing this [redacted]er to a close, we would like to know your view on the [redacted]er.]

Regards,

Lake St.Ind. response to this complaint has only tried to take the focus off of the complaint by making false assumption's against me and my character which shows the lack of professionalism.

I never would have approved the bell housing that was used, if it was shown to me, which it never was.

Bottom line is I visited the shop asked if they could do the job, then brought and showed the parts that I had and was told that they could do the job. I stand by the fact that I did not receive work and services for what I was charged and what Lake St. Ind. advertises on their website. As far as the warranty goes, why would I go back if I was so disappointed in what I received?