This really sucks bro. Was looking forward to going through the mods together.

As you know, I got my rear fender used from another forum member so I was spared the full price of it. Even though I've always liked the look of Kyle's stuff I never pulled the trigger before because none of it seemed to be worth the cost. Now that I actually have one of his fenders I feel that my initial thoughts were correct. His rear fender with mounting brackets alone costs over $600 if you get it straight from him. Having one in my possession it is safe to say that it is NOT a $600 item. This is especially true when you consider the fair amount of work you have to put into the thing to get it ready to run (body work, paint, drilling and trimming). The mounting brackets are nothing to write home about and again, now that I have the fender in my possession I can see two or three ways to make a much better mounting system for it. Even used, I paid $400 for my kit. I did get struts with my kit but I am not using them due to wanting something slightly different which I am making on my own. Despite the discounted price I still feel that I overpaid (no offense to the forum member who sold it to me. He was cool and I was glad to deal with him). I feel that if I would have gone with my initial notion of getting a fender from Led Sled and making my own mounting system I would have put just as much work into that set up as I have to put into the Shadetree kit and I would have spent about half the cost of my USED price.

I have my fender now and I plan to run it but I don't think I'll ever be doing any business with STF. In part because there isn't really much more beyond the rear fender that interests me. But also because I don't feel like getting burned the way so many have described.

To me, the most amazing thing about your experience is the paint job. The notion that Kyle would actually think he can deliver something so far from what you asked for and then actually tell you that you have to pay in order to correct the problem is just unreal! That alone tells me to stay clear of STF.

Sorry again about all your misfortunes my friend. I hate that you took this bullet for everyone else but am grateful that we have the insight to how this business is run and what it might mean for anyone considering working with them.

 

Skeez - man I cannot express how excited I initially was to make this happen. I had hoped they had changed their ways over the years...
And I wrote this, mostly because I had found in the past that most members, while spot on accurate with the "quality" of STF stuff, did not cover in detail the whole experience.
I hoped to ad insight and enlighten folks here... and to top it off, he wouldnt take the front fender back. And my painter here says its so F'd up that I got to find a new one... lord help me if I ever get down to Texas.

 

You are not alone dude. Last year I had this idea to get a full fender for my Slim and have the fender painted to match. What transpired was the absolute worst ordeal imaginable. I, like you, dropped a $h!t ton of cash only to have what amounted to sub-par fabrication and off the cuff customization to try to piece mill the thing back together. The 'custom' seat doesn't fit right. I have already had to take the fender apart because the seat nut fell out. Gaps in the 'custom' dash where the indicator lights don't fit right. Shop blames the painter, painter blames the shop. Same old $h!t. All this lead to new paint that I got back in January that is already coming off in spots, orange peel, clearcoat pooled at the edges, bleeds, over spray, etc. I am so f'ing sick to my stomach and demoralized by it all that I find myself wanting to just be rid of the constant reminder of just how f'ing stupid I can be.

 

Gregeinsc - I am guessing it was Shadetree? Or another horrible place?

 

No man, didn't mean to imply that it was Shadetree and if it was thread-jacking I apologize. Just letting you know that you aint alone in dumping a load of cash in your ride only to be disappointed and let down by sub-par parts/work.

 

gotcha man. no worries. Unfortunitly, we live in a world of people who don't stand behind their work, and lack the honor that used to be easily found.

 

I'd post this up in general discussion too if you haven't already. Word needs to get out to as many people as possible about how you got screwed over jaysnafu.

 

good idea... listed in general HD chat. time now.

 

Well if you used your credit card to make this purchase then I would definately get your money back and tell the card company what happened.

 

Good idea!