ClassicCar

Yes Press & Janet were great, they would send parts to me in Australia even before they were paid for, very trustworthy people, just included an invoice.

I’ve been on this forum for more than 4 years, and I have not counted, but I’m sure there has been at least a dozen “What’s up with K-Gap?” type of questions over the last 18 months or so.

But, since there is no one else supplying, what other game is there in town?

[FONT="]There’s certainly a lot of discord not just here on the board, but with other club members that I’ve talked to that aren’t forum-users.
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I have purchased several items from Dany, and while some stuff took a lille while. I received everything I ordered .

I too, have ordered or purchased quite a bit of stuff from KGap over the years, and often found myself wondering what happened to the order, and/or the money I sent to pay for it, due to sometimes very long wait periods from time of order to actually receiving the items.



Some items ordered took well over a YEAR to appear at my doorstep, but in a fairness, I believe the problem was more with KGap's suppliers, than it was with Danny and Kaylene themselves, especially with the oddball items, like door sill plates, wire wheel hubcaps, and even the stepdown medallions, (which apparently Danny had to start painting himself, due to the "other" Guy that used to paint them taking forever to do them).



Yep, at times I got really worried when things ordered didn't show, and didn't show, and didn't show, and I'd call, and sometimes I'd get no answer, and still they didn't show, and since I always payed via paypal, the money couldn't be the issue I reasoned, and finally I'd get lucky and get a call through, and I'd find out that yes, the order is active, and not forgotten, but that the items are out of stock at the moment, and the (supplier) is really slow for those parts, but they ARE coming, and lo and behold, long after I'd even forgot that I ordered some of the items -- there they came with the mail lady, along with the invoice stating zero balance owing !!



I can certainly understand why some get a bit anxious when ordering Hudson parts from KGap though, because it could literally stop an expensive resto right in its tracks, and become especially worrisome if the car is sitting in a high end commercial resto facility, (we all know they don't "sit" in those places taking up floor space for nothing) !! I've been there and done that already, so am trying to learn from experience and avoid that dilemma if at all posible next time around.



My suggestion would be to maybe call KGap ahead of time before you order, ask if the items you want are in stock, and if they are, then pay for them ( and shipping charges if any), right up front via papal, mastercard, or whatever, and once paid for claim them as yours, and ask for quick shipment to you. Sort of like buying the stuff over the counter at any store. This isn't gonna help with the stuff coming to KGap from outside suppliers, but maybe will take some of the strain off the more common item orders ??



I'm gonna try this myself anyway -- because as some have said, they're the only game in town that I know of, and we need them desperately !!



The long and the short of it is this, from my point of view, -- other than slow delivery on some items and frustration at actually catching Danny & Kaylene on the phone sometimes, I am very positive on ordering stuff from KGap, and will not worry that my order, and my payment will "disappear" somewhere in the ether next time around ( and there will be many "next time arounds" )!! From past experience though, I'll just try to be a little more carefull about timelines before I order.



silverone

Richard E. wrote:

I went up to Dany & Kaylene's new place in Riverside about a month ago and purchased about $400 worth of stuff from K-Gap with no problems what-so-ever. It is true that they are out of some stuff and they are waiting on their suppliers, who are for the most part, small operations who have been affected by the current recession. I am waiting on some back ordered parts, but I have complete confidence that as soon as they receive them, they will contact me.



It is true that the phone # is disconnected, I am sure that it is temporary. They just moved, a huge job, to a new place and it is ideally set up for K-Gap. They definitely need to do a better job of communication with club members and customers.



Many of you may not know that Press Kale and now Dany Spring, fabricate much of the stuff that you get from K-Gap. You are not going to find it anywhere else. My suggestion would be to stop all of this negative chatter and try to be supportive of folks who are doing their best to provide parts for our cars that just are not available otherwise. Yes, Metro Moulded Rubber has some of the stuff, but certainly not all of it. I think that the Springs will get back up and running soon and hopefully so will their suppliers, in this current economy it is a crap shoot, but I am willing to give them some space while it gets sorted out!

Space is one thing but not addressing and fixing a big problem is another. I've bought stuff from K-Gap before and both are great people. Business is business and when you have a major investment sitting in a shop or disassembled in your garage, and there are delivery and communication issues, then that is a problem. I plan on placing an order for over a thousand bucks in the next few days but I plan to call Danny or Kaylene to verify what is in stock and what is not. I am not prepared to wait three, six months or longer for something that is paid for and or that I may have been able to get elsewhere. In this economy, you HAVE to be more competitive and offer service.

You guys are going to screw around and complain your way into not being able to find ANYTHING for a Hudson.



When Dany and Kayleen get tired of dealing with grumpity crap like this, wonder where the next supplier will come from?



Yeah, I miss the good ol' days. I miss the good ol' folks too. This ain't that time or era and getting small batches of anything done is nearly impossible. If you can't move a gozillion pieces of something, most manufacturers show you the door. Be thankful these 2 are braving that problem to supply the pieces we need, because in the big picture Hudson parts are for squat and I doubt much money is being made at all. Its like Randy Maas once told me, "This is a labor of love, if I didn't love Hudsons - I wouldn't be doing it".



Particularly right now, when things are super tight and all sorts of smaller operators are having alot of problems with supply and money.



I wouldn't get so smug about the righteousness of the HET, Larry Milwee told me years ago that Jack died with over 10K in upaid balances from Hudson members who'd bought parts and never paid. Jack kept the parts up because he loved the cars, had nothing to do with making money, his living never centered around his Hudson business. I don't think this business is what puts the bread on the table for Dany either.



These 2 Hudsonites are good people and I'm sure there is an explanation out there for the delays. Who knows what may have happened, but I'm sure they'll make it right - just be patient and thankful somebody is out there with these new parts on offer.



Hopefully, better days will be out there for all of us - whatever we're doing.



Mark

`Hudsonator wrote:

You guys are going to screw around and complain your way into not being able to find ANYTHING for a Hudson.



When Dany and Kayleen get tired of dealing with grumpity crap like this, wonder where the next supplier will come from?





Mark

Fastest way to stop (most of) the griping is for the Dany and/or Kayleen to get on the forum and tell everybody what's going down. In cases like this silence is NOT golden.



Simple.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

For what it’s worth, following is the benefit of my K-Gap experience. For past twelve years of owning various Hudson step downs, I have been most fortunate acquiring weather seals from K-Gap, in fact once when I needed some rubber parts Pres & Janet invited me to visit shop and he picked and cut some required items so I could hand carry home. I did have an unpleasant exprience with I believe his name was Dick (Bell?) located in Colorado; didn't get my parts or all of my reimbursement. When I purchased ’52 Hornet coupe a couple years ago, I called Dany & Kaylene; new K-Gap owners and gave them my wish parts list to bring to November 2008 Laughlin H.E.T met, K-Gap & family brought about ninety percent of my requirements of which I paid close to $1,100.- to include back ordered items for later delivery. I am happy to say during 2008-2009 before restoration completion K-Gap mailed every part I ordered, in fact I felt bad because Kaylene was *mailing at K-Gap costs single pieces from back order, I also understood K-Gap was experiencing difficulties from certain suppliers, along with death in family and major home and business relocation. I am almost finished with ’52 Hornet restoration and because I am a big fan of Twin-H power last week I purchased a 1956 Hornet; http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270478402426 same great engine Rudy Bennett rebuilt/installed in 1953 I purchased from him about 4 years ago and waiting for delivery this mid week to see condition of car. Only exploratory thoughts, remove Twin-H which I was informed engine starts and transmission goes into gear; finding a good Hudson step-down body to install Twin-H, or even restore 1956 Hornet, however without people like K-Gap I wouldn’t consider going forward, if I did, I certainly would call months in advance allowing Dany & Kaylene enough logistical lead time to source required parts.



*With cost of mailing and K-Gap wanting to accommodate customer/me I am sure they didn’t make much money of the overall order?



I realize how frustrating it is waiting for parts that will delay restoration process, also any communication break down, however after reading Steve Bryson message I'd say he's "spot on" addressing the other side of K-Gap story.



Ray