Kaminari

[TwinCelicaGirl]

I was treated rather badly from these people.....Here are our e-mail conversations.....

I wrote:
I am going to be purchasing from you, the Kaminari Body Kit for my 2000 Toyota Celica in the spring. I was wondering if there was a way for you to send me the installation instructions or something that I can give to the body shop ahead of time so that they can give me an estimate on installing the kit. Thank you.

They responded:

If your bodyshop needs instructions to give you an estimate, I suggest you take it somewhere else.

I replied:
The body shop that I take my car to for everything is where I would like to get it done. The owner is a close personal friend of mine, but he has never installed the kit before, and he doesn't even know if he wants to do the work until he sees how to install it. If you can't supply me with this information, just let me know, I can take my business elsewhere. Thank you.


and they responded:
Look, if you want to go elsewhere that is fine. That is not the point I was trying to get across. Most of our kits don't need instructions because it is THAT simple to install. We recommend our kits installed a professional experienced installer. We tell everyone the saem thing... if they ask for instructions, you really need to go somewhere else.

[CeLiCaJoE]

ouch that's a little harsh isn't it...you know its really simple just get the instruction how to remove the front bumper and just do it in reverse when installing the Kam front. as for the sides i believe the Kam sides bolts on to the stock ones. The rear valence is the one im not sure of. it shouldnt be that hard.

[TwinCelicaGirl]

Originally posted by CeLiCaJoE
ouch that's a little harsh isn't it...you know its really simple just get the instruction how to remove the front bumper and just do it in reverse when installing the Kam front. as for the sides i believe the Kam sides bolts on to the stock ones. The rear valence is the one im not sure of. it shouldnt be that hard.

I knew it wouldn't be that hard, but the body shop I want to do it won't do it unless I can get them this info ahead of time (which is understandable), I guess Kaminari just didn't understand that......

[coOOlcelica]

i hate to say this but i agree with kaminari on that because there kits are of really high quality and doesnt required more work than installing the stock body parts.....

well who ever replied to the email feels a little insulted for asking install guide

thats just my .02 cents

[Blue Batmobile]

That sucks. I'm getting their new race wing but not directly from them.

Bat

[TwinCelicaGirl]

Originally posted by coOOlcelica
i hate to say this but i agree with kaminari on that because there kits are of really high quality and doesnt required more work than installing the stock body parts.....

well who ever replied to the email feels a little insulted for asking install guide

thats just my .02 cents

Even if it IS that simple, I am a potential customer, you NEVER make a customer feel stupid for asking a question. And if you have the info, provide it, no questions asked.....

[2kgtx]

Originally posted by TwinCelicaGirl


Even if it IS that simple, I am a potential customer, you NEVER make a customer feel stupid for asking a question. And if you have the info, provide it, no questions asked.....

I agree with you, it is obvious that their customer service is not very good, If I were you I would find a phone number and contact some sort of supervisor because in a customer service job you should never insult a customer like that, It probably is that easy and most don't need instructions but if asked they could have at least simply let you know that it is just like installing the stock parts, if you contact a supervisor you may get them to discount your parts as a sort of compensation for the unsatisfactory service they provided.

[GTS LAID]

what a d!ck.. its obviously not his dad's company from the way he's responding...

[HilfigerCelica]

Bad customer service..............

[chrissi24]

Bad business, thats all. My boyfriend works at a performance shop and he tried to get distribution from them. They were just as nasty to him. Returning calls when they wanted to and not giving information that was needed. Needless to say, he doesn't deal with them directly.

[Need4Spd]

Kaminari.. bad service? I'd hafta say that was an unusual circumstance. Or else mine was..

I'm sorry that ya had that experience with them.. I can understand how you feel tho.. I'd give them a call and talk to a supervisor of some sort. I'm sure they'll work things out with you.. and remember, if you call.. even if they treated you like ****, be polite, yet firm and you'll get what you want.

I have my Kaminari kit coming this friday.. I had problems with their rear fiberglass bumper ordered from somewhere else and I called them and they took real good care of me. They gave me a deal that is too good to post. I'm returning it and getting the urethane front and rear now. They're even throwing in some free grills. Props to Kaminari for caring about their customers (sometimes?)

[nyoneway]

Kaminari does'nt have good customer service.

However, you have you understand that they are the manufacturer, not the Distributor.

Plus I don't think my kit came with the install instructions. They're pretty much a staight bolt on. Its like buying a set of tires or brake pads - it don't come with instructions.

Hell even my TRD Springs and shocks didn't come with anything. Because its meant to be installed by a qualified mechanic.

[dragonfrog]

well, each vehicle is different, and has different areas of removing the front bumper. especially the rear valence. hell, when i took my trd front lip to my local toyota dealership, they needed the friggin instructions to provide me with an estimate. so i definitely understand where she's coming from. (of course, this particular dealership didn't fool with a lot of aftermarket body kits.)

[CloNeGTS]

Some places will provide instructions (RMM) and some won't (WW, Kami). It all depends on how far they want to do with customer service.

And as TwinCelicaGirl said, REGARDLESS of the question, you should never be rude to a potential customer like that. Hell, I don't make any money off of it, but when someone emails me a rather 'uneducated question', I still reply to them respectfully.

It's called going the extra mile....and too few people/places do it any more.

[Kaminari]

Hello... sorry about that email response.

In defense of the sales guys here, I understand why it was short and to the point. I don't think he intended to insult you at all, and maybe should have chosen a different way to convey that message. We receive 1000's of emails a day, and they are trying to cut through them as fast as they can. Some companies don't even respond to each and every one. We try our best to answer all of them on the same day, rather than let that email linger for a few days.

About your question. We tell everyone the same thing on the phone as well. If your bodyshop asks how to paint it, how to prep it, or how to install it... you should be wary. An experienced bodyshop should not have these type of questions. I myself have talked to bodyshop owners over the phone, and after his questions have personally called the customer to warn them to take their car out of there! I have had a bodyshop call and say that our sideskirts don't fit, and they have tried for hours. Turns out they had the sideskirts on the wrong side of the car!

Most of our kits do not come with instructions simply for the fact that it is self explanatory. If it is an out of the ordinary installation, we supply rather extensive instructions.

Anyhow, we are in the process of hiring someone solely to answer emails. This will take some time to find the right person, so please bear with us we try to fill that position.

Once again, I apologize for that email. There was no insult intended. However, I do stand behind my sales team about the bodyshop. It would be a shame to spend $1200 on a nice package, and look like a $200 kit after a bodyshop does a bad job on the install.

Everyone knows what bodyshops tell you if their paint falls off, or the bumper is sagging. They blame it on the manufacturer. Rather than dealing with that scenario, we would much rather see our customer go to a reputable bodyshop and get the job done right.

Thanks for listening.

[CloNeGTS]

Very good reply Kaminari.

If you don't mind, I have a ? of concern from people like myself who live in regions of the US where the import scene isn't so hot yet......

Most shops within a hundred miles of me have never done a kit install. I am now dealing with a kit that wasn't properly prepped and the quality is showing. While I understand the best option would be take the kits to a place that knows how to do it, for some of us that is a little harder than just chosing a different local shop. I would have to reship my kit in order to get it to such a place.

For such a situation, are there any references that a shop can look up for prep procedures? Not necessarily from your company, but publications of some sort? Everyone has to learn somehow, right?

Like I said, I'm in a situation where I need a WW body kit piece repainted and I'd like the shop that does it to have the most info possible about how to prep/paint it so this doesn't happen again.

Thanks again.

[Kaminari]

Well, you might want to contact Wings West to see if they have a dealer in your area that can recommend a shop that has experience with their products. I may be able to help as well. However, you must keep in mind that Wings West urethane and Kaminari urethane is different. Our urethane is made with high pressure reaction injection molds. Their urethane, I believe is low pressure. I have no experience prepping this grade of urethane, though i suspect it would be simular.

We do not use any silicone based mold release agents in our molds, therefore there is not much to the prepping. Most urethane parts require stripping of this release, or the paint will simply not stick. Our parts, you simply scotch brite, prime, and paint. You're done. If you choose to bake the parts.. you can bake it at about 100-110 degrees.(f)

Wings West has prep procedures on their website though.. and pretty good ones from what I have heard.

There's an article coming out in in Import Tuner next month about our facility. Rather than tell you why high pressure is better... check out that article, and get the unbiased information. I can list all the reasons why high pressure is better... but what value would it have coming from me? :)

We are working on a system soon that would qualify shops around the world as official Kaminari installation facilities. If you are local, Bodypros (www.bodypros.com) does alot of our project cars... and I can't remember one time n the last 4 years I have been at Kaminari have they ever had a tech or install question on our parts. Long line to get in there.. but they know their stuff.

I forgot where you are located, but if you email me or something, I am sure I can find a suitable place. I can call my contact at Wings West as well to help you find a place.

Well back to email #1445 for the day! :) LOL!

[coOOlcelica]

Originally posted by Kaminari

We are working on a system soon that would qualify shops around the world as official Kaminari installation facilities.

oh i cannot wait for that......

[CloNeGTS]

Thanks for the info man. Very helpful. And just from what I've heard about the low vs high pressure molding.....I won't be buying another WW kit. ;)

[jotan82]

good point :thumbup: