Gave up on Sharkskinz

[Degsy]

I'm so sick of racing suppliers having stuff on backorder. I just tried to order $600 worth of stuff from Sharkskinz race bodies.

1. They took 25 rings to answer the telephone
2. Took my credit card number before taking my order.
3. Then told me it would be 2 weeks until the parts are made/shipped.

You would think that they would have 50 sets of Honda CBR race plastic in stock.

I cancelled and ordered Airtech stuff from Lockhart phillips for the same price. In stock, shipped today, no problem.

Suffice to say, no Sharkskinz decals on my bike this year.

degs

[GMAN226]

Did you by any chance see what happened to Gary's bodywork last weekend.. At least check AK Composits before going with Air Crack

G-man

[Stoneman]

Wow! I'm shocked. While the customer service people aren't the most customer service oriented, I've had overall good service from them...

[RSVMILLE661]

Don't forget you can also get Hot bodies from LP as well.

[Degsy]

Well, when you go to the largest and best known bodywork maker in the world and ask for a race kit for the best selling sportbike on the planet and they have to make you one and it's gonna take 2 weeks (said in a very matter-of-fact way) that is like going to a Dodge dealer and asking for a Dodge Ram and being told "Sorry, we are out of stock of Rams".

I don't care how good their product is, if I crash mid-season and need a new body kit I want one shipped to me that day, not when some guy can get off his ass and make me one. We are not talking about a $200 sale here, we are talking about a $550 sale (with sponsor discount) and a profit margin of probably 150%.

They didn't even answer the telephone yesterday, and it took 25 rings today. Not good enough, screw them. I will try Airtech. If they suck, I will try Hotbodies and so on down the line.

I'm just sick of people who operate a business and don't have any stock, just a website and a distributorship agreement. Even Lockhart Phillips have trouible getting most stuff, but their Customer service is second-to-none, so that makes up for a lot.

If I owned Sharkskinz and I was out of stock of bodies for CBR600's, I would

1. Fire the guy responsible for product production.
2. Scour my distributors for a body kit for the customer
3. Failing that, I would have one made even if it takes 24X7 for 3 days to do it, and ship it overnight when it was ready (shipping at my expense) That's Customer service. It isn't the Customer's fault the item is not in stock. if you don't have the stock, don't advertise the stock. make it clear that orders are made on an as needed basis.

Degs

[RSVMILLE661]

They had to make my Body as Mille's are not the most popular bike to race and it still was here in a week.

[Degsy]

Yeah, the hot bodies is also a lot cheaper. Mebbe I will switch. is the hot bodies stuff really good?

degs

[RSVMILLE661]

I'm not sure.. I think its better than Air Tech as far as durability but fit and finish may need some work.

[Degsy]

OK, switched my order to Hotbodies. We shall see how it matches up in quality.

Derek

[GMS1000]

well, heres how my day with the race glass manufactureres went.

first I called sharkskinz...2 week wait..ok bye

Akcomposites, 10 days, " but let us call back. we'll see what we can do". ok bye.

GPcomposites, 10 days. ok bye

Hotbodies, 2 weeks. ok bye.

Airtech, "yeah we have them in stock, uh wait a minute, no we don't". ok bye.

yoyodyne (sebimoto), "call back, i think we have them in stock, but the man you have to talk to isn't here right now". ok bye

Armour Bodies (#1 in roadracingworld comparison) " I can build them and ship them out buy Friday". hmmm, I call you back.

finally, Morse custom Fiberglass had a set of AK's that were used in the Roadracing World comparo. I should have them by next thursday.

yoyodyne called me later and said they had them in stock.

Ak also called me back, but i didn't get a chance to talk with them.

[Rye]

Hotbodies' owner is close with my buddy in San Diego. I can try (no guarantees) to get the NESR racing/group some sort of deal. I'll let you know.

[gonzo6]

Originally posted by Rye
Hotbodies' owner is close with my buddy in San Diego. I can try (no guarantees) to get the NESR racing/group some sort of deal. I'll let you know.

can someone say sponsor.

[Stoneman]

I've already got an 'agreement' with Sharkskinz, and I'm happy with 'em. In all fairness, look what Gary's going through trying to get his hands on ANY race plastic right now. Now just isn't the time to be ordering shit for your race bike, no matter what you're trying to get. Try getting just about anything right now for GSXR's or CBR's (race shit). It's damn near impossible...

They even just sent me TWENTY patches I asked for, for our pitshirts. No questions asked...

[GMAN226]

Rye,
Thanks for the thought but I also entered into an agreement with Sharkskinz... But next year is a different story...

G-man

[Degsy]

Me too. I'm contracted to Sharkskinz, but in my opinion they are in breach of that by only making stock when it is ordered.

Degs

[Rye]

JIT manufacturing does not work in this business. If your name was Bostrom you'd have your stuff yesterday. But ask Sharskinz who's paying the bills, privateer racers or the hotshots.

[Collision pro]

Gary, Try ebay. I seen a few sets on there. They were cheap too.

[Kip]

I agree you with. I wouldn't buy anything without checkin out E-bay first. These are race bikes not $25K Harley's who cares what they look like it's how fast they can go around the track.

[GMS1000]

Originally posted by Collision pro
Gary, Try ebay. I seen a few sets on there. They were cheap too.

i've been on ebay for 2 weeks now.....

peace

[gonzo6]

Originally posted by GMS1000
i've been on ebay for 2 weeks now.....

peace

found anything yet?

[GMS1000]

Originally posted by gonzo6
found anything yet?

yeah. just make sure you have your bike at the track by friday.....

[GMAN226]

Originally posted by GMS1000
yeah. just make sure you have your bike at the track by friday.....

The 169 MPH rolling parts bin

G-man

[gonzo6]

NO PROBLEM!
...just as long as it can roll home.

[Rye]

What's the rule on having a belly pan that catches fluid, or do they even care? I figured that they wouldn't know if you were using different lowers at tech.

[Degsy]

You have to use an AMA spec belly pan at Loudon

Derek