Chuck Z

Many of you may remember my experience with iForged on the wheels for the black GTS I just sold. The wheels fit awesome (except for the lug holes not being big or deep enough) and I plan to use them on my remaining GATS.



Through the entire process of my first experience with iForged, I always said it wasn't the look/fit nor the quality of the wheel I had a problem with. It was their complete lack of anything that resembled customer service and the total lack of integrity. That was 1 1/2 years ago, fast forward to yesterday.

First, rewind to two months ago when we picked up our new BMW 650i coupe. Since we really like the look, quality and cost of the iForged wheels we decided to order another set of the iForged Technik wheels in a 20" with the centers painted Monaco Blue to match the exterior of the car. Since we had a really bad experience dealing with Vince Wong at iForged we figured we could avoid that experience agagainy buying from one of their dealers. I can attempt to forgive someone at least once and give them the bebenefitf a doubt. Since I had also dealt with Danny at Up on 3 Racing I decided I would work with him. He gave us a really good deal and ordered the wheels in mid October. At that time he told me it would be 4-6 weeks for delivery. 4-6 weeks came and went and no wheels. I called and was told Vince was too busy with SEMA and that they would get built immediately after the show. I checked again in early December and was told they were on schedule so that I would have them by the end of December. Yesterday, I send Danny at Up on 3 Racing an email asking for an update. He called yesterday afternoon and to tell me he was no longer selling iForged wheels following a meeting with Vince Wong at iForged. Danny asked Vince what the status of my order and several others that were to deliver by the end of December. At that point Vince (who is apapparentlynder a great deal of stress) responded with f*ck your customers, just tell them they are delayed! A bit more conversation occurred and Vince ended the meeting with "get the f*ck out of here!" Now, Danny at Up on 3 is taking heat from some of his less understanding customers because iForged threw him under the bus.

At no point did Danny know of my previous interaction with iForged prior until yesterday and Vince Wong at iForged did not know I was one of Danny's customers.

What a shame. Some people/companies seem to realize success in spite of themselves.

I still do plan to take the 18" iForged Technik wheels from the black GATS, paint them either midnight blue metallic or a medium to dark gray and put them on my other 95 GATS. I really did want another set for the BMW! Oh well........

BC

Chuck - Aren't these wheels very pricey? Are CCW or Kenesis or Forgeline-like wheels not an option for you? The newer 997 wheels have awesome offsets, and they could look great on your GTS with some paint in your ideal color.

How do you like the 650? Seems like a great car.

perrys4

How do they stay in business if they can't supply the product and treat dealers and customers this way? I thought the wheel biz was a very competitive one.

AO

Chuck,
You fail to see the big picture here. iForged is using a new business model, based on having zero customers. They obviously know how to make wheels, and from your account they are very nice wheels. Good fit, finish, etc. Isn't it obvious that they are too busy focusing on these efforts to have anything to do with their customers? If you would quit pestering them, they might actually get some work done!

On a much more serious note, if Vince is the owner, his business is doomed! But if he's merely an employee, and I was the owner, I'd want to know so I could fire his butt!

Tom928

"The industrial landscape is littered with once successful companies that could not adapt their strategic vision to meet customer needs or market competition" - Author unknown.

Bad customer service seems to be the norm these days and it's putting alot of people out of business.

Cheers,

SharkSkin

Maybe they should change their name to iForgot(to ship).

ErnestSw

Once bitten twice shy. You rationalized the risk on the basis of your desire for the wheels and lost. I'm sorry for the outcome, but not surprised.

MGW-Fla

While I understand your liking the wheel & wanting to give someone a 2nd chance, I guess I'm just not as noble a guy as you are Chuck. I admire you even giving them another try after what you went through previously. I wouldn't care how great their wheels looked or anything else.

Just on the principle there is NO WAY I'd have their product on something that I owned so I could be free advertising for them! Just think how many people unknown to you might see your great looking shark & like those wheels, attempt to buy them or have service after they bought them, then have to deal with the nightmares you have had to endure, TWICE! I say do you part & spread the word of what you've gone thru to help others NOT have to go thru the same thing.

Obviously, they have a definate pattern of poor business policy that will be a suicidal model for their demise! There are just too many other quality wheels out there & the companies that back them up that understand that without their customers there isnt much point in them even making the product in the 1st place. Lots of great products have gone by the wayside due to the idoits that made them not getting 100% of the business picture!

Jim bailey - 928 International

I can only imagine what it would be like to make a warranty claim for a defective wheel...

Giovanni

iForged is the name hahh.

Meaning of Forge:
http://www.answers.com/topic/forge

They are not Forging anymore.

Randy V

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

If it was me, there's no way in hell I'd buy another of their products after the first cluster-****...

Black Sea RD

Complete Custom Wheel (CCW) has some great looking wheels, their newest versions looking somewhat like the ones pictured above. Most are priced around $2600.00 for the set of 4, are made in the USA and are forged wheels. Talked to John the owner himself a few days ago and he is very easy to talk to and willing to work with a customer to give him/her what they need. Haven't bought anything yet but I would definetly include them in my list of possibilites for new wheels.

Constantine

JPTL

That's exactly what I was thinking. If they have such an elitist attitude toward their customers before they get their money, I can only imagine how they treat them after they get your money. They sound like they're more suited to catering to the bling crowd who need one-off gold plated wheels at any cost and at any wait.

Have you ruled out RH Wheels? As far as customer service is concerned, Joe really treated me right, as it's clear that he appreciates his customers before and after the sale. My wheel/tire package was put together & shipped when he said it would be.
The AK-Phoenix is a really nice look on Beemers.

I wonder how it would look on a new 6 Series with color-matched centers....

Marine Blue

Chuck,

If you're willing to spend a few bucks more per wheel check out HRE. They're the same quality as I-Forged and their customer service is top notch. The designs sold by I-Forged are copies of HRE's.

As the saying goes you get what you pay for. The reason I-Forged is still in business is because people want their wheels but they don't want to pay the premium the other guys are charging. If you are patient and can deal with their BS you'll get a nice set of wheels......eventually.

the flyin' scotsman

With you there Randy.........never would have went back.