my saga with Clifford...

[pinkiedog64]

I put in an order right at a month ago for a set of Clifford shorty headers and they told me they had just sold out and that it would be another 3 weeks before they'd have new ones made and ready to ship out. Kniwng their reputation, I was skeptical, but was ok with waiting. I asked Larry to call me when he found out when they'd be ready, and of course I never received a call. I called last week and asked why they were not ready and why I had not received a phone call and he beat around the bush and acted like I was a dumb, impatient kid. He said it would be another week, so again, I asked him to call when they were ready, which was supposed to be this last Monday, and no call then either. I called yesterday and gave him a good chunk of my mind. I told him that their reputation for customer service and punctualness was less than stellar (and by that I mean I told him it was chitty, in a nice way of course...). He instantly accused me of only believing that because I am a member on "that damn Mopar forum" He says all the moderators hate him and are out to get him and I said, "well maybe there is a reason for that" He shut up slightly when I said that. Anyways, I chewed him up one side and down the other about how slow and unprofessional they were being and that I (and everyone else who buys from them) pays good money for his stuff and we deserve to have it on time. I told him I'd cancel the order if it was not completed in a week, and then we hung up. Not 30 minutes later did he call back and say he found a set of black ceramic coated headers at the shop (new of course) and that he'd be willing to split the cost of the ceramic coating with me and ship them out today if I wanted. I said yes, and shortly later that day I received an email from UPS saying they are on their way.

Just goes to show what not backing down and tell people how things really are actually works. I didn't enjoy chewing him out, but I also did not enjoy not having my pricey headers when I shoud have.

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Stephan Nelle
'64 D100 /6 225
'60 Valiant /6 170
'03 Ram 3500 4x4 I6 5.9 CR
'07 Yamaha FZ-1

[Ceej]

I feel your pain Pinkiedog,

Some important pieces of this that I'd like to remind everyone of:

Clifford is one of our SlantSix racing sponsors. They put a lot of dollars out that help us tremendously.

They are a small company that doesn't have the bank to stock large inventories of slow moving parts. Our car's aren't mainstream, so expecting next day or even speedy service on these parts isn't reasonable.

For all intents and purposes, clifford is a custom supplier.

Be patient. It can take some time to get parts of this nature. Let's not be over critical where the loss of a single supplier could be catastrophic to the price and availability of performance parts.



I'm not saying to not contact the supplier when the designated time frame has been exceeded, just keep the size of the supplier in perspective.

One of your Moderators at "That xxx Mopar Forum."

CJ

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Tyrde-Browne Racing

I'm off to find myself. If I should return before I get back, keep me here.

[SlantSixDan]

Yeah, small company, low-volume parts, etc. All that is true. But that does not excuse ever-changing stories about availability, stated ship dates that don't really happen, rude telephone behaviour or avoiding & not returning phone calls, being quick to charge customers' credit cards but slow to issue refunds when the product never ships and the customer runs out of patience (or the wrong product ships), etc.

Clifford was not always run this way. Only since the current owner took over. It does not have to be this way, and if it takes people reading reports like this on "damn forums" like this one to get Clifford to clean up his act, then that's the way the free market corrects behaviour like Clifford's. I am not inclined to hush up and accept this what Clifford says and does just because he provides sponsorship dollars. It's not okay with me for Clifford to try to use sponsorship as a wedge to buy silence about the way he treats customers.

Bottom line: You're largely correct, Ceej, that Clifford is necessarily more like a custom supplier than a warehouse distributor. But they advertise and promise service closer to the WD end of the scale, and they repeatedly fail to live up to that promise.

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一期一会

By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class

[dakight]

I may be mistaken, but I was under the impression that it is illegal to charge a credit card until the product is actually processed for shipping. I know that reputable companies such as Summit Racing and Jegs operate that way.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'62 Valiant Signet, Red
'98 Dodge Dakota
'05 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

[Bren67Cuda904]

When I bought my shorty headers they said they sell around 1500 of these each year. That doesn't sound like a small amount. I personally think thats a bold face lie.

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67Cuda,FAST EZEFI,340cu,CR=10.25,RollerCam&Rocker (XR268HR,#20-810-9)(#1622-16)(EddyRPM#60779,#7576), (MSD6AL,#6425) A904, GearVendorsOD, 8 1/4,3.55:1, ClassicAir

[Dart270]

I would guess they are too high by 100X.

Lou

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Return of the 64 Dart. Hang on...

[Joshua Skinner]

Maybe he meant $1500 worth.

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Joshua Skinner
car nut, telecom tech, tool using mammal
'72 Dart Swinger

[stonethk]

Old thread but I'll chime in anyway.
Although I have never dealt with them personally.
My Take on the whole "Clifford" thing is this:

I'm a carpenter, and no false modesty here- I am good at what I do.
All my work is "word of mouth", I have a good reputation and plan on keeping it.

It's the same with resellers and customers experiences, word gets around quickly as to how you operate, it is a natural weeding out process so to speak.
If a few people have it in for you that should be pretty obvious to anyone looking into the problem, but I don't think this is the case.

I don't post a whole lot of things here but I do read a lot and have come to respect the opinions and expertise of the people here.

That is my point, collective experience, IMO, speaks volumes.
I could go on with the praises but I'd rather spend the time thinking of ways to make my / go faster.

Just remember:
Caveat Emptor

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[mopar5151]

I have dealt with Clifford, and found Larry to be very helpful and honest. It sounded to me that he was very knowledgeable. I have been a Chrysler mechanic for over 30 years, so I can only imagine what dumb questions that he is asked. He returned my phone call promptly, and the lady answering the phone (Jack Cliffords daughter) was very polite. All in all I had a very good expieriance.

[SlantSixDan]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and welcome on the board, Mr., uh…sorry, what'd you say your name is, and what kind of car(s) have you got?

Joining up on a forum and digging up a four-years-dead thread for your very first post is kinda…suggestive, don'tchya think?

_________________
一期一会

By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class

[vynn3]

Wonder why/how the lady's parentage came up in a conversation about parts. Does she routinely answer the phone that way, or did you specifically ask?

I mean, I inquire about such personal details all the time when I order parts, but I'm a weirdo...

Welcome to the forum! Interesting first post...

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vm

[CNC-Dude]

I think its pretty much common knowledge that she is Jack Clifford's daughter and is trying to carry the torch to keep the business going. Larry just kinda' inherited the business only because he is married to her and somehow has been placed into the "spokesperson" role for the company. Its my understanding from what i've heard from other Inline forums that Clifford is Larry's secondary job, and he has no real interest in it, he's not even a car guy . So this type of customer service isn't just a Slant issue, its also a Ford, Chevy and AMC/Jeep issue as well. Its just how they do business unfortunately.

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There's no such thing as too much cam....only not enough engine!

[Red]

FWIW: over the years, I've placed a few spendy orders with them, both before and after Jack passed from the scene (though none within the past 5 years or so). Always received reasonable service with correct parts arriving intact.

Not trying to dismiss the horror stories I've read about here. Just offering anecdotal evidence that it isn't always that way, is all. I have no way of knowing what the odds of receiving good service from them are. Just relating that I, personally, always have.

Certainly can also understand why those of you who have been jacked around would be disinclined to repeat the experience.

Sure would be nice if they'd make more of an effort to treat everyone as well as they treated me, because I agree with ceej's point: we can ill afford to lose aftermarket suppliers of our remote little corner of the market.

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obliquely-inclined state of mind

[CNC-Dude]

I think the majority of these issues are for items they have to out-source to other people, like headers, intake manifolds, valve covers, etc... They don't or wont place an order to get these products made until they reach a certain number of orders to begin with. You might place an order today, but it might be 2 months before they get enough orders to begin production of the item you ordered. Then if there are production delays, that just adds to the wait time and frustration rises.

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There's no such thing as too much cam....only not enough engine!

[vynn3]