Zstory exhaust delay

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Hi chaps

To sum up, the rear silencers and exhaust lines I'll have mid-May : definitive but regretfully the manifolds not until the end of July.
This is what I posted up on my FB page, copied here in case you don't do FB,

My sincere apologies for the unexpected delays.

Kind rgds,
Sean

ps still having to sleep +12hrs a day from Covid-fatigue - I bloody hope this wears off quickly !

--------------------------------------

My latest exhaust production batch – the news !


My last batch arrived in late October last year, already overdue by a month due to Covid-related delays and almost immediately sold out ! No problem I thought, I’ll start an order immediately to have more stock available from February and promptly sent off the deposit of £12000 – the parts originating in the UK.

Asking for updates and progress reports in December, I start hearing stories that they’re short of staff and they were even closed down for at least a month but I’m being reassured that I’ll have my goods early March at the latest !

Then I’m being told that they can’t get the raw materials in but it will definitely be ready before April…….then it becomes April itself………and then I discover that they are bankrupt and into receivership ! Oh merde !

Basically due to Covid last year, production had dropped and they WERE having trouble getting the steel raw material and then this latest wave made things even harder but the real blow was Brexit which in one swipe deleted more than half of their client list ! They’d had a lot of big orders from these bigger-than-I clients and my (relatively) small order dropped down the priority list.

Whatever, the damage is done, the time lost and my money is blocked, probably lost whilst the receivers manage the companys’ assets and check through the accounts.

In a way, I’m not entirely depressed because I’d had recurring problems with parts leaving this company which I discovered recently was due to them taking on temporary staff and giving them no guidance ; just ‘do this and do that’ which resulted in solved issues reoccuring and new ones appearing but I feel lied to and cheated now ! In any case, prices were rising and transport too with new import charges levied where before there were none !

The good news is that I have finally managed to recover my prototypes after a lot of haggling (I was on my Covid hospital bed on oxygen whilst arranging this)and I’ve just shipped* them to another production company I have used before.

I used this company early last year to make a batch of mufflers and all went smooth and well, no-one notice dany difference in quality and indeed, some clients remarked on the high welding quality.

From this feedback and very satisfied with my new S30 period competition replica wheels, I have effectively moved my entire exhaust production to China ; please don’t scowl, your mobile/cell-phone is probably made there too and functions perfectly !

The trick is not to insist on so cheap a price, I’ve been preparing this for twelve months - it was on the cards to move but not so early and not in such circumstances.


Exhaust lines and mufflers :

So, going back to February, I had decided to place a Chinese order as a back up and when the UK parts arrived, I would simply have more stock. Now I’m grateful for the foresight and the exhaust lines and mufflers will be with me mid-May – that is certain.

Exhaust manifolds/headers :

*this is the sensitive part ! They ‘en route’ now, to be inspected and replicated, then I’ll need to see them (shipping back to me) to confirm their conformity with, hopefully, no issues and then production can begin. The production time and then maritime shipping of 6x weeks (manifolds/headers take up a lot of volume and air-freight is simply not an option) plus unloading, customs and land transport to me means that I won’t have them until the end of July at the earliest !

This will be an intolerable delay to some of you, outrageous, holding you ‘to ransom’ and I’m very deeply, sincerely sorry for the disappointment – it’s been an awful 6xmonths for me and catching the Corona virus last month and still leaving me very tired and with migraines was just the cherry on top !

Refunds :

And I regret to inform those loyal clients of mine who wish to be refunded that I don’t have any remaining treasury ; I have financed a second exhaust line and muffler order plus a new manifold/downpipe order – the missing £12k to which I have no access and have probably lost most if not all has left me with empty-pockets. I worked bloody hard for ten years to pay off my initial credit and I’m almost back to square one.*

I took out the credit back in 2010 to continue production after being let down by a partner and whose only words were ‘we declare ourselves bankrupt and as a Private Limited Company we’re not liable’…..except that existing and new friends had paid for and expected their exhausts ! That’s not my way of doing things ; I didn’t let them down then and I have no intention of doing so now however, as before, I do ask for your patience and comprehension.

I hope to be able to make some form of commercial gesture to those adversely affected whether that be a part-refund or higher value in parts but none of this I can do before the end of Summer – all will be noted on my books !

*I have a meeting with my bank next week for a substantial business loan, already agreed in principal to enable me not only to produce and ship in enough stock to always have parts on the shelf - no more waiting but expand the exhaust range and other parts too - heater cores, lightweight door and hatch hinges and revised front diff supports to combine with another pet exhaust project;)

This has been probably the hardest message I’ve ever had to write and I can understand and will accept the backlash of disappointment and frustration…to all of you I apologise for the lack of response over the past several weeks ; simply, I was still optimistic in finding the solution to have all the parts available this month of April and everything was so fluid, it was impossible to report anything and I’d already passed several ‘ready-by’ dates !

With hindsight, I believe that the company was on the rocks last year (perhaps following Covid-19 ?) and Brexit was perhaps the 'coup de grace', whatever, I shall rebound from this stronger and reward those loyal customers.

I remain at your service and disposition.

Kind regards,

Sean

Ps I shall be continuing to enlarge my range of exhausts, hopefully finishing this year with my period-looking twin-centre exit line with built-in heat protection for stock fuel reservoirs. My 280ZX exhausts need upgrading too and I have a plan for track-only racers, again – a period style exhaust line – I have plenty to keep me busy !
 

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uk66fastback

Club Member
That’s sad to have to report Sean, and a lot of it is out of your hands obviously. All this plus catching Covid as well cannot have been easy. Let’s hope your recovery continues, albeit slowly for now.

At what stage is the production of the exhaust line for the stock manifold? Is that included in the above information or is that a whole other thing that is further down the list now?
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Thanks Mike - been a bitch of a year so far....

"At what stage is the production of the exhaust line for the stock manifold? Is that included in the above information or is that a whole other thing that is further down the list now?"

The exhaust lines and mufflers are on their way and will arrive mid-May.
The manifold samples are still on their way to the factory to be scanned and the jigs made up but my contact there and I will push for their rapid production once we've checked the first versions of each. I'm really hoping that end of July is a worst-case scenario but until they packed and shipped, I can give any firm confirmation.

Cheers,

Sean
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
Okay, that’s fine Sean, good to have some kind if rough target date.
I hope you can manage to ‘smooth’ the new production arrangements out.
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Sorry to hear you’ve been unwell Sean! Wishing you a speedy recovery chap!
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
I reckon you should name and shame those that have let you down but more importantly you are getting back to strength,Shame these people are using COVID as an excuse for most things that go wrong it’s getting on everyone’s nerves now and those of you that are waiting for one of the French blokes exhausts is all I can say is they are a perfect fit,excellent quality and sound good
 

TimFZ

Club Member
Hi all, and of course Sean.
Are we seeing another similar delay end of 2021 to 2022? Initially Sean suggested I would receive an exhaust before Christmas and we are nearing March with no confirmation of dates.

It reassures me that despite delays, customers report a quality item eventually arrives. Maybe Sean could update on progress for the latest batch so we have an idea what to expect.

Cheers all!
 

8658kv

Club Member
Hi all, and of course Sean.
Are we seeing another similar delay end of 2021 to 2022? Initially Sean suggested I would receive an exhaust before Christmas and we are nearing March with no confirmation of dates.

It reassures me that despite delays, customers report a quality item eventually arrives. Maybe Sean could update on progress for the latest batch so we have an idea what to expect.

Cheers all!
Hi Tim

I had been waiting since last Jan, luckily my two arrived last week. Your quite welcome to the one of them as the car it's earmarked for seems to be travelling around Europe on a ship. When your exhaust arrives I can have that one.

Steve
 

TimFZ

Club Member
Hi Tim

I had been waiting since last Jan, luckily my two arrived last week. Your quite welcome to the one of them as the car it's earmarked for seems to be travelling around Europe on a ship. When your exhaust arrives I can have that one.

Steve
Hi thanks for the offer. But I'm not desparate for mine as my old and getting rustier mild steel version is still working (and I'm guessing yours is not a 2/2 and needing his downpipe...) . If it is on the way soon I am happy to wait. Just wish we had some information from Sean about current expectations. I know of at least one other person who has been waiting for over a year for theirs! Sadly, delays are inevitable but when you expect 3 months and it takes over a year with little information, this is not great feedback for Z story/Sean, especially as most of his clients will read this website. Hoping he will give us some good news soon!
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
Sean had to make an emergency dash back over here a while back and was also hit with COVID quite bad just before Xmas so has all sorts going on so be patient it’ll be worth it
 
There was something on Facebook about delays on freight from china where someone had been waiting etc.. Looks like he had pics of some to post out.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
I’m expecting mine very soon I hope … first ordered in Jan 2021 - but I’m waiting for the one for the standard manifold. Sure it’ll be worth the wait though … any updates Sean?
 

TimFZ

Club Member
I had an email from Sean today. So he's alive and still on the scene! Sounds like he's struggling with the huge number of shipments. Some of which are already in the UK.

He added that if you have an email on your invoice, you will automatically get a shipment number sent.
 

Russell

Club Member
I have one on order for my 2+2. Hopefully not delayed too much as nearly ready for it.

I have only heard great things of the quality and looking forward to hearing the 1JZ on the other end of it!
 
I had an email from Sean today. So he's alive and still on the scene! Sounds like he's struggling with the huge number of shipments. Some of which are already in the UK.

He added that if you have an email on your invoice, you will automatically get a shipment number sent.

Thats good news. hes been active on Facebook.

Its the issue of paying up front and a 10 month wait.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
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