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View Full Version : FESLER, SEMA and making parts. Sorry for the long post



Fesler built
11-13-2008, 05:22 AM
Sorry to all that FESLER has offended and for the long post.

I have heard a few rumors about how people were treated at SEMA and let me be the first to tell you that we in no way meant to offend anyone or treat anyone like they were not welcome in our booth. Please understand that when we are at a show for 7 days we get tired, people get cranky and it should never come off to anyone who steps in our booth at a show that we attend.

With that being said some people are stating that they have a problem with the way they were treated because they may not have had a buyer’s badge. Please understand that it was no way intended towards anyone person and it should not happen but if it does we apologize for it and would hope that you would tell the people in charge instead of running your mouth on a board to try and start stuff.

We had over 1000 dealer inquires and imagine how many people that is to try and talk to in 4 days at SEMA. Does it make it right absolutely not so again if anyone that was at SEMA or any other show for that matter feels that they were treated bad they should tell us so that we can fix that. I would also hope that people understand that we are very busy at shows working the booths, dealing with cars and running around taking care of things. We are people and we all have good and bad days.

SEMA cost a ton of money and we are there for one reason to get dealers and that’s it, everyone wants to take time up asking about this and that but at the end of the day SEMA is not the place for that its about getting new products out and getting dealers. To the guys that just want to shoot the S%$T we love to do that just not at the largest dealer show of the year. We have over $50,000 invested in just SEMA and that does not include the hotels for 7 guys for 7 days or for the cost of getting to the show. So as you can see we are all in a mind set to sell sell sell. Ask the others that attend Marquez, DSE or Airride and they will all tell you the same thing. If we can’t go to this show to get dealers there is no reason for us to be there it’s a waist of money.

So again we never meant to offend anyone at the show, if we did not give you the proper attention I AM SORRY and that should not happen. We try to spend as much time as we can with each person but when 50 people hit the booth at once and there is only 3 people working its impossible to help everyone in a short show. We try to do our best but obviously we did not at this show. If you would like to talk about a part or something we did my PM is open and I will personally respond to you.

I also know there are a few guys just trying to start some stuff with everything that went on at SEMA this year. So no matter what we do they will post what they want and we can’t stop that so keep in mind that everything you read on this site is not always true or to the point just people moving air around. Many of you know we have some people out there that don’t like us and there is not much we can do about that. What’s done is done but if there is anything we can do to fix something we will be man enough to try.

I would like to set the record straight on some things. We manufacture parts, we sell parts and we do a heck of a job marketing parts. Some of the competition just wants to say we steal everything out there well you guys can be the judge on that. No matter what I do some parts will cross over because you guys are asking me for them. If you cant get them from the currant manufactures and keep asking me to build something I am going to build it, we will redesign it and make it better. There are only so many ways you can build something and only one way all of these parts will fit the car so when someone out there says they took my part and copied it well think about this who did they copy it from. We are making cool parts that were designed 40-50 years ago and we are making them better. None of us designed the hood hinge, tail light, fender brace, door jam vent or striker they have all been done for years; we are just making them better with a cool design to them or different look to them.

If you guys were getting the parts you were asking for I would not be in the parts business because there would be no need for me to do it. We designed a few parts and went to the competition about some private label work and they were not interested because they stated that those cars will not sell, keep in mind we already had it designed and ready to make. So we started to make parts and as you can see we have more applications than all of them. I have tried over and over to work with the competition and they just push us away, I try to work with them so we don’t have the same stuff but they refuse us to carry their products or buy their products so that only leaves me one choice start building my own. Remember I build the part for a car in my shop before I ever think about selling it but now that I make parts I think of all the stuff that you guys need and want.

So we are building parts for all cars not just a few, I have so many designs on paper for all the cars in our shop and right now that is 18 cars so as you can see that is a lot of parts coming out. Someone else might be making them or trying to design them as well and that is good because some people like one part over another so competition is good, creativity is good and having stuff sitting on the shelve ready to ship out is great.

I am not going to stop making parts in fact we are gearing up to make more. We have two full time machines right now prototyping parts and we are just now buying another one to make more. Yes we do everything in house from design to manufacture its all under the FESLER name so I guess that means I make stuff in house and not sub it out to someone else to make. I don’t have to wait for the machine to make a part and if I think of something that would be cool its on the machine for prototype with in the week. That is how you see so many new parts coming out from us and as you can see the competition is no where near us on producing parts.

Sorry for the long post and if you actually read it thanks for taking the time. I hope this clears some things up and not causes more problems.

rjsjea
11-13-2008, 09:18 AM
Gotta give props....you have produced more machined parts than any company I have seen in the last couple years. SEMA is a little chaotic, agree

Any thoughts on producing an automatic floor shifter (4l65/60/80)?? Or using an existing shifter but making the handle in the style of parts you produce (machined)

trapin
11-13-2008, 09:28 AM
Chris I wouldn't worry about it. I think there are still some people (and there probably always will be) who think SEMA is just some big car show for the buying public. It's not. It's for the Industry people. If you are not a dealer or manufacturer then you should know that technically you have no business being there in the first place. Be thankful that you are, snap your pictures, and be on your merry way.

I have visited with Chris at his old shop in Phoenix earlier this year and I can tell you he is a gracious person who has no problem making time for people who want to come in and ask questions about his products or chat about the business. SEMA is not a place to do this.

It seems like this happens every year where people complain about the vendors not giving them the proper attention. Perhaps SEMA needs to do more to keep civilians out; however unpopular that idea may be to some people here. LOL!!!

TonyL
11-13-2008, 09:47 AM
I agree with Tony, Chris. SEMA is just too important a time to be "hanging out" with fans of your work and products. You're there on business. This is why it's so hard to get a badge. These guy's time is valuable. I make it a point to stay outta the way when I am there.

JamesJ
11-13-2008, 10:02 AM
Any normal person should know that SEMA is just what you said, its a place to get dealers, not sell parts to one person and if they get mad who cares there are the selfish ones. NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC for a reason and most people in the booths dont know much anyways!

But as I said before, I think that starting a thread about it does not help you any, and may make you look worse.

Restomod
11-13-2008, 11:12 AM
Well....If you piss off the people who will in the end will be the ones that are buying the parts then having a ton of dealers will not do you any good..........

datsbad
11-13-2008, 11:33 AM
Nice post Chris...Thats more like it .

Mr.VENGEANCE
11-13-2008, 02:06 PM
sounds like you did the right thing to keep your business going.

blown9746
11-13-2008, 08:31 PM
I was at sema and am not in the industry. Therefore, I looked at and took pictures of what I wanted to. If the booth wasn't busy and I was a fan of the vendor's work I'd talk them up a little, but the minute someone else came I would move on.

70TWO NOVA
11-13-2008, 09:32 PM
a little less harsh over here than the old sister site is! lol.......theres a lot of soap opera drama over there about this subject for some reason.

compos mentis
11-13-2008, 09:37 PM
theres a lot of soap opera drama over there about this subject for some reason.

Maybe we're older and trying to conserve our energy?:hmm:

70TWO NOVA
11-13-2008, 09:40 PM
Maybe we're older and trying to conserve our energy?:hmm:
I guess....lol just seems kinda harsh over there, Chris seems like hes doing great with his business, but from the sound of things over there they want to burn him at the stake! lol...

Mr.VENGEANCE
11-13-2008, 09:46 PM
i noticed that also..

70TWO NOVA
11-13-2008, 09:59 PM
i noticed that also..
its funny how people come out of the woodwork when drama arises...lol

camcojb
11-13-2008, 10:03 PM
I'm still trying to figure out why he even posted the apology there, there was no thread about him at all until then....................... :enguard:
Jody

JamesJ
11-13-2008, 10:52 PM
I'm still trying to figure out why he even posted the apology there, there was no thread about him at all until then....................... :enguard:
Jody


I still dont know what all the discussion is about... :hmm:

novanutcase
11-13-2008, 11:05 PM
Drama just seems to follow him....

I don't dislike the guy at all but it seems like he's really congenial in posts but kinda snaps when whatever comment sets him off. When that happens I just wonder if the congenial part is for real or just him in salesman mode. I certainly understand the whole business side of it and people having a bad day but again, for me, I just see it happening over and over. I get that he's building a business and networking is an essential part of it and hooking up with the right people that will propel his business into the black(If it isn't already!) is a necessary thing but it just seems like there is this nagging question in the back of my mind.

PLEASE....before anyone jumps to the conclusion that I'm a hater, that is not the case. I mean, Hell, I have a set of his billet hinges on my project! It's just odd how he turns all of a sudden. At least in my expereince. That's what bothers me about the whole thing. Maybe it's just the whole internet thing and in person he's a swell guy. I don't know. I guess I just need to have a face to face if I ever get the chance but anytime I've seen him he's in salesman mode or he's got chit goin on so I don't want to come up to him and start shooting the chit for chits sake when he's got bigger fish to fry!

John

Mr.VENGEANCE
11-13-2008, 11:15 PM
you Hater, john..

hahaha

novanutcase
11-13-2008, 11:48 PM
you Hater, john..

hahaha

That's me!!! Maybe I should change my name to Haternutcase! LOL!

I just read some of the comments over at Lat-G and, as much as I don't want to agree with them because some of the comments were pretty harsh, I have to agree with some of it to some degree through the limited experience I've had with Chris and his company. I guess the thing that I got from it that I agree with is the cocky attitude that seems so prevalent in their(True? Is this the right "their"? LOL!) organization. I'm sure Chris sees it more as being confident about their product and services, which is fine, but maybe they're overstepping it a little in they're attempt to hype the company.

I think a lot of the people that have negative comments about this attitude they are perceiving are the type that like a more humble approach and letting the product speak for itself as they've been sold on other product by a self-agrandizing salesperson(Chris, before you go ballistic on me, I'm not refering to your company or anyone in it as self-agrandizing!) who has let them down. I think they want to see a track record rather than to hear someone tell them about how bad another companys product is. Again, Chris, I'm not saying that this actually took place since I wasn't there. I'm only using it as an example of comments I read over at Lat-G.

Lastly, I also agree with the comments about Chris posting a public apology. It may have been heartfelt but, in my eyes, it came off looking like you have a serious PR/image problem and your trying to do damage control. It also invites inquiry into why you felt it was so necessary to publicly apologize to people.

["Was it really so bad that he had to publicly apologize? Wow! It must have been a lot of people he pissed off if he's publicly apologizing! Maybe the haters are not really haters but have a valid point?"]

Again, it just invites query when, if nothing had been posted, no inquiry would have even crossed the uninitiateds mind.

Also, before anyone thinks I'm just being critical of Fesler Built because I have some sort of vendetta, I think it's great that Chris and company are offering parts that, prior, were not available in an updated version. As far as the whole copying thing, I'm going to reserve judgement because I'm not really sure how I feel about the whole situation. All I know is that he is getting product to market when others are not.

John