Pathfinder7
Member
So I've been debating posting this and starting something for a couple weeks, but after speaking to others who have ordered much later than me and been promised the same delivery dates, I feel I should at least make everyone aware of my experience with this company. Your mileage may vary.
Last July, like many others, I was researching different off road camping trailers. I was torn between the big dogs, Moby1 and SoCal Teardrops, and a local Oregon Trail’R. The big put off for me was the wait, estimated between 12-24 months for most of them at the time. While browsing around, I came upon Inka Outdoors from Gastonia, NC. While on the other side of the country from me, their product looked great, they put together a sweet build at a reasonable price, and most importantly at the time, they promised 8-9 months of build. Even with delays, I could have it by Summer 2018, so I ordered last July-August and sent in my 30% deposit.
Originally, I was told 8-9 months, but when my deposit cleared it was updated to 10 months. I have had to ask them every 3-4 months for updates as exactly zero were sent out without a request. Each time I inquired about the status, estimated delivery was pushed further back. Originally it was April-May this year, then July, then October, now December and beyond.
When I ordered, I was number 39 on the list. 10 months later, I was number 21 giving them an average of 1.8 campers built per month. At that rate, I was looking at another 12+ months of waiting and well over 2 years total wait, right up there with Moby1. Each time they promised me they were in the middle of a major restructuring, retooling, and rehire and would hit 4-5 builds per month, but that has never happened and I doubt it will. They hope it will, but hope is not a strategy...
I told them I felt that was not ok and requested a cancellation and full refund. Mike Stanford, the owner I believe, stated that they also agreed it was not ok, but there was nothing they could do. He stated I would receive some of my deposit back within 6 months (6 months of my trailer completion mind you) if they sold my "slot". Now realize that they do not sell canceled slots because they do not put anyone ahead in the line, or so they say. This clause allows them to hold my money (almost $9k) indefinitely as my slot keeps getting pushed back. They also state that they will keep 10% of the full price since I was the one who canceled. I asked Mike many times how that was right since they are the ones in violation of the contract, he basically said that's just how it is. I mentioned they had not done any kind of work on my build except for the initial quote. I conceded that I would give them $500 from the deposit for their trouble, even though, arguably, I have put more work in than they have on the build. They never responded to that email sent two weeks ago.
At this point, I am pretty miffed. I chose Inka over the closer and more established SoCal and Moby1 because they promised 8-9 months delivery. They constantly delayed and repromised the build date and they are now way past even what Moby1 promises. Now, they believe because I was not willing to wait for over double the promised time that they are now free to keep my money, indefinitely, and then only to partially refund it when they decide to.
They will no longer respond to my emails and are basically doing what they want since they have my cash and the upper hand. I have begun discussions with a lawyer in NC to see what my legal options are if any. It is a completely unacceptable practice that they are conducting. Basically, they over promise, take your money, delay, stall, fail to communicate, delay, and then keep the cash when you tire of waiting and ask to cancel. It's a pretty good deal on their part and I wonder how much of their business model is predicated on it. Build 1-2 campers a month and wait everyone else out while pocketing their money, then keep a nice 10% for your troubles when you are ready to return the deposit.
Now, I realize that I have high expectations when dropping $30k and I can get a little hot-tempered, but this is simply not right. What other business takes that much of a deposit, then consistently fails to deliver and when you finally decide to cut your losses and go another route, keeps 10% because you were not willing to wait more than double the promised delivery time? I will state that they have always been willing to answer my questions and were exceptionally nice and professional in the beginning. However, I am now out $9k for the time being and nearly a $3,000 “fee” because THEY failed to deliver in a reasonable time. Maybe I’m a fluke and others have received their builds in a reasonable time, or maybe this is just how they operate with the old bait and switch that salesmen in this business seem to know so well.
I encourage others to post their experiences with Inka Outdoors and Mike Stanford. Perhaps I’m an anomaly and should just suck it up as a life lesson in patience, or perhaps others have experienced this same thing and our community needs to go in with eyes wide open.
Cheers
Last July, like many others, I was researching different off road camping trailers. I was torn between the big dogs, Moby1 and SoCal Teardrops, and a local Oregon Trail’R. The big put off for me was the wait, estimated between 12-24 months for most of them at the time. While browsing around, I came upon Inka Outdoors from Gastonia, NC. While on the other side of the country from me, their product looked great, they put together a sweet build at a reasonable price, and most importantly at the time, they promised 8-9 months of build. Even with delays, I could have it by Summer 2018, so I ordered last July-August and sent in my 30% deposit.
Originally, I was told 8-9 months, but when my deposit cleared it was updated to 10 months. I have had to ask them every 3-4 months for updates as exactly zero were sent out without a request. Each time I inquired about the status, estimated delivery was pushed further back. Originally it was April-May this year, then July, then October, now December and beyond.
When I ordered, I was number 39 on the list. 10 months later, I was number 21 giving them an average of 1.8 campers built per month. At that rate, I was looking at another 12+ months of waiting and well over 2 years total wait, right up there with Moby1. Each time they promised me they were in the middle of a major restructuring, retooling, and rehire and would hit 4-5 builds per month, but that has never happened and I doubt it will. They hope it will, but hope is not a strategy...
I told them I felt that was not ok and requested a cancellation and full refund. Mike Stanford, the owner I believe, stated that they also agreed it was not ok, but there was nothing they could do. He stated I would receive some of my deposit back within 6 months (6 months of my trailer completion mind you) if they sold my "slot". Now realize that they do not sell canceled slots because they do not put anyone ahead in the line, or so they say. This clause allows them to hold my money (almost $9k) indefinitely as my slot keeps getting pushed back. They also state that they will keep 10% of the full price since I was the one who canceled. I asked Mike many times how that was right since they are the ones in violation of the contract, he basically said that's just how it is. I mentioned they had not done any kind of work on my build except for the initial quote. I conceded that I would give them $500 from the deposit for their trouble, even though, arguably, I have put more work in than they have on the build. They never responded to that email sent two weeks ago.
At this point, I am pretty miffed. I chose Inka over the closer and more established SoCal and Moby1 because they promised 8-9 months delivery. They constantly delayed and repromised the build date and they are now way past even what Moby1 promises. Now, they believe because I was not willing to wait for over double the promised time that they are now free to keep my money, indefinitely, and then only to partially refund it when they decide to.
They will no longer respond to my emails and are basically doing what they want since they have my cash and the upper hand. I have begun discussions with a lawyer in NC to see what my legal options are if any. It is a completely unacceptable practice that they are conducting. Basically, they over promise, take your money, delay, stall, fail to communicate, delay, and then keep the cash when you tire of waiting and ask to cancel. It's a pretty good deal on their part and I wonder how much of their business model is predicated on it. Build 1-2 campers a month and wait everyone else out while pocketing their money, then keep a nice 10% for your troubles when you are ready to return the deposit.
Now, I realize that I have high expectations when dropping $30k and I can get a little hot-tempered, but this is simply not right. What other business takes that much of a deposit, then consistently fails to deliver and when you finally decide to cut your losses and go another route, keeps 10% because you were not willing to wait more than double the promised delivery time? I will state that they have always been willing to answer my questions and were exceptionally nice and professional in the beginning. However, I am now out $9k for the time being and nearly a $3,000 “fee” because THEY failed to deliver in a reasonable time. Maybe I’m a fluke and others have received their builds in a reasonable time, or maybe this is just how they operate with the old bait and switch that salesmen in this business seem to know so well.
I encourage others to post their experiences with Inka Outdoors and Mike Stanford. Perhaps I’m an anomaly and should just suck it up as a life lesson in patience, or perhaps others have experienced this same thing and our community needs to go in with eyes wide open.
Cheers
