Since my last posts months ago with the ute mods, the missus has been running like a dream... thought i'd treat her to a canopy a few weeks ago...
Rang a couple of ARB franchises around Sydney and settled on Artarmon so i could drop the ute off at fitment time n catch the train back n forth.
Spoke to the guy on the phone, I cant get the new model cover as mine is a 2005 model, just the Classic. No biggie. All the bells n whistles please, texted him a pic of my colour plate from the engine bay, model details, YEAR etc.
"Will be ready in 10 days mate, just need a deposit" Sure thing, here's $500 spondooleys... booked it in for a thursday drop off, they could have it till saturday. Arranged other transport for work during that time, rotated a couple of peoples shifts etc.
Went to M and W toolboxes in St peters n got a custom alu toolbox made in the meantime... told you I was treating her eh!?
Thursday rolls around, make the calls. All good. Pick up toolbox, ratchet strap her inside the tub and head to Artarmon. Pull into their garage, park the old girl. Give her a pat her on the dash... she's happy she's gettin' a new hairpiece.
Head into the offices and say I'm here to drop the ute off for a fitment. Get bounced around a couple of people before finding the guy I'd been dealing with on the phone, Shane. Pick some oval roofbars to be fitted on top, then back to the desk where it all goes wrong.
Hats off to the guy for spotting it at that moment coz I'd have been well pissed if they'd called me when I got back home. There was a sudden huddle around the computer screen and one of Shane's colleagues looked up and asked my what year mine was. I replied 2005, white... etc, you have all the details.
Shane starts looking sheepish. I get the bad news that he's ordered for a 2009 model... which is 100mm longer. Tape measure comes out, we head out to the missus and yeah they're over by 100mm.
Now I've got a toolbox sitting in the tub which wasn't going to be bolted down until the canopy went in for obvious reasons. I've got no place to store it and I'm not driving around town for another couple of wks like that, it'll probably get lifted. Shane doesn't seem to think so and reckons "yeah just leave it strapped in there until we get the new one in"
Not even an apology for messing me around, putting people out... just another bright idea to cover his balls up.
Cutting the umbilical cord with this one, i ask the guy who spotted the mistake, David, who seems pretty switched on... where i can store it in the garage until I come back. All gets sorted, I leave and battle the rush hr traffic for my troubles.
This was two weeks ago. Ive just rang them again to confirm its in this week as arranged. "Nope, next week... ah yes, the navara... black canopy." Nope, it's white... QM1 colour code. 2005 model. Sigh.
All going to plan, it's going to be a 5week turnaround if they get it right. I was initially going to ask them to give the girl a suspension/ grease up/ check etc too, but I think they've handled enough of my hard earned $. I'll take it somewhere that deserves the money.
I'll let you know how it goes. Rant over.
Rang a couple of ARB franchises around Sydney and settled on Artarmon so i could drop the ute off at fitment time n catch the train back n forth.
Spoke to the guy on the phone, I cant get the new model cover as mine is a 2005 model, just the Classic. No biggie. All the bells n whistles please, texted him a pic of my colour plate from the engine bay, model details, YEAR etc.
"Will be ready in 10 days mate, just need a deposit" Sure thing, here's $500 spondooleys... booked it in for a thursday drop off, they could have it till saturday. Arranged other transport for work during that time, rotated a couple of peoples shifts etc.
Went to M and W toolboxes in St peters n got a custom alu toolbox made in the meantime... told you I was treating her eh!?
Thursday rolls around, make the calls. All good. Pick up toolbox, ratchet strap her inside the tub and head to Artarmon. Pull into their garage, park the old girl. Give her a pat her on the dash... she's happy she's gettin' a new hairpiece.
Head into the offices and say I'm here to drop the ute off for a fitment. Get bounced around a couple of people before finding the guy I'd been dealing with on the phone, Shane. Pick some oval roofbars to be fitted on top, then back to the desk where it all goes wrong.
Hats off to the guy for spotting it at that moment coz I'd have been well pissed if they'd called me when I got back home. There was a sudden huddle around the computer screen and one of Shane's colleagues looked up and asked my what year mine was. I replied 2005, white... etc, you have all the details.
Shane starts looking sheepish. I get the bad news that he's ordered for a 2009 model... which is 100mm longer. Tape measure comes out, we head out to the missus and yeah they're over by 100mm.
Now I've got a toolbox sitting in the tub which wasn't going to be bolted down until the canopy went in for obvious reasons. I've got no place to store it and I'm not driving around town for another couple of wks like that, it'll probably get lifted. Shane doesn't seem to think so and reckons "yeah just leave it strapped in there until we get the new one in"
Not even an apology for messing me around, putting people out... just another bright idea to cover his balls up.
Cutting the umbilical cord with this one, i ask the guy who spotted the mistake, David, who seems pretty switched on... where i can store it in the garage until I come back. All gets sorted, I leave and battle the rush hr traffic for my troubles.
This was two weeks ago. Ive just rang them again to confirm its in this week as arranged. "Nope, next week... ah yes, the navara... black canopy." Nope, it's white... QM1 colour code. 2005 model. Sigh.
All going to plan, it's going to be a 5week turnaround if they get it right. I was initially going to ask them to give the girl a suspension/ grease up/ check etc too, but I think they've handled enough of my hard earned $. I'll take it somewhere that deserves the money.
I'll let you know how it goes. Rant over.
