TheSamba.com :: View topic - Serrano feedback

Tue Aug 30, 2005 5:39 am

Yeah, Shriner, it's a heck of a long time, but with Steve, there's probably a good reason for it. I'd be upset too, but I wouldn't be finding every thread that has his name in it and being absolutist about any kind of transaction with him based on my ONE transaction involving an engine. Maybe he's waiting on a part. Has he explained exactly what the holdup is?

Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:29 am

Good morning Mharney, I got a message on my machine to call Brent at Serrano's, it seems my order was misplaced, he will schedule the build and give me a date today when I call him. We are 3 hours ahead of California so I will know more details then. Again I am not such an ass or hard ass as I may sound on the list, I've been working on this thing for a long time (maybe too long!!) an just anxious!!!!!!!!!!!

Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:32 am

I sometimes think I have to much time on my hands and when I sit and focus on one thing I do tend to overblow the situation!!!!!!!!!! No offense intended, thank you for bearing with me!!!! and listening to me rant and rave. What I need is the wind in my hair and the bugs in my teeth........... from this VW convert...........................................OH YEAHHHH!!!

Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:40 am

As I eluded to earlier a friend of mine got a engine from Serrano's 2 years ago and had it in a buggy. This thing was overran, overreved, over heated and virtually ABBBBBUSED. He has never been one for much maintainance, and this engine never gave him one minute of trouble. After seeing this thing I knew right then I wanted them to build my street engine. I've seen and read great reports on them on the net but actually seeing one of their engines made me a beliver. It did not matter how much or what he threw at this thing it would not quit, I felt bad for it sometimes but it kept ticking. He sold it this past Spring and is in the process of building a 4 seater and the new one will have a stroker from Serrano's...............can't get better advertisment than that!!!

Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:23 pm

i ordered some drop spindles from him and 3 days later they arrived and i live in the UK!.....thumps up from me i will defo buy from him again thanks steve 8)

Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:46 am

Is anyone have news from Serrano? I ordered him a big list of parts, and I am still waiting for him to reply my mails. I still don't know if my package is gone or what. I am a little anxious about that... Is he in holildays or what?

Sun Sep 04, 2005 3:19 am

seems serrano has been really busy over the past couple months...and I hate to say it, but so busy that they can't handle it. Ordered a 1776 last of June...and after patienty waiting, they said it would be shipped last month...then after 3+ weeks, they now say it will be shipped this week...they better be as good as o\everyone says.

Sun Sep 04, 2005 7:00 am

I called Serrano and place an order over the phone and it got here 1500 miles in three days.

Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:20 pm

Would NOT recommend Serrano mediocre service. Did not meet deadlines that were promissed.

Sun Sep 04, 2005 10:20 pm

Serrano's is great. The customer service is much better than any Ive dealt with. Fedex damaged a box and lost some parts. Steve asked me to take pictures and he'll have the parts out Tuesday. I ordered the big bore 40 horse kit. My case wasnt clearanced enough and he said he'll take them back as well. Doesnt need to as Ill be clearancing my case.

If you have any doubts just email/call the guy. Hes honest and only another man... just a really busy one. He will be my first choice in any parts I need to order.

Steve thanks for treating your customers right.

Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:36 pm

After over 4 months (paid in full end of April about $5K) I still have not received my engine. I've followed up with them every week since the 4th week when it was supposed to be here (originally quoted 2-3 weeks). My bus has been sitting all summer. Every week I have been told "next week" (and I mean every week, following up multiple times per week). I typically don't get calls back when they say they will call. I have been the nicest pissed off customer you could imagine. I just want my engine and hopefully I won't have issues after it comes.

I'm honestly not trying to bash, but it's my experience, and if anything, my comments are putting my experience nicely. I'm sure the motor will be great, but I have had very poor customer service for something so expensive (to me). It's not fun paying that much credit card interest for something I don't have either.

I'll put up until wednesday next week to give me a tracking number or I'm throwing in the towel and calling it quits. I would've done it a long time ago, but didn't want to start all over with another builder ...thinking I only had to wait one more week.

Hopefully I can follow up with a nicer post talking about how my engine was worth skipping a summer of my favorite hobby in my new bus I busted ass on to get ready.

Sounds like he's great with parts and the prices seem to be great. They have been nice on the phone when I have spoke with them. Hopefully you will have better luck than I have had, it sounds like many of you have had great experiences with them.

Mon Sep 05, 2005 5:33 am

Yeah, I like Steve, and he's generally pretty kick-ass, but 4 months is too long after saying 3 weeks. I'd get a refund in your case.

Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:06 pm

a-train

I have the same situation. I was ready to drive my pan-off project at the beginning of the summer and was just waiting on the trans. I just installed it last weekend because it took over four months.

I have posted about Serrano's before mostly praising their prices but I too was quoted three weeks for a transmission and waited over four months for my order. Not only did I order a trans but an engine as well. It was extremely frustrating, I had spent my money, and quite a bit of money, but had nothing to show for it. Another bad thing about it was the motor arrived at the house and then sat for two months becasue I had no trans to put it on. I have not started it just yet but plan on it this weekend. More than a few times, when I called, I was told the order shipped out or was about to ship out later in the week but really I feel I was justing being told what I wanted to hear because the order was not shipped unitl four months after it was made.

I dont want to totally give up on Steve and Serrano's because they are super nice and have great prices but there is no reason an order should be delayed over a month, much less four. And if there was a problem I sure as hell would have liked to hear about it from the company instead of me having to call every few days worrying about my $3000 order and getting a different answer every time.

Dont make a promise that you cant fulfill. I would have rather been told it would take 16 weeks, not three.

My car sat untouched since May because I had no transmission. Just this past weekend I finally got the trans and should be driving by the end of the weekend. I should have been driving my current project before the Summer but have yet to start it because of Serrano's lack of punctuality, not my own.

Sat Sep 10, 2005 2:29 am

I ordered about $1000 worth of parts for myself and some friends here in the UK from steve. The price was good even with the shipping and well worth ordering. 3 months later still no parts. These were ordered on a 10 day shipping, and I was told they were shipped. I would email steve who would say they are going or have gone. I understand the shop was burgled and this would cause a set back, so waited patiently.

In the end i stopped getting replies to emails. I ultimately informed my credit card company who refunded my money.

I would like to think that steve can sort out his shop, its quite obvious from this thread that he has problems keeping track of his orders and perhaps he also needs to tell a few people he is very busy and there will be a long delay in building engines or trannys.

Sat Sep 10, 2005 3:00 pm

Update.

My engine shipped last thursday, so it took a little over 4 months. He took the time to take some pics of it while it was on the stand and it looked awesome. I called the shipping company to see when it would be here and it looks like this coming Tuesday (sept 13th). I am now waiting for my exhaust (custom) as it had to go back to be ceramic coated, which HOPEFULLY, will be here by next weekend.

So without going into the whole story and experience, I wish they had been more "accurate" on the quote for completion time. They set themselves up for disappointment by originally approximating 3 weeks and being so far off - especially being during my summer.

Nice guys, can't beat the prices, you will require a LOT of patience for a one-off order/turnkey. I will definitely follow up with results when I physically get it (I am damn excited).

I would recommend them, and hopefully you read these experiences so you know what to expect and can address your own personal situation and needs up front.

Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:20 am

I am one that is also waiting, on a Headliner.....Money order was recieved and cashed in Early June....The guy is obviously very busy, so I aint too stressed, but I would love to know when its gonna get here.....

N! :)

Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:50 am

Hello Mharney,
Just wanted to give you an update, I recieved the long block yesterday and it is impressive. I'm doing some light painting and putting on the tinwork and plan on starting it up this weekend. I will keep you updated, just wanted to let you and the list know that the building/shipped timeframe might be off but when you get their product it is CERTAINLY worth the wait. I've had the car painted since the end of July and it has been color sanded and buffed and I have been waiting for the engine. I will get it installed and dialed in just in time for WINTER -------- but next SPRING I should be in great shape! Thanks for putting up with me ranting and raving.................

Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:07 am

Got my engine too!

Received my engine last Tuesday and that thing is bad-ass. Once the exhaust is back from getting coated, it will be going in the bus and I can give a complete stamp of approval after breaking it in.

Here's a pic of it on the stand - it's a 2110.

Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:22 am

Just got my new 83 Big Bore Kit, thought I'd add my 2 cents worth... arrived on time and in great shape, can't wait to get them installed!

Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:20 am

I recieved my longblock in 8 days. Not too shabby considering I live on the opposite coast.