SS Built Bumpers Delay and Experience

Has anyone else placed an order on SS Built Bumpers this year? I placed my order back in March 2024 and have yet to receive it. Every single time I have asked for updates, there's always some type of excuse of trying to get an order update. It's always "we've been busy and we're only a small team shop". It takes days to get a response if any and I am pretty reasonable and don't even hassle them about status updates that often. I get it, they have a lot going on and doing other big projects and I've been super patient. But why even take orders at this point and commit to customers if it's going to take longer than 6+ months when the lead time on the website is 12-14 weeks. Idk just frustrated and seeing if anyone else is currently going through the same issue.

 

I've found small fab shops to be just complete shit when it comes to honesty and accurate time lines. I've never dealt with SS Built, but unless you absolutely love that specific bumper, I'd go elsewhere and get a refund. No telling when you will actually get a bumper in the mail and it doesn't seem like they are doing anything to expedite or keep you happy.

Maybe let them know you are giving them 30 days before you cancel your order and want a full refund. If they give you issues maybe address this with your credit card company if that is how you paid.

 

There's no other bumpers that I am currently interested in so I just have to suck it up and wait. From other people's experience, the bumpers and quality are great but there hasn't been a delay this long. A lot of people have said good things about the shop too. Guess it's just my luck.

 

Underatood. Same issue I had, bought from a shop cause everyone was thrilled with their experience and they had a product that fit my needs that I hadn't been able to find elsewhere. But my experience with them was lacking, I did get the product and it seems good but I'm definitely not recommending them to anyone or buying from them again.

I hope you get your bumper sometime soon and it meets your expectations

 

Not to be devils advocate, but it’s a fabricated product with a brand name behind a piece of metal.

It’s a design that’s specifically from SS built. And it seems like any other Prerunner style bumpers aside from the valance piece it provides up front.

Why not support a local fabricator and work with them to make the bumper?

 

I deal with SS frequently and have a current rig there for work. Can confirm the delay is significant on items. I recommend having a local fab shop build one in the similar fashion. Steve's a good dude just too much work and not enough business sense unfortunately. Only 2 people in the shop with full truck builds, bumpers, parts etc to build.

 

Was your card charged?

Shiity communication aside, if someone takes your money but can not provide you with product or a timeline, then they don't deserve your business.

 

Steve really is a good guy and a phenomenal fab guy… but openly takes on way too much work. It’s super frustrating as I dealt with this for both my bumpers, my skid plate and now one of my good friends is dealing with it too going on like 18 weeks.

Like Rey said, its only two guys at the shop and they are building 6+ full race trucks at a time. Every time I have been there it is a mad house. Certainly not an excuse- but just to give personal experience.

I think my bumpers both took 5 months each its hard to defend and I’m honestly not- but even with it being a pain in the ass it was certainly worth the wait for me. Here are some pics the day I got my front bumper installed.

 

Yeah I'm way too far in the waiting process and paid on Day 1 so I'm just going to wait at this point. If I go with someone else with a custom fab ill prob be waiting another 12+ weeks anyways.

 

it will be worth it but I feel your pain. Sorry you are going through this- but hopefully it makes you feel better knowing this is a common pain point.

 

And that’s why I didn’t choose the SS even after talking to Steve. Hope you get it soon. A fabricator could build one in a day

 

It took a little over a year for them to finish my bumpers. got every excuse on why there not done even was told i would get a 50% discount since it took so long. still haven't received the refund. just bad service all the way around.

 

Man that sucks. At this rate I wouldn't be surprised if it took a year for me also. I agree though, I don't care about whatever excuses they have. I just want to know is it done or not. I've already gotten several false dates that the bumpers would be shipping and then next thing you know it's silent. I would wait usually a week or so and then ask for an update and then all types of excuse just pop up. I'm just confused on why those dates would even be provided if the bumpers aren't even ready to ship. Super frustrating.

 

Good info. Thanks for posting. Was considering ordering a bumper from them but I'll look into other options as I dont want to wait a year.

 

Yeah I paid in June and was told a couple months. Here I am waiting for a response to emails asking for an update after 5 months.

 

Currently at 11 months wait for bumpers. I really thought the owner had been the victim on drug addiction or something. Nothing else made sense to me based on the experience. Well, I guess we wait and hope. Those that have said good things about Steve, I hope you are right. I would have been fine with knowing that it would be a year or whatever. It is the, " it's shipping out next week", two months ago that is wearing on me.

 

That sucks guys. I got a rear bumper from him just over a year ago, but I was local at the time. Not sure if that helped, but he did get it to me in 14 or so weeks. I can vouch for the volume of work in there, no way 2 guys could keep up.

Frustrating, but I do still love the bumper and have towed with it halfway across the country.

 

Same with me. Latest update was "I will check that order for you" and no response days later. I guess it will be over a year wait for any bumpers ordered in 2024.

 

Hello all,

I am aware of the delays and frustration with many of our orders currently. We really are working hard to get on top of things. Being a small team of two I do admit I take on more than I can handle often. It is a byproduct of trying to stay ahead of the ball with a large overhead and everything that comes with being a small business.

Shop has grown faster than I could have imagined and with the introduction of the website a few years ago the orders have been non-stop. I have tried to hire a few times to help, all ending up with being a waste of time in the end. Also, have had plenty of personal challenges this past year. None of these are excuses, just being completely transparent about why things have gone this way.

We are pushing extra hard to get caught up on current orders and builds and we forecast things to be where we need them shortly. I appreciate the patience anyone here has had with us. The orders and support mean the world to me. We have our hurdles daily and I am still human in the end trying to get this formula figured out.
Thank you!
-Steve
SS Built Inc.

 

TheMagicMan5280
Please provide me your order number or send a fresh email with order information. I will get things handled. I get behind on messages sometimes as I am dealing with communication on multiple platforms (Email, Phone, Text, Instagram, Facebook, Shopify Messages) as well as trying to build product and builds. Thanks!

 

My order# is 1290. This was placed at the end of February 2024. I've gotten several updates from you guys but it's always a struggle to to get a response. I was told that the bumpers that I ordered were "built" since July and were suppose to ship out during that time but things came up and it didn't happen and up until now, it's supposedly sitting in the warehouse. Ever since then, every update I have gotten has been been periodic with no real ship dates. I feel that I have been reasonable with asking about updates and don't bother you guys that much. But it's been frustrating not knowing much and it takes days to weeks to just get an update.

 

Understood. I will get this handled and send you a new message confirming shipping details. I checked our conversations and the longest span for a response was 3 days due to being out of town. I know there have been spans of time before new updates but just wanted to confirm I have never left you hanging long for replies. Thank you!

 

I wanted to update this thread. I received the bumpers at the end of December. They fit and look great. The product is unquestionably good. I was waiting to update this when I received the bed stiffeners I had ordered with the bumpers and a refund for the wheel spacers. I had ordered wheel spacers somewhere else due to the wait. Unfortunately they have not arrived and I have had no contact from Stephen. The guy is legit, but obviously overwhelmed. Hey Stephen, if you see this, please send me my bed stiffeners and get me a refunded for those spacers.

 

Hey! No problem. I have the bed stiffeners ready to go. They were supposed to go out with the bumpers.
I’ll get those shipped and Wheel Spacer refund over. Just got buried after the holidays. Sorry for the lag. Thanks for the kind words and happy you love the product.
-Steve
SS Built Inc,

 

Did you ever get your bumpers yet? Ordered mine in September of 2024 and still waiting. Website says 14-16 weeks and I'm okay with that, but this is getting ridiculous at this point.

 

Yes Mike,
He received his bumpers. We have been catching up and still have about 50 open orders we are cranking on.
Email me your Order # and I can check on things. Thanks!
(ssherrod@ssbuiltinc.com)

 

I did receive my bumpers. Overall it was about 11 months waiting. Anyone who wants the bumpers, they're great but it just depends on how much patience you're willing to have at this time.

Finally got a chance to install the front and finish buttoning it up.

 

Yeah same thing happened to me few years ago, looks like Stephen is still up to his shenanigans.

It's like Rey said, he has no business sense. He will tell you "It's gonna ship next week!!" and then 2 weeks go by and you have to be like "where is my order". This process will go on for at least 2 months, he will gaslight you and play victim, throw the "we're just a small shop" line at you, and then if you smarten up and realize you ain't ever gonna get your stuff he will refund your order, and by this point you've already wasted all that time and the trip you were planning for becomes FUBAR. Stephen has no respect for customer time or reality for that matter. He needs to nut up and start taking responsibility and stop blaming his customers. No fab work is so good for anyone to go through that drama .

 

I have been told mine shipped for weeks, 9 months coming up after being told 2/3 when ordered. Unable to produce shipping info for 3 weeks. Over all like some have said, I have wanted these specific bumpers for some time and hopefully they actually do show up so this anxious feeling of not knowing if you’re getting fucked over or not goes away, just not sure which one I’m going to be more excited about which really kills the anticipation. He gives every reason under the sun why it’s not done or doesn’t have the info or whatever it is and I just gas light myself so I don’t lose my shit on him and they show up magically and this is all over with.

 

Calvary Bear,
Not sure who this is…

First question, did you receive your product or at least your money back? Every one of our customers receives their products. Not all of our orders go this way…only when we fall behind. Everyone has their right to a refund if patience has worn out.

If your order was 5 years ago what is the point in writing this and the slightly disrespect personal digs? None of these timelines have slid intentionally. I wouldn’t be in business if I didn’t blatantly care. I “nut up” and take full responsibility for every imperfection we have. And yes we do have some external situations that do not help sometimes, but that’s to be expected in the industry. No “shenanigans” pulled here!

We have been doubling down and working very hard to catch up and get out of this hole. I wish it was as easy as most think. Can’t just hire someone off the streets to help or just throw money at the situation. Growing pains are real, and we have been working on getting better for years. Thanks!
-Stephen
SS Built Inc.