Chuck Schuster tilt steering columns

[Faustmill]

Anyone have any experience here? Mr. Schuster cashed my $595 check two months ago telling me he would send me a 67 GTO tilt column in a week or two. I have called 3 or 4 times over the last month and each time he tells me it will ship out in a "couple days" or the next day, but nothing ever happens. I am starting to feel like he is really jerking me around. The reason I called him in the first place (in early January) is because I saw his name favorably mentioned on this forum somewhere. At this point I do not know if he is legit or not. Anyone know if this guy is for real? Thanks.

[fastgto]

Keep us informed

[al6389]

Chuck is currently rebuilding my '64 tilt, and things seem to be going ok. he has, from past threads, considerable experience, and is covered up in work. I have previously purchased a sway bar and boxed control arms from him. give the guy a chance, email him, and explain the status of what you are working on, he might be able to jump right on your order.

[tempest455]

Chuck from Milwaukee? Hmmmmmmmm.............

[Faustmill]

Here are the facts: Around Jan 5 I saw Chuck Schuster tilt columns favorably mentioned in this forum, I called him and he said he had a 67 GTO tilt column that he could ship in a week or two. I sent the check for $595 on Jan 11 and it cleared on Jan 18. Around Feb 13 I called for a status report and CS said it would ship in by the end of the week. Around Feb 20 he told me it would ship the next day or so. Around March 6 he said it would ship the next day. Around March 10-13 he did not return phone calls. At this point I figure I am about to get screwed out of $600 and left a message that he could either return the money or send the column -- I didn't care. On March 14 I figured out (through this forum) that another restorer was connected with CS so I sent an email to that individual and received a reply email stating that CS was overcome with work (presumably that had come in AFTER my Jan order) and that he would get mine out in a few days. The column arrived yesterday, March 23, nine weeks after the check was cashed, and 11 weeks after I first talked with him and placed the order. It looks great.
I have no problem with waiting three months. I have waited longer than that for some parts when I was redoing my car's interior, including the dash guages. In those cases, however, I was given accurate information on how long it would take, and I made an initial downpayment with the balance due when the parts were ready to ship. When you send $600 to someone half way across the country that you never heard of before (sometimes necessary when dealing with car restorations) it makes me very nervous when I get repeated inaccurate and misleading information for a month. I really thought I was going to be screwed out of the $600 or wind up in some PITA collection process with the WI Consumer Protection Agency. If CS ran into problems, he should have said so. I now have the column, it looks great, and I presume it will work as well as it looks.

[george kujanski]

Faustmill: I agree.

George

[johnsclassicwheelart]

If anyone ever has a communication problem with cs, I could be a mediator. He's a great guy and often overloads himself workwise. I used to help him out, but I'm on my own now, and everything would get done quicker if there where multiple people working towards the same goal, But one man can only do so much. I completely agree about the empty promise theory, If someone says something will be done, it should be done when they say it will be done. If its not done, a reasonable explanation should be expected with promised that should be fulfilled. I do know he has over 600 core columns in stock and he gets more and more every year. He has been doing this for 30 years, If anyone wants to see some of his work this summer, I might be able to bring some it to carsile april show. He won't be giving it up anytime soon, his is the best I've seen around, rebuild wise, And I have taken some of his competitors columns apart while under his wing. Some of the things I saw where horrific, even could have been something that caused early retirement from this life if used. CS stands behind what he sells, If there is something wrong, he'll make it right, If you install the column, he will walk you through it, He would even work with whover does, If they get stuck. I don't know to many who take the time do do such things

[BOB VIDAN]

Is CS unable to communicate for himself and needs you to be a mediator and speak for him? What????????? If he overloads himself to the point he pisses people off, then he is a very poor businessman. I have seen this happen many times in the construction industry, people are excellent crafts people but crappy when trying to run their own business. I'm sure he does great work, but after a customer is promised many times and been stuffed, quality is a moot point. Bottom line is pretty simple: if you can't do what you say you can, don't say it.

[Parts Finders]

Yes that's right Thank You. Every so often we all need a wake up call. First I would like to say a little bit about what I do. I have 30 years experience in GM muscle cars and parts, I specialize in accesories, options and yes tilt steering columns. Some people like HO Trains some, some people like baseball, well plenty of people know my vice is steering columns, and the ones that bend in the middle fasinate me. To date I have rebuilt and sold in excess of 6000 tilt columns. I don't belive in blowing my own horn, but 6000, come on thats alot. I curently have over 500 cores in stock. I have encountered most every problem known to man, and I am more than willing to walk you threw your situation or I would be happy to offer you my services of restoration and rebuilding of your steering column or even just a purchace.
Ok thats enough about me, lets talk about my business. I took my first steering column in 1974. I have completed 19 frame off restorations , all but 1 were for customers. I at one time had 6 employes, I know have one part time helper. I quit my job in 1985 and turned my hobbie and part time business into a full time business, Here I am 49, soon to be 50,I have been doing business since I was 16. I have found in business that most people focus on the bad not the good, like the news, people thrive on bad news.When I sell a service or a part Itell the customer what my back log is most of the time it is 2-4 weeks. So with that I then explain, for instance, When I rebuild columns I usually have between 10 and 30 columns apart and in the works at one time. Once everything is cleaned, blasted, and painted then comes the assembly, then any trouble shooting, packaging and then shipping. on an average I deliver, ship out, 10 columns a week. With as many as 30 columns, not to mention they are not all the same, often I run short of parts. Sometimes its a part that wears and might be hard to find, or a directional switch that delco remy has backordered, without my permission, to any other possible problem. I used to advertise in Hemmings motor News every month, when the work load got to mutch I went to every other month. I used to go to as many as 25 swap meets a year, I go to maybe 10 and vend at maybe 3 or 4. In my opinion you can maybe do 5 things so so, or you can do 1 thing really well. My goal in my business is to provide the best product on the market for a price that reflects the quality. I have a 30 year inventory of accesories for gm musclecars. I have reduced my inventory by 20%, thank you Ebay. I guess in answer to the questions posted let's take a look at my viewpoint. The customer made a initial call looking for a 1967 GTO F/S tilt column. I explained that I did have a core, Itold what I do to the columns,I explained that I use an updated lower bearing The correct lower bowl and so on. I then told the customer, sorry guys this is going to hurt, that the boine directional switch that pontiac used was junk when thew were new and are no longer aviable. I then explained I had the parts to convert his coumn to accept a delco switch, by far a better switch. We then talked price ,595.00 with shipping. HE then agreed to buy a column and said he would send a check, he did, I recieved it about a week later. Here is where it started. I usually have about 20 orders in progress, some for a small column part for maybe 5.00 to 3 or 4 thousand dollar package. I work on my orders in the order that I recieve payment. When I get behind I do not sell on ebay. In the same time frame of this column I sold 14 columns of 2 ebay auctions. This is great for my business, but it also creates a tremendous back log. When I sell a product I deliver I give you my word. It is that simple. If you go to the very best restoration shop to have your car worked on some of these guys are a year behind, well go figure the guy who dose the best work is always behind. So I will wrap this up with this, I will take this as a wake up call, but please don't call every day 2 and three times, I am not leaving town, I have way to much to pack up. I would like to share something from a mentor of mine in the Chevelle business: If you have been working on your car for nine years and you need a steering column and the car show is next week, why did you wait till now to order one, maybe you could have called nine years ago, even I could have one done by now, Sincerely, Chuck Schuster, Parts Finders

[jrn101]

i have known chuck for many years and have dealt with him on several occasion's.there is nothing left untouched on these columns.these are bolt in showcar ready.i bought a column for my impala and my cutlass in the past year and they were perfect!!!the only complaint i had was the columns were nicer than the cars.i have also sold him a few hunderd columns in the past several years.if there is something you cant find iam sure he has it or can find it or build it.in some cases it may take a while to get what you ordered but i will say that you will not be upset once you see it.thats just my 2 cents

[GTOJUNK]

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: WOW SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF COMPLAINERS. I HAVE DELT WITH HIM FOR MAY YEARS AND HAVE NO COMPLAINTS AT ALL. YOU WENT TO HIM CAUSE HE IS THE BEST! YOU ARE ALL JUST UPSET CAUSE NOW THE TILT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR CAR. GET OVER IT. SO IT TOOK A COUPLE MONTHS TO BUILD, WHY DID YOU NOT JUST BUILD ONE YOUR SELF???? OH YEA YOU MUST NOT KNOW HOW. 595.00 AND A COUPLE MONTHS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL. YOU COULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE OFF ESCAM AND WAITED A COUPLE MONTHS AND GOT JUNK!! GOOD LUCK :clap2:

[speedshopmike]

gtojunk, this is what you wanted your first post to be?
the customer had a legit complaint and the complainee admitted fault, explained himself, and all was seemingly ok.
what are you whining about?
put down your keyboard and walk away.