thank you - my van already had the ims conversion so at least the floor. etc
didn't have to be done. i know my emotions are running on overoload - knowing
it's been 9 yrs since my accident and this new independence of driving will
change mine and my 10 yr old daughter's life. it's just so frustrating that my
passenger seat is lost, my auto door and kneel was working when i left it and
now its not. to top it off my daughter leaves next thursday for 1 1/2 weeks and
all i want is to have my van before she leaves as she can't wait either.
i knew you would have words of wisdom.
nicki
----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; quad-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2007 11:01 AM
Subject: VAN & FRUSTRATION
Hi Nicki,
You are a victim of the McDonald Syndrome, if you get my drift. But I still
feel for your situation.
The retail end of the conversion industry has been known to oversell their
capabilities and finished product when massed produced. And that is not good.
Taking a brand new or slightly used van, and redesigning it is really not
that easy. The more complex the need, the more difficult to produce the finish
product. And this is under perfect conditions. Granted, under near perfect
conditions, it does take 4-8 weeks of time. That can also be affected by
conditions that you have no control over, like weather, supply of conversion
supplies, how many conversions are scheduled for that month and if the
companies are paying their bills.
its like going to McDonalds and buying a large soft drink and then finding
out there are no straws, lol.
Wait.... its McDonalds. And they have NO STRAWS that day. It happens,
believe me. And you can't drinks a 40 oz drink on a hot day without a straw.
I'm hoping that your base van was approved and is suitable for conversion
with enough wheelbase and the heavy duty towing package options. Without it,
it could add several additional weeks to the conversion process. Ahhhhh, the
weather. How can you change or affect the weather. We all know that Houston
has had some bad weather, but who in Houston is doing the actual conversion?
Definitely, not Braun. They are in Indiana. So when the weather is that bad
and Houston is under water, how do employees get to work and finish your van.
Major conversion factories have computers and people to operate them. When a
vehicle is entered into their system, you can or the dealer can follow the
progress of the conversion until they see/read released for shipment to
dealer/customer. Conversions done by garage mechanicals, don't have that luxury.
Often the conversion process is broken down into 36-40 steps and the normal
time it takes to perform each step. You've got to remember that a radical
conversion on a mini van requires your van to start at the upholstery shop when
the van is completely disassembled. Anything that can be scratched or burn
must be removed, before the conversion process can be scheduled. The van may
then go to fabrication shop. The van is introduced to the FAB Shop almost
naked with no insides, except a wiring harness. Doors, windows and interior
are completely removed. Fuel tank and exhaust system must be removed before
the floor can be processed. A new fuel cell and exhaust must be ordered too.
Wiring must be relocated and secured before the cutting of the floor can begin.
A van can be stuck in the FAB Shop for weeks, making sure that everything
comes together correctly. Then you have inspections along the way. At the
Braun factory, at critical steps of fabrication, a representative inspects the
chassis to ensure that all is still well, before the van goes on to the next
step. Once the conversion process has taken place and passes inspection,
painted and cleared, it goes back to upholstery shop and everything is put back
in or reassembled.
Now I've made this sound much easier than it really is and my point is that a
company does not proceed to step 15.... if Step 14 isn't completed, tested and
passes inspection.
Once a vehicle passes all test and inspections and released to dealer, it
must be transported back to that dealer somewhere in the USA. Some factories
only ship once a month. Others may ship once a week.
And that truck load may travel a thousand miles before your van is received
at the Mobility Dealer. Once the Mobility Dealer receives it and checks
everything out. It is determine if any other adaptive equipment is needed and
must be installed. Now this takes additional time and will vary. (AND WE ALL
KNOW THAT TIME IS YOUR MINEY)
OK, when a problem is discovered, it has to be determine if its an OEM
problem or a Conversion problem.
If its OEM then a OEM rep has to come out and verify the problem. If its a
conversion problem, the conversion company is contacted and arrangement are
made for the Mobility Dealer to resolve/fix the problem and charge the
conversion company for their work. This requires paperwork, and sometimes lots
of paperwork and documentation.
Finally, the van is almost ready and you are invited for your "First
Fitting." Sounds like a Wedding, but its not. That fitting will determine how
much more work has to be done to make the van available for your needs. Then
there may be a second fitting and adjustments. Maybe even a 3rd and 4th for
additional adjustment. These adjustments are very necessary if you are going
to drive the van with primary or secondary driving controls.
I know nothing about Freedom Mobility, nor their employees and salespeople.
I did go to their website and read their info. I didn't see any mention if
they were NMEDA Certified or carries any of the newer ISO Certification that is
required these days. Some of those associations are
CDRS- Ced Drivers Rehab Services
ADED-Am Driver Eval D
ADA- American Drivers Alliance
QAP -Quality Assurance Program
Lastly, you don't a vehicle that has been rushed and you driving on the
streets.
Make sure that your feelings, questions and complaints are in writing for
historical
reasons, should you need to refer to them.
I really wish I could help more, but even I have limitations.
Best Wishes
In a message dated 7/28/2007 12:29:28 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL
PROTECTED] writes:
I TOOK MY VAN TO THE DEALER ON MAY 7 AND WAS TOLD 4/6 WEEKS. MONDAY WILL BE
12 WEEKS.
MY VAN ALREADY HAD AN IMS CONVERSION. SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS IT SAT AT THE
DEALER FOR A WEEK BEFORE IT WAS SENT TO HOUSTON. WAS TOLD BY PEOPLE IN HOUSTON
IT WAS BEING TEST DRIVEN AND WOULD BE DELIVERED TO DEALER WEEK OF JULY 2. THEN
WAS TOLD BY DEALER DUE TO FLOODING HOUSTON WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IT OUT. I
TALKED TO HOUSTON AND WAS TOLD MY VAN WAS READY JULY 2 BUT NEW EQUIPMENT CAME
OUT SO THEY CHOSE TO UPGRADE IT ALL TO THE LATEST AND GREATEST. SOUNDS LIKE A
LINE OF B.S. HUH? SO, VAN WAS SUPPOSE TO BE AT DEALER JULY 20. IT WAS STILL IN
HOUSTON MONDAY AT 1PM SO MY APPT TO HAVE LOCKS INSTALLED TUESDAY - CANCELLED.
THEY GOT VAN TUESDAY SO I GET UP AT 4:30 TO BE AT DEALER 75 MILES AWAY AT 8AM.
I GOT THERE, GOT OUT OF CHAIR, WAITED 1 1/2 HRS TO BE TOLD TEY DIDN'T HAVE
CORRECT EZ LOCKS. ALSO, MY DOOR WON'T OPEN AUTOMATICALLY AND VAN ISN'T
KNEELING- ARRIVED FROM HOUSTON THAT WAY. THEY HAD NEW MODULE AND SAID THEY
WOULD FIX IT THURSDAY. THEY REORDERED, GOT UP AT 5:30 TO BE THER BY 10AM
YESTYERDAY. LOCKS CAME IN WHICH WAS A PLUS - GOT THAT INSTALLED. SR TECH TELLS
ME IT'S NOT THE MODULE BUT A WIRE/WIRES WERE CUT IN HOUSTON. HE'S GOING TO
TROUBLESHOOT AND OTHER TECH IS GOING INSTALL EZ LOCKS IN VAN. MY DAD AND I ARE
LEAVING THE SERVICE AREA AND HE SAYS "THERE'S YOUR DRIVER SEAT - WONDER WHERE
THE PASSENGER SEAT IS". YES, YOU GUESSED IT, NO FREAKING SEAT! NO ONE KNOWS
WHERE IT IS - WE ASSUME HOUSTON. WE GET BACK TO MOBILITY OFFICE AND A MAN PULLS
UP IN A LEXUS AND WANTS HAND CONTROLS. I GO UP TO SERVICE TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE
GOING AND THEY PULLED TECH OFF MY VAN TO INSTALL HAND CONTROLS ON THE LEXUS
THAT WAS BOUGHT IN TULSA THAT MORNING! NO APPT - JUST HAD THE $$ SO THE SR TECH
HAS TO QUIT TRYING TO GET MY DOOR TO WORK AND INSTALL MY EZ LOCKS. I WAS THERE
OVER 7 HRS.
I'M "SUPPOSE" TO GET MY VAN TUESDAY - YEAH RIGHT! DOOR ISN'T WORKING AND
WITH NO PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THEY ASSUME IT'S IN HOUSTON! OH, AND SR TECH IS
ON VACATION NEXT WEEK.
WHEELCHAIR, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT CARLOS/IDS/FREEDOM WHEELS IN HOUSTON?
ANY ADVICE FOLKS BUT RIGHT NOW I WANT TO CHOKE SOMEONE!
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