1lecamaro

I think everyone will see what I mean if you look at the photos. The quality of it is very poor. The amount of time I am going to have to cut and piece this thing back together, I could have made one that actually fit. BTW this isnt just because I dont know what Im doing I am a professional body man. It was definately not worth 300 bucks or much more than scrap fiberglass.

1lecamaro

more pics

19redbird89

the pics look like the fitment is way off but to their credit i have a ram air hood and a 4th gen spoiler that i am very happy with. the hood took quite a bit of wokr to make it fit well and it is not perfect but it looks good. if you can get some pictures from farther back to see the entire fit some people might be able to chime in or help you get the right product. Fiberglass is not perfect!

1lecamaro

The thing doesnt fit the hatch or quarter panel contours at all. I work with semi trucks all day fixing fiberglass hoods(90%of the truck) and I know how to work with it, this mold from them just sucks!

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

Did you contact Hawks with the picture? I know that spoiler is rather popular among members here and this is one of the first complaints I've seen.

StevenK

iTrader: (1)

I'm with Amor, call bruce and e-mail him the pictures, he will take care of you.

Most likely you just got a bad one, as many people here have purchased the 5 inch spoiler and been happy with it

White_Roc412

why complain, you didn't have to buy it the stock spoiler is just fine

rolling-robert

THAT doesnt make sence White_roc412

Brisk

iTrader: (25)

thats terrible.. and I'm really itching to buy one myself!

The Project

iTrader: (6)

Brutal Fit!!........let us know if it gets resolved to your satisfaction. I was deciding between the 5" or the 91 Z factory spoiler. This might steer toward the later.

StevenK

iTrader: (1)

Keep in mind people lots of people have bought this part of of Hawks and not had problems. As with all fiberglass there is room for error.

I don't understand why people don't call / e-mail Bruce first, what good is posting this on TGO going to do?

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

I agree on the contacting "Bruce" part, and he may indeed be a standup guy (maybe we'll see). BUT - What good is posting this going to do? Well, I now know (and see) that if I were to order one, I may have to go through the hassle of shipping it back and waiting longer for a good one.

I guess I'm one of those real crazy people that expect some kind of quality the FIRST time on the parts they order - silly me.

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

There's nothing wrong with expecting quality the first time, and it's clear you have a legitimate complaint. Before you go posting on a board filled with their potential customers, however, it's not unreasonable to expect you to have taken 10 minutes to put in a phone call or an email.

No matter how good any business is, there are going to be mistakes and screw ups. The measure of a company is how they handle those situations. You haven't offered them the chance to show how they handle this sort of situation. In my opinion, that's not really fair.

Oh, and by the way, I've never bought anything from Hawks. I've read a lot about them, and friends of mine have had good experiences with them, but I'm definitely not "taking their side". I just think you should give them a chance to make things right; you might be pleasantly surprised. If not, you can always flame away on here.

gcpoland

iTrader: (18)

I am amazed that anyone advertises on these boards. A lot of people complain without ever contacting the vendors. In the age of the internet, you can kill a business reputation without ever giving them a chance to make things right.

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Yes, there's nothing wrong with expecting quality the first time, and that's the whole point in my response. Not to start any kinda internet "flame war".

Maybe I misunderstand the whole purpose of having a vendor review board. Maybe it's only to review the whether the owner of a parts shop is a nice guy or not, nothing to do with bad fitting parts or anything he sells to people like you and I.

When you recieve a great fitting part from a vendor, post it up!! I want to hear about that stuff too!! "Bruce" can defend himself, I'm sure - (do you two car pool together everyday or something)??

Look - I think stuff good and bad should be posted here. It's nothing personal against the vendor as a person. Maybe if he posted and said, it took two times to get a good spoiler, that would be better?

I think this board is to help Thirdgen.org members and not vendors, If I'm wrong, let me know.

I hope this guy posts how it gets resolved as well. It wil be useful info for us grtting ready to place an order with them in the future, AND -It can work out in "Bruce's favor. Consider that.

-if he's a good guy like a few of you said, It'll be resolved.

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

On this particular part, thirdgen.org members campaigned forever to get it made. After chasing dozens of vendors, Hawk's stepped up and did it. Virtually all of the feedback on that spoiler has been good.

Now, 1lecamaro bought one, and it didn't fit. To me, that's an anamoly, and, before you go starting posts titled: "Hawks 5" Camaro Spoiler Crap!", you should give the vendor a chance to make it right.

There are very few vendors making parts for these cars, fewer yet who support this board with their advertising dollars, and fewer yet who will develop products at the specific request of the board's members. Hawks does all of that, and absolutely deserves the opportunity to make it right before being flamed and having their products called "crap" on here.

The problem with boards like this one is that people are too quick to attack; take your juvenile assertion that I "ride to work" with Hawks, for example. In the time it took 1lecamaro to start this thread, he could have called or emailed Hawks. At least then, he'd have more information, and an idea of how he was going to be treated. All information that is relelevant to this thread.

No, Hawks, or any other vendor shouldn't get a "pass" on here, but no one should have their products called "crap" without having had the chance to make it right.

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

-I already said so far as I know, Hawk's is a decent place from what I've read. So I promise not to post a thread called "Hawks 5" Camaro Spoiler Crap! lol...

-I never called thier spoiler or parts crap - take that up with 1lecamaro, not me. I personally think it woulda been more fair if he just posted pics, and told everyone he's calling "Bruce" to see what they can do. Hawks can sue for slander if they want to..lol... I paid no nevermind really - it's 1lecamaro's opinion. He's entitled to it. But I understand his frustration.

-I don't care how many vendors are willing to make parts for our cars. But I want good parts from ones that do.

-Lighten up, I was joking about the car pool thing.

-I'm responding to the posts about how this shouldn't be posted here unless he called first. I just happen to disagree with that statement. I'm allowed.

-So 1lecamaro, call them and let us know how it goes.

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

No one said you did. That's the title of this thread.

I never said you said it was crap. How did this thread become about you?

I don't care. I made it clear in my previous post that I didn't know those people, so, you either didn't read the postl before shooting your mouth off (likely), or you just chose to ignore it and take the shot, anyway. Either way, I think it's childish.

All I said was it's not fair to call someone's product "crap" without giving them a chance to make it right. If you disagree with that statement so strongl, then why did you say: "I personally think it woulda been more fair if he just posted pics, and told everyone he's calling "Bruce" to see what they can do."?

I have no problem with his posting about the experience, but to make such an extreme statement without ever giving the vendor the opportunity to address the problem is wrong;

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (2)

All in all, i am verry interested in this spoiler, i will still give it a crack, i just hope it wont break if some randome person/friend tries to help push my camaro in the staging lane by the fin and cracks/damages it, I would hate to try to get somone to pay for such a piece of equipment.

jsnico

iTrader: (1)

Just to give my . I bought a Hawks Replica 3rd gen Aero Spoiler for a T/A less than a month ago and it was good quality and fit perfect. They were able to bring the spoiler to my dad while he was in the area for business saving me the shipping. I have nothing but good things to say about the quality and customer service. Giving that most of the folks on this board have had decent luck with them I would assume that you got a bad part. If their resolution is not satisfactory then you should also post it just so we can have a good perspective on them.

Neil

1lecamaro,

I would call Hawk's Third Gen and tell him the problems you are having, he's very good to deal with! I have his 5" spoiler and I did not have those fitment issues! I also have the SS hood he makes and it fit's very well! Call him.

Eats5.0's

iTrader: (1)

So, 11 days later, the verdict is??? Did you call Bruce? Did you get satisfaction? What's the progress so far?? Keep us informed, don't just bash some company and bail.

Guest

I agree. Not defending Hawks but if you havent already, or for future reference in general... always try contacting the people you got the part from first. Some of them (unlike others) actually care and resolve issues like this. Sucks to get a bad part like that but... it happens sometimes. Hopefully they'll take care of it.

The Project

iTrader: (6)

1lecamaro............where are you................did hawk's make it right................inquiring minds want to know..............

Gramps

iTrader: (1)

he probably got for making the thread, hawks is a TGO supporter and wanted to axe this guy...we will never see him again

LoneStar666

he should get banned if hawks is a tgo supporter

Camaroguy18

mine definatly came with it's fair share of blemishes that needed to be worked out, but thats what you expect from a piece that comes from a mold....some are just worse than the others

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

No, he shouldn't.

I don't agree with his posting what he did without first contacting Hawk's, but I also don't think there was anything spurious or malicious about it.

He seems to be a guy who spent his hard-earned money on a part that came nowhere near meeting his expectations, and who was a bit rash in his posting about it on here. All I think he did "wrong" was call the part "crap" on here without first giving Hawk's a chance to make it right. That in no way should get him banned; perhaps just taken out back and "thrown a beatin'".

Tony89GTA

iTrader: (7)

My god some of you guys are acting like a bunch of babies!

The guy got a crap spoiler period and he is sharing his experience with us, this is the "Aftermarket Product Review" if I do remember. Good or bad I still want to hear them, then I can make my own decision as if I wanted to deal with them or not. Hawks is a big boy I'am sure he can handle some bad press

mrws6speed

This is aftermarket review. The guy has a right to review what he got!

As a business person, I do agree with contacting the business (Hawks) first to make things right.

I have personally had bad experience with Hawks. I shipped my car across country to have major $$$ work done to it. I was very displeased with many aspects of the work. I was also dissastified with the resolution. They may be a sponsor here....but they should be open to criticism just like everyone else.

It's a mixed bag....they do MANY things for third gen cars that nobody else will build or do. It's just frustrating to see when great things are available for our cars, but they just can't get the quality right (and they do get some things right....so don't go thinking I'm saying they do nothing right). And this isn't limited to Hawks, but many other aftermarket vendors. Fiberglass is apparently very hard to get right from molds because I've seen many examples that don't turn out well.

All in all.....don't trash on 1lecamaro. He got a VERY poor quality product and he deserves to be able to discuss it. It wasn't just and the edge, or "just a little off", it was WAAAAAY OFF.....and that isn't acceptable (even if they do make it right). There is ALWAYS going to be some veriation and you can't expect everything to always be perfect, BUT that quality is too poor to be acceptable.

Gramps

iTrader: (1)

agreed 6speed. he got a crappy part that doesnt do what it was described. but we havent heard from him in a while, i wonder where he is. mayb he fixed it up with hawks.

WHERE ARE YOU 1LECAMARO?

1lecamaro

Alright I havent had time to look at this lately. I posted what the part I got was like, and I showed valid pics. I never said hawks was a bad company, I have bought other "PRODUCTS" with no problems, but this is the "PRODUCT REVIEW not VENDOR REVIEW". All I said was the product I recieved was not what I think as acceptable. They deal enough in 3rd gens I would have thought each one would be put through some type of quality control, these cars were massed produced granted, but they are not that far off to fit like the spoiler I got.

I plan on talking to hawks, but I bought it early last spring and was looking for a reciept. Not to mention I have already spent time inlaying the brake light perfectly cutting it, no bodo filler like others Ive seen. Yes I cut it before I fit it this was my mistake, but that was something I could do without having to fit the hatch and decklid(hard to do by yourself late at night). I am dealing with a bare shell I have lots of parts to mount and fit, the last thing that was on my mind was getting a bad spoiler with hawks good rep.

By the time I spend shipping this back waiting a while like I did last time (due to lots of orders), I can cut this one apart ten times and reshape it myself at least I know when Im done with it it will be perfect. I could end up with another one that is not significatly better, then I have justed wasted more of my time. Last time I checked our shop rate was 70/hr, granted I do my own work. But when I take time away to fix things(from other work I do for people) that shouldnt need this much attention I get aggravated, and lose money.

I would also like to remide people this is a 300 dollar spoiler!!! not supposedly a cheap china repo.

So I hope this is enough explanation to all those out there who ragged on me a have the answers to world peace intheir pockets.

1lecamaro

BTW when I send my body work out the door I know the quality, if it isnt right it does not leave, that is the pride I have for my work. Usually an experienced person will know just by looking at something if there is something wrong, you know when something just doesnt look right. maybe the person molding it just was not that experienced yet.

mrws6speed

This is the case with many of our cars. We start collecting parts to do some major work or a restoration. Then time passes and all of a sudden we find out we have defective parts.

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

It does appear that this particular spoiler overall fits pretty badly, and I've heard a couple other people say the same thing. BUT... in your very first pic, what I see is a hatch panel that needs to be adjusted back. These things are a very poor fit right from GM, so while I'm sure the spoiler could definately fit better, you've got some panel adjustment to do also.

If you're a professional body man who works with fiberglass all day, you should be able to get a good fit out of that spoiler without a lot of drama. While it certainly doesn't look like a perfect fit, it's good enough for a pro to work with.

1lecamaro

The hatch is adjusted look at the gap its perfect! That uneven part at the bottom is how far the bottom of the tip extends past the center section it is thicker. Next time Ill take pics of the aligned hatch first I guess. And yes I will have no real problem fixing it just is frustrating and time consuming.

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

The gap isn't the issue. The metal piece on the hatch can be adjusted to account for most of the forward/back mismatch of the spoiler. It's extremely common even with stock spoilers.

InsaneIROC

Moderator How are you going to tell another man that the way a product fits is no reason to get upset you have no right to say that unless it's your part you are paying for the labor to fix it.

Steven89Iroc

Where did he say that he had no reason to get upset? He just said that he should be able to fix it.

Camaro5690

iTrader: (1)

does anyone have some pics of a good fit? I would like to see how it looks from various angles.

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

I'm a moderator, not a mindless twit who isn't capable of having an opionion.

Who the hell said anything about getting upset? It's obvious that you're upset over this, but don't blame that on me. All I did was tell you that the fit can be improved by adjusting the deck lid. If you have any additional problems with me, feel free to PM myself or another moderator instead of dragging this thread where it doesn't belong.

mrws6speed

What can I say......WELL SAID

V8Rumble

iTrader: (2)

I'm still curious - did the original person who posted this ever call Hawk's up to see what they had to say? I understand that the piece was modified, & probably not something that could be returned (Just for the record, I have a number of parts that I've saved up for the 383 I'm building, so I'm at least partially sympathetic to your situation), but I've heard quite a few people here talk about how well Hawk's treats them, so I suspect that it wouldn't be wasted effort.

Otherwise, it does seem a bit unfair to Hawk's...

1lecamaro

I dont know how much clearer I can say that the METAL PIECE ON THE HATCH "deck lid is what I like to call it" is lined up side to side front to back. It alone matches up with the end of the rear quarters perfectly I thought I already said this. I gues I will have to take off the spoiler and take pics before I am credible.

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

I'm curious as to why you waited 6 months after you bought the spoiler to post on here about it, much less contact the vendor.

1lecamaro

I bought it and didnt get to the point of fitting it until know as stated above in the thread.

mrws6speed

Geez......some people....THINK before you open your mouth........

1lecamaro is the one who got an unacceptably bad part. ***And yet somehow he's the one to blame and getting all the criticism ?!?!?!***

This is the aftermarket parts review forum, not the VENDOR review forum. He has a right to post a review of the parts he recieved. What he does with HAWKS is between him and them.

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

mrws6speed: Tony89GTA: Thanks for driving home the same point I was attempting to make the whole time earlier in this post. Too bad it won't matter because it's apparent a few on here are buds with Hawk's, and feel they obliged to defend them. Just read every post by seanof30306 - it's obvious.

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

The deck lid is covered by the spoiler, so having it lined up with the bare quarter really doesn't do you much good. Try to re-align it so that the spoiler pieces line up, since that's what's visible once the spoiler is installed. I realize that ideally, the body panels should be able to align perfectly, then when you bolt the spoiler on, it too will align perfectly, but that's rarely how it goes when you start bolting fiberglass parts on to a car.

1lecamaro

Well Jim85iroc my moving the hatch to make a spoiler fit is not acceptable body work. That would be like saying if the door doesnt line up with the quarter panel cut it off and weld it up to match the door. WAIT or you could just get a better door.

This has nothing to do with making it fit I obviously have that ability. The point is the part is bad if it was good I wouldnt have to move the hatch.

Sometimes its like talkin to a wall around here I just keep repeating my self.

Thanks for all those who have defended my stance on a product review.