[swampdragon]

Has anybody else had problems with Doherty Machine?

I placed an order with them for a high-flow air cleaner assembly and some power vents for my '01 sporty. Everything I've read all over the web states that their products are really great.

My plan was to use the Doherty A/C with the stage 1 carb jet kit I bought here, along with some sreamin' eagle2 slip-fits.

The problem is that I still don't have my order. I placed this order all the way back on 12 AUG 08. It is now 5 OCT 08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The company told me they had a back-order on the filters. I thought OK, **** happens.

But then they told they had them back in and would ship my item right away. That was a month ago.

Then I talked to a guy named MARK who works there. He appologized, and e-mailed me saying he shipped my order on 1 OCT 08. I saved the e-mail.

It is now 5 OCT 08, and it's still not here. AND, my requests for a UPS tracking number has gone ignored.

I sent another e-mail today, as well as left a phone message. I have given them until 10 OCT 08, and if I don't have my order, I want my money back in full. These messages will probably go ignored too.

DON'T ORDER FROM DOHERTY MACHINE.

[CD]

Just an FYI most manufacturers that have distributor programs and sell to Drag, CCI, TR etc are required to fill existing orders to the distributor prior to filling any other orders. We used to be the 4th or 5th largest customers of V&H and Drag initiated this with V&H so we would be stuck buying from them at higher prices. We (CCP) had to fill back orders on needles and vent kits prior to shipping to individual customers. You'd probably think that a manufacturer would want to fill individual orders in spite of the requirments but... would you take a chance on loosing thousands of dollars in future orders or fill the orders as required? Not saying this is why or what happened but in twelve years I saw and experienced it quite a bit. One of the edicts of any purchasing department is to monopolize whenever possible. For example, V&H wanted to get into the HD side big time so jumped on the sole distributor bit with Drag and could only keep existing metric distributors and customers like us when they inked the deal with Drag. Drag felt Rinehart would be good for biz so they bought the name. Dynojet PC was the only way to tweak EFI when Drag got the exclusive. One trick Drag used with V&H and Dynojet was to keep pre-planned overlapping back orders with cancellation or adjustment options so no individual customers could squeeze in. We kept a standing order open with DJ for PC's for a certain quantity a month and got them for a price lower than best dealer from Drag... guess what happened there also...

In my experience with shops like Doherty Machine, RC Comp, HRB and others is that when they get a good product and name and get picked up by distributors they often get overwhelmed because they were not prepared for the increase in orders. So do you sacrifice quality for quantity while you adjust or sacrifice customer support? Or do you limit individual orders and go distributorship only? No good answer there are mosttly just compromises while you adjust production capability. The last thing you want to do is loose the reputation of a quality product.

JMHO, YMMV

[swampdragon]

Originally Posted by CD

Just an FYI most manufacturers that have distributor programs and sell to Drag, CCI, TR etc are required to fill existing orders to the distributor prior to filling any other orders. We used to be the 4th or 5th largest customers of V&H and Drag initiated this with V&H so we would be stuck buying from them at higher prices. We (CCP) had to fill back orders on needles and vent kits prior to shipping to individual customers. You'd probably think that a manufacturer would want to fill individual orders in spite of the requirments but... would you take a chance on loosing thousands of dollars in future orders or fill the orders as required? Not saying this is why or what happened but in twelve years I saw and experienced it quite a bit. One of the edicts of any purchasing department is to monopolize whenever possible. For example, V&H wanted to get into the HD side big time so jumped on the sole distributor bit with Drag and could only keep existing metric distributors and customers like us when they inked the deal with Drag. Drag felt Rinehart would be good for biz so they bought the name. Dynojet PC was the only way to tweak EFI when Drag got the exclusive. One trick Drag used with V&H and Dynojet was to keep pre-planned overlapping back orders with cancellation or adjustment options so no individual customers could squeeze in. We kept a standing order open with DJ for PC's for a certain quantity a month and got them for a price lower than best dealer from Drag... guess what happened there also...

In my experience with shops like Doherty Machine, RC Comp, HRB and others is that when they get a good product and name and get picked up by distributors they often get overwhelmed because they were not prepared for the increase in orders. So do you sacrifice quality for quantity while you adjust or sacrifice customer support? Or do you limit individual orders and go distributorship only? No good answer there are mosttly just compromises while you adjust production capability. The last thing you want to do is loose the reputation of a quality product.

JMHO, YMMV

I do see your point here, but at the same time...why tell me you'll send the item if you have no intention of doing it, or just can't? I hate being lied to more than anything else.

[CD]

I totally agree and we got the same line more than once from different manufacturers. It pisses you off when you cannot fill an order and have fallen for the manufacturers line and pass the info to the customer and then can't ship. I did order from and sell Doherty's products and they were (are) good quality and innovative. I do know that way back '06 we had to start getting most of the stuff from a distributor because they were maxed out keeping the orders flowing to the distributors.
It is a shame when you place and order and get told a fairy tale. Sometimes, a little grace and persistence pays off. I would try to reason with them and ask if they know what distributor might have stock... I know that I was more likely to go out on a limb for someone that was working with me rather than beating me over the head with threats.....

[swampdragon]

Originally Posted by CD

I totally agree and we got the same line more than once from different manufacturers. It pisses you off when you cannot fill an order and have fallen for the manufacturers line and pass the info to the customer and then can't ship. I did order from and sell Doherty's products and they were (are) good quality and innovative. I do know that way back '06 we had to start getting most of the stuff from a distributor because they were maxed out keeping the orders flowing to the distributors.
It is a shame when you place and order and get told a fairy tale. Sometimes, a little grace and persistence pays off. I would try to reason with them and ask if they know what distributor might have stock... I know that I was more likely to go out on a limb for someone that was working with me rather than beating me over the head with threats.....

I don't know about the "threats" thing. The fact is, if you don't have the merchandise to send me, then tell me so. Don't just keep my money and f*ckin' lie your ass off to me. I have ZERO respect for people like that. I don't give a damn if they have a valid reason or not. If they are liars...then they are liars. Plain and simple.
My order is #933 with Doherty. Call'em and see what load of crap they tell you?