Hi all,

I ordered a Kraken low mount in mid December w 50% deposit, and have sent 4 emails starting in mid Jan politely asking about projected delivery. Not in a terrible rush, just would like some idea of timing. Does anyone know how to contact him other than the Kraken website email address? Does he ever respond?

thanks

wombat

 

Michael is hard to get ahold of but guaranteed he’s taking care of your order. It’s essentially a one man operation. Beyond me how he does it.

Sometimes he’s easier to reach via Facebook messenger on KrakenMX5’s Facebook page.

 

thx Z I'll try there.

Wombat

 

I’m waiting on the same batch and he responded to me on instagram that the manifolds for 1.6s had arrived but the 1.8 manifolds weren’t in yet.

 

See above. Facebook is the fastest.
Seems like all the UK parts sources are slow repliers, likely tons of demand...

 

FYI for US (and probably Canadian) guys:

I'm an Aussie and believe much of the following applies to European countries too.

Prior to the internet, it was often hard to buy specific items and they were usually only available via a few sources since the general public had no idea where/how to even find them.

This led to a culture where many sellers "had the customer by the *****", took their money, with a substantial "local handling" mark-up, and did NOTHING more until the goods had arrived and they simply forwarded them on.

When customers made queries regarding the whereabouts of their goods, the response was always "they haven't turned up yet!" and often "We have NO idea when they'll arrive!".
Subsequent complaints with the product were met with "Nothing I can do about it!" and "You'll have to deal with the manufacturer!".

When I worked in the US, I was absolutely blown away by store service, they "went out of their way" to make sure any subsequent complaints I had were resolved immediately and if it had to be ordered in, I received constant feedback via phone or e-mail as to its status (Ie. shipped, at warehouse, available for pick-up).
I suspect that this level of service is to ensure customer loyalty because there is so much competition within the US - not so for the rest of the world.
This level of service was naturally extended by US companies into the internet-purchasing world and is MUCH appreciated by buyers (if a product is delayed and the seller informs you ASAP, you're less worried about it, appreciate the fact that the seller has warned you and you continue to do business with them).

Many non-US companies don't understand this extra level of service and that it's actually beneficial to them.

As for Kraken, he's a "one-man band" that creates manifolds and exhausts as a "side-gig" - how he has the time I have NO idea and it SHOULD be appreciated by everyone here the effort required to do this on "his own time".
When it comes to exhausts, I suspect he makes them based on exhaust-type since it takes time to set up specific jigs (is faster to complete work on exhausts that require the currently set up jig)
He's also at the mercy of the foundry that casts his manifolds, they make them in batches (a batch is one cast-type) and when they can schedule them in.
If he's "out" of a specific manifold, he needs to wait until enough there are enough orders for them, or pay for them out of his own pocket and hope there will be enough demand for them all.

Maybe he could automate periodic responses to orders based on their current status? If so, he should to prevent concern by buyers and have less responses he needs to deal with.

 

I contacted him through instagram.

He always responded within 24hrs. Ordered a DP back exhaust, which he fabbed/shipped in under 3 weeks from payment.

 

yeah per one of the recommendations I contacted him thru FB (which i never use) and he responded immediately - sim answer to above the low mounts should be at his place in a few weeks.


Wombat

 

6 months ago I asked him about his delivery times for top and bottom mounts. He said he didn't know have times for bottom mount. But could get me the top mount within 3 weeks. It arrived in 4 but I had a big order change 3 weeks in. One man operation, he makes good stuff. It will get delivered. He never responded to my emails when I put the kit together but the darn thing is awesome.

 

Just received another response from Kraken on FB - low mounts are in and machining should be completed in approx 2 weeks. :-)

Wombat

 

Just got shipping notice from Kraken that my low mount plus dp are on the way. I'll update when they get here. Guessing 2-3 weeks from Bulgaria.

Wombat

 

For that it's worth, he shipped my kit via DHL and it took 5 days to get from Bulgaria to California.

 

Wow that took a while! I ordered a top mount and received it one month later. I guess he already had some top mounts fabbed when I ordered.

 

all my stuff (low mount, downpipe, water and oil connections) got here - all looks very good.