Don't get me wrong guys, I like and appreciate what Lori's trying to do - I have a set of her blems and even they are terrific, so I am really looking forward to the best she can get. However, I have to admit, I'm really perplexed by Lori's lack of common courtesy. I really don't think a monthly update for a bunch (look at the number of visitors to this thread!!) should be too much to ask of anyone, particularly someone we're ready to throw a lot of money at, even if they're really really busy - but then I've been wrong before.
[This message has been edited by Tom Corey (edited 09-05-2007).]
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05:00 PM
Sep 6th, 2007
css9450 Member
Posts: 5491 From: Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA Registered: Nov 2002
Don't get me wrong guys, I like and appreciate what Lori's trying to do - I have a set of her blems and even they are terrific, so I am really looking forward to the best she can get. However, I have to admit, I'm really perplexed by Lori's lack of common courtesy. I really don't think a monthly update for a bunch (look at the number of visitors to this thread!!) should be too much to ask of anyone, particularly someone we're ready to throw a lot of money at, even if they're really really busy - but then I've been wrong before.
I'm with you Tom; I do not understand her official "incommunicado" stance, but since you opened the discussion I'll continue. I respect the notion she is very busy working on these and on her regular full time job too, but jeez, it only takes me about 45 seconds to check this forum twice a day; could it really be a time killer for her to post once a week or so? She hasn't answered my emails either. If there is no news, than fine, I'm patient. However, in this era of instant feedback and tracking available 24/7, this is disconcerting to say the least. I wouldn't have minded it this much had I not paid last December, but having done so, I would appreciate the courtesy of an occasional reply. I don't think I'm asking too much.
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Originally posted by MsLoriFiero: I decided to quit talking about them for a while.
I hope nobody takes my lack of knowledge of plastics as sarcasm but these 1/4 windows were made 20 years ago. With the advancement of technology that we have today why is it so hard to get these windows made? Once again I don`t have any experience in mould making etc. I`m just curious as to the process that makes this as difficult as it seems to be.
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07:52 AM
cliffw Member
Posts: 36758 From: Bandera, Texas, USA Registered: Jun 2003
Originally posted by TXGOOD: I hope nobody takes my lack of knowledge of plastics as sarcasm but these 1/4 windows were made 20 years ago. With the advancement of technology that we have today why is it so hard to get these windows made? Once again I don`t have any experience in mould making etc. I`m just curious as to the process that makes this as difficult as it seems to be.
I have ordered some from Lori and paid quite some time ago. I am good with the wait. First, it is hard to get something like these made due to the low number of sales numbers that they will have. Tooling up is an expensive process. Not anyone can do these windows due to the three dimensional aspect of them. Think miter saw and compound miter saw. I do not fully understand why but I can see it. The company she has chosen, of the many she approached, was one who she feels can do them the best. She is striving for perfection which is why I want them. Secondly, the company is a large company with many more lucrative products with contractual demands that it must meet. The lucrative side of it's business. We are hind tit so to speak. Also, after making the windows, she then has to get the graphics applied. Again, due to the three dimensional aspect of the windows, this is no easy task. As far as her not posting, I can understand. I am planning the Rockin Red River Ruckus Road Rally and I did not post for awhile. There was no sense in posting iffy or nothing new. I was doing a lot of leg work but there was no news. It is hard enough to do some things as it is much less post nothing new. Lori has posted all that I just did in this thread. She does not have to answer to us. She has already told us what is going on and when she does post she gets abuse. For things beyond her control. She gets questioned about why this and why that. We sound like a bunch of kids constantly saying "are we there yet?". I also would like more information but I am confident in Lori. I do not need it.
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09:00 AM
FieroMonkey Member
Posts: 3294 From: poway,CA,USA Registered: Nov 2002
I have ordered some from Lori and paid quite some time ago. I am good with the wait. First, it is hard to get something like these made due to the low number of sales numbers that they will have. Tooling up is an expensive process. Not anyone can do these windows due to the three dimensional aspect of them. Think miter saw and compound miter saw. I do not fully understand why but I can see it. The company she has chosen, of the many she approached, was one who she feels can do them the best. She is striving for perfection which is why I want them. Secondly, the company is a large company with many more lucrative products with contractual demands that it must meet. The lucrative side of it's business. We are hind tit so to speak. Also, after making the windows, she then has to get the graphics applied. Again, due to the three dimensional aspect of the windows, this is no easy task. As far as her not posting, I can understand. I am planning the Rockin Red River Ruckus Road Rally and I did not post for awhile. There was no sense in posting iffy or nothing new. I was doing a lot of leg work but there was no news. It is hard enough to do some things as it is much less post nothing new. Lori has posted all that I just did in this thread. She does not have to answer to us. She has already told us what is going on and when she does post she gets abuse. For things beyond her control. She gets questioned about why this and why that. We sound like a bunch of kids constantly saying "are we there yet?". I also would like more information but I am confident in Lori. I do not need it.
while I agree with much of what you say, I think it is a bit unfair to compair some of the posters in this thread to children. I am speaking of the ones who paid for these windows nearly 2 years ago. They have every right to post in this thread asking for an update, and I see in here that they have only asked for an update roughly once a month. That is not unreasonable, especially since from what I read here, Lori is not sending the ones who sent their hard earned money a very long time ago updates in private, and apparently is no longer answering their emails as well, where else are they supposed to ask?
Besides, her last update on July 28 lead people to believe the print shop was starting to print on them on july 30th or so. That leads people to believe that sets were to be completed in a week or so of that post. Since there are no windows and no explanations as to why the print shop has had the windows for over a month and has not finished a single set, i think a very valid question is presented to those who want to know, "What happened at the print shop?"
All the people who have not paid, sure they could cool their jets in here perhaps. And I can absolutely understand the pickle Lori is in, but remember that she put herself in that position when she accepted peoples money, the position of a vendor, and that comes with a responsibility to paying customers. And the customers who paid have a right in my subjective opinion to keep asking for updates once a month until they receive their windows, receive a promised date of completion, or receive a refund.
[This message has been edited by FieroMonkey (edited 09-07-2007).]
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10:18 AM
KeithGT Member
Posts: 540 From: Huntsville, Al Registered: Jan 2006
The people who paid for these windows know how to get ahold of her if they need to. If you want to know, having already paid, pick up the phone, and give her a call. You guys who've paid deserve to know whats going on.
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06:50 PM
PFF
System Bot
Tom Corey Member
Posts: 838 From: Melbourne, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002
I met Lori at Ed Parks during the last event at the Fiero factory. She certainly seemed like a really nice person. However, I really don't care how difficult this task is or who is running it, this thread started Jan 29, 2006 - over 19 months ago, and has had over 39,000 hits. So I still stand by what I said - I am perplexed by Lori's lack of common courtesy. How long does it take to provide an update once a week or even once a month? Why are forum members so willing to put up with this and so unable to put up with lesser BS? The only reason I can think of is that we really want these windows. I know I do, but I'll tell you what - I'm getting to the point where I'd either rather dump the Fiero or put crappy windows/side scoops on it than keep being jerked around like this. People that are asking for periodic updates are not childish, not overbearing, not at all out of line, and certainly are not asking too much of Lori - IMHO.
[This message has been edited by Tom Corey (edited 09-07-2007).]
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10:53 PM
Sep 8th, 2007
F-I-E-R-O Member
Posts: 8410 From: Endwell, NY Registered: Jan 2005
Originally posted by FieroMonkey: I think it is a bit unfair to compair some of the posters in this thread to children. I am speaking of the ones who paid for these windows nearly 2 years ago. They have every right to post in this thread asking for an update....
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Originally posted by Tom Corey: People that are asking for periodic updates are not childish, not overbearing, not at all out of line, and certainly are not asking too much of Lori - IMHO.
Well, I suppose what I said is wrong. You are right FieroMonkey. I did mean what I said in a general sense. Many here that are bugging for details have not paid (the impression I get). There was a point that it was being bumped almost daily asking for news when there was no news. Isn't this the second thread? Her first production run she halted due to consistent quality control issues. I had ponied up my money way back then. Someone berated her horribly in the thread. She offered to send back monies. I told her to keep mine and put it towards making these windows happen. With all the bickering about these windows I can see how Lori might dread to open this thread. I do understand that paying customers deserve an update. I have seen and heard nothing but good things about Lori, save for the criticism in this project. I have waited an awful long time and I am good with it. I don't need an update, I trust Lori. I actually bought a set of her blems from the first run. They are nice enough. I have not installed them because I am waiting for her best (I need two sets anyway).
[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 09-08-2007).]
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08:44 AM
Robert 2 Member
Posts: 2401 From: St Hubert Quebec Canada Registered: Jan 2006
Originally posted by Robert 2: Why paying for sets that you are not installing Is your's still in good shape ?
I have two GTs. Both with original windows. Both showing spider cracks when the sun hits them just so. Or headlights at the right angle. They look ok. One recently took a full crack, surface to surface, when I hit a bump. These old windows are brittle. I wonder if I can get them off without destroying them. If I can, I have another GT which I just dremeled out everything but the dot matrix. An improvement for those that might want to try it. I used a Roto Zip bit on a dremel tool. Drilled a hole and went for it. Better than it was. Short answer...I don't know if they will be reusable. Removing two sets may give me a used one set. If I have a left over I will send it to you for free...+ shipping.
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01:44 PM
Robert 2 Member
Posts: 2401 From: St Hubert Quebec Canada Registered: Jan 2006
I have two GTs. Both with original windows. Both showing spider cracks when the sun hits them just so. Or headlights at the right angle. They look ok. One recently took a full crack, surface to surface, when I hit a bump. These old windows are brittle. I wonder if I can get them off without destroying them. If I can, I have another GT which I just dremeled out everything but the dot matrix. An improvement for those that might want to try it. I used a Roto Zip bit on a dremel tool. Drilled a hole and went for it. Better than it was. Short answer...I don't know if they will be reusable. Removing two sets may give me a used one set. If I have a left over I will send it to you for free...+ shipping.
I will get in line for those if you can salvage them. I have nothing on mine right now. I tried to remove them to glue the cracks but they ended up exploding into 20-30 pieces. Let me know if you end up letting them go. Thanks!
Originally posted by Robert 2: Sorry i didn't asked the right question I was talking about the blems that you bought and never installed.
Well, the blems will go on my 87, the perfect ones on my 88 T top. I will not install the blems until I get the perfect ones. Because they may have to go on the 88 if Lori can not get the perfect ones made.
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Originally posted by Carver1: Let me know if you end up letting them go. Thanks!
You will be first in line. Send me a PM so I can remember. It may be a while, .
[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 09-09-2007).]
These old windows are brittle. I wonder if I can get them off without destroying them. If I can, I have another GT which I just dremeled out everything but the dot matrix. An improvement for those that might want to try it. I used a Roto Zip bit on a dremel tool. Drilled a hole and went for it. Better than it was. Short answer...I don't know if they will be reusable. Removing two sets may give me a used one set. If I have a left over I will send it to you for free...+ shipping.
I did this but took it to another level. The dot matrix pattern has a part with solid dots on the clear portion of the window and clear dots on the blacked out portion of the window. I used a dremel with a side cutting bit and cut out the clear part just where the clear and solid dots meet. Cut just above the clear dots then smoothe everthing out with a fine file, rounding over the edge just a little so it isn't a sharp edge. I then removed the windows as carefull as I could. No matter how careful I tried to be, they broke in many palces. I used a 2 part epoxy and glued them back together. Then I sanded the whole face of the window with 400grit paper to give it a slight texture and to smoothe out the glued areas. I then bought some super strength spray adhesive, some black convertable top material, a small tube of super glue "gel", some new mounting tape (to re-install the windows) and 2 Grand Am GT emblems. Total spent to do both sides was just under $100.00 it was $99.XX. I covered the window with the convertable top material wrapping it around to the back side of the window and glueing it down really good. I used the super glue gel on the back side edges to make sure it didn't start to peel. After it was covered I re-installed the windows and postioned the GT emblems. I used a tiny bit of the super glue gel on the back of the emblems on the mounting tape to ensure that they stuck really good and would not blow off. Here are a couple pics of what the look like now.
[This message has been edited by JimmyS (edited 09-09-2007).]
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03:58 PM
PFF
System Bot
Raydar Member
Posts: 40925 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
Nice imagination JimmyS!!! Great idea and great final product!!
Based on what we have seen in the last lori e-mail. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that things did not go well with the graphics peeps...Hence no update from Lori. I am in no way condoning her lack of updates on this board though...I too, think she should be updating us. But, I digress....GO PACKERS!!!!
That looks really good. I'd thought about something similar, but I would have had to buy another set of windows to do it.
Does your car seem to run any cooler with the vents "out in the wind" like that?
I have done a motor conversion to a 3800SC so its hard to say. I don't have any proof but I would be inclined to say the air passing through the windows and over the vents has to creat some kind of air draw to pull more air through the vents and out of the engine bay. Having the windows open like that does however make it really easy to work on the motor. You can reach your arm through it for better access to a lot of places. I started another thread in General Chat as I don't want to hi-jack this thread. Please comment or ask question in the other thread. Thanks https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/067213.html
[This message has been edited by JimmyS (edited 09-09-2007).]
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05:01 PM
Sep 15th, 2007
Robert 2 Member
Posts: 2401 From: St Hubert Quebec Canada Registered: Jan 2006
November 2006 = paid $267.00 July 2007 = accepted a set of blems out of sheer desperation August 2007 = received blems with shipping damage (not lori's fault) and was able to use only one of them August 2007 = sold car as is
[This message has been edited by rpro (edited 09-21-2007).]
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09:26 PM
The Funkmaster Member
Posts: 1541 From: Chilliwack, B.C., Canada Registered: Oct 2004
The delays are perhaps understandable - or they would be, at least, if she gave occasional evidence she is still alive.
I called her cell and it didn't go through. She has told me before that she gets no reception where she is most of the time though. I believe she works at the fiero Factory I think I might give her a jingle because I am a bit worried about her. She usaully updates so maybe there is something wrong.
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08:33 PM
Raydar Member
Posts: 40925 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
I called her cell and it didn't go through. She has told me before that she gets no reception where she is most of the time though. I believe she works at the fiero Factory I think I might give her a jingle because I am a bit worried about her. She usaully updates so maybe there is something wrong.
I don't know about where she lives, but the cell coverage at the Fiero Factory is abysmal. It's in the shadow of a big hill. She can probably be reached at the Fiero Factory number, however.
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08:48 PM
advancedwiringsystem Member
Posts: 183 From: Huntsville, Al Registered: Jul 2007
I went there last week to see if they had a dash and she was there. They came out to look at the car and she laughed at my aftermarket sailpanels and said they were flat. she told me she was making exact replacements if i were interested....
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09:01 PM
Carver1 Member
Posts: 2843 From: Edgewood, New Mexico Registered: Nov 2000
I went there last week to see if they had a dash and she was there. They came out to look at the car and she laughed at my aftermarket sailpanels and said they were flat. she told me she was making exact replacements if i were interested....