Christerpher Jbj
map-marker Macon, Georgia

American Custom Trailers what a waste

Updated by user Sep 23, 2013

I just received an email asking for an update. I received a full credit from my Rewards card which is from State Farm bank.

They initially told me it could take as long as 60 days.

I had the refund about a week later. In the end my only loss is the stress, time, and trouble this guy caused me.

Original review Aug 23, 2013

I found American Custom Trailers (AKA A C Fabricating from Macon, Georgia, AKA American Custom Trailers AKA Florida Marine AV Inc.) on Ebay while searching for a motorcycle pull behind cargo trailer. I was attracted to Bruce Everett's explicit description of the first rate trailers he builds and sells.

I had several long phone conversations with Bruce during which he showed an impressive understanding of pull behind motorcycle trailers and their use. He was quite convincing when he told me of his company's uncompromising quality control standards and that every trailer he builds is personally driven by himself on a course designed to test all aspects of the trailer's operation before shipping. I was sold and placed an order on June 17, 2013. I authorized Bruce to charge my Visa card for $2394, which he did. The charge was to Florida Marine AV Inc. He was to email a complete build sheet showing the options we discussed. I was told to expect a 2-3 week lead-time. The build sheet never arrived. When I called Bruce told me that they would send it before the trailer shipped. At about four weeks I began to call weekly for the status of my order. Each time Bruce assured me that my trailer was in process and should ship soon. At about five weeks he said the trailer was complete except the air bladders which were delayed at his vendor but should arrive any time. At six weeks he told me he had a guaranteed ship date for the bags and my trailer would go out by the end of the week. At seven weeks he was still waiting for the bladders. At eight weeks he stopped responding so I called the other number I had which was the shop number. I reached his brother Brian who told me the bladders were in and my trailer should ship by the end of the week. It's now coming up on 10 weeks and I am getting no response to calls or emails despite the fact that I threatened legal action if I didn't hear from them. I just filed a fraudulent charge case with my Visa provider.

After reading on another consumer complaint site what others received I guess I'm lucky that mine was never shipped. This assumes that Visa is able to refund my payment, which they say may take up to 60 days. What a waste of time and effort this guy and his company have been.

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Loss:
$2394
2 comments
Guest

I had the exact same problems with Bruce. I did receive my trailer, but it was missing parts, and it was the incorrect model.

Bruce acted as if his mistake was entirely my fault somehow. I had a bunch of very bizarre phone conversations while attempting to come to a compromise with Bruce. I never did receive the correct parts.

My trailer arrived months late. It had the incorrect wheels and tires.

The trailer was missing the cooler holder, the luggage rails. the running lights. the interior light, and a wire harness. There was no paperwork to register it.

The tires rubbed against the fenders, even with no load in the trailer. The slipper springs were installed incorrectly. The trailer was wired incorrectly for my Goldwing. The interior foam lining had been installed with a very sloppy application of hot melt glue.

The air ride bag was installed in such a way that it did nothing at all to provide shock absorption or dampening.

After one, one week trip on good roads. the trailer frame had lost all of it's paint and was completely rusted, the worthless air ride bladder had lost it's air filter due to a poor installation. The air bag had lost it's filter. The cooler holder had cut a groove into the tongue.

The self tapping machine screws that hold the trailer to the frame had come loose, and the improperly mounted slipper springs had cut through the mounting bolts they were rubbing against.

In the end it was necessary to dismantle the trailer, clean and weld the frame properly, re-position the slipper spring rear shackle pads, weld the tongue to the trailer so the bolts wouldn't come loose during the trip and cause the tongue to rub against the cooler holder. Re-wire the light so that they work correctly with my bike's trailer harness, purchase and install my own stainless rails on the lid, purchase and install my own running light, purchase and install new tires that had a lower profile and would not rub against the fenders.

I paid Bruce for shipping when I purchased the trailer. When it arrived in Asheville, it came freight collect!

This purchase was a total disaster. Every time I tried to work with Bruce to get the problems resolved he became irate, irrational, and berated me on the phone.

Everything was my fault or someone elses. I was even warned by Bruce that his brothers were accustomed to dealing with "bikers" and they would be very upset with me, and hard for him to control.

The link offered by the other poster is correct. I confronted Bruce with this, and it's one of the few things he did not deny.

Guest

Just so you know who you are dealing with, type Bruce Maynard Everett in Google. The first thing that comes up explains it all.. Bruce does not have any Brothers!!!

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