Has anyone ever had any issues with Keisler, (not their transmissions, but their service) ?
I am in the middle of a drive train upgrade, my car is at a shop on a lift with the engine out (being rebuilt and upgraded to about 425 horse), trans out and exhaust out.
I decided while this was being done to replace my exhaust with stainless headers and side pipes and my 4 speed Muncie to a 5 speed.
I was looking at the TKO 600, I called Keisler to discuss my options and the salesman discussed a T45RS. These are offered in a 350hp and 425hp version. He said the T45 with the 425hp was a good trans and was quite a bit lower in price than the TKO600 perfect fit kit. So I ordered it. I was told it would ship in about 2 weeks. I got a shipping date of Dec. 8th on my order form.
Well that date came and went, no trans, so I called about a couple days later to check when it was going out, I was told there was a slight delay and it would ship by the 14th, that day came and went, no trans.
I called again on the 21st, I was told that it had to be checked and I would be called back the next day, NO CALL, I called at the end of that day, got an answering machine and left a message, NO CALL BACK, so I waited another day and called at the end of the day. I was told again by another person now that it had to be checked into and I would be called back Monday morning (the 28th- today) NO CALL.
Im not really in a rush to have my car, (it is the winter) but the problem is that the shop has had my car on their lift for about 5 weeks now and are now charging me $30 a day to have it there since it is taking up their lift and the only other place they can keep it is outside which I wont let them do. To add to that is that it looks like I lost the sale of my old trans (which I had SOLD) because of the delay.

So it has so far cost me almost $900 and climbing because of this delay and im not even getting return calls now.

I could have purchased the TKO600 and had it in my car 2 weeks ago and still end up spending less money than what this has cost me already.

Sorry for the long post. But I had to vent!

An update to this post......

Received another call from Keisler today (12/29). This time very positive and helpfull. My issue was addressed in a manner better than I even would have expected. Thanks for the response and you have renewed my faith in your company. (as long as everything goes as was stated of course)
But I believe it will and am more than satisfied with Keislers resolution!

 

I don't know what to tell you but I have always had excellent service from them. I was emailing them this morning on a TKO 600 and they got right back to me. I don't know what the delay is in the T45 trans but there must be an issue. I would keep calling until I got an answer.

 

From my experiences with them, the situation you are in is not typical of their service. I think someone is owed an exclamation and an apology here.

 

Well I recieved a call from Keisler this afternoon, theyre now saying probably 10 days to two weeks more......Aargh, thats gonna cost me 300 to 450 dollars more and theres nothing I can do.

We lets see, I could have purchased a gold filled transmission now!

 

The delay sucks...

Is the engine still out? Why not just put the old tranny back in and drive it home until the new one shows up? Wouldn't it be even cheaper to have the car trailered home and back when the new tranny shows up?

 

Thought of that but the engine is still out, was waiting for the trans. By the time its put back in now and finished up with the old trans., id drive it home, then have to bring it back and be charged all over again to take the old one out again and put in the new one, probably cost me about the same to go that way, and more headache, but had I know, thats the way I would have gone if Keisler would have informed me from the beginning or even the FIRST or SECOND time I called them.

 

I've only dealt with Keisler once or twice and have no complaints. While Chevy guys tend to have good things to say about them, the Mopar guys have the exact opposite opinions. I used to own a Mopar and the vitriol by them toward Keisler is really bad. Lots of complaints over service but I really don't know how valid those claims were.

All it takes is one bad experience (real or imagined) and word of mouth does the rest...and the internet is the vehicle to spread it.

 

True enough... I just hope the next week or two doesn't get delayed with the holidays. I feel your frustration, it really sucks when your plans are delayed through no fault of your own.

Maybe the shop has or knows of a flatdeck they can rent you for a deal.... I imagine they are losing business only making $30 a day for their lift.

In my experience.... The squeaky wheel gets the grease, as long as you are not a complete jerk when dealing with them.

 

What about getting the TKO600. It could be cheaper in the long run as long as it is in stock. I would ask them to eat the shipping.

Just a thought!

 

I'd install the motor and put the muncie back in. Drive it home and reschedule when the OD trans comes in.

 

I have had very good service from Keisler. I would certainly find a way to get your car off that lift. I would cancel the order, unless they are willing to reciprocate you in some way.

 

Got charge $100.00 for a replacement speedo cable. Never again

 

OK, I'll jump in! (Flame suit put on) You've got your car torn apart in a garage waiting for parts over the holidays.

Got to ask yourself if you didn't set yourself up for aggravation?

Just saying; it would have been prudent for you to have all the parts on hand before you committed to the hoist.

I'm not defending Keisler's handling of the order; however it's difficult enough for these companies to get us parts or components when we need them at the best of times. I prefer to deal with supplier issues with the suppliers. We need to recognize that we're in the middle of the holidays.

Have a happy New Year and good luck with the upgrade.

 

The order was placed in november and the car should have been done well before the holidays, as I said earlier the car has been on the lift for 5 weeks and if any sort of delay was expected I would have easily made other arrangements. Dont give me a few different dates and meet NONE of them.

 

Keisler customer service is bad. I was told 2 weeks for my T45rs, took about 2 months. Shipped me wrong parts, acted like it was my fault, Shipped me faulty parts-still waiting for my refund. They may have a good product but I would buy else where next time

 

There is a big difference between the T45 and the TKO 600 as far as gear ratios are concerned. The T45 has a very low 1st gear compared to the 600. If yo uare looking for a low 1st gear the 500 would be a better choice. I should know I am looking to sell my 500 for the 600. The 500 with the hp and torque and rear gear ratio I have is better suited to the 600 gear ratio. Look into that if you make a decision to go to a TKO instead of the T45. There is a huge difference between the two.

 

Well Gents,

I have made a resolution with the OP he will have a trans shipped by Thursday at the latest. I am just sorry it had to come to this. This is not the norm with us. The T45's are built to custom order and it is a very popular trans and we have lots of applications it sells for. I am not making excuses. Sorry Dave

 

Jack,


I saw where we sent you the Free shifter upgrade and a free cable. No where in the system is a $100 speedo cable order. What name was the order in? Did you have a shop order it and install it?

 

I can remember two occasions I dealt with Keisler. When I had a '67 Dodge Charger I bought from them a reproduction rear tail lens set...excellent quality and received it promptly.

My second time was at Corvettes at Carlisle...I placed an order with them for a 5-speed transmission for my '69 Vette and gave a deposit. I was told it would be about sixty days for delivery...no problem. About a month later I ended up in the hospital for a week with several months of recuperation. As I had no idea how bad the medical bills would be, I decided to cancel the order for the tranny and take the hit on loss of deposit as I was aware it was non-refundable. I wrote Keisler to cancel the order, and they promptly refunded my deposit, which I understand they did not have to do.

To me, that demonstrates customer service above and beyond what the sales agreement stated. They're OK in my book.

 

Good way to do business, heard lots of good things about Keisler........