Anyone know if Fab9 are still operating? I have an order issue I'm trying to clear up and a significant engine parts order I'd like to make but they have been unresponsive to phone, email, and website contact inquiries made over the past three weeks. Hoping they are still above water and operational.
Never mind- just got back to me.
Foreshadowing of greater issues. I should have cut bait months ago, and here I am with the same order referenced above from 5 February, unfulfilled, with multiple incorrect parts mailed, false promises of 'in stock', and lack of communication. I fear that I will be left holding the bag for about $400, which isn't dire in the big scheme of things, but I would be very wary of ordering anything from this company.
I understand supply chain issues and would have been comfortable adjusting my order to account for them if they were transparent. As it is, I adjusted my order several times to account for items unavailable, and still have items unaccounted for. I'm still working to resolve the issues but it is challenging to get ahold of them as they don't return phone calls generally, and don't respond to emails, so you have to get them live on the phone.
I agonized about writing this on GRM, as I hate to be negative about small businesses struggling during these times. They are polite and earnest, and that is why I gave them the benefit of the doubt for so long. But 3 months + is far too long to have unresolved order issues- again, independent of the supply chain issues, which I am happy to work around.
I recently saw someone else airing a bunch of grievances about them on Miata.net. That's a shame to hear.
FWIW, when I was looking for someone to tune my NC, I emailed three tuners including Fab9 and basically said "I'm ready to buy TODAY but need someone to tell me what's best for my build plan" and only one of the three ever got back to me (Xero-Limit). Made the purchase decision very easy...
I know that times are tough but I wish more small automotive businesses understood that simply responding to inquiries, even if it's bad news, goes a long way towards customer confidence. I was really excited to get back into a platform with broad aftermarket support when I picked up my NC, but I've already been disappointed by a couple well-known vendors who just can't be bothered to reply to an email or stand behind their wares when they get it wrong.
(I won't name the problem children but I will say that Flyin Miata and Goodwin have always been great to me.)
I heard a lot of these issues with Fab9 before the pandemic: poor customer service, long time to receive parts, incorrect parts, stuff perpetually out of stock.
Nick that is exactly my experience.
Flyin' Miata on the other hand has been nothing but absolutely spectacular.
Thanks for that. We've been struggling with both supply and the volume of customer contacts, so it's good to hear occasionally that it's working :)
Desmond - you nailed it exactly. Just inform me, call me back, email me, but for the love of god, don't charge my credit card for a huge order ($1700), send me an email saying all the parts are shipped, and then go radio silent. And then after weeks of non returned phone calls, tell me that things are out of stock, and also send me incorrect parts.
I know the above posts are more than a couple years old...and you might not be talking about the Fab9 Tuning in Michigan and Lebanon, TN associated with the Miata scene. But the Fab9 Tuning associated with Miata tuning is top-notch. They may have had a change in management...or it may be a different Fab9 that you speak of. I've had a great experience with them. They remote tuned my NB and I have ordered numerous parts: cheap prices, fast shipping and excellent customer service is what I have experienced.
Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by Fab9 tuning, nor did I get paid for this endorsment. Haha.
They are certainly still on MiataTurbo's mental list of "known bad" vendors. A search for "site:miataturbo.net fab9" will show plenty of threads over the years, including at least one from this year: https://www.miataturbo.net/meet-greet-40/hi-folks-exhausted-fab9-109121/
I have nothing against them, but when the vendor's reputation is such that the forum response to someone mentioning problems is "lol of course, your fault for not doing any research", I'd not purchase anything from them.
There are people in this thread that have bought Goodwin parts that fit their cars? Wild. Their exhausts were built in such a way for the ND that after making my own midpipe that actually fit the car, I used to bring remflex gaskets by the *case* to national autocrosses to hand out to give people to fix the exhaust leaks....in 2018 I think there were more ND goodwin exhaust failures than there were ND transmission failures...
Flyin' Miata has always been awesome for me.
SpeedTheory said:There are people in this thread that have bought Goodwin parts that fit their cars?
Yes. Had Goodwin exhaust on our '13 Club, and just put Goodwin exhaust on our '11 GT... perfect fit. Never had an ND, but all of the Goodwin parts I've bought for NA/NB/NC over the years have been great.
Anyone can have issues, it's how they deal with it that counts. I consider FM, 949/Supermiata and Goodwin to be the gold standard for Miata stuff, and all three are much better than average for the greater aftermarket.
I've never dealt with Fab9 personally... honestly passed on them a couple of times due to their seemingly well earned reputation. They do seem to be doing better lately and have had a resurgence making NC stuff.
We have wildly different experiences / those with many that I know, I think.
Suffice to say FM is great though :). Interestingly enough, I've had great experience with Fab9 as well.
Goodwin has always been pretty solid for me.
Although the issue with my car is that the basic shell is such a mess (It's been wrecked bad before I got it and pieced back together fairly crudely) that practically nothing fits without a little massaging. I really should just reshell all the wild suspension and driveline parts into a better car.
+1 for GWR- they've always been top notch for me the numerous times I've ordered from them or called with questions. Ditto for FM and 949Racing/Supermiata- they've all been great resources and never had a problem with their parts.
Can confirm issues with Fab9 orders and comms in the past (prior to their move to TN)- several times went radio silent on delayed orders and once ended up with phantom charge that Amex dealt with. Hope their relocation leads to better customer service, as having more NC Miata options is never a bad thing
In reply to Rodan :
Agreed. SuperMiata, Goodwin, FM I'll buy from without thinking too much. I'd also add 5X, Miatacage, MiataHubs, BroFab, MiataRoadsters (the shifter guy), and a few others making things as a side gig that are well respected. Anyone else I'm nervous about and would do a lot of research first.
My current exhaust is from GWR and fit perfectly. They were also super helpful on the phone, I've been told, from someone that bought me a gift from them and didn't really know anything about what they were buying.
I think we're relatively spoiled in the Miata scene with a ton of good vendors, along with a big enough group of people that specific vendors or products are called out in public. Makes things easy compared to a lot of other platforms. Heck, I like to think my car is relatively well sorted for what it is, and I've really just followed what the top tier vendors/people have done and published.
If I still played with Miatas, Emilio at 949 and Keith at FM, are the only places I'd do business with. And I have done business with both of them, always fantastic.
Places that seem to good to be true, I avoid like the plague. I'm on my 2nd BRZ (second gen this time) and I know who I can trust to buy stuff from. Found me the last set of wheels I wanted in the country and had them to me in less than a week.
EDIT: Realized I didn't share, Kevin at Atlanta Speed Company.
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