North Coast Custom Arcades unresponsive?

[Damian]

Hey all. I am juuust getting started on my first build, and I'm super excited. Because I suck at woodworking, I have been planning on using North Coast Custom Arcades to get a custom quad panel made.

Unfortunately, I've been having a very hard time getting my questions answered. In the past two weeks, the only reply I've gotten via email was when I asked if they were still making cabinets. "Yes." As for other things -- like acrylic/plexi covering options, or top-mounting a minigrip, nothing but crickets. I also noticed that their website still mentions a New Year's Day special.

So...has anyone done business with these guys recently? Are they on their way out of business, or are they always just very slow to reply to emails maybe?

Damian

[Fursphere]

I've always wondered if it was a profitable business myself.

[Damian]

I did finally hear back from Scott, and I've placed my custom CP order with him. Fingers crossed...

[Rando]

I did finally hear back from Scott, and I've placed my custom CP order with him. Fingers crossed...

I spoke to them on the phone early last week briefly, and was told to send in my exact needs via e-mail.  Follow-ed up with them via Voice Mail today as I haven't heard anything back yet.

Have been good in past dealings, expect to hear back soon!

[rcosner]

Hey all. I am juuust getting started on my first build, and I'm super excited. Because I suck at woodworking, I have been planning on using North Coast Custom Arcades to get a custom quad panel made.

Unfortunately, I've been having a very hard time getting my questions answered. In the past two weeks, the only reply I've gotten via email was when I asked if they were still making cabinets. "Yes." As for other things -- like acrylic/plexi covering options, or top-mounting a minigrip, nothing but crickets. I also noticed that their website still mentions a New Year's Day special.

So...has anyone done business with these guys recently? Are they on their way out of business, or are they always just very slow to reply to emails maybe?

Damian

I've noticed if my questions to them start getting too wordy, I stop getting replies. Apparenty there pre-made control panels now have flush mount trackballs, but the kits are still designed for the plate style. I asked about getting a custom job done where he just installs the trackball so that I can have a flush mount, but still do the rest of the work myself, and I haven't gotten an answer. He was responding quickly when he was under the impression I was going to buy a complete control panel. Now I got crickets... I guess its just one guy and if it doesnt look like the money is already in the pipeline, he stops responding.

I was just trying to get my options laid out so I know what I need to get put away to do this, unfortunately I need information and I am not ready to order right this second.

[Gray_Area]

Maybe just better to build it yourself.

[Damian]

That sounds EXACTLY like my experience! The shorter the question, the better your odds of a prompt reply. :sigh:

I am about to take delivery of my custom quad control panel kit from him, though, so it eventually worked out. What worked:

• Mock up your layout in the mameroom cp designer app, using the closest available control. (For instance, I used a Happ top-fire in place of my minigrip trigger stick).
• Submit order, along with an emailed (and brief!) list of what the controls REALLY are, preferably with links to mounting diagrams, along with any special requests (e.g. partial holes for blind mounting).

We did eventually discover that I was an idiot on a few points, and Scott was pretty good about helping me revise the plans, but the process did take some slow back and forth.

I'll update the thread in a few days when (hopefully) FedEx has finally figured out how to deliver the package. (True story: It shipped in two packages: the wood and the T-molding. FedEx delivered the T-molding successfully. The other package? "Could not find address."  )