I wanted to share something that I had experianced a while back. Last year before my move to Nevada (June '11). I knew I had to move was coming up soon. So I scrambled to get my truck back together after tearing it apart. It had to be driven because I was already going to tow another project that I have. I got to the bumper and I still did not know what I was going to do since it was a 4Runner bumper. I tried to modify the stock 2wd bumper brackets to fit the 4Runner bumper with no luck for about a week. Finally I got frustrated and thought that I would check online for places that made them. I had Rollpans.com "Liked" on my Facebook and they were so close to where I used to live that I thought that I would give them a call and I had previously bought a tailgate skin and roll pan from them so I gave them a try. I sent Steven the owner, several emails and after weeks of waiting he kept telling me that he was sorry and that he had so many orders backed up. So I gave up on him. I did some more searching online and found out that CanDo Specialties was about an hour and change drive from my work. I called them up and steve himself answered. I told him that I needed the bumper brackets. He told me sure, that he could do them tomorrow, that they only take like 15 minutes to do so call ahead before I go. We talked about price and he said $100 bucks. I told him I thought that was a bit much but he said for the quality that it was worth it. When he makes stuff its always about quality not quantity like some other sites. He named them but I wont...^^^. That if I wanted to with someone that just cared about the money to go with other sites. Then I agree on his asking price. So I went the next day happier that an 8 year old on Christmas morning and my experiance there was amazing. He was working on some great projects, some about trucks, some not about trucks. I when there to just pick up some brackets but I stayed there for hours. He did this awesome original frame for a S10, and a FAKIN AMAZING Dodge truck with a New Charger Tail light retro fit. It was FAKIN AWESOME!!! I can't wait to see it in a magazine. Then what he told me after saddened me. He said that he did not want to do IT anymore. He had other business opportunities that he was trying to focus on instead. I learned three things that day... 1) He was talked about how with his business at CanDo Specialties, he was so busy that it took away lots of time away from him and his family. He spent long hours working on project vehicles and how people weren't as respectful about the time he spends on things anymore. How it has changed from when he started doing it. How people now just want the cheapest thing they can get. He said that if his quality isn't going down why should his price? I learned that it does not matter how much you pay for something as long as the other person truely shares the same concerns as you do. If I am getting the best why would I care about saving $20 bucks vs the other one that I was trying to get for $78? 2) He said that he was getting more $$$ per hour spent for his work on his other non vehicle related metal projects. From this I learned not to under estimate yourself and that your time is only as valuable as you make it. 3) He had an amazing eagle project that I hope I get to see when it is finished. He said that he still loved to work on cars and trucks and that in the begin it was his hobby and loved tha fact that he was doing that for other people... and then it became work. The success of his business would determine the type of life and well being that his family would enjoy. I learned to keep your hobbies just that... HOBBIES. I had a teacher that told me that if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. That's BS! When hobbies turn into work they aren't hobbies anymore. He gave me an opportunity to share in one of his business ventures but because I was moving to Nevada I thought it would not work for me because it was for California. He also that if he could find the right person, he would sell his business. Someone who have the same qualities and work ethic as he does. Then he offered me the company for $100,000. I told him that I wish I had the money or new someone with it that I could ask. Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this more than I enjoy writing it, which was fun. Take care, now go work... I mean go hobby on your truck.
Man, I thought this was going to be a horror story about a problem you had with Steve. I'm glad it wasn't though. I haven't had the opportunity to meet him personally, but have spent tons of time talking to him on the phone. He's one of the nicest guys I've ever dealt with in the custom world. I respect him for not being a hack and caving to make parts cheaper. It's sad to think that he may not be in the mini truck business too much longer, but I know he'll do great with anything.
Steve was one of the two people I first talked with when starting my project. It was his truck Altered Ago that inspired me to go further than I had planed. And I have used parts from him when ever I could!
Not to be a party pooper cause he def helped me out AFTER an incident I had with him. I met him years and years ago at a severed ties show didnt think much of it cause i was a tuner back then. I hear from all my buddies about CanDo and decide to give them a try for my 4 link. Steve tells me 3 days to your door built to your specs. Gave him my specs, long story short 3 month later to my door built like a universal link not close to any measurements, specs, thickness I gave him. I let him know and lets just say dude bent over backwards to make it right but by the time he got back to me I had already used his 4 link parts to build my own. I feel good about the guy and he does amazing work and I wish him the best in the future cause he's going to make some rad **** no matter what he does. Sucks he is the ONLY person who really works for CanDo anymore and sucks worse is Bob is doing some good business off someone who is just as good as Bob cause Steve outsources a TON of work to Grant Fab.
This is just an update to the company formally know as CanDo Specialties... Terry who was the head fabricator has bought the company from Steve who has moved on to other things. Terry is doing a great job of keeping the shop busy and has changed the name to start a new brand of the same quality parts. I have been very happy with the service that Terry and Lumpy have given me and that is why I am doing this for them. I got my whole air suspension system from them. Everything! Links, arms, mounts, air management, bags, shocks, cross members... Everything... Here is some of the work that they have been doing. In this picture are my Toyota X-member and upper and lower arms And other projects... If you need anything, give them a call. I recommend them to anyone and everyone. Here is their info: KBS Fabrication LLC 6120 Lincoln Blvd. Ste. H Oroville, CA 95966 (530)532-1557 Email: [email protected] Website: Home Page Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KBS-Fabrication/581065015252468
