TRANSAM82-92

iTrader: (1)

Well I've delt with Bruce at Hawks Third Gen a few times, this time he needed 1982 Trans Am PMD seats (TAN) that I had for sale that he sold to a customer. I gave Bruce a deal on them, Boxed them and brought them to UPS for him.

Fast forward to 9/23/2014...I'm looking for a intercooler for my TTA to modify. Bruce has a TTA there for parts (Flood car). I spoke to Steven and emailed Bruce about it. It's on Ebay for $250. The plastic scoop is trash. he wants $250 for it. I spoke to steven twice. I asked about condition because it was a flood car, obviously badly flooded for a while. Steven comfirmed it wasn't in too good of condition because of salt water damage.

Still because Im looking to modify one I'm willing to work with damage. I told him I did not want the plastic shroud, it's garbage. I asked Steven what Bruce would do on it because of condition....
Bruces reply...$250 or he'll keep it ???

I've read posts on here about Bruce and problems with sales and returns.

I keep an open mind but with this deal I will not use Bruce again or sell parts to Bruce again.

Keep your salt water damaged TTA intercooler

Now I can see why people have problems with you Bruce.
Can't wait until your company keeps slipping and eventually folds.

Chiknhawk

iTrader: (2)

I've recently purchased parts from Hawks, and the last 2 orders have been broken parts. I don't know what's going on there, but quality is sure going downhill.

TRANSAM82-92

iTrader: (1)

Like I said...
Can't wait until your company keeps slipping and eventually folds.

hawksthirdgen

Hi Lou,
Pretty smart to slam someone when you're "gonna start your own third gen business and do it the right way " (read emails below)
To start with I never spoke with you regarding the intercooler as the comment Steven made about $250.00 or I will keep it was something that was said months ago in conversation and was not meant toward you it was simple a general comment that got taken out of context! Maybe I will keep it and reproduce them
In all sincerity I was willing to work with you but you send the most arrogant emails like you are the ONLY one out there that does anything right and everyone else is simply wrong or stupid is ridiculous. You think you know what is going on at my company and have no idea, we are not folding or going out of business but simply growing and with every increase each month comes challenges and we are not perfect and do make mistakes but anyone out there that has had an issue I have handled and done my best to take care of. You, sir, simply did not get your way and in return send offensive emails and come on here to trash someone. You are correct you will not do any more business with us and I wish you the best in your new business venture!
I think everyone here can read between the lines, I did not refuse to deal or help Lou what so ever. He simply went off the deep end BEFORE even talking with me and all of the sudden we are a terrible business to deal with.

Below are the emails between he and I where I tried to help him read for yourself, simply ridiculous.

"Bruce
At this point I'd rather buy it, bad taste in my mouth from this. I don't know if it's you or steven. I'm getting ready to start a 3rd gen business and do it the right way, and dominate the market. I was considering talking to you about forming something together but this really makes me think twice.
Thanks Louie

Happy Connecting. Sent from my Sprint Phone.


------ Original message------
From: Bruce Hawkins
Date: Tue, Sep 23, 2014 3:46 PM
To: 'Louielouie33';
Subject:RE: TTA intercooler

You still want to swap seats or what are you thinking?

Thanks,
Bruce Hawkins
President
LSX Conversion Specialist
Full New & Used Parts Warehouse
In House Chassis Dyno Tuning
www.hawksthirdgenparts.com
864-855-2694

From: Louielouie33 [mailto:louielouie33@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 4:24 PM
To: bruce@hawksthirdgenparts.com
Subject: Re: TTA intercooler


630 ??? ???? cell#
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Hawkins <bruce@hawksthirdgenparts.com>
To: louielouie33 <louielouie33@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Sep 23, 2014 3:20 pm
Subject: RE: TTA intercooler
< Whats a number I can call and we can discuss, we can work something out !

Thanks,
Bruce Hawkins
President
LSX Conversion Specialist
Full New & Used Parts Warehouse
In House Chassis Dyno Tuning
www.hawksthirdgenparts.com
864-855-2694

From: louielouie33@aol.com [mailto:louielouie33@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 3:37 PM
To: bruce@hawksthirdgenparts.com
Subject: Re: TTA intercooler

Bruce
Steven said per you, $250 or you'll keep it??? I don't understand since I've helped you out with PMD seats and the intercooler is from a salt water damaged TTA. I want one to modify for my TTA. That's ridiculous bruce. I don't even
want junk plastic shroud. Not very good business.
Louie
Happy Connecting. Sent from my Sprint Phone.


------ Original message------
From: Bruce Hawkins
Date: Tue, Sep 23, 2014 12:59 PM
To: 'Louielouie33';

red rock

iTrader: (2)

All I can say is wow. This is like a divorce when you only have heard one side of the story.

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

From the tone of those Emails , It looks like Mr. Hawkins was willing to discuss a deal for the intercooler , but that the OP was too preoccupied with playing the Mr. Angry Customer role to notice ..... Lighten up dude , wishing one of the precious few businesses we have catering to third gens to go out of business over a misunderstanding says a LOT more about your temper than it says anything about Mr. Hawkins !

I will admit , in the interests of full disclosure , that I have once dealt with Mr. Hawkins , just last month in fact I bought a brand new fuse box cover and it arrived in perfect like new condition . As a nice touch it even included the "female" part of the hasp that secures it into the larger underdash panel . Now had that cover not been right , for whatever reason , I'd have waited to speak with Mr. Hawkins himself BEFORE I went off on a "I hate you to death" rant .

Citation X

I purchased my carpet from them and a few other parts and had no troubles what so ever. I will more than likely be ordering more things in the future when I start my ls swap.

TRANSAM82-92

iTrader: (1)

I dont hate Mr Hawkins. I called left bruce a mssg. Emailed him and was given to Steven, he said over the phone, bruce said 250 or he'll keep it. I really dont understand this seeing as i just sold you PMD seats to resell. It's not about me not getting my way. How in the world does this have anything you said about intercooler months ago, i asked about it days ago so wouldn't be wise to reply concerning price now? It's a intercooler, used and from what steven said, pretty bad condition...his words. I've emailed you that's true and just asked you for a price...still have no answer on that from you. Just answer here so i and everybody else knows what you want for it and end it....

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

That's Great ! ..... I'm really happy to read that , cause , for a minute there with all the "I hope you go out of business" stuff you were posting , I wasn't quite sure .

So now that it's been established that you don't hate him and that his earlier statement may have been misunderstood , why not call him and see if ya can work a deal for the intercooler you wanted ?

TRANSAM82-92

iTrader: (1)

I've called him twice, put on hold for some time, I'm working in the day, at a jail so It's hard to make calls let alone stay on hold.
The whole thing that gets me is I went out of the way to get Bruce the PMD seats he needed for a customer and all I wanted is a lttle help in return on a damaged intercooler to modify and help other TTA owners out once it's finished. Telling me $250 or I'll keep it is kinda crappy coming from Bruce or Steven, and the fact they're selling it on Ebay for $250 doesn't make much sense. As far as the way Bruce does business I'm coming to realize they send out parts and if there's a problem then they deal with it, from the likes of this board looks like they do more pissing people off then getting them quality parts in the first place.

A new part is a new part, a used part is checked first if it's no good, it shouldn't be sold.

I sell 3RD GEN parts and cars, and when someone requests a part if it's not good enough to go on my car it goes in the garbage.

As far as making a deal with Bruce now, I will not be doing that. I've already found another TTA intercooler that is not salt water damaged and far cheaper than $250

and Bruce posting here saying that maybe he'll reproduce them and sell them because I let him know that I'm starting a company specializing in 3rd GENs...

1) Seems that statement he made is angry

2) I hope he does reproduce them and offer them to TTA owners ( I emailed him the fin count for GN TTA & GNX intercoolers so he knows the difference)

I would have rather combined with Bruce and offer more to 3RD GEN owners because I myself own 3RD GENs and would rather help alot of others than just myself with these cars.

Thanks for your time

Justin89Formy

iTrader: (26)

wow. I've dealt with bruce a bunch over the years. I bought all my LS swap parts from him, a dual fuel pump setup, I've sold him countless RARE parts like Dana44 axles (3 or 4) T-Ram Intakes (3 or 4...one was NOS!), PMD seats, and even entire LS1 trans ams! He's been NOTHING short of 100% fair, honest (brutal to a point), and willing to work with me.

If there was a problem, he has always called me himself, even after hours. its just how it goes when you own and run a business.

It appears the difference between you and I, is I try to treat Bruce with RESPECT. The tone of your emails, and post about seem to be severely lacking any respect, or even common courtesy. I would not want to extend my neck out to you to try to help you if I felt you were treating me like crap.

Sorry that you think you were wronged, but by my continued dealings with Bruce, I can tell you he's not an angry or spiteful guy, and I think maybe YOU had something to do with it.

And leave Steven out of this. He's really nice to work with too.

Not to mention, GOOD LUCK starting a NEW thirdgen business. Not only is it a real small niche branch of automobiles, but MOST thirdgenners are CHEAP, and will NOT want to support you (the business owner) if you're so short. It makes NO sense why you would try to air dirty laundry like this, all while spouting "I'm starting a new business and will dominate the industry"...just seems plain old ARROGANT

TRANSAM82-92

iTrader: (1)

I sold you PMD seats and air intake justin....I called and spoke to steven first and that's what I was told by Steven, and he remembered I sold Bruce the seats. If my email comes off as arrogant that's how people read it. I didn't have problems dismantling your seats, packing them and having FED EX pick them up did I?

Justin89Formy

iTrader: (26)

How did you sell him the seats if you sold them to me?

Justin89Formy

iTrader: (26)

And ya it kinda makes sense now. You were kinda arrogant to me too, but our deal went ok

TRANSAM82-92

iTrader: (1)

and I'm not going to keep commenting on this. It's over. I purchased a TTA intercooler for much less...

TRANSAM82-92

iTrader: (1)

I sold Bruce Tan ones, you bought the dark charcoal ones

TRANSAM82-92

iTrader: (1)

Your parts, after I dismantled seats, boxed them, sat 3 days in a front office until Fed Ex picked them up for you. Then I texted you and let you know they were picked up...where's the arrogance?

I suppose you sold those seats to Bruce?

TRANSAM82-92

iTrader: (1)

guess I was arrogant to this guy too...

91/92 Trans Am Taillights No Cracks or Broken Mounts $200 shipped
SOLD!

Hi all,

A fellow poster here gave me a great deal on a set of really nice taillights and I've now I've got a set of better than average lights that I'd like to unload. The lights have no cracks or damage of any kind other than the dreaded delamination, which appears to be confined to only the passenger side light. All the mount points are intact and 5 of the 6 plastic attachment wingnuts are included. The lenses themselves could definitely stand for some polishing but show no signs of pitting, etc. They've got a nice set of vinyl red "PONTIAC" letters installed as well. No harness or other components are included.

Pricing these at $200 shipped anywhere in the US (except Alaska or Hawaii) for a quick sale. Great deal for somebody!
Attached Thumbnails
91/92 Trans Am Taillights No Cracks or Broken Mounts 0 shipped-img_4165.jpg 91/92 Trans Am Taillights No Cracks or Broken Mounts 0 shipped-img_4161.jpg 91/92 Trans Am Taillights No Cracks or Broken Mounts 0 shipped-img_4166.jpg
Last edited by jstanfi1; 08-17-2014 at 05:19 PM. Reason: Sold

I sold him the tail lights and gave him a refund of $25 he paid for shipping because he picked them up because I was concerned about shipping rare tail lights that were so nice...

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/clas...transam82.html

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

How appropriate for the Halloween season that the guy who just HAD to talk smack about another Man's business should have a couple of Skeletons come A dancin' outta his OWN closet .... Really dude , how DARE you slam Hawks when you yourself appear to have , , , Issues ????

prossi

hah!! do a yahoo search for Lois Battaglia and you can see he is a scammer. I remember someone had posted an ad on craigslist warning about this guy


http://www.camaroz28.com/forums/3rd-...arnings-98719/


https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/clas...ia-itasca.html

antman89iroc

I have had 100% good business with Hawks. I am planning now to pick up some interior/seals components and wouldn't hesitate to send them my hard earned $$. Every business in the world has 1 or 2 disgruntled customers so it goes without saying that someone will be dissatisfied with a purchase. They have always been 100% professional and fair with the new and used parts I've purchased. Not always the cheapest but when you need a hard to find part it's worth a dollar or two to ship it all from one vendor.

Oh, I have found that when I treat a vendor with respect I usually get it in return. Stuff happens, parts back ordered, mis-ships etc. If I flip our every time it doesn't go perfect I'm gonna have a long day. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets oil and sometimes it gets run til the bearings fall out. If I raise heck I may get what I asked for but they may not have gone the extra mile to get me the "best used" part in the yard. Am I making sense here or am I the odd man out?

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

Three times now I've done business with Hawks , and three times I've been totally pleased with the results of my purchases . First thing I bought was a fusebox cover , fit perfect and no complaints . Second thing I bought was the radiator overflow tank . Through my own mistake I accidentally ordered a washer fluid tank by mistake . A 3 minute phone call was all it took to get it sorted and the tank that was delivered fit perfect , looks perfect , and don't leak like my original one did . My most recent purchase was the inner fender plastic piece for the front right fender . Right after I ordered it , I couldn't remember if I had properly chosen between right or left side . I called Hawks and a very nice gent (I think his name was Steve ?) helped me and assured me that I had in fact ordered the correct (right hand) side . With three good purchases now I feel I can totally trust Hawks.....

And as to the starter of this thread , Mr Louie whatever , I have seen him for what he is and would never send a dime his way for all that I've read about him since he started this nasty little bash thread about a retailer who is top notch in my opinion and could really teach ol Louie Louie a thing or two about how to do business ....

Long Live Hawks !!!!

Linson

Ya know... Just by reading the first post, the OP's rant seems meritless and a bit nutty. Its one thing if he recieved defective parts or the wrong parts, and Bruce did not make right the situation. But no - this guy is operating under the premise that "if he sells you a part for an agreed price, you owe him FAVORS on top of the agreed price." So the rant is that Bruce did not negotiate below his asking price on an intercooler, and we're all supposed to be sympathetic...

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

I think the OP has had a bunch of different screen names over the years.
Why?
I have dealt with Hawks over the years and always found them to be a stand up company, even when returns were involved. I doubt the company is in decline or going anywhere IMO.

GCrites80s

Ugh these are the kind of customers that get on our nerves at my business too. Want everything for nothing and are terrible customers to boot. They're the 1% of customers we don't need.

antman89iroc

Yeah I used to say "if we didn't have to deal with all the demanding customers and crappy vendors, my day would be easy" then I realized I wouldn't have a job if that were the case lol.

But there is some truth to your point. Some people are simply hard to deal with and it makes me try to be a better customer/vendor and more understanding when someone I'm dealing with comes across that way. When I get less than expected service I think maybe I'm the 1000th person they may have had to deal with that day. It doesn't excuse their ineptness, but makes my day, blood pressure, stay on track.

When I am reasonable I seem to get better service too.

GCrites80s

Agree wholeheartedly. But I'm only talking about the OP.

Tibo

iTrader: (15)

Bump. This guy Lou Battaglia AKA TRANSAM82-92 seems to have ripped of another member in another thread. The more people see this stuff the better.

zman1969

iTrader: (9)

I bought a used steering wheel from Hawks off low mile 5th gen and the radio control side doesn't work best offer was to sell at their cost (only a 35$ part) I will do no more business with them any more

hawksthirdgen

HI,
I looked into this and the part was purchased 10 months ago and we were infomed of the switch issue on Friday , I want to stand behind our products we normally have a 15 day policy , this has been 10 months and I am at risk of losing a customer because we will not supply a new switch 10 months after the part was purchased , we did offer the part at our cost NOT RETAIL NOT MARKED UP 1 CENT , to help out and try to be fair to both of us . I want o ask the community are we wrong here or is too much being expected ?
Thanks Bruce Hawkins

OrangeBird

iTrader: (1)

As 10 months have elapsed on a part with a stated 15 day return policy , No Bruce , I don't think your wrong at all . It appears some folks want "cradle to grave" support on used parts and this is just not fair to you , considering your stated 15 day policy . I think your offer to the gent was plenty fair considering the 10 months that have elapsed , which was failed to be mentioned in "zman1969" 's rant post against you . There are always two sides to every story and in this case it's pretty obvious that it's the customer whose at fault here .

hawksthirdgen

HI,
Good Reviews and a positive reputation are VERY important to me and I want to take care of my customer base I just don't want to have to "PAY" hush money in buying parts to keep something unreasonable from being used against us , Its just frustrating as I still want to be able to help the customer but not punish ourselves 10 months after the fact .
Zman1969 give me a call in the office if you would like to discuss further.
Thanks again guys !
Bruce Hawkins

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

At some point in time that used part became theirs and not yours. There is a time frame where you're willing to take shared responsibility but 10 months is unqeustionably waaaaaay out of that zone.

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

Walmart mentality - buy a big screen TV for the Super Bowl and bring it back 2 months later saying it didn't work.


How are things going after the fire Bruce - back to normal yet? Could not have been easy but good thing nobody got hurt!

hawksthirdgen

HI,
Thanks for asking We are doing great consdering we are super busy and slowly getting everytihng back to normal , it did change some things here but we are gonna come back bigger and better if all goes as planned but the customer support is THE MOST important part of that !

Thanks again guys
Bruce Hawkins

Buddy

So a tad off topic Bruce, wondering if your going to the Trans Am Nationals this Aug 24-26? As you know there has been changes there over the years since you were there last. It would be good to see you again, also good for anyone going to maybe order any parts from you - at the show discount obviously - but be able to pick them up at the show. If you are, bring some of the 'Don Thump cam' shirts folks here have been asking for after you released the cam, I'm sure any shirts you would bring - if you go - would all sell out.

scooter

iTrader: (11)

What I think is funny about that is, I left two very honest reviews about products I purchased from you, and to this date you still have not published them on your website. I can only assume because they were not so favorable and you don't want the products that you reproduce to have anything bad about them on the website.

That and I was jerked around over $20 MORE for shipping on a piece of sheet metal that I wanted, this was AFTER I was quoted a price on the phone then when I sent the email the price went up over $100 (If I am remembering correctly, it may have been more). I wound up going to someone else and got the whole thing for under $100, when your price was over $400 for the same thing with shipping.

I have plenty of pictures to show how poorly the product I gave the poor review are, so you can't BS the rest of the community and say I am wrong

hawksthirdgen

HI Not interested in BS the community at all , I have over 20 employees total and I can say as in any business EVERYTHING does not go how I would personally handle them and opinions can very on things so sometimes I would have liked to handle a certain situation slightly diff , I am open to any opinion on any part we reproduce , but when we do the best to make reproduce a product to the best of our ability and a public negative review when possible it was a issue with the one product you have not the product as a whole I like to deal with the issue one on one with the customer , please feel free to email me pics of the issues you had so I can take a look bruce@hawksmotorsports.com , also anyone can get me there more direct as I do not get a chance to get on the forums as much as I would prefer as time simply does not allow . Thanks again for the feedback both good and bad .
Bruce Hawkins

WTR388

I was hoping to get the filler panel for between the tail lights on my 87 T/A, you had NOS ones on the site before the fire, I checked after and they were no longer showing. Can we still buy these? I procrastinated too long I guess.

hawksthirdgen

HI,
All we have are used no NOS at this time but we do have new repos in the works
Thanks,
Bruce Hawkins

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

Since this thread has bounced around a little....and since it's got Bruce's captive eye, lol....

Can I publicly get a time frame on the 17" 88-90 Iroc, and other new repop wheels?

1988 Iroc 5.7

iTrader: (3)

I'll second that!

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Just the centers, Bruce, or the whole 3 piece deal, tail lamps and all?

no new tires

17"...skip that, I want 10" WIDE BAY-BAY!

hawksthirdgen

Just the centers for now not the taillights .
Thanks Bruce

hawksthirdgen

We are looking at 60-90 days from two weeks ago to get inventory in to ship as the color and chrome wheels have diff completion dates. We are excited as these things look KILLER on the cars .
Thanks Bruce

Buddy

So that's undecided so far???

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

OE Gold I hope.... -on those 88-90's!?

Tibo

iTrader: (15)

Also, a number of us would like to buy the Donald thump camshaft Tshirt. Would you be able to post a for sale thread of it? I emailed with one of your employees, Ryan (I believe) who told me if they had ten orders your could sell them at $20 a pop. I think this would get more attention than me starting a thread in the barely traveled "Group purchase" board.

Thanks,
Mark.