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The Business Of Upholstery => The Business Of Upholstery => Topic started by: lc on May 04, 2011, 04:46:04 pm

Title: Click Clack hinges
Post by: lc on May 04, 2011, 04:46:04 pm

Hi Everyone

The last time I was on this site I believe was 2008 when I was getting the nerve to start my own business...I really want to thank the people who gave me encouragement at that time because I was green green green..
I had many on here that said I was going to be too passive and I have learned to get ahead I have to be more agressive and more confident..a big learning curve for me because I am extremley easy going.. I know now it's a dog eat dog world out there now ...I must say I am pleasently surprised .,,I am doing awesome and I am swamped with work..

My question is ..I am doing a job for a houseboat outfit that has davenport type beds..the click clack hinges were shot .,There are 14 beds.
I only had one company to order them from ''J Ennis''
..well unfortuately they all broke in the meager three months that the boats were in use..the old hinges were way stronger but they are done now after many years of use..They were much stronger than the ones we get now..I can't seem to find any suppliers .
Does anyone know where there may be a supplier of good hinges ? These units are heavy and get a lot of abuse so I need to find good ones.

Thanks

LC
Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: sofadoc on May 04, 2011, 05:15:53 pm
Call Masco Fabrics in Birmingham (800) 326-2726
Their 2003 catalog listed them as "sofahinges". They haven't printed a new catalog since then, so they may not still have them.
Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: lc on May 06, 2011, 05:00:18 am

Thank you

I will try them today.
..this has recently turned into a nightmare  !! we sent the old hinges to someone here that said they could fix the old ones at  $ 85. for each one ( not by the pair ) so that being costly and nowhere to turn the customer okayed it .
These houseboats are to be in the water by the May 24th weekend .

When we took the hinges to them a couple of months ago they said they'de be ready in time ..no problem.
My husband went to see how it is going recently and the guy  hummedand hawed., saying they aren't ready and that there are 6 that cannot be repaired ..
in the beginning we had asked if they could make new ones if some were not repairable he said yes..now he is saying no.
He also needs a tension clip for 5 more which again we can't find ..this wee little clip he says he can make up for  $ 40 each plus we would have to pay $120. for them to have the wire Purolated to him .

I did all this work and now I feel like I am letting this customer down .
I hope this company you gave the number for is still in business .I'll Let you know if I have any luck.
I take it they are in the states..I'm in northern Ontario ..I'll order from the Arctic if need be.. ha ha
Thanks
LC



Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: sofadoc on May 06, 2011, 05:55:51 am
Quote from: lc on May 06, 2011, 05:00:18 am
I hope this company you gave the number for is still in business

They are definately still in business. But they haven't printed a new catalog since '03.
I haven't ordered those hinges in years, so I can't say if the quality of them is what it once was.
Over the years, Masco has been pretty good about having stuff I need that no one else has. And only rarely, has the price changed from '03.
Good luck.
Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: lc on May 06, 2011, 07:44:41 am

They don't have them anymore but they gave me one place to try www.vandykes.com
.
I'm just waiting for them to get back to me..crossing my fingers at the same time

LC
Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: sofadoc on May 06, 2011, 03:42:19 pm
Did you see these? They may be poor quality also:
http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale/wholesale-sofa-bed-hinge.html

Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: lc on May 07, 2011, 04:00:16 am

Thank you I'll check that out.
Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: wenaLIZZ on May 17, 2011, 04:27:50 pm
I have read this before, but never did I read such detailed work. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: lc on May 17, 2011, 05:07:30 pm

I had no luck with the hinge situation., No-one seems to carry what I need and the ones I had ordered before were from China ., like I had said before they didn't last long. Three months.

The company that worked on them ripped my customer off..., at least I think that !
He secured a few hinges and renforced them but he just tack welded others yet still charged the 85. 00 for each ..they should have been less for the time it took.

I feel like we are flogging a dead horse ..this is a business that needs their sofa beds for the summer season..what I don't understand is .,why do they make sofa beds still today but  ''we'' as upholsterers cannot get the product these companies are using ?
LC

Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: sofadoc on May 17, 2011, 08:01:23 pm
Quote from: lc on May 17, 2011, 05:07:30 pm

The company that worked on them ripped my customer off..., at least I think that !
He secured a few hinges and renforced them but he just tack welded others yet still charged the 85. 00 for each ..they should have been less for the time it took.

I agree. They should have been a LOT less! My local welder has never charged me more than $20 for welding recliner mechs. And when he gets done, they're better than new.
Title: Re: Click Clack hinges
Post by: lc on May 19, 2011, 05:19:08 am
My husband went right back to the company with pictures of the finished hinges , and since my guy knows the ins and outs of welding he pointed out the easy fixes of the simple spot welds they had done for that rediculous price .

The owner tried to make excuses but my husband held firm and cornered him on all the things he had said he would do ..,then did not...
 I was impressed because my guy told him our customer was very disappointed and that reflects on our business .

He also pointed out that his business sends false signals and does not follow through..for example , he had said he could make new sets as we need 5 more but he backed out during the job.
He said he would warranty them for three months but now denies it.
In the end my husband said okay we'll see you in small claims court .

Later we got a phone call and he is reimbursing us 380.00 ..he said in two weeks we should get it so we'll see how that holds true but if he wants to be a reputable business he's going to fall hard .
due to his false promises he has lost out on referals from me.