Is KGAP Still In Business?
![[Deleted User]](https://openforum.hetclub.org/applications/dashboard/design/images/defaulticon.png)
Hi,
We are in the process of restoring a 1947 Hudson Pickup. We were told that KGAP was the place to get all of our weather stripping and seals. We hav made numerous attempts to contact KGAP via phone and email, we have had no success. We are wondering if KGAP is still in business. Looking for some help locating the items we need or getting in contact with people that can help. We are trying to do a concourse restoration on this truck and we are looking for as much advice as we can get.
We are in the process of restoring a 1947 Hudson Pickup. We were told that KGAP was the place to get all of our weather stripping and seals. We hav made numerous attempts to contact KGAP via phone and email, we have had no success. We are wondering if KGAP is still in business. Looking for some help locating the items we need or getting in contact with people that can help. We are trying to do a concourse restoration on this truck and we are looking for as much advice as we can get.
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Comments
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try dr doug
I would check with Wildrick Rubber Products, who is the new and leading game in town.
Their # is: 317-398-4163
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Hi Mike S.C.,
I have the window channeling , division bars and beltlines (Fuzzies) for your Hudson truck Email me at thez@verizon.net or cal my voice mail at (562) 947-5864. VicTor Z0 -
The persons who run K-Gap lost interest.0
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Mike's Service Center-
Yes, as listed above, call Wildrick Rubber Products, who will have all your rubber needs for y'all's truck. Dennis will most likely answer the phone and most helpful.0 -
If K-Gap people have lost interest what happened to the business?? The Hudson world wonders........
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
Do not deal with K-Gap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!0
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You can't.0
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I just don't understand. If Danny & Kaylene lost interest, why won't they sell off the stock and cut their loses? The more this goes on two things will happen. 1. As a hole in the market exists,someone will start up a rival company and reduce the value of Kgap. 2. The "good will" that is always figured in the value of a business disappears by the day, ultimitely just leaving unsold inventory to dispose of. ???0
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Is anyone supplying stainless steel trim retainers? I know there is a guy in Detroit making out of galvanized metal, but they are really thin. KGAP were very good quality.
Rich0 -
As i recall somebody did offer to buy them out at one point. My understanding they were chased of rather rudely. I could be wrong, however.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
You are right on that one, Alex!
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I spoke to Dany at K Gap the other day as I ordered all my parts (rubber gaskets etc) from them.I got part of the order from him a couple of months ago when I drove out there. He said he would have the rest in a couple of weeks. He said he just doesn't have the money to run more parts. When I hinted ( since he is in my chapter and I have known him a long time) that he should consider a buyer for the company he got very quiet and said I need to do what I need to do for my car. So I have sent a list of what I still need to Doug Wildrick and see how that works out.0
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I wonder if he's considered getting someone in to advise him, and give him a business plan? There is a group called SCORE (a group of retired executives) that give advice to small businesses for a nominal fee (or maybe even free). It's a non-profit. One of the sponsors is the Small Business Administration. A SCORE advisor might work out a business plan for K-Gap which would allow them to turn this thing around and gradually build up the business back up.
http://www.score.org/?gclid=CP3OkpuJ4bUCFZOe4Aod4kcA8Q
Most of us self-employed people are not business school graduates, we kind of play it by ear. But with the help of a group like this, a business owner can gain the invaluable experience of people who have been in business their whole career.
Possibly the adviser would suggest (for example) that K-Gap concentrate on a few of its best-selling items and then, with the profits from those, gradually build up the inventory for other catalog items, one at a time. The advisers will certainly have ideas, maybe some of which Dany hasn't considered. If it's free advice (but from professionals, so it's valuable), so it would seem to make sense to at least take a look at it.
I don't know the Springs, but maybe someone who does could suggest this idea. It would be a tragedy to for Hudsonites to lose the resources of K-Gap.
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Figuring out how to make a profit in the old car market is tough. I gave up a long time ago because I am not willing to sell a product that I would not put on my own car or because once I get a part properly restored no one wants to pay what it costs. IT IS JUST NOT FOR ME. Because I own a business most suppliers are willing to cut me a discount. The best cut I have been able to get is 25 percent. One would think that 25 percent would be more than enough mark up. It never worked for me. I would end up being told that my customer could get it at a better price somewhere else or they would just rather have an unrestored part. Also, If you are carrying ten thousand dollars of inventory and not turning it over on an annual basis you are loosing money. I know some do well with this business, but unlike those who do restorations or such, I do not have the shop or ongoing work you need to have to keep a business running. Parts alone are not enough to make it worth it. I am happy building my cars, selling a few now and then, and helping folks when I can... Just my thoughts....0
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Hey 464, you said you went and picked up your order, I would like to pick up my order also. What is Dany's address?0
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. "He said he just doesn't have the money to run more parts "
When you take customers money and dont return a product or service its called fraud or theft.
In the state where I live you go to jail for that,
Roger0 -
My name is Ben from Australia and have been buying gear from K-Gap for the last 6 years i am desperate to find the outer door rubber seals for a 1957 Hudson K-Gap no 730.I rung numerous times tried to email and have sent a letter to no avail can someone in Hudson land steer me in the right direction of another supplier .0
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In thinking this over myself, I wonder if the refusal to sell out has to do with all the orders that have been placed and paid for but not sent out? Wouldn't new owners face that liability as well?0
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I can remember when I first purchased my Hudson and was able to get all my needs from Press and Janet Kale when they owned K-Gap. I was one of the fortunate ones that was able to get my money back for a small order that I placed with K-Gap under the new owners through Paypal. I can only sympathize with those of you who have paid large sums to K-Gap in recent times.0
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I really hate to say this, but it appears that the only way to resolve the problem is for everyone who has pending orders with money paid get together and get a lawyer. I know the Springs have had family and financial problems but, as the old saying goes "when you're in a hole, quit digging"!!!! It would be far better for the Springs to find a buyer and work out some sort of plan to fill the outstanding orders. Perhaps threat of a law suit, or at the very least small claims court, would move them into doing this. At the moment there is a case of fraud here - advertising items, taking orders for them and not delivering said orders, but keeping the money. That, as Roger has pointed out, is illegal.
I know we all hate to take such action as above against a fellow HET club member, but there comes a time when something has to be done if only to alert people who are not on this forum, or not online so do not know there is a problem. I'm sure there are some non-club member Hudson owners who are restoring and don't realize the problem here.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN0 -
Ben from Australia, you need to start a separate discussion for your request! My advice would be to check with AMC / Rambler / Nash parts houses. My guess is that a 1957 full-sized Nash would have had the same door weatherstrip as its Hudson counterpart. Possibly the '57 Ramblers might have used the same as well, though of course in a different length -- if this was merely an extruded weatherseal, of course. If moulded, then they wouldn't be interchangeable.
Take a look at this one and see if it seems to come close to what you need: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nash-Rambler-AMC-1937-1957-Door-Weather-Seal-New-USA-Made-Look-See-av-C-/251102670362
Of course there are "universal" seals out there, and possibly you can find one that comes close to matching the original. At least it would be a "placeholder" until the real thing comes along.
Have you been in touch with the Hudson / Rambler club there in Australia? Maybe someone there can help you.0 -
Thanks people for your input i will try Wildrick Rubber i couldn't find them on the net but i will email the rubber seal on ebay appears to be different to what i need0
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Here's Doug Wildrick's website. http://wildrickrestorations.com/0
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Yeah, I need it too for both of my 56's !0
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It is very disapointing that Kaylene hasn't put up a note on the K-Gap web site to let everyone know that the shop was permantly closed and no more orders i have been trying since before Xmas .0
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If she's still taking orders when the shop has closed, somebody needs to notify the local DA's office or the California Attorney General about what's going on.
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If she let folks know it was closed money would stop coming in . Could that be the reason ?
Roger0 -
I don't think that is true. I was sent my order two days ago. No problems.0
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K-Gap has ripped me off for hundreds of dollars. My order from May of 2011 has never shipped despite be reassured by their little girl that " the order will be on it's way in 2 weeks" several times. I can only guess where my money went: gambling? alcohol? drugs? personal auto restoration? ( I know that can take a lot of $). There are other much more reliable sources for parts, you just need to be more resourceful.0
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Many of you have examined or criticized K-GAP as a business model so let's take a look at it.
In the last many years that Janet & Press ran it, it was a "mom & pop" operation out of their home so many of the things ticked off by 46 unapplicable (mortgage, food, insurance, etc.). There were no employees & they didn't have to make a profit off it altho I'm sure it was profitable. Janet did all the paper work, Press the production end. They had/have a very nice home in a very nice neighborhood long before K-GAP entered the picture.
The Springs on the other hand both worked/work, had children, and the other expenses that life in the big city require so an entirely different business model/situation. I think they just "bit off more than they could chew" so to speak, unfortunately for all concerned.0
This discussion has been closed.
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