The Iron Factory

RookieBlue7 · February 1, 2013

Alright, I'm just curious if anyone has recently had Jim Kronus complete any work for them? I sent heads in a few weeks ago (they've been there a few weeks). I called last week to verify they arrived after not getting a call to make sure they arrived safely. I enclosed the note they asked for with all information requested (phone number, name, return address and work requested). Their site says they'll call after they check them in to set-up payment. I still haven't gotten a call about setting up payment, or if work has started or anything. Does anyone know if they call before doing any work? I'm curious as the site said 3-4 weeks turn around and I was hoping to have them by next Friday (as that was what I planned for with max lead time) so I can assemble and have them ready for a tournament I'm playing a week from tomorrow. It's been a long time since they did any work for me and I honestly don't remember how it went, lol. Just wondering if I'll get them before or after my tournament.

SadTrombone · February 5, 2013

He called me to give me the price, talk about what I wanted done and that was that. A few weeks later I had them. He does good work, you won't be unhappy with the results.

RookieBlue7 · February 5, 2013

He's almost done with them. Just called and he said "oh, no one called"? Then I told him I hadn't paid yet and needed to pay him. He didn't realize that either. Said he was gonna ship them Monday.

RookieBlue7 · February 15, 2013

Well, this will be 2 Fridays I. A row I've called and been told that my iron heads will be shipping back on Monday. They're 2 weeks later than the maximum quoted time at this point. If I don't have tracking information Monday, I'm filing a chargeback on my card. This is ridiculous, was given a 3-4 week turn around and it'll be 6 weeks by the time I get them. Pissed doesn't describe what I am. I had good results last time and this time not so much. They better be pristine and perfect or I'm going to flip out. Don't quote a turnaround time if you can't meet it. Under promise and over deliver should be the motto, not over promise and under deliver,

D0ch0l1d4y · February 20, 2013

[quote name='RookieBlue7' timestamp='1360959421' post='6435651']
Well, this will be 2 Fridays I. A row I've called and been told that my iron heads will be shipping back on Monday. They're 2 weeks later than the maximum quoted time at this point. If I don't have tracking information Monday, I'm filing a chargeback on my card. This is ridiculous, was given a 3-4 week turn around and it'll be 6 weeks by the time I get them. Pissed doesn't describe what I am. I had good results last time and this time not so much. They better be pristine and perfect or I'm going to flip out. Don't quote a turnaround time if you can't meet it. Under promise and over deliver should be the motto, not over promise and under deliver,
[/quote]

What did you have done? I just got a couple of chromed Scratch wedge heads and a putter I had stripped and grooved (wedges...obviously) I sent them in and tracking showed they were delivered to them Jan 16. Same deal. No call, nothing. I called and talked to Jim and got the same thing. "Oh, no one called?" "Oh, you haven't paid yet either."

He said that sometimes if it's straightforward they just do the work and don't call. Which in my case sucks because I wanted the entire head stripped, and only the groove area is stripped. I feel like a phone call as stated on their website would have cleared that up.

I also sent my putter head (Scotty Sante Fe) with it's headcover, and the headcover didn't make it back to me.

Seems like they're slipping a bit.

mhales10 · March 26, 2013

I sent my irons to Jim and was told it would take a little over 4 weeks due to one of his machines being down. Similar to others on the board I did not receive a phone call when my irons arrived. I had to call Jim. I was pleased with the satin finish and the re-chroming but the paint job was absolutely terrible. I had very clear instructions (in my letter that was enclosed) that I wanted the original paint schme but it was not followed. When I received my irons back I e-mailed him about my dissatisfaction and he offered to repaint them if I sent them back...so I did. Once again, Jim did not call and I had to call him to make sure the irons got there ok. We spoke about the issues with the paint and he said it would be taken care of. Got my irons back in about a week and I was still unhappy with the paint job. I guess I am a bit spoiled because when I got my putter refinished by the boys at the Scotty's Custom Shop the putter came back EXACTLY the way it was the first day I got it. The satin finish and the face of the club look amazing but the paint job was subpar and the communication is not what is advertised. All in all not a bad experience but not 100% satisfied.

rjdwjr · August 24, 2013

I have to admit I'm disappointed in reading these posts. I have a set of '88 Redlines I was going to send out to be rechromed/reshafted but now I'm hesitant. I sent an email to Maltby Golfworks and they replied that at this time they are not offering the rechroming service. Anyone have any other suggestions as to where I might be able to send these?

Sabaka · August 24, 2013

I have used Jim on three occasions. The first two times over a year ago were very good experiences. The work was excellent and the turnaround ~ 4 weeks, both times.

I sent him some heads about 6 months ago and the experience was not as good. It took forever to hear from him and they finally shipped three weeks later than he predicted. Moreover the quality was just not as good. I had him re-groove and re-chrome. The grooves were irregular widths and crooked. The paint fill was sloppy and smeared. It took me an hour to clean them up properly. I was very disappointed, especially given how good my previous experiences were. He must have either hired help or was in the midst of a very distracting period in his life.

He can do exquisite work. It just appears you have to catch him at the right time.

Another option I have used is K&J Metal Refinishing in Mentor, Ohio. I also had them re-groove and re-chrome and thought they did a good job. However, their paint fill work was not very good and did not last. Most of the paint fill just fell out after about 5 rounds of play.

Brady Rackley · April 11, 2014

Well it must be that the timing is at issue. I just had a very similar experience and was frustrated enough to write Jim Kronus an email. I was as positive as I could be but felt he should know of my concerns. That was a week ago and he never replied.

I had to get Ups to hold my shipment as he would not get back to me about shipping them back.

I was leaving town for a week and did not want then sitting outside.

I finally got him to tell me they shipped. He said he would send me the tracking number. That never happened! Fortunately My Choice account with UPS notified me they were to be delivered. I paid $5.00 extra to have them hold them until I get home. All of this could have been avoided with better communications!

I can only hope that my clubs look great as he is paid and I have not seen them.

I don't think I would use him again even with great work as the entire process was so poorly communicated!

kekoa · April 11, 2014

This is not good. I have a buddy who just sent a full set of irons out for satinizing. Hopefully he has a much better experience and the product is near perfect.

RichieHunt · April 9, 2015

Here's my experience. I sent the iron heads to him thru the mail. I put in a letter saying what I wanted done which was rather simple (just re-chrome them and re-paintfill them) and left my contact information and mailing address.

I also e-mailed them to tell them that I had mailed them some Mizuno TN-87's, what I wanted done to them and my contact info.

A few days later, Jim e-mailed me to tell me that he would let me know when he receives them. I didn't hear from Jim, but I had the packaged tracked, so I knew he got them.

About 2 weeks after the mailing, Jim called me and told me he got them and just went over what I wanted. He told me it would take a few weeks and he would call me again to get my payment info.

3 weeks went by after that and he called me again and told me that they were shipping out.

I got the clubs USPS Priority Mail and they look brand new. Just fantastic.

I had measured the head weights before I sent them in and what the head weights were after. As Tom said you WILL lose head weight. Fortunately, 4 of the 7 clubs I sent only lost 1-2 grams of head weight. I had another that lost 2.7 grams and another that lost 4 grams and the 8-iron lost 5 grams of head weight. As Tom has stated, the clubs that were the most beat up lost the most head weight in the re-chroming process.

But also as Tom has said, I simply added some tip weights and the feel and performance was just like they always have been.

So as long as you're prepared for Jim's communication style (to me, super nice guy and very courteous, but he's not going to give you daily update) and you realize you're going to lose some head weight and will have to either buy tip weights or lead tape...you should be satisfied with the money spent.

RH