Howlands Trailers & Truck Accessories — Local services in Independence Charter Township

I dropped off my dump trailer on March 29th. The man at the counter took my name down without my phone number - I listed off the issues with the trailer; it had a bent axle, the door hinges needed to be welded back on, bad tires, etc. Basically asked for a once over and for a quote once they had inspected it. The employee told me he will inspect it in the lot and measure the axles to make sure they were correct when ordering.

Two weeks later I have no updates, so I call Howland's and have to explain who I am and which trailer is mine. They did not have a record of when I dropped off the trailer, so he had to make a new work order dated 4/19. He then called me around 3:30 and explained that the only axles in stock at their warehouse needed to be ordered the same day to make sure they came in.

Two weeks later I call again because I had no updates - the man on the phone was confused and couldn't locate my work order. I explained I dropped it off a month ago without any updates and he told me "There hasn't been any trailers here for a month, I found your work order it's dated 4/19." So I had to explain to them that someone never created an original work order so my trailer had not been inspected or worked on the first two weeks.

Once again, I waited without any updates, and I give them a call the next week. They had bought the wrong axles for the trailer and they had to drive to Indiana to pick up the correct ones - even though I HAD to order them the same day three weeks prior to make sure they didn't sell out.

All this confusion and roughly 4-5 weeks later I receive my tailer back with new axles, brakes, tires, and the hinges welded back on (not great, the doors barely lock) and a bill for $4,000.00

Not saying Howland's did a bad job, but the customer service was not great. I expected a two week turnaround but instead had to hold up my jobs waiting on my trailer to...

I used to use Howlands a lot for work on my trailers back in 2012 and had no problems. They were cost effective and friendly. Then somehow in the last year their attitude has taken a turn for the worst up there. The pricing is inconsistent from the time of drop off to the time of pickup with this last time going from $200 to $400 to have a bracket welded and lights rewired. (in 2012 I was charged only $60 by Howlands for a wiring job) Then when I said okay, I'll pay it, but I want an itemized invoice, all they could produce was a carbon copy with the 2 things I had done listed and a total at the end with no prices on individual parts and labor. After I got that all settled and made them write me a proper invoice (which included $8 butt connectors and $5 zip ties), the guy on the forklift in the parking lot moving trailers around gave me an attitude because I was in his way while trying to back my truck up to take my trailer home. He wanted to know if I was really in that much of a hurry. This was all back in May 2017.

I'm only reviewing now because I just had to have that lighting wiring job redone at another trailer shop this last Sept because the lights weren't working, and one side marker wasn't coming on. The other trailer shop said Howland's wiring was sloppy work and "it looked like it had been done by two guys in a garage over a case of beer." The ground wire was screwed down with a self tapper with no paint to prevent rust. The wires weren't taped up or sleeved. I'm done...

Once I found the right driveway, I went in and there were two men standing behind the counter.. no other customers in the building.

I told them I was looking for estimates on a tonneau cover for my truck. After squinting to see my truck that was quite a distance from the building, I was told when you're ready just call and we can order.

I asked what cover fits my truck. He said to tell whoever answered the phone I need a cover for a truck make and model that isn’t mine.

My biggest problem was they never showed me anything. Not a picture…Zip I wasn't given a price or any options.

Needless to say I went down Dixie Hwy to the other truck accessory shop where they were more than happy to help. They had my cover in the next day and installed it in 20 minutes.

I wondered when I left if maybe this was just a front, because they certainly aren’t in the truck accessory business.

I had no idea what was available or what it would cost. FYI to the men who weren’t willing to help me: When someone walks in with the sole purpose of spending money in your store and this is a problem? you should just...