u/contentedPilgrim

I ordered a 20 x 30 red iron building from Sunward Steel, arriving in 3-4 weeks. For the 3070 walk door of this standalone garage / shop, I'm looking at Home Depot for inexpensive. I live in Hawaii and everything else is crazy expensive.

I'm installing an outswing door. The girts are 8c16 - 8" deep (16 gauge, C channel). There is one pre-hung door available that I can order for $800. It's made for standard 4-7/8 width walls. I can order custom through the pro desk a door with a knock down frame made for 8" walls. But this costs an extra $1,000.

Since I don't plan on drywalling the interior, I'm wondering if it'll work to install a 4 7/8 frame to my 8" girts. The extra 3" would be exposed on the inside. Since its an unfinished storage shop / garage, are there any other downsides I'm missing? If it were ever trimmed out, a jam extension should work, as I understand it?

I've never built a building, so this is all new and I don't want to make a total newbie mistake ordering an incompatible door. I'd like to avoid spending an extra $1,000 on a door if I can help it.

Thanks in advance!

A bit of a rant, but could use advise on how to actually get info from Watkins on an ordered and supposedly shipped spa.

I ordered a Jetsetter LX on February 10th (in Hawaii). Paid cash (discount for cash). Told up to 6 weeks manufacturing time. Dealer was slow with all communication- confirmation of order placed, timing of promised site visit, and especially status of order after six weeks passed.

At 8 weeks (4/8) got the only communication that wasn't in response to a phone call: "Spa is being prep for shipping now."

As we're in Hawaii, shipping is a big deal and knowing when it ships with tracking info helps planning (e.g. electrician). So waiting (not so patiently) for shipping update:

On 4/20 - talked with manager - Spa is packed up, shipping in 2 days (at 10 weeks) and should have tracking info a couple of days after.

After another week of silence. I call and find out the manager I placed the order with is gone and there is new management who are struggling to get passwords to their system and get updates. They are very responsive and finally get back to me with an order number - but no status- they left 3 messages with Watkins.

I called Watkins directly. They respond that I need to get the update from my dealer. They will call my dealer with order update info. I ask, isn't it straight forward to track down an order and find out if it has shipped? Their response was, "No."

It's now three more days. So how many days will it take to track down an order and how much patience should I have to get info on whether the spa has actually shipped? Is there any escalation process at Watkins?

Since I paid cash, I'm here wondering if the previous manager pocketed the cash and this is all smoke and mirrors and I've been scammed. I just want confirmation I actually have a spa coming and, after 12 weeks, get tangible info. Even if it's not the timing I want, I can live with that - just give me something solid.

Classic advise is that the spa dealer is more important than the brand. I'm actually really happy that my local dealer management has changed. But the new management can't help with updates if Watkins is so inept at their end. How does such a large company have such a poor tracking system? Am I expecting too much for a $17k purchase?

** UPDATE ** Turns out that DHX (Freight company) has the spa and it'll ship (ocean) on May 13th. That's a huge disappointment. I'll never find out who screwed up on the timing, but with an additional 3 weeks on the ocean, it'll be 16 weeks at best. But at least I finally have information.