Complaint Review: STMachine.com

In late March of 2010, I searched, and found motorcycle mirrors that looked the part. They were made by STMachine.com. I emailed for additional info, and the owner, I assume, Pat, said they would definitely fit my bike. They are advertised on the website as such as well (universal - fits all bikes). I also called to verify, and as on the website, was offered free shipping and a free t-shirt. So, I ordered with the written and spoken word of the owner of stmachine that these would definitely work on the Yamaha FZ1 I have. Upon receiving the "Pig Spotter II" mirrors, I placed them over the slots where the stock mirrors had been. There were large gaps in plain view, and they didn't want to line up. I also saw that the windscreen may be in the way and blocking partial view. I phoned the company, and was told to tighten down the screws, as the rubber base would squash down and cover the gaps where the stock mirrors were.

At this point, I had not performed the "simple" installation as I had reservations. After talking with Pat on the phone, I then drilled the two holes in the base, as directed, and tried tightening down. They did not squash down as said, and they did not cover the gaps or fit properly. I thought maybe I could live with the gaps if they couldn't be seen at a distance, so I took one spin around the immediate neighborhood. The mirrors were, in fact, more blocked than I had thought once I got on the bike and rode it. These were a poor fit all the way around, and with no other place to put them, I called stmachine again. Pat wanted pictures, so I sent them immediately via email. Pat responded with a total 180 degree, and stated that they would not work on my bike. When asked about his previous statement that they would, he then changed his tune again, stating via email that he did not actually have experience with my bike. A fact he in no way mentioned before when I bought them. I asked about returning them, as he assisted in the install and misled me through this. He refused on the grounds that they were installed. His website has no return policy, no restocking fee policy. He admitted via email partial fault in that he assured me that they would fit my bike, then changed that after helping with the install by giving advice which required that I install them to know.

This is where stmachine went wrong. If they didn't know, they should have said so from the beginning, and then I would have not pursued any action. Pat and I exchanged many emails, each escalating in tone on his part, and becoming personally insulting. He put in writing that he would refund me the $99.99 that they cost, then changed this in a later email to say he wanted a 20% restocking fee, then changed again to get his free shipping back on top of this restocking fee. He did not issue ANY refund, as stated in writing, so I took the matter up with our credit card company. He issued a statement to them as well that he would issue a credit, minus a restocking fee and money for free shipping. Free shipping is in my email offer, and advertised on their website. How can a company ask for money back on free shipping, then change the amount several times? The credit card company finally agreed, just now at the end of September, to issue a partial credit to us because stmachine never did honor their multiple written statements. They are a fraud, falsely advertise, and issue false information. In addition, they post no information on their return policy, restocking fees, or otherwise.