Paul
Anaheim,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sat, February 19, 2005
After reading the original report, and the company's rebuttal, I have to say that the complainant is the more credible of the two. Many of the complaints were not even addressed in the rebuttal. A claimed two week delivery turns into two months. The shipment is missing parts that are needed. Pinion and rear cover leaks. Gear mesh specs way off, causing noise. No refund on needed repairs. It sounds like this was a complete ripoff. What did the customer receive? A 12 bolt housing and a ring and pinion gear. Oh, and axles. He would have been better off buying parts rather than an assembled unit. As it was, the unit needed to be taken apart and redone. I hate to paint all internet sellers as fraud, but in this case it's justified. A company like this couldn't do business locally. After a few bogus deals like this, the word would get out and they could kiss new sales goodbye. All that's left is the option to hustle their trash off on the internet. Big promises, high prices, and products that fail to perform as advertised. If it was just a rear cover leak, I could excuse this as minor. But, when you add it all together, it can only equal fraud. It appears the company cashed the check, and then went out and bought a good core. They obviously have no expertise in differentials. The pinion depth or the backlash settings were way off. They obviously don't understand how to set up a rear end. If they did, it wouldn't have howled. They couldn't install the pinion seal correctly either. Hell, they couldn't even manage the back cover. All that requires is a simple gasket installation. They even screwed that up! That's obviously amateur hour. Way too many faults here. No refund for defective assembly. Missing parts. Then, string the customer along with lies. That certainly has all the makings of fraud to me, as well as any other prospective buyer looking for a performance differential for their car. It's easy to see why these frauds ended up hustling their trash on the internet. Thanks to this site and this complaint, it looks like those sales will be drying up soon too. This company should change their name to Art Houser's Car Wash and Wax. Perhaps, they may have better luck with something that requires considerably less skill.
Rich
Scottsdale,#3Consumer Comment
Fri, February 18, 2005
This is interesting. Art Houser's organization said, The owner sent at least three reimbursements, which had not been received or had been refused. and Makes me wonder if someone else has been intercepting his mail. If that is the case then, surely, they must have proof that someone else cashed any reimbursement check. They do not. When they asked me to confirm my address and to provide an alternate address, this is the exact response that I returned to them, with the exception that I blanked out my last name and street address because this is a public domain: Yvonne, My address is and has been: RICH ******* **** * ********* AVENUE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85257 I get all my bills and all other correspondence without any misses. Rich J Does this sound argumentative and rude? I could not provide an alternate address because I do not have one. I have lived at this address for 20 years and have never missed receiving a bill or item sent to me. In regard to reimbursement I never requested a full refund, only reimbursement for the money I paid to have the defective rear end repaired, which Art Houser himself directed me to do. They also mentioned try working with the company. I did just that for eight solid months to no avail. Also, if telling the exact truth is picking fights and bad-mouthing the company on the Internet, that really tells you a lot about the company!
Yvonne
Mertztown,#4UPDATE Employee
Fri, December 10, 2004
We regret that any problem occurred, whether caused by shipping or other. The owner sent at least three reimbursements, which had not been received or had been refused. When I asked the customer to confirm address and to provide an alternate address (as the information was correct), he responded argumentatively and rudely. And he did not provide an alternate address. Makes me wonder if someone else has been intercepting his mail. We cannot be responsible for third party problems, such as waiting on parts orders or waiting for shipper to get item to customer. Also, most of us receive packages with the paperwork attached as our shop does. I do not understand why it is "wrong" only when we do it. Consumers, when a problem exists, try working with the company instead of picking fights and bad-mouthing the company on the Internet. Furthermore, if you want full reimbursement, you arrange to send the order back - and then get a refund. Don't keep the merchandise AND demand all the money too. And don't exaggerate or embellish the complaint - reader sympathy doesn't help and slander/libel is illegal. Problems are very uncommon at our shop. When they arise, we do our best to help. I have boxloads of testimonials, but only a handful of complaints. NOTE TO RIP-OFF REPORT - I never received a notice that this was posted. You should alert someone when you post about their company. Again, lack of productive communication does more harm than help. Best wishes to all of you.