Vendor Accountability Thread

TDIJetta99

Top Post Dawg
Joined
May 17, 2005
Location
Port Jervis, New York, USA
TDI
03... Faster than yours =]
I almost always choose the economy shipping with small idparts orders.. Longest it's ever taken was 3 days and I think that was due to a holiday of some sort.. That reminds me, I have to make an order LOL
 

whitedog

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2004
Location
Bend, Oregon
TDI
2004 Jetta that I fill by myself
I don't want to do this, but I have been wronged by drivbiwire.
A friend of mine had me send in his injectors and some nozzles that he bought to have them mounted and set up. Before I sent them I talked with Pete about what to choose with my friends setup on his car. I then paid for and sent in the injectors and the nozzles. Pete contacted me and told me that the nozzles were junk Chinese and he could not get them balanced and set up right.
I'm not very knowledgeable about this kind of stuff so I trusted him and told my friend. My friend said that he would figure out where they came from and figure out what to do.
He was dragging his feet so I sent a set of my nozzles to DBWLLC and talked with Pete about how to set them up. I also asked him to send back the first set of injectors and nozzles with my injectors. I received a set of rebuolt injectors but not the ones of mine that I sent. I contacted him and quickly returned them.
Then I found that the new nozzles that I originally sent in - the ones he said were Chinese junk - were not returned to me. I have been emailing him today to get them back but he insists that he has returned everything.
He has not. We talked about how these nozzles were Chinese junk and yet he insists that he doesn't have them. At this point I don't know what to do. I'll probably just have to eat it.
Well, so much for going through the BBB. He said that he doesn't have the nozzles that he admits that he received, But I did not receive them. He lost the nozzles that I sent him and won't do anything about it and the BBB said that he "made a good faith effort". BS.

Edit: The complaint ID is 10575247 if you want to read through it. It is a complaint against DBW LLC.
 
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BamaB4S

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Location
AL
TDI
1996 Passat
I almost always choose the economy shipping with small idparts orders.. Longest it's ever taken was 3 days and I think that was due to a holiday of some sort.. That reminds me, I have to make an order LOL
I use IDParts for the majority of the maintenance on a 1996 Passat TDI. Short shipping lead times, secure packaging and knowledgeable human-to-human support keeps me coming back :)
 

Abacus

That helpful B4 guy
Joined
Nov 10, 2007
Location
Relocated from Maine to Dewey, AZ
TDI
Only the B4V left
I almost always choose the economy shipping with small idparts orders.. Longest it's ever taken was 3 days and I think that was due to a holiday of some sort.. That reminds me, I have to make an order LOL
I've had stuff take a week before, but delays can happen anywhere. Great people and most of the parts are good, but some I won't buy due to their being Chinese. I still order from them because they're practically next door but they're not my sole source for parts anymore. Their packaging is always first rate and so is their customer service.
 

Drivbiwire

Zehntes Jahr der Veteran
Joined
Oct 13, 1998
Location
Boise, Idaho
TDI
2013 Passat TDI, Newmar Ventana 8.3L ISC 3945, 2016 E250 BT, 2000 Jetta TDI
Well, so much for going through the BBB. He said that he doesn't have the nozzles that he admits that he received, But I did not receive them. He lost the nozzles that I sent him and won't do anything about it and the BBB said that he "made a good faith effort". BS.

Edit: The complaint ID is 10575247 if you want to read through it. It is a complaint against DBW LLC.
Our response:

Ref: BBB case ID# 10575247

ATTN: Nicole Miller

On October 27th we received an email from Tim Ball of “AutoShop, Bend OR” stating that his customer purchased some nozzles on line

“Pete, I apologize. I needed to send off some injectors for a customer Saturday and I could not find any place to pay for installing the nozzles he bought, so I just sent them. I included a note about the history of the car and with some information on the tune, but he doesn't know exactly what he has, so I guess we will do the best we can.”
Based on that email we inferred that the nozzles the customer was sending in were brand new Quality OEM equivalent nozzles in an unopened package.

On October 30th Upon receipt of the injectors, the injectors were prepped and made ready for installation of new nozzles. However upon further examination we found the four customer provided nozzles were Chinese copies of the OEM units, we confirmed thru flow validation that the nozzles were in fact unable to be set up and balanced to achieve the minimum required tolerance. I called Timothy Ball and explained that we cannot install used nozzles and that we suggested installing new Nozzles provided by us in this case DLC 520 nozzles for his application per his previous email. He said that he would contact the customer and get approval… this set of injectors and all included parts were placed in a bin along with the shipping materials to await the approval.

No further contact was made regarding the installation of the nozzles, and all parts were placed in a dedicated storage bin including the shipping packaging they were received in and stored.

As a matter of policy, any parts left for 120 days are considered abandoned, however we take customers property very seriously thus we retain all those parts and will make contact with them at some time in the future before disposing of them before determining a final course of action.

Also, again as a matter of shop policy, ALL used parts are returned to the customer after completion of the work in our packaging. We place the used parts removed during overhaul in a sealed bag and place that bag with the refurbished injectors then return to the owner.

More than 6 months goes by....

On March 4th, 2015 an order was placed by Tim Ball for DLC 520 Nozzles with overhaul by and the order notes were to rebuild his injectors. Since his parts remained in our storage bin we retrieved all the parts and since payment was received the shop proceeded with rebuilding the cores we had already received, All parts removed were bagged and returned that came in the original package. Those shipped out on 3/6/2015 via FedEx Tracking number 773066955926.

Then on March 4th, 2015 6:20pm

“Pete, this is Tim in Bend.

I sent in some injectors for rebuild with the customers POS nozzles. (Order # 2778)

He maintains his flakiness and hass **** or got off the pot, so here is what I'm going to do. I have a set of injectors. I will send them to you and you can put on some good nozzles and send mine and his POS ones back to me.

I have already paid for the install so all that I would owe is for the nozzles. If this sounds antiseptic to you, let me know and I'll get them off to you.

TIm Ball

541-728-6309”
This email wasn’t seen by my shop and was sent to me personally thus the cores we were in receipt of were completely rebuilt and returned with the used nozzles.

When the second set arrived at the shop March 8, 2015, They confirmed that the customer via email March 8, 2015 7:56pm:

“Pete I guess I didn't communicate well. I meant for you to return the first set of injectors I sent you after rebuilding the ones that are in the mail to you right now. But I guess you probably already had them cleaned up so that's on me. I'll just give him my injectors that you will get this week. Just turn them around to me and let me know what the shipping is back to me and I'll square up.

Tim”
As instructed, my shop returned the injectors via FedEx March 9, 2015 FedEx tracking number: 773077904966 and was received on March 11, 2015 at 4:14pm by him.

With that in mind, at this point in time, ALL parts and components received were returned to him, all storage bins were cleared out and returned. We are not in possession of any parts for Tim Ball at this time.

In addition, our shop with every order where a customer sends in their injector for overhaul, those parts are bagged and returned with that set. All parts, needles, nozzles, fittings, broken plastic tabs etc if sent are returned.

As a result of these allegations, we no longer accept or install ANY customer provided parts, to avoid accusations exactly as this.
 
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whitedog

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2004
Location
Bend, Oregon
TDI
2004 Jetta that I fill by myself
One more time.

The new nozzles that were sent to DBW LLC were NOT returned to me. If they were not in the bins, then something else happened to them at his shop.
 
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Drivbiwire

Zehntes Jahr der Veteran
Joined
Oct 13, 1998
Location
Boise, Idaho
TDI
2013 Passat TDI, Newmar Ventana 8.3L ISC 3945, 2016 E250 BT, 2000 Jetta TDI
whitedog said:
One more time.

The new nozzles that were sent to DBW LLC were NOT returned to me. If they were not in the bins, then something else happened to them at his shop.
__________________
Why I will not do business with DBW LLC
How to troubleshoot a car that won't start.
Troubleshooting low power and limp mode by Canadian Grizzly.
PD lift pump internals by DanG144.
Our shop supports going thru the process with the BBB and encourage using them to resolve issues.

IF we don't agree with the their findings OUR business as a matter of professionalism will not go on the internet and create threads to instigate trouble with the business/customer we had an issue with because we did not agree with the BBB findings.

YOUR BUSINESS chose to go thru with the BBB, we fully complied with the process laid out with the BBB and they found that we had lived up to our obligations as a business.

We fully support their findings and will always respect any suggested remedy they may render, thats the way it works and we FULLY support that.
 
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whitedog

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2004
Location
Bend, Oregon
TDI
2004 Jetta that I fill by myself
Our shop supports going thru the process with the BBB and encourage using them to resolve issues.

IF we don't agree with the their findings OUR business as a matter of professionalism will not go on the internet and create threads to instigate trouble with the business/customer we had an issue with because we did not agree with the BBB findings.

YOUR BUSINESS chose to go thru with the BBB, we fully complied with the process laid out with the BBB and they found that we had lived up to our obligations as a business.

We fully support their findings and will always respect any suggested remedy they may render, thats the way it works and we FULLY support that.
If you take a look at the dates and times, this thread was created BEFORE my BBB complaint.

Lastly, I was handling this as a private party and Autostop Inc. had nothing to do with it other than as a shipping address.
 

whitedog

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2004
Location
Bend, Oregon
TDI
2004 Jetta that I fill by myself
Seems to be a case of 'he said - she said' with no way to verify it on either end.
Actually, he hasn't said that he returned my nozzles. Only that the bins are empty. He had my nozzles, every thing in the bin was returned, my nozzles weren't returned. Where are my nozzles?

He won't say that maybe someone in his shop disposed of my nozzles because that would put him at fault. He will just keep saying that the bins were empty.

I have gone through all of the packaging many times and my nozzles were not in there.
 

deAutoLED.com

Vendor
Joined
Jul 26, 2008
Location
NY
TDI
2002 jetta TDI
Bought an LED set from DownLow here last year:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=387473&page=5
The set was for my MK4 Jetta. It didn't come with a glove box LED. DownLow promised to send a new one a couple of times, but it's now May and I've got nothing but a couple of excuses and now no replies or queries on the thread above.
I bought another set from DeAutoKey for my wife's MK4 Golf in the meantime and they're absolutely beautiful.
I don't expect this to be resolved, so I'm ordering a new set from DeAutoKey instead because it's clearly a superior product with better customer support.
:) Thank you - we really appreciate your orders, we are all about our customers and always take care of them.
 

vwnathan

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 21, 2014
Location
Cape Cod
TDI
2014 CTD
Stay away from mjm autohaus

Not only do they lie, but they DO steal your card information. I ordered a Lëmforder motor mount for my mk4 tdi because it was cheaper than everyone else. After doing so I found the reviews on MJM all over the place. I immediately attempted to call that day. I called over 50 times. No answer. I replied to the order status saying please cancel this order, I no longer need the part. The following day I received and email back saying it's been cancelled and refunded. I received the notification from Square Trade. That seemed fishy. I check my card the next day and it was indeed refunded. 4 days later, I check my card again and I have 7 charges from one website for online software downloads totaling about $1,300 that was purchased under a fake name using my card. I havent used my card in over 6 months. This just tells me it was MJM due to their reputation all over the forums.

Just trying to warn everyone before they get screwed over and have to deal with this mess! Not worth the cheaper price.

Look up this place before you consider a purchase! 151 complaints opened with the BBB!
 

turbocharged798

Veteran Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Location
Ellenville, NY
TDI
99.5 black ALH Jetta;09 Gasser Jetta
That place is a known ex good now scumbag vendor. They used to be good years ago and I have ordered stuff from them but their service quickly when downhill in the past few years. Not sure what happened but there's been LOTS of problems coming out of that place, some stuff border line theft(ie: charge CC and then never ship order).
 

PeterV

TDIClub Enthusiast, HO5G Doyen & Zen Master
Joined
Aug 17, 2000
Location
So, NH.
TDI
2000 Jetta 5 sp.
And there is a great vendor in Duxbury.. And a short drive for a TDI owner.
 

darkscout

Grammar Scout
Joined
May 28, 2006
Location
Michigan
TDI
2003 Golf
ECS Mk4 Rear Hatch PopKit.

Computer. Hello Computer.
I finally want to get my rear hatch working again after buying the gloriously defective ECS Mk4 Rear Hatch Popkit. From the product review on TDIClub I'm not the only person that has had this product fail on me.
It's been just over a year without my trunk hatch and since the TBI incident (NSFL). With a baby in the house I kind of want this resolved. We've already done 2 long trips with the kid and let me tell you how fun packing and unloading the Golf is without any struts what so ever. That's 13 months of holding the hatch open with one arm while loading groceries, loading the trunk, trying to get a spare tire out, working on the trunk.
At this point I would love if no one else got sucked in by their marketing and continued pushing of fancy vortex bling bling spin OR if they just returned to their roots of selling a good OEM product from Europe (Like TMTuning used to do too).
At a bare minimum to satisfy me and close this dispute I just want a set of OEM replacement 1J6827550Bs. From the product description on their replacement strut page: Stop using your head to hold open your hatch. Upgrade to these new OEM units. 2 required per car.. That's exactly what I want to do! I'm just asking them to send me 2x 1J6827550B, however I'd like them from a real vendor:

1. They're already more expensive than from idparts: http://idparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3582
2. I don't actually trust that ECT's are VW.
3. Who knows if they'll spit in my burger because I sent it back to the kitchen.

We've already played e-mail tag last year and it wasn't worth my time to continue on that path. I'm just extremely lazy in getting around to getting this Vendor Accountability thread going (other than the ECS Mk4 Rear Hatch Pop Kit review on TDIClub). If anyone (or mods) wants to see the full e-mail chain PM me and I will make it available.
At this point they've thrown out a lot of different ways to 'resolve' this all of which shift all of the work to me and personally give me very diminishing returns.

"Send the parts back and we'll send you a replacement!". No. I'm not doing this for multiple reasons. For one I don't want a replacement.

- I don't want something to break and damage my car in another month.
- They resell the kits as 'used' and then offer no warranty. There was a girl in the Vortex review thread (that they had Vortex delete) that had this happen to her. They shrugged their shoulders and said "Eh, as is". It would be morally dishonest to knowingly put someone in that situation.
- They don't value my time. If they want me to dig back into the trunk to remove the kit I expect $100/hr billable for my mechanic to remove it (5 hour minimum) plus the $100/hr billable I spent to install it (5 hour minimum).

I don't think my suggestions are unreasonable, at a very bare minimum I would like:
1. Replacement 1J6827550B's.
That's it. No full refund. I'll take it as a $200 lesson in why never to by a shifty product from a shifty company (s/f//)
Baring that I would like them removed as a vendor from TDIClub. I think that what I've suggested shows the bare minimum of taking care of your customer for selling a defective products. I would hate for a TDI Newbie to wander into the "Approved vendors" and buy something from ECS to have the same sour experience I had. I at least have the monetary and

That said I wouldn't turn down a full refund of the $200 (+S&H) I spent on this terrible, terrible product but it's not required to make me happy at this point. I'll even sign away the rights to visit a brain injury specialist to get that head wound looked at.

This also doesn't appear to be the first time they've been mentioned in the vendor accountability thread.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3490694&postcount=72

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3598723&postcount=91

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3645915&postcount=99

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3646039&postcount=104

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3700321&postcount=131

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3703425&postcount=135

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3730844&postcount=146

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=4586534&postcount=268

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=4586652&postcount=270

In the best interest of TDIClub would a mod PM me what ECS donates per year to the club? I'll see if I/we can crowd fund that much just to be rid of them from TDI Club. They and their products lower the quality of TDI club's value and can easily mislead a newbie. If people want shiny chinesium bling there is plenty of it over at the Vortex.

I'd rather order parts from DrBoost over ECS.
 
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darkscout

Grammar Scout
Joined
May 28, 2006
Location
Michigan
TDI
2003 Golf
It's been 10 days. I'm leaving for a week long trip Wednesday night. I would like to have a hatch that holds itself open. Is there any vendor accountability in this thread?
 

BuzzKen

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
May 16, 2011
Location
Markham, Ontario
TDI
'10 Touareg TDI, '09 335D, '10 X5D
It's been 10 days. I'm leaving for a week long trip Wednesday night. I would like to have a hatch that holds itself open. Is there any vendor accountability in this thread?

From ECS? Hahahaha. They're too busy making fancy posts for their thread to offer customer service. Welcome to the club.
 

1854sailor

Resident Curmudgeon
Joined
Aug 10, 2004
Location
Westerly, RI
TDI
2015 Golf SE SportWagen, 2015 Golf SE Hatch Back.
...In the best interest of TDIClub would a mod PM me what ECS donates per year to the club?...
Not sure if they have done anything since, but they donated squat to the auctions at the '13 TDIFest in Maine.
 

Abacus

That helpful B4 guy
Joined
Nov 10, 2007
Location
Relocated from Maine to Dewey, AZ
TDI
Only the B4V left
It's been 10 days. I'm leaving for a week long trip Wednesday night. I would like to have a hatch that holds itself open. Is there any vendor accountability in this thread?
10 days? Ha ha ha, it took them over 3 months to send me headlights. They kept pushing it back and pushing it back.

I wouldn't hold your breath on anytime soon.
 

ECS Tuning

Vendor
Joined
Jun 12, 2007
Location
Wadsworth, OH
TDI
Volkswagen
darkcout,

We have reached out to you multiple times with options to resolve this, contact us with any other questions or follow back up with us if you wish to finally have the problem taken care of.


---


For those with any other issues or concerns please contact us by phone or email we have our customer service reps standing by glad to help!

Email - customerservice@ecstuning.com
Phone - 1.800.924.5172


Thanks, Andy
 
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tophergrace

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Location
Ohio
TDI
Alh
As far as this thread I had a problem with a transmission from a vendor and they responded to me with an email saying my part was in the mail. As far as ECS I was shipped the wrong part (it was off by 1 part number) So I emailed them pictures of what I was shipped and the link of what I actually ordered and had the correct part within 3 days.
 

fossill

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2008
Location
Canada
TDI
Golf
Well, so much for going through the BBB. He said that he doesn't have the nozzles that he admits that he received, But I did not receive them. He lost the nozzles that I sent him and won't do anything about it and the BBB said that he "made a good faith effort". BS.

Edit: The complaint ID is 10575247 if you want to read through it. It is a complaint against DBW LLC.
Just curious why you would you want the Chinese junk injectors back anyway? They only good for the trash can.
 

whitedog

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2004
Location
Bend, Oregon
TDI
2004 Jetta that I fill by myself
Just curious why you would you want the Chinese junk injectors back anyway? They only good for the trash can.
So they can be returned for a refund. At this point, I have my doubts about if they actually were Chinese junk.
 

gmenounos

Vendor
Joined
Jun 26, 2003
Location
Watertown, MA, USA
TDI
'99.5 Golf GLS, '01 Jetta GLX Wagon (TDI conversion)
I bought a 5 speed transmission from Frans (Dutch Auto Parts) in May. It arrived quickly and looked to be in good shape. However when I went to install it (to be fair, several weeks later), I discovered that the reverse switch was damaged and the shifter alignment pin was sheered off inside the shift tower, making alignment difficult. I bought a replacement switch and pin from my local dealer, installed them, and all is good except for me having to spend time and money on the repair. I've requested a $27 refund from Frans to cover the parts. At first, he said he'd check with FedEx to see if they would cover it. I never received a reply after that even though I've sent him 2 more PMs. Still a good price, but he's not living up to his supposed 3 month warranty.

Greg
 
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