Well, KermaTDI seems to have closed up (but, not really). now what?

[MoP2012]

I have an '01 with an ALH and an 02J EGR trans. I was hoping on parking the car next summer and building the car up, using a lot from KermaTDI. I was wanting some oversized injectors, new rods, gaskets, belt, rings, and turbo, a 5th gear upgrade, an OMI and a tune. Well, from what I've seen, Kerma has landed themselves (apparently) in a lawsuit, and have closed up shop, staring today, at least online. I would like something like what Kerma was advertising, with the stratified tuner/code reader, but I simply just want a tune at this point.

With this all being said, now what? Anyone have suggestions for all these things? I'd prefer something in North America, since I live in the "Great" White North, but International would be alright, if they products are for sure good.

 

[carl20320]

website seems up. Didn't try putting anything in cart.

 

[Marthy]

Na... just got my QPro and went back n forth with them on Friday with my tune. Excellent customer services by the way, very impress!

 

[Mozambiquer]

I have an '01 with an ALH and an 02J EGR trans. I was hoping on parking the car next summer and building the car up, using a lot from KermaTDI. I was wanting some oversized injectors, new rods, gaskets, belt, rings, and turbo, a 5th gear upgrade, an OMI and a tune. Well, from what I've seen, Kerma has landed themselves (apparently) in a lawsuit, and have closed up shop, staring today, at least online. I would like something like what Kerma was advertising, with the stratified tuner/code reader, but I simply just want a tune at this point.

With this all being said, now what? Anyone have suggestions for all these things? I'd prefer something in North America, since I live in the "Great" White North, but International would be alright, if they products are for sure good.

I hope they didn't close up... I just ordered from them last week.
As far as the engine build things, Frank06 from Frank's TDI in Lockwood Missouri has everything you'll need. That's where I got most of the parts for my build I'm doing right now.

 

[Nero Morg]

Do you have a source for the potential lawsuit? Interested in reading it. But as far as I know, they're still open.

 

[CalvinM]

I have never had that great of an opinion of Kerma personally. I'd much rather support vendors that haven't had suspect dealings in the past.

For OEM both IDParts and CascadeGerman have been honest and easy to deal with.

There are actually a couple vendors of performance parts up here in Canada. I ordered some injectors from Black Haze Workshop and have been happy with them(pretty sure they are from a polish vendor that you could buy direct from). Also Mecevo is another vendor that has a decent rep.

Then of course there are a number of European vendors including Darkside Developments.

Also a note about injectors, Drivebiwire supplied the Kerma injectors so you could just go through him if you wanted those injectors. dbwllc.net

 

[Mozambiquer]

KermaTDI - Small time con artist posing as big time vw tdi industry guru

I would suggest that you steer clear from these con artists posing as "Big time" industry leading vendors. They are actually operating this �Big-Time Business" from a small home in Utah with an address of 185 W 1403N Tooele, UT 84074 (Copy & Paste it into Google Maps Street view) He also uses...

www.complaintsboard.com

Is this what you're talking about?

 

[Nero Morg]

I've seen that a handful of times. I swear the posted date changes every so often. Either it's a made up page, or they really realllly don't like Kerma to go that far out of their way.

 

[Nuje]

Keep scrolling down....it's got a lot of recent updates.

Also...anyone recognize the name of the original poster...?
Someone misappropriated Fred's name (or by some wild coincidence had the same name) to start that thread.

 

[Bora-chiara]

I’ll agree with the trustworthiness or lack of it from Kerma. I’ve worked with Aaron at Cascade German since the beginning and some from ID parts has always been good to me.
Also, no, never heard of the OP

 

[Mozambiquer]

Fred Vogelmeier... That's why it's "Fred's tdi club"?
To be clear, I've only made one order from Kerma TDI and have neither positive nor negative reviews yet, since the order is supposed to show up today. Anything I have posted is me trying to figure out for myself. I've heard plenty of people who love them, and plenty who hate them. I really don't know myself.

 

[Nero Morg]

While everyone has their opinion of Kerma, we should keep any reviews/feedback under the Vendor Accountability thread. https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.php?threads/vendor-accountability-thread.241854/

Just to prevent any flaming.

 

[hskrdu]

I don't think I've ever ordered from Kerma, just because I started with and stayed with the primary vendors that support Fred's, but I'm really surprised that there hasn't been more negative posts about Kerma in the vendors thread, or friendly warnings posted in other Club threads, given the nature of the issues raised in the site that Mozambiquer linked. Don't we have a responsibility to let other members know there are serious concerns, just like with Prothe?

 

[turbobrick240]

If the FBI is really investigating them for multiple cases of identity theft, that is super serious. Much worse than anything Prothe did.

 

[Nero Morg]

I don't think I've ever ordered from Kerma, just because I started with and stayed with the primary vendors that support Fred's, but I'm really surprised that there hasn't been more negative posts about Kerma in the vendors thread, or friendly warnings posted in other Club threads, given the nature of the issues raised in the site that Mozambiquer linked. Don't we have a responsibility to let other members know there are serious concerns, just like with Prothe?

That's why we have the Vendor Accountability thread. These forums are more so used for helping people fix their cars, not shat spraying vendors. If someone asks who we prefer to use, then we'll tell them, but ultimately people are going to use who they want to.

 

[pkhoury]

If the FBI is really investigating them for multiple cases of identity theft, that is super serious. Much worse than anything Prothe did.

Prothe... LOL. Whenever I hear that name, I think there are some Chinese-made camshafts that might be better quality than the crap he sells.

 

[hskrdu]

That's why we have the Vendor Accountability thread. These forums are more so used for helping people fix their cars, not shat spraying vendors. If someone asks who we prefer to use, then we'll tell them, but ultimately people are going to use who they want to.

Yes, 20 years on Fred's, so I'm familiar with the intent of the different forums. My post stated that I was surprised there wasn't more negative posts in the vendor's accountability thread, and my closing spoke to the lack of critical posts as possibly a failure to take care of our own. In other words, have we structured the accountability thread such that it fails to meet it's stated goal per BKM- or even if that goal could use some tweaking? I'm not suggesting that I know the answer- but it does strike me notable that Fred posted his concerns elsewhere. All in all, we generally have such a good community (and people who watch the FS ads closely), that even long time members like myself sometimes may be out of the loop on issues like this.

 

[Nuje]

...it does strike me notable that Fred posted his concerns elsewhere.

Keep in mind that Fred's initial post on that complaintsboard.com thread was back in 2011, so I don't think we should base any conclusions or actions on the fact that Fred made a post nine years ago on another board.
Someone misappropriated Fred's name (or by some wild coincidence had the same name) to start that thread.

 

[Mozambiquer]

I received an order from Kerma yesterday, then I received a reply to an email asking about a different part today. So they aren't closed. Not sure how the rumor went around.
I did some digging around and found that perhaps there have been some less than positive experiences that people have had with them, but some appears to be that they have been misled by their supplier (eg in the case of "street toys" turbos and etc).
I'm a business owner, and I know that sometimes there is more to the story.
There is a reason they say "buyer beware" because you can choose who you buy from, but often times you can't choose who buys from you, especially in an online marketplace.

 

[VW Derf]

Keep scrolling down....it's got a lot of recent updates.

Also...anyone recognize the name of the original poster...?
(Hint: scroll down to bottom of this page.)

For the record, I did not create that post.

 

[Nuje]

Oh damn! Sorry to make that implication, Fred.

Man - the plot thickens there. Someone impersonated Fred to add some credence to their accusations (!?).

 

[Nero Morg]

While it's not all surprising, it is sad to see someone impersonating someone of that magnitude. That's why I'd said, I had seen that post almost verbatem, since 2018, which is when I really started looking into vendor reviews. Someone just keeps posting it again. Imagine having such little time you try to single-handedly ruin the reputation of a business

 

[hskrdu]

For the record, I did not create that post.

THAT is quite interesting. Someone was quite, um, creative in their methods to criticize Kerma. Doesn't do much for their credibility, does it.

 

[quartersaw]

Some time ago, when I was a Noob, I inquired to Kerma about Nozzles, and I received several informative replies during our discussion, and I made a purchase. Then, another. No issues, here...
I don't know anything about Kerma's alleged negative dealings with customers, so I cannot comment, in that regard.
To state the obvious, the internet validates many exaggerations, and falsehoods, because comments are 'published' and appear on our computer screens, so they must be 'factual'.
So it goes, in the Political arena, as well.
It is a shame that the World Wide Web has become so weaponized, when it could've been an information Utopia...
We all have to tread water carefully...

 

[BobnOH]

This thread was started by someone who may have simply typed in the wrong url. Some 3rd party (that means not Kerma) was representing themselves as Kerma, commiting some type of fraud.

 

[Nuje]

I just "reported" this thread to admin and suggested that they change the title of the thread (and possibly lock it) to reflect that the rumours of Kerma's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Any further discussion of Kerma's performance as a vendor should be, as suggested above, in the Vendor Accountability sub-forum.

 

[nicklockard]

Yes, not only is the title 'click bait', it's also mis-posted. Should be in in vendor accountability thread too. Anyhow, the OP seems to not care much since his original post with no follow ups. To the club: please just report these sooner. I'm locking it as it adds no informative or community value--it's a zombie thread with no purpose really.