misterak
Full Access Member
Original Thread (Squeaking Shifter): http://www.vtcoa.com/forums/f7/shifter-squeaks-60350/
Just an update on this - not trying to "BASH" Tony, rather just reveal the facts: I received "a shifter" back after returning mine because of the squeak (see below video link), not the shifter I had sent him, but "a shifter" he described as "we took that shifter right out of another truck? we have your shifter here, actually that shifter is from my personal truck." Upon attempting to install said shifter, the gear shift lever was installed into the housing the opposite way (see below pictures). Having the shift knob in the passenger seat is clearly incorrect, and installing it in the correct orientation means the rubber shift grommet/collar that goes around the base of the shifter housing won't install correctly, which is also incorrect.
View My Video
At this point, I have $420 wrapped up in a product that hasn't worked for me "as advertised." I wasn't willing to deal with that dreaded squeak, and for $399.99 I felt the shifter should have the correct fit/finish, and not have to be sent back again to be modified OR opened by me to be modified.
I contacted Tony to return the shifter - I paid to ship it back to him - altogether I'm in this thing for $440 (I have all the receipts). When discussing a refund, he was not that pleasant to speak to over the phone - he hung up on me - despite my best efforts to calmly come to a resolution. He wanted to charge me a 20% restocking fee for a product that never worked "as advertised" in the first place. I would have gladly paid that if I was returning the product on my own terms, however I AM A MAN OF PRINCIPAL and I felt I should not have to pay a restocking fee in this situation.
RESOLUTION: I disputed the purchase with PayPal. Tony decided to escalate this to a "claim," and offered me $303.xx as a settlement. I respectfully declined, and the claim was handed over to PayPal to investigate and decide. All said and done, I returned the item to Tony and PayPal refunded me my full purchase price of $399.99. I was satisfied, despite being $40 out on shipping and the horrible customer service experience.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE the small vendors helping out a limited production platform. Tony has some really cool products that I wish I could buy...but I now refuse to, after how he treated me over the phone. I still run his PS and Oil lines, which work great. I just wanted to post up this info, so others knew the resolution.
Thank you,
Kyle
Just an update on this - not trying to "BASH" Tony, rather just reveal the facts: I received "a shifter" back after returning mine because of the squeak (see below video link), not the shifter I had sent him, but "a shifter" he described as "we took that shifter right out of another truck? we have your shifter here, actually that shifter is from my personal truck." Upon attempting to install said shifter, the gear shift lever was installed into the housing the opposite way (see below pictures). Having the shift knob in the passenger seat is clearly incorrect, and installing it in the correct orientation means the rubber shift grommet/collar that goes around the base of the shifter housing won't install correctly, which is also incorrect.
View My Video
At this point, I have $420 wrapped up in a product that hasn't worked for me "as advertised." I wasn't willing to deal with that dreaded squeak, and for $399.99 I felt the shifter should have the correct fit/finish, and not have to be sent back again to be modified OR opened by me to be modified.
I contacted Tony to return the shifter - I paid to ship it back to him - altogether I'm in this thing for $440 (I have all the receipts). When discussing a refund, he was not that pleasant to speak to over the phone - he hung up on me - despite my best efforts to calmly come to a resolution. He wanted to charge me a 20% restocking fee for a product that never worked "as advertised" in the first place. I would have gladly paid that if I was returning the product on my own terms, however I AM A MAN OF PRINCIPAL and I felt I should not have to pay a restocking fee in this situation.
RESOLUTION: I disputed the purchase with PayPal. Tony decided to escalate this to a "claim," and offered me $303.xx as a settlement. I respectfully declined, and the claim was handed over to PayPal to investigate and decide. All said and done, I returned the item to Tony and PayPal refunded me my full purchase price of $399.99. I was satisfied, despite being $40 out on shipping and the horrible customer service experience.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE the small vendors helping out a limited production platform. Tony has some really cool products that I wish I could buy...but I now refuse to, after how he treated me over the phone. I still run his PS and Oil lines, which work great. I just wanted to post up this info, so others knew the resolution.
Thank you,
Kyle