The above quote is from Lud, so with this in mind, here is MY story.Let me remind everybody that this forum is for people to post first-hand, factual information about their business dealings with vendors. It is not a chat forum, it is not a "let's talk about every possible 'what if' scenario" forum or a "Well I think that..." forum.
It all started on March 9, 2005. I placed an order for the following:
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Order #1015801
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Misc. Parts Oil Filler Cap
Polished Oil Cap || 1 @ $53.00 + $4.50 = $57.50
NSX Parts Strut Bars T-top "trike" polished aluminum rear strut bar || 1 @ $450.00 + ? = Will be added
Coil Cover Plate: Aluminum NSX Coil Cover Polished Billet AL 1995+ [single slice] || 1 @ $145.00 + $6.95 = $151.95
Fuse Box Cover Fuse box cover: CarbonGlass || 1 @ $60.00 + $4.50 = $64.50
Engine Cover Plate Engine Cover Plate: CarbonGlass || 1 @ $65.00 + $4.50 = $69.50
Injector Covers All Together Now [ set of all 4 parts ] NA version || 1 @ $415.00 + $10.60 = $425.60
Alternator Belt Cover Alternator Belt Cover || 1 @ $95.00 + $4.50 = $99.50
Pats Subtotal: $1,283.00
Tax: N/A
Shipping Subtotal:$35.55
Final Shipping: Will be added
Total [ PayPal ]:$1,361.79
I choose the e-check option as I wanted to save the extra $40+ dollars due to the 3% fee, and I asked for verification on shipping totals so I could get PayPal going, and his reply was:
OK, I'll re figure your deal after the shipping is totaled up and send you back the overpayment. Remember that by choosing the e-check option, I don't ship anything until the funds clear into my account.
Thanks,
MJ
First shipment out on March 15, 2005 (Tuesday). Pretty quick for the number of items I purchased. Mark’s note is:
Hi Sam,
This box has everything in it but the Trike Strutbar and the polished wire covers - they will be out of the polisher on Thursday or Friday. I ought to get the strutbar assembled and shipped by Thursday.
I then receive a new message on March 18th about the 2 wire covers.
Hi Sam -
These are the 2 wire covers that go with the injector covers.
I ask about the Trike Strutbar, and my reply on Monday, March 21, 2005 is:
Hi Sam,
All put together - shipping tomorrow.
MJ
Well, that was the last I heard from Mark Johnson and Dali Racing.
I did send a message out on to Prime on April 12, 2005 requesting a visit to Dali Racing, but I had no one that could make the journey for me.
So, by April 10th, 2005, I figure I’m not going to see that $450 Strut Bar, so I put in a Buyer Complaint to PayPal.
Here is the reply from PayPal:
Thank you for contacting us about your Buyer Complaint for the transaction detailed below. As stated in our User Agreement, PayPal's Buyer Complaint Policy applies only to the shipment of goods. It does not apply to complaints about the attributes or quality of goods received. Therefore, we are unable to reverse this transaction or issue a refund.
OK, so PayPal isn’t going to help. So, I give the Better Business Bureau a complaint on Tuesday, April 12, 2005. Here is their reply on March 13, 2005:
Thank you for choosing the Better Business Bureau to assist in the resolution of your dispute with the above named company. On this date, we have received your complaint and it is in review. Our review process normally takes approximately 72 hours.
The BBB processes approximately 12,000 complaints per year. Each complaint received is reviewed to assure the requested action falls within our guidelines of formal complaint processing.
Please visit our website at www.sandiego.bbb.org/about/wwd. There you will find information on the services we offer and the complaint process.
When we have completed the review of your complaint, you will be notified of the status of your request. If we are unable to process your complaint, you will be notified of that fact as well. Either way, the company will receive a copy of your complaint and it will remain in the company's file for a period of three years.
Again, thank you for using the free services of the BBB. We hope we are able to assist in the resolution of your dispute.
That same day I sent an overnight UPS letter to Mr. Johnson stating the following:
Not that I have given up, but this is getting to be a bit disturbing that I must continue to track down the T-top "trike" polished aluminum rear strut bar for my 2001 NSX.
I, too, run my own business. However, we differ in our approach to customer service. I choose not to accept money until I have an item to ship. I ship when I say I do, and I TRY to keep up with requests for additional information when requested. Although I’ve only been in business 4+ years, this approach has worked well for me.
And like you, I am also the ONLY worker bee here. Although I have over 400,000 possible customers (Honda has made a LOT of Gold Wings over the years), I still do a good job in keeping up with folks and their orders.
So, I do again request that you let me know when I will either receive this “trike” bar, or if I will receive my $450 that you have in your possession.
I would prefer to not spend another $300 on an airline ticket to retrieve either this item or my $450, but since money is of little consequence, and the only issue that matters is the principle, then I would gladly make the trip.
Since you have chosen not to reply to my e-mails, I was hoping a letter might be a bit more attention-getting before I track down a phone number so that we might speak directly on this matter.
Needless to say, my wife told me NOT to travel there as he might be “some kind of psycho” and things might not work out well.
On April 19, 2005, the BBB sent me another message:
Thank you for choosing the Better Business Bureau to aid in the resolution of your dispute with the above named company. On this date, we have forwarded a copy of your complaint to the company for their written response. Once we receive a written response from the company, it will be forwarded to you. If you receive your requested adjustment, please notify us immediately, as the company may have responded to you directly. Please note that the Better Business Bureau cannot compel a company to respond. However, we will attempt twice in a 4 week period to obtain a written response from the company.
Please note that response times may vary, depending upon how quickly the company responds. We will keep you updated on the status of your complaint by mail within the next two weeks. Your original complaint will be kept in the Bureau's records for three years. Thank you for using the free services of the Better Business Bureau.
Obviously, they have not received an answer.
In between I have sent numerous e-mails and a few phone calls with regard to the Strut Bar. As of last week, I began to ask for the 4 rotors instead, assuming he won’t give up the money and he can’t come up with the Strut Bar.
I did mention that I did have my Strut Bar chromed ($187..wish I had known), and that I would not need the Strut Bar any longer.
I even sent a payment request from PayPal (with daily reminders) to him requesting the return of the $450, and he has yet to reply.
So, in closing I have to warn folks about ordering from Mark Johnson at Dali Racing using PayPal. I would STRONGLY suggest (as has been mentioned) requesting items be sent COD, or to FIND ANOTHER VENDOR.
Should anything change with regards to this situation, I will let everyone know.
I do not expect or wish for this thread to continue with “I told you so” or “he’s been great for me”. I am only stating the facts as to what I have encountered from Mark Johnson and Dali Racing.