I came to this site, during my very first car build, to benefit from the information available here. Most of it was very good information. One bit did not work out so well. I post this only so that others might use it when they make the decisions on their projects. It is not intended to be a popular post, just a factual post.
After finding some nice looking headlight brackets on here, I ordered a set from RPM. They were delivered as promised and well made. A good value in my opinion.
Then, I ordered coilover shocks from RPM.
After waiting two weeks for delivery, I contacted Ron. He told me they had shipped the day before, and that I would see them in a day or two.
After waiting another two weeks, we went thru the same process, same results.
After waiting another 10 days I contacted Ron again. This time he told me he had found them on his desk, and that he would send them out by the end of the day.
A package did arrive as scheduled this time.
Imagine my surprise, when I opened the package to find greasy shocks, no longer in the manufacturer’s packaging, with bushings installed (bushings I did not need).
I contacted Ron yet again. This time, he told me the shocks were almost new – he had just used them on one of his projects in the shop. That’s not new to me.
Ron made no apology for sending shocks he had used, and did not offer me the option of returning them. It was his contention that they were “new”, even though he admitted he had used them in his shop. I was not building a rat rod, so, I returned the shop mule shocks on my dime. I included the original paperwork (may25, using the US postal service) and asked for a refund. Ron did not reply.
After I got notification that my credit card had gotten a credit, I went ahead and ordered, received and installed NEW, UNOPENED, NEVER BEFORE INSTALLED shocks from Speedway Motors. (it turns out, the credit was for another item, not for the shocks)
I continued to contact Ron about a refund for months.
Finally, Ron insisted that the USPS must have lost the returned shocks, and required that I provide a return authorization number (RPM generated number, which he did not give me) and a tracking number from the USPS.
I provided a copy of the USPS mailing receipt. Ron did not request that I send them in any specific manner, and did not provide me with any return numbers. Standard USPS shipping does not include tracking numbers.
Since Ron says he cannot find the returned shocks , so he has refused to refund the purchase price, or to send the new shocks I ordered. (the purchase price was for NEW shocks, I have not gotten any NEW shocks from RPM)
As those of you who have experience in mail order know, when a vendor sends unordered (substantially different than items ordered - USED) parts, the buyer is not even obligated to return the items. (I returned them, because I had no use for used material in my bucket project. The NEW shocks I got from Speedway were fine)
So, if you feel you MUST deal with RPM, be sure to document each step of the process, and be prepared to spend lots of time expediting. Be very careful when you inspect any materials he sends you to be sure you get what you order.
Lesson learned, let the Buyer beware.
After finding some nice looking headlight brackets on here, I ordered a set from RPM. They were delivered as promised and well made. A good value in my opinion.
Then, I ordered coilover shocks from RPM.
After waiting two weeks for delivery, I contacted Ron. He told me they had shipped the day before, and that I would see them in a day or two.
After waiting another two weeks, we went thru the same process, same results.
After waiting another 10 days I contacted Ron again. This time he told me he had found them on his desk, and that he would send them out by the end of the day.
A package did arrive as scheduled this time.
Imagine my surprise, when I opened the package to find greasy shocks, no longer in the manufacturer’s packaging, with bushings installed (bushings I did not need).
I contacted Ron yet again. This time, he told me the shocks were almost new – he had just used them on one of his projects in the shop. That’s not new to me.
Ron made no apology for sending shocks he had used, and did not offer me the option of returning them. It was his contention that they were “new”, even though he admitted he had used them in his shop. I was not building a rat rod, so, I returned the shop mule shocks on my dime. I included the original paperwork (may25, using the US postal service) and asked for a refund. Ron did not reply.
After I got notification that my credit card had gotten a credit, I went ahead and ordered, received and installed NEW, UNOPENED, NEVER BEFORE INSTALLED shocks from Speedway Motors. (it turns out, the credit was for another item, not for the shocks)
I continued to contact Ron about a refund for months.
Finally, Ron insisted that the USPS must have lost the returned shocks, and required that I provide a return authorization number (RPM generated number, which he did not give me) and a tracking number from the USPS.
I provided a copy of the USPS mailing receipt. Ron did not request that I send them in any specific manner, and did not provide me with any return numbers. Standard USPS shipping does not include tracking numbers.
Since Ron says he cannot find the returned shocks , so he has refused to refund the purchase price, or to send the new shocks I ordered. (the purchase price was for NEW shocks, I have not gotten any NEW shocks from RPM)
As those of you who have experience in mail order know, when a vendor sends unordered (substantially different than items ordered - USED) parts, the buyer is not even obligated to return the items. (I returned them, because I had no use for used material in my bucket project. The NEW shocks I got from Speedway were fine)
So, if you feel you MUST deal with RPM, be sure to document each step of the process, and be prepared to spend lots of time expediting. Be very careful when you inspect any materials he sends you to be sure you get what you order.
Lesson learned, let the Buyer beware.
