1FAST7

If PFS is really that bad then what do i do!!!!! I live very close to PFS, about 10 miles, and was hoping to go there every so often to get work done on my car. Now what do i do if PFS is not good with 3rd Gen RX-7's???????

please reply ASAP

1FAST7

NOTA V6

The reason it is GOOD for the vendors to see bad (and good) feedback is so they KNOW what it is their customers think of them. Who cares if they hate you? If the feedback is bad, then why would you take your car back to them anyway? I live where there is only ONE RX-7 specialist, and they SUCK. I wouldn't trust them to find the dipstick! And it looks like I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

http://www.nrx7club.com/vendors/vendor.asp?id=43

By jaw-jacking about vendors on a mailing list or forum page, you are making things available for view for a finite amount of time, and accessible only to those who are searching specifically for key word that can be found in your appraisal of your situation. By posting your thoughts to a website, you are guaranteeing the longevity of your experience. Even if the Club folds, someone would probably like to assume responsibility for continuing to make the information available.

So I'll say it again:

Rate PFS Supercars
http://www.nrx7club.com/vendors/vendor.asp?id=30

Rate other vendors
http://www.nrx7club.com/vendors/

Add a vendor that is not listed
http://www.nrx7club.com/vendors/addeditvendor.asp

If you are quiet, then they think they are doing okay, if you use your voice, they know if they are doing good or bad. Say what you experience, but just make it count.

It's there, so use it.

Take care,

1FAST7

I went to the rate the vendors thing at http://www.nrx7club.com/vendors/vendor.asp?id=43 for PFS and many people praised the service and quality of PFS. Only a few people disliked it becasue they couldnt afford something that wasnt really that expensive or some just straight out disliked PFS for some reason.

well, im getting mixed feelings about PFS.

1FAST7

NOTA V6

The link you sited is for RX-7 Heaven, which is a pretty lame excuse for a rotary specialty shop here in Minnesnowta.

The problem is that I hear a lot of people bitch about Peter, but few of them voice their complaints. On the other hand, I learned from my experience in retail sales that not too many satisfied customers take the effort to voice a positive experience, but a LOT of disgruntled customers do.

Interesting...

kwikrx7

I called PFS a year ago and told them I wanted some " basic" things done before I mod the car. The guy was "semi" nice and told me for a fuel filter he would have to charge me 2.5 hrs of labor because of the location of them But then he recommended KD Rotary up in Allentown. I called Dave and he answered every question I had for him - he did my fuel filter for $40 I can't have praise KD enough - I went to drop off some mods a little while back and he took the time to show me exactly what they do to an engine when they streetport, oil and coolant port. Then he showed me all about the non-sequential set-up and how he does it. You've got to remember about PFS - someone gave him the 3rd gen RX7 to learn and modify - he didn't love the rotary to begin with and work with them for years like other noted rotary specialists. Even before this post i would never have taken my car to PFS because of how Peter trats people.

7-sins

I am worried about taking my car to PFS... I go up there and talk to Jeff... no problem. I was happy with talking to them and felt that if I had them money that they would be my 1st choice in work. After the BBQ in MD I found out that the smoke comming out of my car when I started it up wasn't normal. PFS told me smoke was normal for the first 30 seconds. So I am not so comfortable about PFS anymore and I am looking into KD rotary. I am still going to stop by PFS every once in a while but I am not so hot about them working on my car. 3rdgenowner.... sorry they didnt help... I know the feeling... the mechanic that had my car didnt get a chance to work on it and on top of that I came to find 2 minor dings in my car that were not there before I handed it to him.

Pressurized

I have never liked PFS.....I called them to ask questions about their SMIC.....they were telling me that I didn't want to get an intercooler upgrade yet, and that if I did go with their unit because my M2 ECU wouldn't handle it and I'd have to buy theirs! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
What, do they think I'm one of those people that buys Zmax or Duralube? I'm just a sucker?


Definetly, I would go with Jason at the RX7 store, he gets things here....amybe not the fastest, but that's a lot to handle by yourself...
M2 Performance was outstanding....they called me 3 times to ask questions before they did the ECU.....then when I got it one of my pins broke installing it so they offer to fly it to Cali, remove the pin, make sure it still functions and fly it back for free.....
And absolutely can't forget Rotary Performance....fast, friendly, and always helpful....customer service is A+++

But yeah....Peter Farrell.....he's old....cranky....maybe some day he'll drop a 3-rotor in his wheelchair

misdbman

Ok, maybe I'm a little rough on PFS as a whole. Peter is the problem (attitude) and a lack of communication with his staff. I've talked to others on his staff - they are all friendly. Just seems like they don't want to work on your car. I was willing to spend several thousand there on the trans, oil leak, tie wrap, etc. but Peter did not want to do the work - tried to tak me out of it. As far as money - what does Peter want, a resume? I think I can afford to fix my FD since I've been a programmer\analyst for 10 years.

Your best bet is to talk to the mechanic who works on your car there - I don't think Peter does before he talks to you. He just talks out of his *** without knowing what was done to your car.

Unfortunatly, Peter is a dick and has no customer service skills (unless he's trying to sell one of his cars).

The reason he has so few mechanics on staff is that no one wants to work for him...

BTW: Smoking for 30 sec after starting seems normal for a rotary. My 1G, 2G, and 3G all do this after a little mileage.

NOTA V6

I still don't understand how there are at least 10 people here bitching about PFS (ans showing EXTREME opinions), and only two of them have contributed a rating on the "Vendor Feedback Page".

Well, next time someone gets burned after looking at PFS's "Good" rating on our page, I'll be sure and have them post a thank you note here.

http://www.nrx7club.com/vendors/vendor.asp?id=30

Now I must unsub from this thread, before I get pissed off. Nice way to help out your fellow rotor heads guys. Jeez, you just can't help some people...

Project RX-7

Mr.Mahtab qoute: "BAD PETER, NO BOOST FOR YOU! "

LOL!

misdbman

NOTA V6, I've now rated him for you. Too many people on your site have rated him as excellent. I guess you either like him or you don't. Like I said, if you are buying a car he is ok, otherwise he can be full of it (too cocky for me). PFS is a gamble - do you want to gamble with getting your FD fixed? Again, talk to the Mazda Club of DC if you are in the VA area about where to go...

7-sins

3rdgenowner, what are you going to end up doing with your car now?

3rdgenowner

7sins, Well my car is STILL there and as soon as I get it back Im gonna start takin it to KDRotary. Im gettin the Keypad and my boost issue fixed.........if they can. Let me know if you find a better place or if you get your issue fixed. Id love to find out what your problem was.

2Turbos

Okay, I live pretty close to Peter's shop in Manassas. I've heard TONS of rumors about him and knew one of his techs too. When that guy left and struck out on his own I bought an RX and I LOVE IT. However, it needs a little work and I see a check engine light occasionally. My friend got out of the auto repair biz right after I got my car - doh! Greg, where are you?!

So, gritting my teeth I took my car to Peter's shop. I met one of the techs and he was VERY VERY helpful! He even took it for a test drive to check it out. I had been told I'd probably need a turbo to fix a low boost issue on my primary by my friend before he got out of the biz and had bought one to be installed. This tech says "nope" and that it was probably a vacuum leak or boost pill needed - no big deal. Wow, this guy was turning down high dollar work?! Sign me up! He tells me to call "Jeff" for an appointment. At this point I'm sold. Rumors and stories abut Peter and his slick ways go right out the window, I'm nearly ready to become a paying customer!

Okay, I call and hook up with Jeff. We're talking diags work, possibly a tie wrap job using the "new" style wraps (I've got an "old style") as he says this will fix much, some exhaust work, an Effini Y-pipe, and some computer tuning of the PFS I've got (w/no keypad - I need that software package bad!). Terrific, Jeff seems on the up and up and I'm all set to have my baby worked over really good while I'm away on a business trip for a week I ask one final question of Jeff before hanging up the phone, "Jeff, what credit cards do you accept?". "Umm, we don't" says Jeff! Huh?! Sorry deal is OFF, no way does this puppy go in for who knows how much work with no line of credit! Something smells of fish in a BIG way.

Shops like Peters don't accept credit cards for one of two reasons - bad credit or chargebacks. Neither of these is a good omen for the consumer! I have a very good friend who owns his own shop but won't work on foreign cars and he tells me that without CCs he'd be out of business. When I told him about Peter his reaction was the same as mine - run away!

I will never darken Peter's door again and having talked to John at KD many months ago I expect I may head up his way despite the fact that he's hours away. I might also try another rotary shop here in town for things like say a clutch as I've been told they only do 1st and 2nd gen stuff (usually) - can anyone comment on them? Rotary Performance is their name I THINK and I've seen good comments here if that's them. If someone is local and can do an intro over there I'd REALLY appreciate it! E-mail me please if this is possible, wouild love to hook up with others locally.

Lastly, my car was taken to Peter for an eval before it was bought by the previous owner. Peter told the existing owner at that time that the motor was about to blow and proceeded to try and negotiate a (LOWER) sales price with the then potential buyer standing right there! When he tried to tell Peter to knock it off he said Peter brushed him off and told him to leave them both alone. Luckily for him the existing owner thought Peter was full of crap and they adjourned to a local Mazda dealer. The results of a compression test performed there were terrific and to this day my car pulls 20inches of vacuum! No smoke, runs pretty good, and has no signs of "blowing up".

I should've known better than to try Peter myself after hearing this from the previous owner but I was desperate and Peter's tech did really sound like he knew his stuff - I'll never know. Unfortunatly Peter is an arrogant twit who can't seem to deal with people as human beings and that's not just at his shop either. Speak to some of the folks around town and you hear much the same (sigh).

Heh, never realized there were so many FD3s around the Manasass area, let's hook up!

yomamasmama

copy and paste people to that vendor rating site, takes less than 2 mins

dis1

Peter doesn't take credit because he got ripped off a few times. Some people think the credit card companies pay the bill for this stuff but they don't. Peter got burned and that is why he only takes cash.

Anyway for those of you in need of service in the Va area I give you this link. This guy is up and coming and you will be hearing more of him soon. Get him while there isn't a 5 month wait! https://www.rx7club.com/vforums/show...threadid=12053

Mr rx-7 tt

iTrader: (5)

2turbos, You live in Manassas ???...Oh well, if you were closer I'd fix your car.

G 's 3rd gen

Fortunately for me, I live only a few hundred miles from Pettit. Cameron took me through every step of every possible angle on how to set up my car. He is a very busy person. He had constant phone calls, people coming in for help, etc. He took the time for every one of them. I can remember a time when He said it would be an extra hour to get to my car and his girlfriend took me to lunch with some techs. Just picking their brains was worth ten hours of waiting. I know theyre not cheap, but you know the old saying: You get what you pay for..... Pettit all the way!!!!G...

dis1

They have and still do. It's part of doing business. I talked to Kim at KD about a story I won't get in to but lets just say not all Rx-7 owners are honest.

From what I know he got burnt several times over the phone taking orders for large amounts of stuff. My take on that is that he should have been more careful and shouldn't have made in person customes suffer too.

Not true. I worked a job for a company that took credit cards and trust me, if you take a credit card that is run through and doesn't belong to the person using it you foot the bill. Why do you think some mail order places are so careful about matching up mailing address with billing address and calling you back on large purchases... "just think about it (for shrissakes...)." Now if the person doesn't pay the credit card company after the card is accepted then yes, the credit card company loses out.

Well he probably also doesn't like paying the credit card fee of 5% or what ever it is. (It depends on the card used.)

Now don't take this as defending Peter, just clearing up why he does what he does.
cvs

dis1

It has been brought to my attention that this reason is apparently false and is nothing more than a rumor. It might be true that Peter was the victim of fraud just as many businesses are but apparently it is not the reason he doesn't take credit. Sorry for spreading rumors
cvs

DK

iTrader: (5)

The fee may be one factor ... a sad one if he's too cheap to foot a few percentage points because accepting credit cards attracts MUCH more business and those "losses" are covered by more sales. Just think about your own personal buying habits ... I know personally I carry very little cash and use plastic all of the time.

It's true that credit fraud can be a problem for a business, but a business can and should take precautions to be more careful. Check the entire name, address, etc. when taking it over the phone. Phone orders can also wait a few days to be shipped to make sure the card isn't reported stolen. And when accepting in person, and ID should be required. It's not 100% safe, but there are precautions that can be taken and explained to the nosey customer. It's much smarter to be as safe as one can and accept the cards rather than not accepting the cards and losing lots and lots of business.

And what could be the other reason that punk got "ripped off" by credit cards? Could it possibly be that a customer was not satisfied with his/her purchase/service from there and protested the charges? Could PFS possibly have overcharged someone or not properly performed services, which resulted in a customer paying with a card to get the **** outta there and then went home and protested the charges through the credit card company? Or is it possible that PFS forsees such possibilities because he is such a jerk and wants to make sure when he robs someone he can take the Benjamins home and ********** with them? I'm just brainstorming ...

dis1

Well said gordon and DK! I think this part of this post boils down to this. Peter doesn't try to cater to his customer's needs in more ways than one. It really doesn't matter why Peter doesn't take credit. What matters is that he simply doesn't and that is frustrating for many customers. I remember one time I was dropped off there to pick up my car and forgot about this policy. Thank God JD is cool because he trusted me to drive around to look for an ATM to get the money.
cvs

alexm

My take on PFS:

Peter is arrogant, and can be rude. On the other hand, if you are willing to work with that, it's not a bad shop. As for him not taking credit cards, yes it sucks. Someone said "Ah but he takes checks!" - no. He does NOT take personal checks. He takes money order, cash, or cashier's check. If you are a repeat customer, he will take personal checks.

The way I figure, there's plusses and minuses with every shop. For peter, it breaks down like this

Plus:
Convenience. I live 35 minutes away. Sure there's that private mechanic fellow around, but I just found that out thanks to this board. I really don't want to drive 3 hours to PA, even though everything I hear about Dave makes it a worthwhile drive.

Know-how. These guys have been tuning RX-7s for a long time. They may not always give you "straight" advice, but if you can read between the lines, there's some knowledge there to be had.

Quality work. They DO good work. No one here seems to contest that. And yes, there's the odd problem, but I imagine there's that with every shop.

Minus:
Sleaze. If peter thinks you don't know what you're doing, he won't handhold or treat you with respect. Even if he does think you know what you're doing, he can be rude. That's just the way he is. If you can not let people like Peter get under your skin, it's worth going. If that **** bothers you, don't go.

Honesty. Peter has been guilty of putting used parts on cars and will only put on parts bought from him. It's a bad way to run a business.

Payment. No credit cards or personal checks.

Customer service. If the shop gets busy, they're hard to get a hold of, and they can be rude and curt.

My one experience there was with a leaking Y pipe, and choppy acceleration. They fixed the boost leak, and replaced the plugs and wires. For $200 I was on the road, and the car was purring along. In the meantime, I got to sit in the 3-rotor, and BS with Jeff. When I told them that I was an autocrosser and that I take my RX-7 to track days, they seemed to be a bit more friendly.

I have worked with other kind of dick tuning shops before, and it doesn't surprise. I'll put it this way. A dealership will be nice and polite and charge you WAY TOO MUCH and do SHITTY WORK. On the other hand, Peter's shop will be rude and short with you, but will charge decent prices (someimtes) and do good work. It's a tradeoff, just like anything else. Sure, he's short sighted, and sure he doesn't grasp that a little more effort would get him a LOT more business. As far as I can tell, Peter relies on his rep for customers, not on his customer service skills. If you can live with that, his shop isn't bad.

Alex.

misdbman

I need to do more research on Monday, but I'll tell you about what I know from working at a credit card bank (if I error someone please straighten me out). Merchants pay different percentages of purchases(intercange fees) dependent on the overall level of risk for the transaction and their business type. In general, it is 1.5 - 2.5% of the transaction cost. This depends on whether the card is present, called in, swiped, they get a signature, internet, etc. If you as a consumer dispute the charges, it is up to the merchant bank to process your dispute in a timely manner and have the business provide documentation to validate the charge. If the card was not swiped and no signature, I believe the risk falls entirely on the business. In this case, this when they must insure shipping to the billing address, etc. to lower their risk. Other situations fall somewhere in the middle for who will pick up the tab(If it is not resolved 'timely' the bank may eat it instead of the merchant). Chargebacks should always be a manageable < 1% of transactions.

In summary, Peter should have no reason for not taking credit cards in person (he can swipe and get a signature) since this is very low risk. 1% Chargeback\fraud and 2% transaction fees should be easy for him to absorb. It is more likely that he has had a high level of chargebacks issued against him and that Visa\MC assessed him fees\penalties to the point that it was too expensive for him to accept cards (or he had his merchant account revoked entirely). Here are a couple of quick links on chargebacks and the Visa and MC merchant compliance programs: http://store.yahoo.com/bank1/chargebacks.html, http://site.yahoo.com/bank1/comprogvisan.html

misdbman

As far as Peter and 'good' work, he is no better than my local Mazda dealer (I would give Mazda the nod). Peter has mechanic turnover so I don't know how much experience most of them have. If Peter had so much experience, why couldn't he tell me that the reason I was failing emissions miserably and putting out black smoke was due to vacuum hoses. Even the factory shop manual shows this as a potential cause in the trouble-shooting section. He also can't tell when the 2nd gear syncro is going - I put him on the spot when I was there and made him drive my car(then admitted it needed work). Any idiot can rev the car to 7k and see what I was talking about. He just likes to act like he knows everything and talks out of his ***. Any experience Peter has working on FD's is wasted since he doesn't work on the cars and dosn't talk to his staff. I don't think he's learned anything since his racing days...