FDNewbie Imports ... losing patients
 

Background: I contacted Ramy about a set of RZ seats a while back. After discussing some options we agreed on a price for a set which he had sent me a picture of. Full payment was sent by e-check on 5/26/09.

Ramy contacted me on 5/29 to confirm the order, and asked me to wait roughly a month for the seats to ship due to him relocating. These seats were supposedly in his warehouse and would be sent out when he finished his relocation. Not a big deal for me.

After repeated emails with status requests, on 7/14 Ramy contacted me telling me the seats had shipped.

Problem: 7/16 - seats received ... and here is where the real problem begins. The LH seat was in the condition promised (9/10 in Ramys words). The RH seat was to be of the same quality, as is evidient in the picture I was sent when I was deciding on the seats. The RH seat was in horrible shape. The cloth was very worn and the bolsters had been repaired with cloth of a completly different texture and shade. To top it all off the SHELL of the was CRACKED around the mouting point to the rail. There was a obvious attempt at repair with wood screws and some sort of backing. The seatbelt holder was also broken, and there was a hole in it where a screw had been used to hold the strap up. All in all, not the RH seat that is promised.

Resolution: Ramy was contacted on 7/16 and replied on 7/17 stating he would like photos of the seat, which is totally reasonable. Photos were sent the same day.

Ramy replied to the photos on 7/25 stating he would replace the seat with another one. Great, exactly what I was looking for. After several more emails Ramy also agreed to pay for all shipping costs associated with the return and exchange of the seat. I was to wait for the replacement seat to arrive, and return the damaged seat in that same box. This was agreed to on 8/13 after not receiving any response from him since 7/25.

Today, 8/27, and I still have not been shipped a replacement seat. I would say I have been waiting patiently, and working with Ramy to get situation resolved. I'm starting to lose patients. Really, the biggest issue is the complete lack of communication. To me it seems like there are only empty promises and more and more waiting. I'm happy with the resolution, but I'm losing faith that it's going to be carried out as promised. I've sent several status request to him. If he's looking for a seat in Japan, I wish he would tell me. I want to know why its taking so long. I'd be seriously less angry if I knew why I was waiting, and it were an excuse other than ... "I moved", or, "I was sick".

This is the set I was sold. Attachment 357545

The LH seat, the one I am happy with. http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00130.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00129.jpg

The RH seat, note the condition of the cloth. http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00128.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00126.jpg

The broken shell on the RH seat. http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00117.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00119.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00118.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00123.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00124.jpg
Note the screws used to attempt a repair.

Broken seatbelt holder, no way this happened in shipping. http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00120.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00121.jpg http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e6...h_DSC00122.jpg

Anyway, you guys be the judge. Is this set of seats really worth the $2975 I was charged? Maybe I'm out of line but I'm hoping some public exposure of this will light a fire under him to close out this deal.

-Ken

That DS seat is immaculate but thats expected since it is the passenger side in Japan. The PS is just awful. Holy cow. I really feel for you. I'm sure this will get resolved but yea, a little communication would be comforting right now. If you need the seats quick, maybe you can work something about by buying a set from someone in the US, take the PS and send back the DS to Ramy so he can have another good set to sell I dont know.

is it me, or are the bolsters (left and right side) of the US passenger seat a totally different material? Might just be the photograph, I wish you well on your endeavor. BTW the seatbelt holder is pretty fragile, I have had several break during shipment, you can get a brand new one from rhdjapan for ~$90 I believe.

Bryan

No, its not just you. The cloth on the bolsters feels like someone used a dish rag or old sweatshirt to cover or replace the originals. It's also a dark to medium gray just like the pictures show. They were taken outside so there is no flash wash.

Thanks for the info on the seatbelt holder, but really this is something Ramy needs to be taking care of. If I somehow break one on my own I'll probably go that route.