garage alpha

iTrader: (7)

I never discounted your concerns and asked honest questions about your feelings of being ignored. I don't see an instance where we didn't reply to a question, including this one. We provided information we had, when we had it. Sometimes that was good news, sometimes that was bad news, but we provided it all the same, in a timely manner. The one thing we could have done better was update this specific thread as routinely as we updated Facebook and Instagram - but I guess it's just speaks more to the migration pattern of owners.

If you feel a delay on a brand new product is some sort of game or is akin to being ripped off, then that's where you lost me. If you are questioning our honesty because we provided answers and interaction at the level we did - then I'm not responding to that with any seriousness. The product wasn't advertised as 'order today and it'll ship today'. It was advertised as a pre-order with a 4-6 week ETA that ran over to 9 weeks due to manufacturing delays. A refund is ALWAYS an option, no questions asked - that's how we safeguard from being called some sort of ripoff.

If you checked your e-mail, the tracking number is there and has been since the 7th. Its en route and should be in your hands this weekend. Again, apologies for the delay and thanks for supporting a vendor out here trying to do things right.

Natey

iTrader: (19)

Again, you said 30 days out. I sent my money. 30 days went by and no one updated me. I asked and you said Nov 24th plus a few days to ship it. I said OK the 30th? You said yes. No updates again until I asked over a week after it was supposed to be on my doorstep. This is a legitimate issue from a paying customer. .

If I'm treated right, I'll become a cheerleader, but like you said, it's a two way street.
https://www.rx7club.com/new-member-r.../#post12441798
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati.../#post12429371
https://www.rx7club.com/wheels-tires.../#post12426991

garage alpha

iTrader: (7)

So what's the solution here? You want me to apologize for the delay again? Ok, here it goes. I'm sorry there was a delay on getting this shipped to you and everyone else that ordered. We estimated 4-6 weeks, I thought it would be closer to that. It took 9 weeks. I'm sincerely sorry.


BUT, the last post you made was about being ripped off for thousands of dollars and dishonesty. Neither of which I did.

The post you made before that was about being ignored and paying double the price. Neither of which I did.

At ANY time - you had the option of a refund. After your birthday, after you were told of the delay, even after you opened your door and the package wasn't on your doorstep.

There is NO question of if this project was delayed or not. It WAS. I laid out exactly WHY it was delayed to help and adjust expectations. But what I DIDN'T do was make off with your money and not deliver what was promised. NOR did I ignore you, NOR did I drop the price on the product before you got it as you claimed.

So again, I'm sorry this was delayed. You were sent tracking information for the order on Monday. If you get it and don't like it for any reason, I'll take it back. I'm really out of ideas on how to satisfy you as a customer.

iceman4357

iTrader: (2)

It sounds like you no longer have the fortitude to own an FD. I would hate to see if Santa missed that one present you were expecting if you are this upset about a novelty key. A lot of what these businesses do for this small community are very small run, niche and custom products. As someone who myself works in a manufacturing setting(over 500,000sq ft) with Corona virus, election, etc I constantly see delays in shipping and even raw material suppliers. The bunks of wood we purchase raw went from 4 week lead time to 10. People are getting sick, scared to work, taking advantage of unemployment $, etc that is causing delays everywhere.

There are plenty of buyers out there so I am sure you can sell it quickly if your this upset about a key. I feel like Alpha has done a decent job of keeping everyone updated, always has great products and has offered to give you 100% of your money back. I dont know what further you expect from a business. Please send me the details of your FD as I know a few people that are interested in buying one.

Nakd n Fearless

iTrader: (4)

California people... you can barely buy a decent meal out there for $150, try not to get ripped off on their $400 a night hotels.
You can buy a house & hunting/farming land for that cost per month in the Midwest.
Its surprising someone could be so impatient for a beautiful aftermarket titanium key on a 30 year old car.
I've had no problems with G Alpha customer service.

Natey

iTrader: (19)

I'm over getting bullied. Please refund my money. It's not about the key, it's about the three month wait and the refusal to acknowledge any fault by the vendor. Now this clusterfuck of idiots attacking me for wanting what I paid for in September?

garage alpha

iTrader: (7)

Who's bullying you? I apologized, and apologized again. I not only acknowledged fault - I explained the situation in detail... and apologized again.

I cannot control what other people are saying or if they see the situation differently from you. That's the reality of having the discussion on public forums, which you said is preferable to PMs due to having "been ripped off for thousands and thousands of dollars on this club and I'm over private messaging".

Refund is no problem at all. Just send the key back once it arrives. It left on the 7th but USPS is super slow right now. Keep an eye on the tracking and email or PM us... or post on here I guess... once it arrives and we can provide return instructions.

I really don't know where the anger is coming from.

R-R-Rx7

iTrader: (24)

i ll buy his key

cloud9

iTrader: (4)

I have amassed no shortage of contempt over the years for various vendors that service this platform. Having been around the bock a couple times here I believe I can read through the lines to understand why you're saying your upset. But I have to say this all reads like you're just tired of the game. And I don't mean 'getting jerked around'; I mean owning and modifying a 30 year old niche platform. To my eye, GA has demonstrated that tit is unequivocally one of the good ones. We're well into the era of crowdfunded production business models (which this technically isn't but I'd consider it an offshoot) and small independent vendors have never had a lower barrier to entry for bringing their ideas to market. This is ultimately good for everyone but often times the largest 'cost' in operating this way ends up being time. GA is a tiny operation putting out tiny production runs and as such, isn't on anyone's priority list and we all know this isn't in-house production. Managing all those moving parts, that you largely have very limited influence over (with a pandemic on top), is a lot of work and there is a lot of compromise associated with it. Due to all of this GA is destined to miss timelines and lets be honest - having our expectations met is a luxury our passion is rarely afforded.

In truth I think you already know all of this, which brings us back to the real reason you're upset..

SpinningDorito

iTrader: (2)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_mentality

Its GA not some fly by night indiegogo campaign. When you run a niche batch of products **** happens in the supply chain sometimes. The fact they've been so transparent and able to get anything done with this and the carbon fiber cowl with everything that has thrown a wrench in pretty much every manufacturing/supply chain this year is nothing short of a miracle.

They've taken the time to answer you every time in this thread. Vendors don't have to do that. ****, I've ordered stuff from BMR for my mustang and to this day 9 months later still have gotten no reply to any of my emails. The stuff just showed up on my doorstep 3-6 months after the fact. In fact one of the items has a proven manufacturing defect that is well discussed on one of the mustang forums, and I still can't get a response from them about whether or not mine is impacted and what they're going to do about it.

idk its all relative I guess but have some perspective. Any issue or delay I have had with a GA order they have jumped on and made it right ASAP. Their customer service is consistently amazing. Throwing unjustified shade around like this at a good vendor is how a community ends up with one less good vendor over time.

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

I'll just pop in to say this: Natey, you sound like a high schooler in this thread in my (unasked for) opinion. It definitely sounds like it may be time to sell your FD if that's your inclination. This all is a two-way street, and I for one wouldn't want you as a customer if this thread is any indication of the way you roll. Matt has bent over backwards to apologize to you and yet you're still here bitching incessantly. Please don't take offense, I consider this tough love.....I hope your birthday is better next year

CrispyRX7

iTrader: (139)

GA, my sincerest sympathies for the need for you to expend your valuable time explaining the basics of product development to the ill informed and impatient. I believe you have demonstrated the utmost in transparency and responsiveness that one could expect from any vendor in pursuit of delivering this product to the market. It should be recognized that from inception, through development, to delivery is fraught with unforeseen challenges, yet dispite these challenges you persevere. For this I thank you. Every new product from GA I have waited for patiently has been of superior quality and exceeded my expectations. It has ALWAYS been worth the wait. In fact I wait with baited breath for what you might bring to market next. Please do continue to serve our community with your niche products that no one else will deign to even consider developing. Please know that for every one dissatisfied "customer" (and I use the term loosely) there are "10" of us (or more) that are quite satisfied. And please do know, your candor and honesty is greatly appreciated. Keep doing what you do!
Regards,
~Crispy

Natey

iTrader: (19)

Update, no update.
No key, no refund, no contact as of today, which is just about three months since I sent my money for a key that was advertised as "30 days out"


"Bent over backwards", right.

Natey

iTrader: (19)

Sounds good. Just send me your 180 bucks and I'll send the key in 30 days or so. If you don't get it within three months, don't complain or you're a high schooler with no fortitude.

Natey

iTrader: (19)

Remember about 10 years ago when I was selling my tail lights? I posted large clear pics of every side from every angle and you bought them. Once they arrived at your house, you found a broken tab. I refunded your money 100% and you kept the tails. Am I really that tough to deal with or is there an issue here?

garage alpha

iTrader: (7)

Do you have a tracking number? Because it was emailed to you on December 7th when your key was shipped.

What exact contact would you like? You specifically said you didn’t want PMs and wanted to discuss this in public - so here we are.

If you are now angry about USPS delays, I can direct you to the USPS website. I can't promise they’ll be as responsive and interactive as I am.

I’m not going to post your tracking number here on the forums - but I will post the latest update.

”ALERT: USPS IS EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED VOLUME INCREASES AND LIMITED EMPLOYEE AVAILABILITY DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO DELIVERING THE HOLIDAYS TO YOU.

December 17, 2020
In Transit, Arriving Late
Your package will arrive later than expected, but is still on its way. It is currently in transit to the next facility.”

I’m really sorry this is adding to the hassle, again, not in my control. It’s also not just affecting you.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3gb...holidays-covid

Like I said - ship it back as soon as it arrives. ...or keep complaining. Up to you.

SpinningDorito

iTrader: (2)

Yeah USPS isn't doing great right now. I've got a few packages that have been delivered to the wrong city 2 or 3 times now, and are still on the way to me (but extremely late)

garage alpha

iTrader: (7)

Filed under "there's a first time for everything" - in three years of being in business - we received our FIRST PayPal charge back claim!

I guess it would happen eventually, but i also assumed it would be for something a bit more cut n dry. Even better, Natey had his wife do it for him. Very sweet.



1) Julie claims the item is still in West Bloomfield MI. It is not. It was dropped off there on the 7th (as I said it was) and took a WEEK to move to the local distribution plant in Pontiac MI. On the 17th is was noted as In Transit and Delayed. If ANY of those things were in my control, trust me, I would have done things differently.



2) Julie has claimed I have been rude and a bully on the internet. I'm really sorry if you feel this way. I have not intended to be rude or a bully. I think all my responses have been apologetic and informative. I wish things would have been different - but I deal with reality as it is - not how I hope it to be.

As mentioned MULTIPLE times - a refund is ALWAYS an option. But PLEASE, don't ask for the refund AFTER it ships. I mean, it's still fine - you can return it - but it's WAY cleaner if you just make the decision for a refund rather than string out a series of posts asking "why hasn't this shipped" only to get a tracking number, and THEN file a PayPal claim due to a USPS shipping delay... during the holidays... during a pandemic. It all just lacks decorum, especially considering we're all members of a very small and very tight knit community and have been so for 15+ years.

If you REALLY think in all my responses my goal was to keep you money and leave you out to dry - I really don't know what to say.


I guess that part has changed?

SpinningDorito

iTrader: (2)

Since this is your first chargeback claim I'll give you some unsolicited advice. Print this thread and any other communications from him and provide it on the paypal case/dispute. Also provide the tracking number if Paypal doesn't already have it. Make sure the include/highlight the product page that describes this as a pre-order.

Then call support and get through to a person and explain the situation. 99/100 times they will resolve the dispute in your (the sellers) favor if you have this documentation. It will also (deservedly) flag his account for abusing the chargeback mechanism.

This is cut and dry chargeback abuse. You've (publicly) tried to resolve the issue with him and they key is clearly in the hands of USPS at this point. I've only seen one person attempt to be a bully here and its not you

cloud9

iTrader: (4)

16+ years of ownership and community participation and the straw that broke the wife's back was a $180 key. Wow.

cloud9

iTrader: (4)

$165*

SpinningDorito

iTrader: (2)

I'll buy it for $200 if GA will put it in a commemorative plaque.

This key specifically when you finally get it back from the return. I'm not interested in the normal, non-cursed key product. I need this specific one that causes temporary insanity.

Tim Benton

iTrader: (1)

I work for plant logistics for USPS. Let me know if I can help as I can see more data on our internal site. Detroit has been impacted with parcel processing delays as covered on our daily HQ calls.

Natey - honestlya, a key being produced and shipped later from a great company shouldn’t be that big of a deal as this thread makes it sounds.

Sincerely,

Tim.

garage alpha

iTrader: (7)

Be careful what you offer. I have about two dozen tracking numbers I’ll send you that I can’t make heads or tails of.

If it’s ok with Nate - I’ll send you his for more insights. Or I guess he can reach out.

Honestly - I really appreciate the offer. Very kind of you.

Tim Benton

iTrader: (1)

Send them, be glad to try and help!