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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 05:39 PM
  #1  
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From: Smyrna, DE and/or Baltimore, MD
A-Spec Tuning?

Has anyone bought anything from them recently?

I placed an order for a Single Turbo kit and a fuel kit way back in February. They charged my credit card on March 1st the deposit necessary. Its been 14 weeks to the day since they took my deposit money, and I have nothing to show for it yet.

After about a long period of silence I emailed him to try to figure out what was going on, and still to this day he will not respond to emails.

Then on 5/3/07 I sent him a PM and his exact response was "your kit should be leaving either today or tomorrow." Ok great, can't wait.

Then on 5/15/07 I sent him another PM because I had not received anything, and he said "We have yet to hear back from you on the balance. Please call the shop to get this sorted."

I then called immediatly, told them to charge the same card that I paid the deposit on and I was told that the package would be shipped out immediatly.

Since then I have have called back every Friday, and every Friday have been told that the package is put together and waiting for a final inspection and should be sent out on the next Monday.

Monday has come and gone, again, and still nothing. I searched the forums and have found almost no negative feedback about A-Spec, and have heard that their customer service is great. So I'm just trying to find out if this is a special case or what.

I just feel like I would get a bit more reaction to a 3k dollar order. If the kit isn't ready yet or he is swamped with stuff, that's fine just tell me. I just don't like getting told on 4 occassions that the package is getting shipped out the next day, when a month later, the package is still not shipped.

What has anyone else encountered in dealing with them?
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 05:47 PM
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Yes, I have been awaiting my 500r kit as well. I spoke with them last week (and at least once a week for the last month. I was told the same thing about "it is just waiting to go out" but what I found out last week was that some of the turbo housings were milled incorrectly and had to be fixed. A batch has come back and are ready to ship out. I would bet yours is in the same batch as my own (35r housing also had to be fixed) and it is getting ready to be shipped out if it has not already. I would just call them again if you are worried. I know it is sometimes difficult to get ahold of them on the phone but just keep trying. I hope this helps.... Sean, if I am incorrect please feel free to correct me.
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 05:47 PM
  #3  
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sounds like a tipical a-spec way of buisness to me. i had grone tired of tryin to get some simple info from them so i went elseware, and i have a bunch of other guys who have had nothing but a bad taste in there mouths so to say about a-spec for a long time now.
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by oo7arkman
I would bet yours is in the same batch as my own (35r housing also had to be fixed) and it is getting ready to be shipped out if it has not already. I would just call them again if you are worried. I know it is sometimes difficult to get ahold of them on the phone but just keep trying.
No they've been good with the phones, but it would have been nice to know that there was a hardware problem like that. Thanks.
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 06:02 PM
  #5  
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Damn. I was getting ready to order a transmission brace from there. I think I'll look elsewhere.
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 07:05 PM
  #6  
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Did you ever get the kit?
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 07:52 PM
  #7  
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You know I was at a-spec not that long ago and I have to tell you guys, they really were not that friendly to me. And I was talking about doing a 20b in my car and or buying one from them if they were interested, But I walked away feeling I was not welcomed there... So I did not go there with my business...
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 08:14 PM
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I've never had an issue with them. Did you talk to the same person each time you called or different people. Only thing I could imagine would be that they are busy and may have gotten you confused.
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 08:41 PM
  #9  
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From: Smyrna, DE and/or Baltimore, MD
Originally Posted by Broken09
I've never had an issue with them. Did you talk to the same person each time you called or different people. Only thing I could imagine would be that they are busy and may have gotten you confused.
Same person, nice guy, I think his name is Ryan. He kinda sounded like he rememebered me each time. Might be wrong.

Originally Posted by R&D
Did you ever get the kit?
not yet.



Side note: Does anyone still convert your taillights to 99 spec?
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 09:46 PM
  #10  
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sevenlust on the boards
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 10:14 PM
  #11  
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i know lately they have been remodeling and trying to manage the business a bit differently.

also, i know if something does not meet sean's standards, it will not go out. at least you will have the confidence that you are getting a good product.

just give them some time and all should be well again.
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 10:51 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by jkinluv
sevenlust on the boards
hmm, I did a search for him and said invalid user, maybe I don't know how to search right.
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Old Jun 7, 2007 | 11:23 PM
  #13  
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it is seven lust with a space sorry

here is his member id I believe

https://www.rx7club.com/members/seven-lust-73894/
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Old Jun 8, 2007 | 11:07 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by repowered
sounds like a tipical a-spec way of buisness to me. i had grone tired of tryin to get some simple info from them so i went elseware, and i have a bunch of other guys who have had nothing but a bad taste in there mouths so to say about a-spec for a long time now.
What simple info were you trying to get from them? They get calls for all sorts of simple questions all day long. What happened with these other people?


Originally Posted by mibad
Damn. I was getting ready to order a transmission brace from there. I think I'll look elsewhere.
A few weeks ago when I was there they had a few of those in stock just sitting on a shelf. I dunno if they still have them, but if they do you should get it pretty quick if you order.


Originally Posted by rx7rich
You know I was at a-spec not that long ago and I have to tell you guys, they really were not that friendly to me. And I was talking about doing a 20b in my car and or buying one from them if they were interested, But I walked away feeling I was not welcomed there... So I did not go there with my business...
Who did you talk to? How long ago was this? I've spoken with them about doing a 3-rotor conversion, and after my discussion with them they will be doing one for me.


JamesVaughn3rd and oo7arkman, I'll be stopping by there after I get off work today to pickup my car. I'll talk to Sean and see if I can get any info for you guys.
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Old Jun 8, 2007 | 12:12 PM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by rx7rich
You know I was at a-spec not that long ago and I have to tell you guys, they really were not that friendly to me. And I was talking about doing a 20b in my car and or buying one from them if they were interested, But I walked away feeling I was not welcomed there... So I did not go there with my business...

Really? that's too bad, I have five 20B builds here right now. It would be extremely odd for you to come here and say I am looking at doing a 20B build and me not walk you around the shop and show you all of them, and what is up. I would have had to been really needing to run out the door for something. Keep in mind there are only three of us here and if I'm running to get steel or picking up parts that basically leaves one person here for you to talk to. Depending on what was going on, that person "Ryan" can be very busy. If you delt with Steve or Mike they are both no longer here.

Originally Posted by repowered
sounds like a tipical a-spec way of buisness to me. i had grone tired of tryin to get some simple info from them so i went elseware, and i have a bunch of other guys who have had nothing but a bad taste in there mouths so to say about a-spec for a long time now.

Yes it is the typical way we do business.We try are hardest to make sure you're dissatisfied. Depending on the info you asked for will depend on wether I or others will give it to you. If your looking for certain specs on some of our product you wont get it period, if you were asking for some questions about normal product nine out of ten times you will. I have people daily I spend ten or twenty email and PM exchanges with at any given time only to have them decide to not want to spend the money required or decide to go with a product we don't offer. That gets pretty tiring in and of itself. But that is the way it goes, I understand that. I can think of quite a few local guys I have bent over backwards for on info only to have them take that info and go elsewhere to spend their money. Yet I still try and answer all their questions even now. I have said this numerous times and I believe it is still posted in my section. YOU NEED TO STAY ON MY ***. PLEASE REMIND ME AT ANY TIME YOU THINK YOU SHOULD. You are not a bother when you do, you are someone who deserves a answer. I have, as does Ryan, a hundred plus emails a day. As well as twenty plus kits on order at any given time. I do a lot of overseas and international orders on top of that. There is no possible way for me to keep track of all of you and remember every single conversation. Especially when a lot of them or so similar.

Trust me when I say every shop/vendor on this board has these issues. I hear about them daily from customers. X shop can't get the turbo as promised, Y shop built my motor wrong, Shop C has had my car for ten months. Those three things I all heard this week about other well known shops on here. I would never and do not bring up their names. Why? Because I understand that when your in a small specialty market and your skills/product are in high demand you can't possibly hit it out of the park every single time. What you can do is make sure to give the support and handle the situation in such a way that is proper. For every one guy that walks away unhappy I have ten who feel they were taken care of well. Is it perfect? Hell no, no shop or person is.

Originally Posted by viper_u27
I know lately they have been remodeling and trying to manage the business a bit differently.
This is very true, the whole shop is going through very very big changes since february. New front, new suppliers, new employees, new website, basically restructuring the whole business to address some of the issues that have been brought up. I have asked people over the last year or so what they would like to see better and now I'm starting to implement it. It has put a hiccup in some parts being supplied. ie certain flanges and turbine housings and some fuel rail components. That said once the ball gets rolling and the wrinkles get ironed out things will be very different.


-S-
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Old Jun 8, 2007 | 02:02 PM
  #16  
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Well I certainly did not create this thread to be an A-Spec basher. And waiting a while for a kit is not the complete end of the world.

My issue has really been that after the 6-8 weeks I was told to expect, I was told by A-Spec that my kit was all put together and will be shipped out. Then I was told that three other times. I live 2 hours from where I keep my car, so when I hear a kit is supposed to be shipped, I clear a weekend to go work on the car.

I would rather hear "No it's not ready, and will not be for a few weeks", that way I have realistic expectations and set my schedule accordingly.

Or the if oo7arkman is right, than I would rather of heard the truth, "The turbo you ordered was shipped with the wrong specs, so we had to reorder. Which will delay the process"

In regard to what other people were saying, bad customer service, beyond the lack of email response, I have always been able to get them on the phone and when talking to them they are very friendly and helpful, even if not completely correct.
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Old Jun 8, 2007 | 03:00 PM
  #17  
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Very true. I hate dealing with people who say "oh it's shipping tomorrow" when they know full well that it hasn't even gotten to their shop yet. Just own up and say it'll be a while.
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Old Jun 8, 2007 | 10:13 PM
  #18  
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Trust me when I say we do own up. I think the main issue here was I have about five kits sitting with the same build, they are waiting for balances to be paid. I think Ryan looked one box over from where he needed to. Another issue to keep in mind as this has happened a few times. Is If I call X vendor/manufacturer/supplier and they tell me friday then I call you and say friday it is, then they don't come through, now we look like the lier. It happens believe me. And as I said we are not perfect but if I have my way by summers end kits will be instock with one week delivery times. That is the purpose of me restructering everything at this time.

-S-
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Old Jun 8, 2007 | 11:51 PM
  #19  
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Yup Sean is a great guy and he literally sits down and talks things over with me when i needed it in the past. Its also a shame to admit but i was once a flakey customer but to this day he still answers my questions...Once you recieve your kits you both wont be disappointed.
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Old Jun 9, 2007 | 09:16 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Zero R
Trust me when I say we do own up. I think the main issue here was I have about five kits sitting with the same build, they are waiting for balances to be paid. I think Ryan looked one box over from where he needed to. Another issue to keep in mind as this has happened a few times. Is If I call X vendor/manufacturer/supplier and they tell me friday then I call you and say friday it is, then they don't come through, now we look like the lier. It happens believe me. And as I said we are not perfect but if I have my way by summers end kits will be instock with one week delivery times. That is the purpose of me restructering everything at this time.

-S-
I'm not trying to be ignorant, but this is the second time you've said that my kit is waiting for balances to be paid. I talked to someone (I guess Ryan) about how much I owed and I gave him the credit card numbers, and he actually said that I would get charged that day or the monday after when he sends it.

I want to pay it, I check my card's charges once a day and see nothing. You've gotta charge me for it to be paid.

You guys waiting for a piece from a vendor/manufacturer/supplier shouldn't apply in my case, as the last two times I was told the package was ready to go and sitting in front of them.


I've got alotta my own pressures to get my car back on the road, and it still has other places to go after I put this turbo and fuel kit in. I wanted to get this car at least in the paint shop by June. And now I'm entering week 15 of stage 1.

Last edited by JamesVaughn3rd; Jun 9, 2007 at 09:28 AM.
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Old Jun 11, 2007 | 02:50 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by JamesVaughn3rd
I'm not trying to be ignorant, but this is the second time you've said that my kit is waiting for balances to be paid. I talked to someone (I guess Ryan) about how much I owed and I gave him the credit card numbers, and he actually said that I would get charged that day or the monday after when he sends it.
Your not being ignorant but you just made my point in a way.I never said we were waiting for you to pay your balance I said I have kits here waiting for balances to be paid. That Ryan might have went in back and looked at the rows of boxes and possibly looked at the one next to yours then told you your kit is sitting here. When in fact the complete kit was not. I will check but I believe you kit shipped.


-S-
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Old Jun 12, 2007 | 08:58 AM
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[off topic]

Hey Sean, gimme a call when you can.

[/off topic]
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