I have tried on numerous occasions to get a core charge refund from one of the supporting vendors, but they refuse to reply to any of my messages. I purchased a couple of items from them and was supposed to send my oem part back for a core refund. Their part was corrupt and not usable, so I sent it back asking for my core charge, or a refund on that particular item. I have a long list of emails up to the point where I sent the item back, but can't seem to get anywhere. Plus, I have a UPS confirmation that they received the part back. This all started toward the end of May.

I'm usually pretty easy going and it's only $125 or so, but you'd think their reputation would be worth more than that, right? Obviously I don't want to slander their company or I'd have posted their name and the email already.

Should I post up any specifics (ie: the email conversation)? I'm really more disappointed than anything and would like others to know that their service before the sale was pretty good, but once paid, beware.

Please post some opinions.

 

If you had a bad experience with a vendor, let us know! That way we won't have the same problems. If you were posting this without giving them a chance to make it right that is one thing, but if you have been dealing with this since May, thats another.

 

It's not slander if it's the truth....

On a pragmatic note, if you paid by credit card, is it too late w/ your cc company to contest that portion of the charge?

 

What was the point of starting this thread if you weren't planning on telling us who you're talking about? It appears you've given this particular vendor lots of opportunity to resolve the issue, and yet it's still a problem. You must think you've done all you can to get this resolved, otherwise you wouldn't be posting about it. So go ahead and tell us who you're talking about. We needs to know (since you brought it up)!

 

 

 

 

 

Very well, here is the complete story.

I ordered a clutch and adjustable master from Cartek. The clutch was fine, but when the shop looked at the adjustable master (modified from a stock master to be made adjustable) he immediately noticed that the fluid was dark and upon further inspection found that it was gritty and had potential in corrupting my system. I contacted Cartek and asked about it, but didn't really get anywhere. I decided to pay my shop extra to completely flush the "new" part. They did and continued with the install. After it was installed, the clutch would not press down past the neutral safety. He tried to adjust it and still got nowhere. They took the part out and examined it. It appeared to have a bent rod that was keeping it from depressing all the way down. You could see wrench marks from where it was modified from Cartek. We ended up putting my stock master back in the car and I sent the corrupt Cartek master back for my core charge or a refund, but wanted them to examine it to see what I was talking about. The emails tell the rest of the story...I can't seem to get anyone to respond any more.

Don't get me wrong, their clutch is working GREAT, but their service after the sale wasn't very good to me. Now they have my money and the part...I'm out $125 for the part and the part itself.

Here is most of the email conversation since May. I didn't include where I emailed 2 other times in July asking about the credit...one time was not so nice...(apparently I deleted those by mistake or out of frustration...)

-- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Askew"
To: "Dave Busch" <davebusch@cartek.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 6:38PM
Subject: RE: Z06 Clutch/adj master

Dave,

I'm still waiting for a credit toward the master cylinder that was sent back. Since the modified one you sent me didn't work, I had to send it back. Please respond. I have not heard anything in quite a while.

-Richard

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Busch [mailto:davebusch@cartek.net]
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 7:50 AM
To: Richard Askew
Subject: Re: Z06 Clutch/adj master


Any time. I will keep an eye out.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Askew"
To: "Dave Busch" <davebusch@cartek.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 8:35 PM
Subject: RE: Z06 Clutch/adj master


> Thanks for your response. Please let me know what you find out. The
> master
> cylinder should arrive at your shop any day now. I shipped it out on
> Tuesday the 30th.
> When I called about the grit in the fluid, you were not the one I spoke
> with. Someone else answered the phone. Then I advised my installer that
> they may want to contact your shop directly for any further questions.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Richard
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Busch [mailto:davebusch@cartek.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 9:55 AM
> To: Richard Askew
> Subject: Re: Z06 Clutch/adj master
>
>
> Richard,
> I am sorry to hear your having problems with the master cylinder. I don't
> recall talking with Zeke about any problems. It sounds like the master
> cylinder rod was adjusted to long, but I can't say for sure. We will
> inspect
> it once it arrives.
>
> Dave
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Askew"
> To: <davebusch@cartek.net>
> Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 3:03 PM
> Subject: Z06 Clutch/adj master
>
>
>> Dave,
>>
>> I've spoken with you several times before purchasing the Cartek clutch
>> and
>> adjustable master from you for my '02 Z06. I finally had a chance to
>> take
>> it to my installer, Corvettes Unlimited, this past week. We've had
>> nothing
>> but problems with the adjustable master. First, my installers noticed
>> that
>> it did not appear to be flushed out very well, if at all. There was a
>> lot
>> of debris still in the master. I'm attaching a picture of some of the
>> sand
>> like grit that was in the reservoir. I believe Zeke, owner of Corvettes
>> Unlimited, even called your shop for clarification. Anyway, after
>> flushing
>> out the master, he installed it into the car. Well, after installation,
>> he
>> could not get the master to push to the neutral safety. He then had to
>> remove the adjustable master and even after all the pressure was out, it
>> would still not go. He mentioned that the rod appeared to be slightly
>> bent
>> from the initial conversion, but was unsure if that was keeping it from
>> pressing all the way down or not. Other words, I have put a lot more
>> money
>> into the install due to the problems with the adjustable master you sent.
>>
>> I will be sending back the adjustable master instead of the stock master
>> for
>> the core charge and anything else you can do to help me out. Please
>> inspect
>> the master and let me know what you find out about it.
>>
>> As for the clutch, all seems great. I'm still in the break in process,
>> but
>> will find out more later. I'm still very interested in an adjustable
>> master, but hate to put more money into installation if we are going to
>> have
>> the same problems.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Richard Askew
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Shop information: Feel free to contact them if you have any questions.
>> Corvettes Unlimited
>> Zeke Jenkins
>> xxx-xxx-xxxx

I also attached this camera phone pic showing the "black grit" that was in the reservoir.

 

I had the same (or at least similar) problem with the adjustable master that came with a new Cartek clutch I had installed a while back. I purchased it through Synergy Motorsports, though, and had them install it. Same as you, the clutch worked fine, but the adjustable master cylinder wouldn't work. I don't recall the details as to why. We ended up just putting the original master cylinder back in the car. Synergy dealt with the return and just took the cost of the master off my bill.

I recall Rick (owner of Synergy) saying he's always gotten great service from Cartek. Not sure what's up with their master cylinders, though??? Maybe a bad batch or two.

Hope you get some resolution.

Dave

 

Plenty of time has passed for this to be fixed no doubt and good luck with the Vendor in getting this taken care of