First, appologies for the inappropriate place for my complaint. I was out and had a few too many and should not have posted what I did. It is true that Carmen got the pieces for my exhaust. I had made an appointment to have them installed with the x-pipe but for some reason the appointment turned into a choice between the x-pipe and the exhaust repair. I wanted the x-pipe(new toy syndrome). Later it was agreed that I would have a H/C package installed with the exhaust fixed at that time. I was told that it would be a week or so to get the parts together.
After a week and a half I was told that all the parts were not in yet. The cam was in. I was told to wait a third week. I did. I was told to check back the following week. Fourth week I called and still no heads. I found it hard to believe that a tuner of this level and reputation could't get a set of stage one ported ls1 heads within a month. I called Carmen and said that I wished to take the car with me on my vacation the next week. Carmen's recommendation was that I enjoy my vacation and the car could be done when I returned. I waited a day and was annoyed and left a message to cancel the package on the basis that I was supposed to have had this work completed 2 weeks prior. Several weeks later, I felt bad and figured it was near race season and Carmen may have been seriously busy. I called overnight(I used to work midnights) to say on his ans. machine that I was sorry for the way things went and I would still be interested in having the work done there. I never got a return call.
It all would have been better if I wasn't the only one making phone calls. A simple update from time to time appologizing for the delay or to let me know some parts had come in would have made me feel like the customer was indeed first(or at least on the list). (bet I am on one now...LOL) Leaving me to call the shop every week to check on things made me feel like some one was doing me a favor.
I would be interested in what part of that is different from your story. Not to be a jerk saying that, but it is how I saw things. I submit that these things could have been out of the vette doctors control. Had I been told that it would take that long I might have gone elsewhere. As for my shifter.....who knows.
I was very happy with the other work performed and certainly had no complaints. I was curious why the installation of an exhaust, airbox, and shifter were all billed at a full hour when most of these things took 1/2 that time or less. I still had no complaint as the money was less important than the quality of work. I have all receipts and could be a baby and post them but what is the point? I grew to like the shifter I got(after a mod to it). The exhaust works well. Airbox was a world of improvement. All my questions were answered. I for some reason didn't feel the love there guys haha. I wasn't part of the family....LOL.
I was a new customer, and a month and a half wait? Everyone has bad days. I guess I caught Carmen when he had a few and didn't feel like joking around.
I lied, I never went to another tuner. I did all of my own work after I retired and was happy with it but what about the 422 I want?
I appologize and for the record, Vette doctors is top notch. I still send guys there but let them know it would be best not to mention that it was me that sent them. They all have great opinions too of Vette Docs....(major engine work).
In the future I will refrain from posting messages buzzed. I look much better with no foot in my mouth.
Carmen, congrats on the new posted times.
:grouphug:

 

I like happy ends ! :cheers:
Carmen sure is a great guy.

Michael

 

:grouphug: :cheers: :seeya

 

That took a lot of guts to write. A stand up guy, he deserves a reply! :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:


[Modified by CAPN17, 8:52 AM 4/21/2003]

 

:iagree:


that's what real men do when they make a mistake. :yesnod:

 

:iagree:

 

Excellent reply. Communication and patience are the responsibility of the customer and vender. Sometimes it seems not be mutual, but that's usually when the patience pays off. Just about anyone who has gone to any tuners and repair shops has faced the unfortunate "delay of game" call, usually somewhat out of the vendor's control. As for the $70 fee, I noticed a sign over Carmen's desk which states $70/hr, which is the minimum charge if it only takes 5 minutes, consistent with other's policy.

Thanks for clearing this up and I'd appreciate it if you could edit or leave a url from my thread to this one. :cheers:

Selvin


[Modified by Sir Sel, 1:19 PM 4/21/2003]

 

I agree with the presence of the sign but I was there for the exhaust, airbox, and shifter all at the same time. I didn't go on three separate occaisions for a half hour each time. If an hour goes by for an airbox and shifter....it is an hour.

I created this thread because i over-reacted to seeing an alternator got run out to a customer that had a dead one and being a little buzzed I wondered why I didn't even get a phone call. I owed an appology because there could be facts I didn't know. Hey things are fine. I was wrong. Leave it there.


[Modified by SpinMonster, 6:38 PM 4/21/2003]


[Modified by SpinMonster, 6:52 PM 4/21/2003]

 

:thumbs:

 

Guy, IM sorry too
I too could be in the wrong. We are always very busy. Sometimes I can't get back to you that fast. I always try to take care of my customers. If there was a problem with your bill you should have let me know. Lets put this behind us. For any hard feelings I caused you if you want to come back ill take 15% off your labor time on your next repairs.



[Modified by TheVetteDoctors, 4:58 PM 4/23/2003]

 

Damnnnnnn! :eek: Carmen you think I can get a 15% discount if I go off on you guys and then apologize right after!! :D :D :D Just Kidding!
:thumbs: Vette Doctor's
:thumbs: Guy
Welcome Back To The Family! :cool:


[Modified by Gus, 3:57 PM 4/21/2003]

 

:thumbs: Guy, nicely written

:thumbs: Carmen, nice reply

I sure hope you two can get together again to work it out. Guy, I know you won't be disappointed. :cheers:

 

It goes without saying that you are being a stand up guy in taking some responsibility for the situation. Being a truly obsessive-compulsive myself, not that you are, but I am, patience is a difficult thing when you are anxious to get your biggest toy back from a tuner.

I have gotten to know Lou at LGM very well over the last year, and even though we are friends, I can't always get what I want, when I want it. Even if Lou wants to. Just because there are too many things outside the control of the tuner. Also, these guys, (tuners), rarely have enough people to give the kinds of feedback that we would all deeply appreciate.

I am a very impatient person, but my friendship with Lou has led me to gain a greater understanding of the challenges that face these guys. I have had the opportunity to witness the irate, and sometimes, irrational customer going off on Lou for unavoidable delays. Not that it happens often, but, in every business there are days when nothing goes right. I hope that your relationship with Vette Drs gets back to where you want it because you have a bunch of money tied up in a car that they are best acquainted with.

Cheers
Randy Goss :cheers:

 

Guy tremendous of you to do this as I know you did not have to.

I can attest to the fact that it does not always work the way we want it to not just when it comes to our cars but also with anything we as consumers purchase. I can also say that Carmen takes his work personally and does more than one can expect to make things right.

 

As a fellow hothead when things don't go as I want them, I salute you on this post. :flag

:thumbs:

 

OK...now i feel the love.

I was hoping for this to not turn into the OJ trial 2....it was like I woke up and said...last night I did what? Actually I see it worked....got mah discount....I love it when a plan comes together...LOL

Thanks for all the positive comments.

Now...any of u got the ***** to race me in my VIPER??!!...only kiddin..lol
Drive safe.


[Modified by SpinMonster, 2:53 AM 4/23/2003]

 

:cheers:

 

Bring it down to Ca... I have a Viper eater in my driveway... ;)

vetterdstr :cheers:

 

Guy,

I am glad it all worked out. By the way, I have a little ole C5 that I wouldn't mind lining up against a snake;). See sig for details :D:

 

20% off for a pat on the back :p: HUH DOC?