Problem with Empire Corvettes
04-30-2011, 10:15 AM
#1
Melting Slicks
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Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: Salisbury Maryland
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Problem with Empire Corvettes
On March 16, 2011, I placed an order for a Gloss Black halo from this company on their exchange program, with a $150 core charge and credit when they receive back your halo after installation.
Peter PM'd me that the lead time would be "figure a full two weeks. Sometimes a few days less or more."
The first halo finally arrived on or about 4/7 and my first observation as it sat on my doorstep was "my halo is in that box?", it just seemed like a very cheap way to ship an expensive item, two big boxes taped together. Not giving it more thought, I opened the box and inspected the halo, which was loosely set in the box, wrapped in one layer of paper, and one layer of small bubble wrap. After unwrapping, I concluded that it simply was usable. Why? :
The "shop", which is in Florida(???), painted over the double sided tape residue left behind from the previous rear weatherstrip after it was taken off. Therefore, when trying to apply a new rear weatherstrip, there would be no way it could possibly adhere to that surface. Easy to see in this photo:
Very disappointed, I contacted Peter, who advised me they would send me another one, and I asked him which address to send this one back to, as his address, the address this halo came from, and the address he wanted me to send it back to, are all different. So, I took the halo to my office, and shipped it back in it's original package, via prepaid UPS on my office's account number, and neglected to insure it for more than the standard $100 UPS insures all packages up to.
Well, the package arrived damaged, and according to Peter a total loss, asking me to file a claim with UPS. At this point, he sent me another halo, I installed it, and returned the halo from my car, and it arrived back to him undamaged. The dispute began with the first halo and it was clear he was denying my $150 core credit because I shipped the package(at a cost of $50) prepaid and didn't fully insure it and even if UPS pays the claim, my company's UPS account would be credited. He then claimed he was going to send me a return label and had emailed this information to me, which I never got. Well, after a phone call, we agreed to wait and see what UPS says. Fine.
I was contacted by UPS, that a claim had been filed and I would be emailed a "results" form by UPS. UPS emailed their findings to me, I sent it to Peter. It says:
"The evaluation revealed the following deficiencies in the packaging that was for this shipment:
*The merchandise was not properly placed within the packaging to properly protect it.
*Recommendation: separate the products from the walls of the container with a minimum of 2"(5.08cm) of appropriate materials"
While I packed and shipped the first(and second) halo in HIS package, exactly how it arrived, UPS was not going to pay any claim due to deficiencies in the carton.
I waited a couple of days, and emailed Peter again asking for my $150 credit, as even if it was sent with his return label, he wouldn't be getting the claim paid anyway because the packaging is insufficient, according to UPS.
So, here I am, Peter at Empire Corvettes has refused to credit my $150 core charge, I have exhausted all efforts to resolve this and I wanted to post the facts, per forum rules.
Peter PM'd me that the lead time would be "figure a full two weeks. Sometimes a few days less or more."
The first halo finally arrived on or about 4/7 and my first observation as it sat on my doorstep was "my halo is in that box?", it just seemed like a very cheap way to ship an expensive item, two big boxes taped together. Not giving it more thought, I opened the box and inspected the halo, which was loosely set in the box, wrapped in one layer of paper, and one layer of small bubble wrap. After unwrapping, I concluded that it simply was usable. Why? :
The "shop", which is in Florida(???), painted over the double sided tape residue left behind from the previous rear weatherstrip after it was taken off. Therefore, when trying to apply a new rear weatherstrip, there would be no way it could possibly adhere to that surface. Easy to see in this photo:
Very disappointed, I contacted Peter, who advised me they would send me another one, and I asked him which address to send this one back to, as his address, the address this halo came from, and the address he wanted me to send it back to, are all different. So, I took the halo to my office, and shipped it back in it's original package, via prepaid UPS on my office's account number, and neglected to insure it for more than the standard $100 UPS insures all packages up to.
Well, the package arrived damaged, and according to Peter a total loss, asking me to file a claim with UPS. At this point, he sent me another halo, I installed it, and returned the halo from my car, and it arrived back to him undamaged. The dispute began with the first halo and it was clear he was denying my $150 core credit because I shipped the package(at a cost of $50) prepaid and didn't fully insure it and even if UPS pays the claim, my company's UPS account would be credited. He then claimed he was going to send me a return label and had emailed this information to me, which I never got. Well, after a phone call, we agreed to wait and see what UPS says. Fine.
I was contacted by UPS, that a claim had been filed and I would be emailed a "results" form by UPS. UPS emailed their findings to me, I sent it to Peter. It says:
"The evaluation revealed the following deficiencies in the packaging that was for this shipment:
*The merchandise was not properly placed within the packaging to properly protect it.
*Recommendation: separate the products from the walls of the container with a minimum of 2"(5.08cm) of appropriate materials"
While I packed and shipped the first(and second) halo in HIS package, exactly how it arrived, UPS was not going to pay any claim due to deficiencies in the carton.
I waited a couple of days, and emailed Peter again asking for my $150 credit, as even if it was sent with his return label, he wouldn't be getting the claim paid anyway because the packaging is insufficient, according to UPS.
So, here I am, Peter at Empire Corvettes has refused to credit my $150 core charge, I have exhausted all efforts to resolve this and I wanted to post the facts, per forum rules.
04-30-2011, 10:53 AM
#2
Former Vendor
Member Since: Jan 2011
Location: Orlando Florida
Posts: 5,350
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14, '16
Your original order was placed March 16th and arrived to you April 7th. All our threads and website clearly state 2-3 weeks for custom painted and hydro work. If I said two weeks it was based on our current work flow. So when we shipped the halo to you, you conveniently stated that you didn't receive my email with the tracking info on two separate ocassions when the original halo shipped. I have 2 emails in my sent box with your address which I also fwd to you that show the tracking information. After you received the halo and you informed me about the issues I sent and email to you on April 11th which stated the return label was going to be sent to you. Since this was our fault in craftmanship it is our responsibility to pay for return shipping (insured for the full cost of the part and labor). The halo arrived back at our shop shattered and unrepairable. A total loss. In our conversation I expressed gratitude for taking it upon yourself to ship it back prepaid but you used your Corp. account without insurance which is why we have this issue now. When asked why you shipped it out without waiting for us to provide a label you simply stated you wanted it out of your garage and that my communication was unclear about the return. You also mentioned our poor shipping and packaging yet both of our halos shipped undamaged. If you thought it was so poorly packaged why not take an extra couple of minutes to package it correctly?
If needed to conclude this I can post the emails or make them available if necessary showing that my emails show 2 separate atempts to provide tracking to you which you never received. And as I mentioned earlier the attempt to pay for the shipping for the 1st halo which was not made to your satisfaction. Also today I stated I would refund you the $150 for your part but after you also pay for our part that was sent back to us totally destroyed.
If needed to conclude this I can post the emails or make them available if necessary showing that my emails show 2 separate atempts to provide tracking to you which you never received. And as I mentioned earlier the attempt to pay for the shipping for the 1st halo which was not made to your satisfaction. Also today I stated I would refund you the $150 for your part but after you also pay for our part that was sent back to us totally destroyed.
04-30-2011, 04:49 PM
#4
MONARTOR
