The material is called "techtellium" (I've probably spelled it wrong). Most people seem to understand "silver carbon fiber" better. Whatever you call it, it's very deep and 3-D looking, unlike the printed stuff.

 

Carbon Fiber does not come in different colors. Therefore I must say, while it looks OK, that can't be carbon fiber because its not the color of carbon fiber.

It's a shame to say it, but, that $140 they got for re-stocking fee probably cost them 10 times that in lost sales due to this thread pointing out unethical customer service. 100% guarantee means exactly that, otherwise don't say it.

 

It does look good.

Unforutnitly most Carbon Fiber products have very few lines or weave. If you see a weave in Carbon Fiber, there is too much heavy clear resien ( sp?) to save weight. Or it may very well be a weaved contact paper to look like carbon fiber with a clear resien put over the top.

 

It's a shame to say it, but, that $140 they got for re-stocking fee probably cost them 10 times that in lost sales due to this thread pointing out unethical customer service. 100% guarantee means exactly that, otherwise don't say it.[/QUOTE]



Very poor business practice!

 

It seems this is a hot topic and now it's time for us to say some words.

First I want to take this opportunity to let all Forum members know that we are not an internet selling company that just collet pictures and price info and post them to web and waiting for business.

We are manufacturer and our main business is wholesale. Although our products are not cheap (relative speaking) but if you come to Apsis direct we give you fair good wholesale price discount or you may have to go through different channels to buy our products at even higher cost. We don't target to general consumers direct. The only direct retail that we ever did was about two months ago we posted a Group Purchasing program shortly after we became Forum Supporting Vender. The other direct retail was when we participated Corvette at Carlisyle Show and we did offer some show special when ordered in the show.

We understand many forum members feel frustrated or don't even want to do business with us because no pricing info in our web. We respect your feeling and your decision. We don't post our prices to web on purpose. It's not because we want to screw you or rip you off. We also have to protect our wholesale customers which is our main business. Our web was designed for wholesale not for retail so we don't even accept on-line order. It's just the most update info for all our customers. We also export our products to Swisszerland, Germany, UK, Ukrain, Australia...etc. We have to protect them.

When you come to Apsis direct, you take the advantage of wholesale price and direct customer service. (most of the time it's quicker and better services) But please keep in your mind you need to follow our wholesale rules (not your retail rule) Most of forum members are general consumers and naturally your perspective is from the retail side and we respect whatever your decision. If you don't want to use our products because there is no pricing info in our web, then it's fine to us. But I am sure there are also many happy customers that love our products and enjoy our customer service too.

We are in business for about 20 years and we build our company based on quality and service. All the products that you see in our web are developed by ourselves. We don't just buy and sell and we do carry HUGE inventories for immediate delivery or for warranty replacement. For us, this is also part of customer service. (regardless you agree or disagree)

Natually in the business world you can please everybody. We have tried very hard to make the best quality products and also maintain good customer services.

For this perticular case, this customer had purchased our products and he did know what kind of products we make. It's not like he is the first time buyer that never see our products in person before. In a normal case we generally waived the restocking fee. Sometimes we even encourage customers to take a small item to check out our quality in person and we always told them if you are not satisfied our products you can return and we will issue full refund. So far, only 1 customer return it but not for quality reason.

When I personally talked to this customer, he specially told me that we didn't laminate the two side edges of Spoke Cap and he saw no didfference from our products vs the 32 pcs flat stick-on type and he threathen that he is an active Forum member and if we don't issue full refund he will post thread to announce to the world. When he compared our Lamination Product vs Flat Stick-on Type and said there is no difference, I think it's beyond my imagination and sounds like an insult to us. Therefore I insist excuting the restocking fee policy. If he never purchased from us before I would never consider to excute the restocking fee. Also, he complained that we didn't wrap the side of Spoke Cap next to Airbag Module. This is technically impossible and also huge liability. If we laminate the two sides of Spoke Cap, then the extra thickness of our lamination plus coating will make the Airbag Mudle unable to fit back. This is the limit that we can do, not the quality of our product is cheap. But he used this reason for return and we just cannot accept his explanation.

Talking about the Restocking Fee, it's not uncommon in the business world. For most of Forum members that never run business, you may think we want to screw you or rip off customers. Actually it's not the case. It's just to cover some hidden business expenses. Here are some examples---

We have to pay 3.5% transaction for each transaction regarding it's purchaing or issuing credit. Our products are highly delicate and very easy to get shipping damage. When there is a crack no matter it's tiny or relative large, it took lots of labor to repair and sometimes it's not repairable to meet our quality standard and we have to throw away. These are all parts of our hidden cost. When general consumers returned the merchandises, generally speaking they don't care much of shipping protection since the merchandises are not theirs. I want to ask those Forum members that stated the restocking fee is outraged the following questions-----

If you return the products to us and get the shipping damage, will you pay us for the product value that you didn't use? Most likely the answer is no. If we insist charging you, you will fight to the death.

If we sell you the second grade products and charge you for first grade price, will you be satisfied? Mostly likely the answer is Big No. If you cannot accept to pay the first grade price for second grade products, then somebody has to eat the loss and where the money comes from to pay such loss???

We do set up high quality standard and follow it strictly. Our phylosophy is we rather lose the sales than sacrifice the quality. So if the final result is not up to our standard after repairing, we will either ro-do it from scrap or throwing away. We don't want to cheat our customers selling them the second grade products at first grade prices.

For those who will never want to do business with us because of this thread, we respect your decision. For those who think our products are outrageous expensive, we also respect your decision since we know our products are not for everybody. For those who think we don't have prices in web and we are doing scaming business and never want to do business with us, we also respect your decision. But still, there are many happy customers in this Forum who do love our quality & service and if you like you can go to our "Customers' Testimonials" page to read those comments. Most of them were writen by Corvette owners and they supplied their own personal pictures to post with their comments. That tell you something.

I also like to take this opportunity to respond to those customers who think our prices are outrageous expensive--------

Expensive or not is a relative comparision. If you compare our products to Ferrari's, then ours is a bargain. You can read one of the Z06 customer's comment in our "Customers Testimonials". If you compare our products to the Carbon Fiber Look or Flat Stick-on, then yes our products are very expensive. But don't forget you are driving a Corvette not a Civic! You get for what you pay for.

We started the Lamination Dashes for C6 from 3 pcs, Center Console & two Speedo Corners. Now we make more than 50 items and still keep adding. It is driven by our customers who had purchased some items and keep asking us to make this or that for them. Although we make so many items, but it's not necessary that you have to buy everything item that we make. I saw some members saying he cannot justify paying $5000 for the "look". I can agree with them. But you don't have to take all items that you see in the picture. Some items some customers like them but some don't. We just help our customers who want us to make extra stuffs for them and also let all customers know we have made this or that. For the popular items, we do carry inventory but we can't carry inventory for every single item.

There is one member complaining long lead time for some particular items. Please understand our manufacturing processing is to laminate real carbon onto the factory stock parts. If we cannot get the cores from GM, then we will have no choice to wait. Many times GM don't have any parts in their Northern American warehouse because the car is hot and they use all their parts for production line. What can you do if you are in this position? This situation happens to us very often. All we can do is do the best we can. If this upset you, then we are really sorry but nothing we can do it better.

In this thread, some members mentioned about Wood Dash Exports. This company is one of our distributors selling our products in the internet. You guys can go to their web and check out the pictures of Lamination Products or Illuminated Door Sill and you will find the same pictures as ours. We allow our wholesale customers to download our pictures and post to theirs. You guys can also check it out their prices of our product and you will appreciate the reason that you don't see price info in our web when you come to us direct.

Rgds,

Jersey

 

We had posted our side story in General Discussion on March 1st and that thread was closed shortly after our response but I just find out today the thread in Tech is still going on.

In case you didn't see our response in General Discussion I copy it to post here for your reference.

We appreciate there are still many members supporting us and understand our position why we don't post prices in web and then even place new orders or repeat orders and specially mentioned they did read the thread. Thanks guys!

 

Is this not a dupe? I personally think the interior parts look like crap but not my car. Anyway I saw this discussed in grave detail in the General section or maybe I'm incorrect?

 

Jersey -

Without taking sides on any of the quality/$ issues above, it seems to me this thread boils down to a retail customer facing an unanticipated restocking fee. If you are going to be using words to the effect of
"100% satisfaction guarantee" in your advertising, you'd better disclose about a restocking fee, if that's a possibility, right close there.

Although I'm not crazy about all aspects of this age of instant communication, it is a reality. If your business expects to take advantage of internet marketing, you had better be willing to stand before the court of public opinion.

About 25 years ago, Kmart started the "bring it back for any reason" policy. Since then, Walmart and Costco have further reinforced the philosophy. Buyers have come to expect great leniency, especially at the retail level. Is it right? I don't know, but it is a reality also.

Catalogue and internet marketers face the buyer's natural apprehension about purchasing a product they can't hold in their hands or use before buying. As the price goes up and/or the uniqueness of the product increases, the money back guarantee is essential for the customer to have any level of comfort in a purchase. That's not to mention the rest of the possible hassles - instock, delivery, damage, return shipping, etc.
Among those hassles also is unanticipated restocking fees.

It seems obvious that the original poster at some point insulted you and the quality of your product. You, in turn, decided to hit him with the restocking fee. I think you may have lost track of the fact that you have far more to lose than the OP here. Reputation can be a very fragile thing. In truth, I don't agree with "the customer is always right" perception all of the time, but I think in your business, it is the reality.

 

Very well said. I don't expect to have to kiss the butt of my supplier to get good money back on something that does not meet expectations. This is essentially what you have agreed happened in this case. Because the customer didn't approach you with hat in hand begging for a refund, you punished him with a ridiculous restocking fee. The rest of us, in turn, will punish you for your infantile behavior by not buying your product and making sure that others know about the incident. In the end, this incident will cost you much more than you got by hitting him in the checkbook. Hope it felt satisfying.

 

 

If you think the "stick on" crap is going to look as nice as this you are in for a rude awakening......Their prices are not high when compared to others of same quality.

When it comes to things like this you do in fact get what you pay for.

 

Maybe its time to give it a break!

 

It sounds like that this forum dealer does not care whether you order from him or not since it is not his bread and butter so my question is why should we give him our business. I would rather purchase from someone who appreciates my business and would like to keep his custom happy instead of (I am doing a favor for you by selling you my parts). Just my opinion.

 

You may be happy to note (j/k) that Costco, as of last Thursday, a week ago, announced this year it is DISCONTINUING the take it back for any reason policy, especially on tvs and electronics. To be implemented slowly over the year, and by regions, but all over by early next year and for every product.

Therefore, one can expect that Costco's second-line (or slightly out of date electronics) will no longer be subject to taking it back a year or two later.

On another note, while I understand the desire/direction to "punish" the seller, let's read APSIS's words. They do NOT rely on retail, over the internet sales. Period. In other words, this is a seldom or rare selling occurrence for them. "
Boycotting them will do little.

However, Mr. APSIS, you have but to read a bit more on this forum, C6 General, to see the laudatory remarks made about A&A, a retail establishment. This is about the second one I've seen in 2 weeks about A&A, and while I've done no biz with them, on a whim, I went to visit them 10 days ago on a "reconnaisance" mission.

So, let's add it up: twice in 2 weeks APSIS has been criticized. Twice in 2 weeks A&A has been applauded. Hmmmm.

No matter what you think Mr. APSIS, you really have no idea who is reading and thinking about this thread. You have no idea if they're wholesalers, influencers of various industries, etc. And that is the beauty of the internet: it cuts both ways, both good and bad. For you, and for others.

If the original poster spent, say $5K with you, one, just ONE lost sale, is a loss of $2K-$5K in gross revenue. Say, there were 5 people influenced by this thread, negatively. That's as much as $25K lost revenue (not profit, but revenue is what profit is derived from....). Finally, assume someone else on this thread knows something else/does something else, and has a negative effect upon your business.

While I've publicly stated, yes, there are legitimate reasons to charge a "re-stocking" fee, this may not be one of those legitimate cases. And, in the area of sales and general well-being, I can assure you that despite your long and well written explanation, you have done your company absolutely no good whatsoever by not being contrite and bending way over to "do the right thing" and reverse your prior policy/treatment.

I work with businesses, large but mostly small, all the time. This is something that would have been so obvious to me, it wouldn't have taken 30 seconds to think of. You are too close to it to see clearly. Remember: the forest, for the trees.

 

i got this feeling too. us not buying from them directly does not hurt their business. and if we do order similar looking things from somewhere else, it seems it might be from them anyway. so, in the end, it doesn't matter. sucks about the restock fee when its not labeled.

 

One thing I've learned over the years, "You can't let pride get in the way of business". He was not satisfied. He compared your product to an "inferior" product. You got insulted and "insist excuting the restocking fee policy".

If in 20 years of business you've only had one return, I'd say that is pretty good. You should have made this the second and went on with business.