I contacted Steve at Elite Engineering 08/03/20 regarding a catch can for my base (none dry sump) C7. On all emails he replied on the same day or within 24 hours. He sent me install instructions and photos showing the E2X Catch Can kit. Both show the catch can mounted on the ground terminal. So I bought it in his online shop.

A couple weeks later I was getting ready to install it, just to find out that the supplied bracket does not fit. After searching the web for a while I found out that this can is supposed to be installed on the engine head instead, and that is a no-go for me out of different reasons ranging from the fact that this is not what I have ordered, not wanting to have a heavy can attached to the head and dealing with vibration, to future clearances issues with more modifications to the engine.

So I sent him 2 emails over the course of the past 2 weeks and also tried to get a hold on them on the phone with zero replies and nobody picking up the damn phone. One of his phone numbers goes straight into a weird loop asking me if I wan to re-record my message before even being able to say a word.

When I first searched for their address, I couldn't find it anywhere. The shipping address on the label goes back to a UPS store, same with the Colorado business registration. Who runs a MANUFACTURING business out of a rented UPS PO box?!

I'm pissed to say the least. If he would have replied to my emails or picked up the phone and made this right through a simple return for my money, I wouldn't even bitch about the time that I have wasted. But if you think you get away with this by hiding behind a UPS address, you have found the right one to deal with!

I'm not the first one having issues with Elite:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...catch-can.html

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c7-z06-discussion/3721280-i-need-a-catch-can-pulled-my-cover-today-3.html

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c7-general-discussion/3798464-elite-engineering-e2-x-dual-valve-catch-can-and-clean-side-separator-installed-z51.html

The photo he sent me with the promised install location:




Reality to be seen in my photo below when I try to use this bracket on the ground terminal. If I force the holes to match each other in order to get the screw in, it will kink a wire loom. Vibration will damage the wire loom.





I paid 400 bucks for this and I'm not willing to fabricate my own bracket. Also don't have the means right now to do so! At this price point one can expect to receive a working kit and what I was promised! I want my money back!

PS: If I don't see a return label via email by Monday and an instant refund the day it made it back, I will start a buyers protection claim with PayPal, providing every single piece of evidence!

 

Did some more digging to see if I'm the only one dealing with zero replies to my emails and calls. Found this on his Amazon seller feedback... goes hand in hand with my experience...

 

Some bio info says the are/were associated with the Northern Colorado Corvette Club, maybe you can find a lead as to the physical location of the business. They sure do go out of their way to hide that. My rule of thumb, I don't purchase items unless there is a physical location, not a drop box. Why hide your location..........somthin' ain't right...................

 

Did a little searching, this is all I could come up with on a public record. The business is very well insulated, that tells me something right there, doesn't want to be found. All associated address' are the UPS store drop box.
I'll dig a little more.

Details Name Elite Engineering LLC
Status Good Standing
Formation date 09/24/2004
ID number 20041335025
Form Limited Liability Company
Periodic report month January
Jurisdiction Colorado Principal office street address 1437 Denver Ave #101, Loveland, CO 80538,
United States Principal office mailing address 1437 Denver Ave #101, Loveland, CO 80538,
United States Registered Agent Name Elite Engineering LLC Street address 1437 Denver Ave, #101, Loveland, CO 80538,
United States Mailing address 1437 Denver Ave, Loveland, CO 80538, United States

 

Couldn't agree more. My initial research before buying the kit came down to seeing some positive comments here on this forum. Problem is, people leave those good comments when their Elite catch can worked out for them, but they usually have no experiences when it comes down to dealing with any problems or relying on communication past the purchase.

Elite claims that their products are made in the US, but with no physical address to show, I wonder if that's even true.

 

Not doubting your experience, but I have bought several catch cans from Elite direct, like 5 for my various cars over the years, one for my dad's, and several friends and club members have dealt with him as well. I can honestly say I've never heard of one bad transaction with Elite. Guess now I have. Keep us posted.

 

Screenshot of some mails for the record. He replied to the same email thread when it was about making a sale. But ever since I try to address that his advertised install location and the supplied bracket doesn't work, he is silent. Nothing has changed, not my email address or his. I also didn't get any bounce back emails. Not picking up the phone and not providing a real business address anywhere goes hand in hand with it.

 

I posted up one a few years back from my c5 the guy didnt do nothing but lie about the can. Told me he would take it back & give me a refund I paid as a gift so I had no way to get my money back. I never did get my money back from that *** hole after shipping the can back to him. I would never buy nothing from them again & yes I was dealing with the owner that at that time was down in FL. Robert

 

Interesting

 

I should apologize in advance for responding to an old thread, but I just couldn't read this and let it go. - so I'm sorry.

I'm happy to say we just celebrated our 16th year in business. A business that started right here on this forum because of a need for a Tunnel Plate and Jacking Pads, and eventually evolved into other high quality engineered products. I bring this up, because you don't stay in business this long by taking advantage of customers. We have successfully built our business on great customer service and offering the best quality products we can design and build. We do al our own engineering and manufacturing in-house, in our shop.

I personally don't post very often on the Forums because I don't like to get caught up in the drama that sometimes followings. But we are always here to help and assist, and look forward to many more successful years with the Corvette Forum. Thanks for all the support!

 

??? Customers complaining about non existent communication does not indicate "great customer service", it indicates that they're being taken advantage of.

 

Again, this is one of the reasons why we don't get involved in these type discussions. You don't have 1000's of satisfied customers, and grow a business for over 16 years by taking advantage of our customers.

 

We have two manufacturing facilities in Colorado, one we use as our main office and have been at the same location for over 20 years. We also have two order fulfillment centers in northern Colorado that handle all our outbound shipments.

In addition, we employee two degreed mechanical engineers, design draftsman, technicians, machinist, and shop personnel, along with office staff.

Our engineers are contributing members of both ASME and SAE. In addition to servicing the automotive industry (our true passion), we also have one large aerospace customer in Denver. It's because of the agreements and manufacturing contract we have with this aerospace customer that we try to blend into the industrial park we are located. I hope you understand

 

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