"Sorting out" Issues... - Page 2

patrickt · #21 (**permalink**) 08-20-2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGEORGE077

You got that correct my friend, just can't wait to see what else breaks after we get all of this fixed.I tool delivery in May and it's been in and out of the shop most of the time.

You know, you have a very expensive car, and you no doubt paid a good bit of money to someone, whom you trusted, to do a lot of things that, apparently, were not done. Putting the safety aspect aside for the moment, it's not as if he tried and just did it poorly, but rather he didn't even try at all. He knew what he was skipping over, and he knew that he shouldn't do that, not tell you, and still take your money; but he did it anyway. It's really just stealing, and you have a right to be angry.

TButtrick · #22 (**permalink**) 08-20-2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

You know, you have a very expensive car, and you no doubt paid a good bit of money to someone, whom you trusted, to do a lot of things that, apparently, were not done. Putting the safety aspect aside for the moment, it's not as if he tried and just did it poorly, but rather he didn't even try at all. He knew what he was skipping over, and he knew that he shouldn't do that, not tell you, and still take your money; but he did it anyway. It's really just stealing, and you have a right to be angry.

100% Agreed. Someone is accountable and you may have to hold their feet to the fire. If you can't get satisfaction from a personal plea to the responsible party, post the details publicly and you're sure to get quick action if they want to continue doing business with this crowd.

MRGEORGE077 · #23 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 09:16 AM

I have submitted my invoices dealing with these issues to the dealer and expect him to reimburse me for the current expenses as well as any additional expenses, i.e. transmission failue, in the future. As of this date he has not responded.

If by the end of the week if I have not received his response I will submit a request to Shelby American and ask that they either reimburse me or let me transport the automobile to another Shelby American authorized dealer who would address these problems in his shop. As a last alternative give me my money back.

If unsuccessful the last step would be to lawyer up in a very public way. At the end of the day I believe any mechanical issue can be rectified given enough money and time.

The only suggestion that I could give someone who is going to contract with a company to build them a Cobra would be to contractually hold back 10% that would be used to sort out these sorts of issues for the first 1,000 mile or so. I knew to do this but given the reputation of the company I let it slip, so shame on me.

mln385 · #24 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGEORGE077

I have submitted my invoices dealing with these issues to the dealer and expect him to reimburse me for the current expenses as well as any additional expenses, i.e. transmission failue, in the future. As of this date he has not responded.

If by the end of the week if I have not received his response I will submit a request to Shelby American and ask that they either reimburse me or let me transport the automobile to another Shelby American authorized dealer who would address these problems in his shop. As a last alternative give me my money back.

If unsuccessful the last step would be to lawyer up in a very public way. At the end of the day I believe any mechanical issue can be rectified given enough money and time.

The only suggestion that I could give someone who is going to contract with a company to build them a Cobra would be to contractually hold back 10% that would be used to sort out these sorts of issues for the first 1,000 mile or so. I knew to do this but given the reputation of the company I let it slip, so shame on me.

Agreed ....it is time for the consumers of this hobby to demand the quality and expertise they pay for.

I would also recomend consumers take the time to ask the qualifications of the shop, whom is performing the installs and what acreditations if any do they have (ASE etc.)

patrickt · #25 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGEORGE077

The only suggestion that I could give someone who is going to contract with a company to build them a Cobra would be to contractually hold back 10% that would be used to sort out these sorts of issues for the first 1,000 mile or so. I knew to do this but given the reputation of the company I let it slip, so shame on me.

Funny you should say that. I did just that, but not on purpose. ERA shipped me my car so that I could have it before Christmas, but Peter didn't get around to figuring out what I owed him on it until after they all came back from vacation, in January or so.... It was one of those "trust things," and that's best when it's a two way street.

Cashburn · #26 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 11:31 AM

Has your "dealer" offered to collect the car and address the issues? At the very least that is the first step in the process.

RodKnock · #27 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGEORGE077

The only suggestion that I could give someone who is going to contract with a company to build them a Cobra would be to contractually hold back 10% that would be used to sort out these sorts of issues for the first 1,000 mile or so. I knew to do this but given the reputation of the company I let it slip, so shame on me.

No shame on you. Reputation and recommendations are what most folks rely on. A "retention" of funds sounds great in theory, but most shops take these projects on a time and material basis and only give the owner a "good faith" estimate.

I also know about the principle of "retention", but I also took my car to a shop based on reputation and personal recommendations and was completely satisfied. The shop I took my Cobra to, once finished with the install, kept my car for an extra week or two, doing a shakedown and fixing anything that was necessary. IIRC, they put a 100-200 miles on the car to make sure my car was delivered with no issues.

In the end, I had two issues. I had to replace a defective tach and there was some sort of an electrical issue with the wiring harness, which turned out to be an issue with all harnesses made during a specific time period.

patrickt · #28 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock

No shame on you.

He's mad. Kirkham and ERA do things differently than CSX cars -- you really can't compare the three when it comes to this wicket that he's stuck in.

MRGEORGE077 · #29 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Funny you should say that. I did just that, but not on purpose. ERA shipped me my car so that I could have it before Christmas, but Peter didn't get around to figuring out what I owed him on it until after they all came back from vacation, in January or so.... It was one of those "trust things," and that's best when it's a two way street.

You are correct Peter is a good guy, someone you can trust.

MRGEORGE077 · #30 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 12:44 PM

[quote=patrickt;1206141]He's mad. Kirkham and ERA do things differently than CSX cars -- you really can't compare the three when it comes to this wicket that he's stuck in.

[/QUOT

You are 100% correct, and hindsight is wonderful but you can't undo spilled milk just wipe it up , move on and hope others don't make the same mistake.

MRGEORGE077 · #31 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Has your "dealer" offered to collect the car and address the issues? At the very least that is the first step in the process.

no I think he's pretty well done

Al G · #32 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 03:55 PM

I think most of your issues are with whoever did the drivetrain installation, not the dealer. Legally, the dealer can't install the drivetrain. Shelby American can't help you in a battle with the installer.

Cashburn · #33 (**permalink**) 08-21-2012, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al G

I think most of your issues are with whoever did the drivetrain installation, not the dealer. Legally, the dealer can't install the drivetrain. Shelby American can't help you in a battle with the installer.

This is a very good point. Often missed in these discussions is the difference in the parties involved. I assume from the situation (as is often the case) you have:

Manufacturer
Dealer
Engine Builder
Installer

Issues are rarely the actual Dealer, they are usually the Manufacturer OR the Installer. However the Installer is usually tasked with sorting issues passed down from the Manufacturer or the Engine Builder.

The Dealer however is your mouthpiece to the Manufacturer to get things fixed and/or compensated for.

MRGEORGE077 · #34 (**permalink**) 08-22-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al G

I think most of your issues are with whoever did the drivetrain installation, not the dealer. Legally, the dealer can't install the drivetrain. Shelby American can't help you in a battle with the installer.

The company that installed the drivetrain was the dealer, who is a licensed and authorized dealer for Shelby American. A turnkey job where you purchase the roller from the dealer, he takes delivery on it and installs the drivetrain.

patrickt · #35 (**permalink**) 08-22-2012, 10:48 AM

OK, wait... it wasn't this dealer, was it? Considering what you got out of the deal....

RodKnock · #36 (**permalink**) 08-22-2012, 11:04 AM

That's funny.

The dealer has said they're "done", so what is their explanation for not fixing what needs to be fixed, since they're both the dealer and installer?

At this point, I'd probably get the "punchlist" items fixed and then let everyone know here, which dealer "screwed" you.

MRGEORGE077 · #37 (**permalink**) 08-22-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

OK, wait... it wasn't this dealer, was it? Considering what you got out of the deal....

LOL!!! Yes that is what I got out of the deal and a good one, but the game is not over yet. Hopefully he will do what is right, if not it is going to get very public very fast and that's not going to be good for any of the principles.

Mark IV · #38 (**permalink**) 08-22-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGEORGE077

The company that installed the drivetrain was the dealer, who is a licensed and authorized dealer for Shelby American. A turnkey job where you purchase the roller from the dealer, he takes delivery on it and installs the drivetrain.

To be clear, you are saying you bought a rolling chassis from the dealer and that same dealer supplied/installed the powertrain?

RodKnock · #39 (**permalink**) 08-22-2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGEORGE077

no I think he's pretty well done

I guess you meant "medium well done."

RodKnock · #40 (**permalink**) 08-22-2012, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark IV

To be clear, you are saying you bought a rolling chassis from the dealer and that same dealer supplied/installed the powertrain?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRGEORGE077

The company that installed the drivetrain was the dealer, who is a licensed and authorized dealer for Shelby American. A turnkey job where you purchase the roller from the dealer, he takes delivery on it and installs the drivetrain.

I'm not an attorney, but those sound the same to me.