UFO Performance Products--You decide

VMAX  Forum

Help Support VMAX Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Newklear

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2013
Messages
71
Reaction score
0
Location
Lake Winnipesaukee
I stated some of this in a thread regarding service and the lack thereof, but I think Mike Lee at UFO Performance Products in Royalton, OH, needs to be held accountable for his treatment of me and from what I've heard, others.

To recap, I sent the swing arm from my 2001 VMAX to Mike for modification as advertised.

I received a modified one but Rochester Motorsports found that it wouldn't fit, not by a long shot.

Mike told me that he didn't know that it wouldn't fit with stock exhaust. As I stated in the other thread on all of this, I figure being the "VMAX Specialist" as he advertises himself, he should have known that, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt on that one.

We agreed that I would return the modified one in exchange for a freshly powder-coated stock one and that he would refund a portion of what I paid. In essence, all that I would have been paying for is the powder-coating of a stock swing arm.

We returned the modified swing arm. Someone here even contacted Mike to say that he'd be interested in buying that one from Mike. Mike never contacted him.

I called Mike the next week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with no response to any of my calls.

I finally got him on the phone on the following Monday and he asked, "What's up?"
I told him that that was what I was trying to find out.

He said that the powder-coated swing arm should be back that day or the next and he would ship it out. I asked that he call me when it was shipped.

By Friday of that week, I'd heard nothing. I called and left messages, sent emails with no response. I then told him to keep the swing arm and return my money.

I've had response from him in the intervening weeks.

He has not returned my money. He as not returned an unmodified swing arm.

In essence, he has taken my $620 without providing the service agreed upon as the part did not fit, and also has a swing arm that rightfully belongs to me.

I've contacted AMEX and filed a disputed claim.

I've contacted the North Royalton Police Department, but as much as the officer would like to go down there and rattle Mike's cage agreeing that he has ripped me off, this situation prevents him from doing that. Technically, it's a civil matter that requires small claims court action, which I am pursuing. As such, the police department, while sympathetic, cannot do anything.

Beyond that, I will research who deal with interstate commerce "theft", if you will, and pursue that line of investigation and prosecution, if able.

Whether or not you wish to do business with UFO is, of course, entirely up to you.

Based on my experience, I hope you will seriously consider the possible outcomes if you do.
 
That is amazing that people, hell, Vmaxers, gets that kind of BS from "Vmax specialist", it is disgraze! Their products are expensive as hell, not that they aren't good too, but with that kind of service? Na-aa, I'm not getting anything new from them. If something then thats second hand, as is my UFO exhaust.
I just was looking around for braided brake lines, got UFO price and then Morley's Muscle.. At UFO price I can get same lines, made by Galfer (thats the best right, don't know what UFOs are) AND braided throttle cables too, and total price I think was still cheaper than UFO's. And Sean has great customer service too.

They say that "Good reputation spreads wide, bad even wider" - seems to be true!
 
What a lot of companies fail to realize these days is how much info goes online.
Treating customers poorly only does them more damage by being stubborn and behaving like dicks.
They'll lose more money in lost potential sales through buyers going elsewhere by reading horror stories like above than they made by ripping off the customer in the first place.
 
While reading this thread, I experienced one of those weird "deja vu" moments. It's like - I've read this before. :hmmm:



I hope you get your money back Newklear.
 
Newklear,

Firstly, thanks for sharing your experience. I have not been a UFO customer and I doubt I will soon become a UFO customer.

My point in responding is to share my limited insight into what is likely happening in your relationship with UFO. You can be certain that UFO knows about the story you've shared here. The agencies you've contacted also contact UFO to get additional details about your transactions. That is: UFO certainly knows what damage you've done and plan on continuing. What UFO does not know is whether or not it is simply too far FUBAR for you to be satisfied by anything they can offer.

My most likely scenario has the guys at UFO reading along and becoming increasingly determined that they will hold out and delay you as long as they can - something on the order of: we'll give him his refund ... eventually. If you are taking them to court, they are going to hold your refund until the judge makes a determination.

You might try letting them know that in your frustration, you have reached out to an internet community for advice. And add that you look forward to letting the group know that UFO has made the best of a bad situation. What I'm suggesting is that you might offer UFO an incentive to simply do-the-right-thing. Alternatively, you can tie them up legally and eventually get your refund minus the costs of court, time and travel.

Good luck and I'm certain you've got a solution in the works for the swingarm. Here is hoping you can get it soon and put your baby back into service.
 
WOW! This is the reason why I prefer to deal ONLY with places that have a proven and established track record of excellent customer service.
Starting Line here in Waterville.
Dennis Kirk and JP Cycle have established records too. (they have to to grow as big as they have)

And Sean Morley is another whom I will have excellent service from.
 
9.nub,

I understand your suggestion and the strategy of basically giving UFO a way to at least partially save face. It may be the best way to go, but......

Mike has had AMPLE opportunity over the last number of weeks to reach out to me, apologize and make things right prior to my publicizing any of this. He has chosen not to. The "damage done" is a direct result of his behavior, not mine. It's not my job to make this situation right. It's his.

If he had, I would certainly accept the apology as long as I thought that it wasn't BS and as long as it was accompanied by a refund and another swing arm.

As I stated in another thread, two other vendors were kinda slow......both apologized and had legitimate reasons for their delays. I get that. We ALL go through s-storms in life and should be cut some slack now and again for when those bad times come our way. Sandy Kosman apologized profusely, gave an explanation for his delay and delivered a product of simply stunning workmanship. I have no beefs with anyone willing to accept responsibility such as Sandy.

Mike Lees has failed in all regards......zero proactive communication as to the progress on his service even prior to the described difficulties. Zero communication since.

I don't believe it's up to me to offer him a way to save face. Maybe that's the stubborn New Englander in me.If he wants, he can come on here and publicly apologize for the manner in which I have been treated, send me a refund and return a swing arm to me. A little humble pie goes a long way.

Maybe just being man enough to come on here and say, "Hey all. I effed up good with Newklear and want to come clean. I didn't treat him right and want everyone to know that I accept full responsibility for his difficulties with UFO and pledge to make it right." That would pretty much do it.

If he wants to be a stubborn so-and-so and wait until I take it as far as possible, then so be it. I'm willing to play. Doesn't bother me in the least. I've got the means and the time to pursue every avenue. If he wants to go the mat, I guarantee that it will end up costing him a lot more in sales and other expenses than the six hundred that he's cost me.

He can end it here and now......or we play......his choice. It ain't my job to offer him a way out. He ought to be man enough to suck it up and swallow his pride and simply do the right thing. If he doesn't, then whatever damage is done falls on his shoulders.
 
That's terrible, Newklear. I'm very sorry to hear this happened.

Now, is there any safe way we can relay to Mike this online conversation to see the sh*tstorm that's brewing? He really is, basically, telling us all to go to hell. Very unfortunate.

Elimax
 
I had high hopes with new management over there.

Guess not.

Sounds like original problem might have been a lack of communication/information about what the product REALLY was???


Did this exhaust issue come up anytime during the ordering process?

Does their website say?

But I'd say it's 100% on UFO now no matter what led to the original problem. Sounds like Jon trained him well.
 
The issue of the exhaust did not come up in the ordering process.

I don't believe that the website said anything about it not working with stock exhaust.

Mike did not ask about it....
 
It sounds like you may have "annoyed" him by laying into him about the mess up and then staying on top of him to do the right thing so he decided to punish you for it.
 
Well, Jon's wife I have noted has resorted to starting to post up UFO products on facebook in the classis Vmax group. Maybe a visit over there with your comments on every post she makes may get the push you need to get it resolved (getting your money back) or at least get the word out to help save someone else some aggravation.

There are many threads out there (everywhere pretty much) that talks about them doing the service this way and yet we still see this sort of shit happening. I'm not sure what we need to do to help prevent you guys from getting ripped off?

Of course not everyone is getting ripped off but they have more then their fair share. That's why they are banned from nearly every vmax forum there is (among other reasons).
 
VMAX Eddie,

I annoyed HIM? So, his payback to me for HIS not doing the right thing is to punish ME?

If that's the way he thinks, no wonder he has such a bad rap.
 
WOW! This is the reason why I prefer to deal ONLY with places that have a proven and established track record of excellent customer service.
Starting Line here in Waterville.
Dennis Kirk and JP Cycle have established records too. (they have to to grow as big as they have)

And Sean Morley is another whom I will have excellent service from.

I would have to say that Sean Morley's service is great far beyond reason and good sense. LOL. I always check with him first before buying anywhere else.
 
Well, Jon's wife I have noted has resorted to starting to post up UFO products on facebook in the classis Vmax group. Maybe a visit over there with your comments on every post she makes may get the push you need).



Done, I tried to use some tact, but did use the theft word.....
 
Over the years there have been a lot of stories of dealing with UFO and very few ever came back positive , I hope you get your problem resolved and may other's learn of the reputation of the company , I myself would never deal with them again EVER!!!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top