Hills Motorsport Plenum

[EnricoPalazzo]

Originally posted by JimX

FFS, what is all this bitching and threatening about what you're going to do to Mark/Hills Motorsports if you haven't even SPOKEN TO MARK YET?!  

If you speak to him and he tells you to **** off THEN come back and bitch and I will agree it is justifiable and I daresay Hills will lose my business as well. But until that happens a lot of you are just talking bollocks for no reason. Do you think maybe that's why the other thread was removed?

I think u should relax, it was obviously a joke, not a threat so calm down.

[sidewaymambo]

Let's keep the thing flows folks, we know what we want at the end of day from those shop, so let's keep moving..

[JimX]

Originally posted by Steve

JimX, I realise that you have dealt a bit with hills, but getting angry on here probably wont get positive results.

That said, I agree with the vain of your post, but if you get emotive, doesnt that put you in the same league as those you are pointing your finger at???

Possibly But I'm not disagreeing with the sentiment of your original post. I'm disagreeing with others vilifying Hills and jumping to conclusions thing before any sort of remediation has been allowed to happen.

I'm not going to bother praising Hills for the good stuff they've done for me because I believe that in this case it's not relevant. I don't care how GOOD they have been to me in the past, because if it comes to the crunch and they rip me off big time in the future, all that good stuff they've done before will be meaningless.

Therefore, I like many other people have a vested interest in seeing how they treat you regarding this plenum. I'm not actively defending them here (because your situation has nothing to do with me personally), I just want them to get a fair chance of putting things right. If they don't put things right, then let the cannonballs fly

[JimX]

Originally posted by EnricoPalazzo

I think u should relax, it was obviously a joke, not a threat so calm down.

I didn't think you were serious, but I did think it was in poor taste under the circumstances.

I think the best thing to do would be to forward this thread to Mark and let him respond directly if possible, if he can't speak to Steve because he's in Japan. Does anyone have his email address?

[Kit-01J]

I couldnt agree more, chat to Mark, he is perfectly reasonable, aproachable and fair. Im sure he understands business is all about image (esp performance motor trade) and reputation. I'm sure some arangement could be found to keep everyone happy.

I seriously question the value of posting here without negotiations coming to a halt with the business in question.

Did you tell Mark you are unhappy with the job?

Cos he knows now, and I'm sure he would rather find out through a more appropriate channel.

Matt

[BOOSTD]

:newbie:

[Steve]

Havent approached Mark yet, there is no point until he has the plenum back. It will probably be a couple of weeks before it comes off.

When I originally got the plenum, it wasnt what I ordered (ie didnt fit) I was also under the impression that it was different to what was supplied (note to self get things in writing) - I wont say what it was, because that is heresay as I didnt get anything in writing, and some perhaps lines were crossed. I wasnt happy with it then, and asked for a refund, but that wasnt going to happen (Mark just kept saying to return it and they would fix it - as per my original post) so I put it down to bad luck on my behalf and thought as long as its a good thing, no probs.

Since then other issues arised, like the throttle body flange not being flat, and the lack of vacuum lines. Also, I was aware when I took delivery it would be hard to adjust the AAC valve, but only when fitted was it apparent that the brake boost vacuum line needed to be removed, and only then with a small screwdriver could you adjust the valve - far from standard funciton, far from satisfactory.

I have just had enough - I am quite sure that with enough tooing and frowing the issue could be sorted, but the bottom line is I do not believe that the contract has been fulfilled, as what was promised was not delivered - ie working plenum with throttle body to suit RB25.

This has cost me in more ways than one, freight, vacuum block, intercooler pipework, adapting throttle body to CAS, several hours trying to get the idle stable and searching for the vacuum leak, and now days with the car off the road.

I want a working plenum that is going to fit properly and work properly. I have, in my opinion, gone to some lenghts to get this plenum to work, it doesnt work, and I therefore believe it is appropriate that my costs be reimbursed. I dont think it appropriate that I should be put out any further.

I will, when I return the plenum, let Mark know exactly what the problem is. If I felt ringing him and talking to him now would achieve anything more than a 'send it back to us and we will take a look' I would ring him. But due to speaking to him last time, refunding was not something he wanted to do.

This time, I intend to photograph the plenum, so I have evidence, and if I dont get reimbursed, legal action WILL follow - enough farking around.

I could post sooo many other things that I am not happy with, but most relate to telephone conversations, and therefore once again arent appropriate here.

Does that explain Kit 01J?

It wasnt my intention to post up here to try and inform Mark of anything, just using the forum for what it is intended - the sharing of knowledge and experiences, and if this post prevents only one other person from going through this drama, then it has served its purpose.

If you are here for any other purpose, you shouldnt be here.

[Kit-01J]

Thanks for clearing it up Steve, I have been in your situation with other shops a couple of times. The reluctance to refund is no surprise either. Anyshop would rather send you away with their product (and happy) than without.

I think Hills Motorsports intentions are most likely to try to rectify any problem and still provide the product. A business has to sell things afterall for it to be a business.

There is no business in ripping people off, I think once Mark returns from Japan and if you speak with him then something will work itself out.

There is no gain (obviously) in them supplying you a product which plain does not fit, that is not a ripoff, that is simple miscommunication or a mistake. Unfortunatley these things are time consuming to sort out.

I just want to say I do not speak for Hills Motorsport or anyone who works there. I only entered into this discussion because it surprised me, I am aware of mark's work ethic (commited - and no bullshit) and I've seen the quality that Hills produce, I had made a mental note to use them when the need next arrose.

Oh and Boosted - you better check the registration dates before you go branding Newbies here or anywhere. Just because i dont disrupt discussion around here often does not mean I am new to the scene.

Matt

[Steve]

Kit 01J, it does seem that perhaps you need to relax a bit, as Enrico suggested.

I didnt think BOOSTDs post required that sort of response, as I didnt think Enricos did either. A bit of friendly banter isnt an attack - where all friends here (or at least I hope so).

I do hope you are right that this will be sorted in an acceptable manner, time will tell. I wish Mark well, and only hope that all his customers are as happy with his work as you are.

Anyways, take it easy

Steve

[Clint32]

I wouldnt like your chances of a full refund Steve, being part of a business myself if there is ever a problem with a product we are happy to fix but if someone was to say give me my money back its a bit different, unfortunately you have went throught that process allready more than once so you would hope the problem was rectified in the first place but good luck anyway, the word soon gets around about people.

Were you tempted to try another local, tillbrook plenum as i have seen some of micks work and it is very imprssive, especially the GTR stuff.

[EnricoPalazzo]

Well i also work for a business, althou not car related, and i think in this cirumstance, with a bit of bending of the arm, steve should be given a full refund for the reasons he listed.

Why go through all of the legal implications and such when they can at least give steve his full refund + reimbursment to him with an apology for the mistakes they made, then at least Steve will leave with a more positive note that they knew they made a mistake and were realistic in that a refund was needed.

OR

They can reluct, go through all the legal cost and pain, then pay steve even more for the shit he had to go through, and then Hills would have to deal with these side effects on people like me and other forum members that would never want to do business with them.

[Steve]

Well I am working on the theory that what was promised wasnt delivered.

I am buggered if I am goint to pay someone to remove it and then have to pay someone to fit it again.

I have already had to pay for freight to return it once (I ordered and payed for this plenum 3 months before taking delivery - at the time he told me it would only take 2 weeks to make - yet it wasnt right?) and then to be told I need to modify the TB for a TPS, and to have vacuum block made up.

My car has spent too much time off the road, I dont like having to pay for insurance and rego on a car I can drive because someone else didnt sort their product correctly. Yes accidents happen, but twice is once too often.

Mark says that he has made 10s of these plenums, yet they still arent right??? He also told me their is a high demand for his plenums so there should not be any problem selling this one, especially as their is a wait associated with procuring one.

I paid money for a product, got a faulty one (twice) so enough is enough. This has already cost me more than it should have if what was promised was delivered the FIRST time ,even more the SECOND time, I will not allow a third end of story

I dont live in sydney, so its not a case of just popping in so it can be sorted.

Anyway, its purely acedemic until the plenum gets returned.

If it comes to it, as I said, the legals system can sort it out, doesnt bother me cos it wont cost me a cent in legal fees, and court fees are bugger all.

I dont think I am ever going to try another local product, I was tempeted to try one of Micks plenums, but decided to just go the tried, tested and true products from Japan.

this is starting to drift away from the vain of the thead, it was never intended to be a lets see if Hills will refund, just a this is what I experienced thread, so enough said.

[BOOSTD]

:newbie:

[Steve]

Somebody help, BOOSTD has lost it:p

[BOOSTD]

Installed and Adjustable cam gear today......hooly dooly, goes good now! Didn't buy it from Hills tho -hehe

Do you have a adj cam gear Steve ??

[EnricoPalazzo]

Haha boostds crazy.

Cam gear on inlet or exh? or both?

[Steve]

I've got one to go in when I do the cams:) Where did you get it from? Did you end up getting the second hand one that D1 have?

So how much earlier does your $350 turbo come on now?

[BOOSTD]

Yep got the one fom D1 for $80 bargin!!

Dean: exh

comes on boost alot earlier, not sure how much.......feels like it has lost some up top tho. I am going to set it to the tried and proven 4degrees retard......every car is different tho so we will see have it goes. Crackin 260rwkw would be nice.

[Steve]

Originally posted by Kit-01J

I couldnt agree more,  chat to Mark,  he is perfectly reasonable, aproachable and fair. Im sure he understands business is all about image (esp performance motor trade) and reputation.  I'm sure some arangement could be found to keep everyone happy.

I seriously question the value of posting here without negotiations coming to a halt with the business in question.  

Did you tell Mark  you are unhappy with the job?

Cos he knows now, and I'm sure he would rather find out through a more appropriate channel.  

Matt

Reasonable eh, well it continues, I havent had a chance to return the plenum as yet, but I just got a phone call from Toll, the transport company that hills used to send the plenumback to me, after I had returned because it had the wrong throttle body flange on the plenum.

Toll have been told by Hills that Evan was to pay the shipping associated with the return (from sydney to adelaide) of the supposedly repaired plenum. Evan understandably told them his thoughts on the matter, so now Toll are chasing me - they didnt get my phone number off Evan, as he only has my mob number, and they rang my wife at home.

I just got off the phone to them and they stated that they were told I was to pay for the postage..... this is the postage associated with the plenum being returned because Hills didnt get it right (I am already out of pocket for the return of the plenum when it was received and found to be incorrect)

I have tried to ring Hills, but havent been able to get through.

So Kit-01J, does that sound, as you stated ' perfectly reasonable aproachable and fair' ??????

[JimX]

Sometimes businesses don't know when to bite the bullet. I really have to wonder if Mark knows how much his reputation is suffering because of this.