Hi Guys

Hope someone can help as I am from the other side of the world from Australia.

Basically after NUMEROUS attempts to contact this company via e-mail, website, Facebook and even this Forum I have had no replies whatsoever and am now out of pocket over $1000USD. Please refer to this thread for the full story:
https://www.rx7club.com/bad-fugly-bu...011269/page10/

Does anyone know anyone from there who can contact them on my behalf? Failing that does anyone know of any debt collector or other course of action I can take?

 

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I'm only in the hole for about $300. Ever since he promised a refund back in August, I haven't been able to get a hold of him by phone or email. I've been by his shop a couple of times in September and October, but those were both late Friday and Saturday afternoon visits and his shop was closed up. The last time I was there, I even left a very long note under his door where he was sure to see it. Still no response. What bothers me most is that his site is still up ready to "sell" new parts to other future "customers". It's a shame. Sam is really a very nice guy. I hear that he's incredibly busy with his shop and I guess that's his priority.

 

Its unfortunate, but producing RX-7 parts, let alone mostly 1st gen parts, doesn't really sustain a business. It seems everyone that tries to start providing for the 1st gen community has pretty much failed or the part of their business that makes them the most money takes over and 1st gen part production stops. I hope both of you get things resolved though.

 

This is a little beyond FiberMaz not bothering shipping to North America anymore - The brand and part designs were sold from Billy to Sam, and things went downhill - Sam appears to be accepting money with no intention of shipping parts if you take the worst view, at best he's accepting orders well above his capability to deliver.

Either way he's accepting the money long before (or with no intention to) shipping parts.

 

It actually bothers me when people try to justify bad business with comments like "he's really a nice guy" or "he's really busy". The fact is, bad business is bad business. There's no excuse for a serious lack of communication, or taking peoples money & not delivering. Doesn't say much also that the BBB has him rated with an "F". Also, if he was THAT busy, he would be hiring help. Sorry to all those that got jipped and lost money, it's sad what Re-Speed has become.

 

Busy != hire more people. Lets be serious here for a moment. Rotary work does not make any real money. Most people do it because they enjoy doing it. Hiring people to not be busy means no money being made. So it really isn't that simple. Granted, it sounds like RE-Speed has gone a little overboard with the lack of communication but its never as simple as just hire more people.

thewird

 

I think it is simple, but it's not hire more people. It's don't take money until you ship the part if you're too busy to keep up, or state the terms of money up front and what the current wait time is.

Plenty of history on businesses with unique, low volume product (like rotary) at high quality having long waiting list. An example of another interest of mine is a wooden irish flute maker in Australia, best there is IMO, had an 18month+ wait list - but he said that up front, and didn't take money up front. Like Stirling modding Nikki carbs, he eventually stopped taking orders for a while because of the backlog.

The lack of communication doesn't seem to be the only issue here - to give Sam credit, I'm going by the maxim of don't attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence. If you don't know how to run a business, keep records, etc. then most of the problems can be explained. IF that's the case, I wish he'd acknowledge the problems on his website, because the current situation makes him look like the common scammer.

I certainly wouldn't order from Re-Speed now, but I'm very happy with the Re-Speed designs I received from Billy. Unfortunately, Billy would have difficulty shaking the reputation that's been created if he were to take the brand back now if Sam offered it for free and Billy wanted to get back into that business. (Neither of which do I think is likely)

 

Agree with your comments 100%. It's no way to treat customers and if your that busy don't take any more orders or hire help. However common sense is not so common these days.

Anyway the issue STILL has not been resolved so still would appreciate any help.

 

Sam is quite active on the facebook page. Maybe try that method of contact. I didn't notice he'd been banned from here...