Computronix Fail

[Creton]

I have been doing business with Allison's for a year. Never have I had a problem until this last purchase. I bought the Computronix system for a fiat 2.0L. Unit lasted 50 miles and failed. I called Allison's and spoke with Greg who conferred with Mark ( owner) and they instructed me to return the unit to Computronix to get a replacement in order to expedite the warranty. After three weeks of hearing the same speech " a new unit is being made" " better unit" "more heat resistant" " parts are finished and being put together to ship Monday" and even attempting to contact Computronix myself. I decided that enough is enough and just want my money back. I called Greg and he informed me to send an email and then today I called Mark who informed me that " we don't warranty parts that we don't produce ourselves" . His website sates the parts come with a 1 year warranty but doesn't state that it is a manufacture warranty which is convenient for him to pull out of his ass when something goes wrong so he can avoid standing behind the product he sales. His reasoning is that I sent the unit to Computronix instead of sending it to him. Go figure!

As a word of caution to any and all buyers who are considering doing business with Allison's. Use caution because once they have your money, you will not be getting it back.

Do a web search of this unit and you will see that the unit is pushed as the best alternative to OEM systems. Pushed by Mark ( owner) who is also the site admin at fiatspider.com.

BUYER BEWARE


P.S. Since posting a review it appears as though Mark has changed his fine print to read " manufactures" warranty.

[Creton]

Please note: I contacted Computronix and was informed that the new unit would be shipping first thing in the morning!

Amazing how that happens.......


I will update when unit arrives.

[AriK]

Mark advised you that you will be receiving another unit. It may have taken time to get it all in order with the manufacturer but he did his duty to represent you to him. The manufacturer has the last word after all.
Then you asked for your money back and things fell apart. The manufacturer eventually got a hold of you and assures you that a unit is being shipped and now you're happy.
Amazing how that happens? Perhaps with correspondence with Mark? Mark obviously is on your side to make things right.
This is not the right place to slam a vendor. Please take your issues offline and work it out by email or by phone. Most of us here have dealt with Mark and either had no issues or an issue has been resolved.

[lglade]

Yeah, three weeks isn't a whole lot of time when you're dealing with a small retailer representing a small manufacturer. I know it's hard to sit around while your car isn't running, but a little extra patience is called for in these kinds of matters. Mark's been in the business a long time, so he's not going anywhere. And he wouldn't have stayed in business this long without being a reputable guy.

[Creton]

Any business that advertises and sales parts should stand behind the parts they sale, not just say " oh it's a manufacture warranty"
Mark seems like a stand up guy, but I only spoke with Mark two times during three weeks. A three week turn around is not an acceptable amount of time. Perhaps to you, but not from a business stand point. I run a large company and work with many customers so you're preaching to the choir. Mark does not stand by products that he doesn't produce,per his own words.

Had he refunded the money, I was planning to purchase a carb and some other things. I'm sure he makes enough money that losing my pocket change is nothing in comparison.

Also, Mark never stated that I would receive a new unit, he only gave excuses as to why it was taking so long. I contacted Lew at Compu-tronix, because I kept getting the same story from Mark/Greg.
In hind sight I should have just bought the product from Compu-tronix and cut out the middle man.

The customer can ask for his money back any time the service is sub-par.

This is an open forum and I am only cautioning potential buyers to beware when dealing with this vendor. If I am banned because of that, then that just further proves the point.

I am glad you guys came to defend his honor.


NEXT

[lglade]

I don't disagree with you being irritated; that's entirely your prerogative. But you try to destroy his reputation after just three weeks and two phone calls? You sound like a whiny b*tch.

NEXT

[Creton]

LMAO! That all you got? Child
You obviously lack the intellect to carry on a conversation without bringing out the language.

I seriously doubt that one persons negative experience with a vendor will destroy his reputation. What's more interesting is the fact that you want to discourage someone from posting a negative interaction with a vendor.


NEXT

[ORFORD2004]

You better never buy alpin ski. If it is defective, you go back to the store and the store ship it back to company. Then the company will decide if it is defective or your fault. If defective they will replace the ski but if they say not a defect, you're screw and the store will not refund you. So by send it back directly to the company, you probably save some time. And don't you think posting in one place is enough?

[ORFORD2004]

And when you buy from Mark, you will have technical advice if you need it and experience in that car. That's it that's all.

[courtenay]

Wow - you had an experience with a vendor that you're not satisfied with. It happens sometimes. You've let the folks here know about it - many times. Thank you. Shit happens. Get over it. Move along.
I get the sense that many members of this Forum have had a lot more good experience than bad with Mark's outfit. I'm one of them. You may not be - your prerogative.

[Creton]

I posted in the appropriate forums:
Electrical
Performance
Engine Tuning

Sometimes a 40 mike-mike is exactly whats needed.

Issue is being resolved and the ripple in the sea of tranquility will soon reach the bank.

NEXT

[So Cal Mark]

This claim is by Creton is not quite accurate. When he contacted us about an issue with his ignition, he requested a repair or replacement. We instructed him to return the trigger and coil directly to Computronix, as this would expedite the warranty claim. Apparently he did, but I have no idea how quickly he sent the items. He contacted us last week to inquire about the status. I contacted Computronix on his behalf and was told that after an inspection, they determined the failure was due to voltage fluctuations and heat. (the trigger is potted and supposed to withstand temps to 350F). Rather than just send another trigger, Computronix decided to upgrade the circuit boards to be more resistant to voltage spikes and high termperatures. It took them a couple of weeks to have new circuit boards built and delivered.
Last Friday they told me the new units would be ready Monday (yesterday). In the meantime, Creton demanded a refund. I explained to him that the system wasn't in my possession to offer a refund. I told him that he would have to contact Computronix and instruct them to release the replacements to me rather than return to him and that the rest of the system would have to be returned to me also.

Some of the companies we deal with allow us to handle warranty returns, others require any items to be returned to them for inspection/approval before they'll issue credit or replacements. Creton didn't believe me when I tried to explain this to him, but the bottom line is he changed his mind during the process and won't accept the fact that the system has never been returned to me.

[PhillySpider]

Creton, thank you for your feedback. Feedback is always a gift, positive or negative, that one can choose to accept or reject. We don't get to choose how it is ultimately received. Point of order, I work for a Billion $ manufacture as a regional sales manager. You give me a new order you can expect 8-14 weeks for delivery. Ask for an RMA expect a full failure analysis prior to repair or replacement which runs us anywhere from 6 to 26 weeks depending on our findings. My customers love me, our competitors deliver nowhere near as quickly as we do and as for failure analysis, what's that?! You need to shift your mindset and lower your timing expectations.

Forum members, from the outside looking in my perception is everyone needs to get off Mark's jock...

Mark, how about refunding Creton after he ships the unit back to you and simply no longer accept orders from him? I know your in liberal CA, but correct me if I'm wrong, you're not required to do business with anyone you choose not to.

My opinion, YMMV.

[mpollock]

Creton,

Can you let us all know which large company you run? I'm sure a lot of us here on the forum would like to know. From the way you are presenting yourself it sounds like you might have a lot to teach us about customer service. You're quite inspirational!

[So Cal Mark]

I received Creton's system on Friday afternoon and refunded his purchase price within an hour. When he posted his rant, I had already told him 3 times that I would refund his money when the system was returned. I made a trip to Computronix last Tues morning and picked up the new upgraded units and that's what will be shipped on all future orders.