KYMCO and the BBB

Post by **Marc** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 8:05 am

Kubelmann wrote:...I arranged a Kymco group buy for Thingsters last year and it turned into a real nightmare. Most of us got overcharged $94 and had delays and mistakes and what makes it all worse is that MY EXHAUST SYSTEM DOES NOT FIT ON MY THING!!! I NOW EVEN REALIZE THAT I WAS SENT TWO RIGHT HEAT EXCHANGERS. YIKES Sadly there are even more missalignment and foul up wiht this exhaust system that I will need to correct if it is to ever work. So now I will have to go back to Janet at Kymco and hope for resolution...

So, what happened to the thread documenting the problems people had with KYMCO?
I'm still out $350, Janet has continued her pattern of evading calls and flat-out lying for two years now, my credit card company has given up trying to contact her and the Better Business Bureau has also washed their hands of KYMCO - which, coincidentally is now doing business under another name (could it be to dodge their unsatisfactory BBB rating?)
http://www.labbb.org/scripts/cgiip.exe/ ... &hAddrID=1

KYMCO has lost my business over their shoddy handling of this entire affair; I've explained to Janet that it's not irretrievable - all she has to do is refund my money on this one ill-fated transaction and I'm prepared to give them another chance - but that doesn't seem to have made any impression on her. I recommend that everyone approach with caution when doing mail-order business with these people, based upon my experience with them you'll be S.O.L. if they screw up the order.

resto65 · Post by **resto65** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:01 am

I am sorry to here about the problems. I did wonder the reason for the name change in the new Hot VW's . I have never had a problem with them, and have bought a couple big items from them. One being my exhaust for my bug, and a hidaway muffler. The exhaust fit better than any other brand I have used and they were easy to deal with. Good luck. Chris

Post by **Marc** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:15 am

resto65 wrote:I am sorry to here about the problems. I did wonder the reason for the name change in the new Hot VW's . I have never had a problem with them, and have bought a couple big items from them. One being my exhaust for my bug, and a hidaway muffler. The exhaust fit better than any other brand I have used and they were easy to deal with. Good luck. Chris

This particular transaction was doomed from the beginning, as our credit cards were all charged up-front before the exhaust systems were even built - by the time we got them, the 90-day period during which your bank-card company can stop payment had already elapsed. It's apparent that Janet was well aware of this and felt that she could just pocket the money since the only recourse is legal action, hardly worth it from out-of-state.
I would like to see them boycotted for treating customers this way, but the fact is that they carry some pretty tasty items and their prices aren't bad, and as a rule VW folk are cheapskates and will take their business wherever they think they're getting the best deal until they're burned personally.
If you feel you must buy from them and have to do it mail-order, pay by credit card and make sure that everything is in order before that 90-day period passes and you've lost all leverage.
But first, comparison-shop at an ethical outfit like aircooled.net and see if it's worth it to you to risk a nightmare like I've had at KYMCO for the sake of saving $20 or so...

resto65 · Post by **resto65** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:30 am

Why did they change names?

Post by **Marc** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:33 am

Good question. If it was just to avoid their BBB listing it didn't work, they can still be traced to the old name since the address hasn't changed. I wouldn't be surprised if it was done to dodge legal problems, though - Janet seems to be a master of ducking & weaving.

resto65 · Post by **resto65** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:51 am

Marc wrote:
resto65 wrote:But first, comparison-shop at an ethical outfit like aircooled.net and see if it's worth it to you to risk a nightmare like I've had at KYMCO for the sake of saving $20 or so...

I try to go the aircooled.net first and have had good luck with CB and CIP also. I personally don't price shop that much, because I work in a retail business that gets killed my the .coms, and feel that for small stuff if you can people should use their local VW store, it's a little more $$, but it's better than waiting a week for a $1 part. Recently have ordered three times from wolfsburgwest.com and was more than impressed with the quickness and with all the small grommets, seals, gas tank stuff, and some electrical stuff they got it 100% right.

drkoontz · Post by **drkoontz** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 2:25 pm

From The BBB:

Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau. An unsatisfactory record is given when a pattern in the company's customer complaints causes us concern, when the company does not respond to complaints, or when it will not substantiate its advertising claims.

In this case, our complaint history for this company shows that the business has not responded to customer complaints brought to its attention by the Bureau.

A Better Business Bureau report is based on our file information and experience with an individual company over the past three years.

The Better Business Bureau does not endorse, recommend, or disapprove of any company, product, or service.

VW Grommet · Post by **VW Grommet** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 10:42 pm

Marc wrote:by the time we got them, the 90-day period during which your bank-card company can stop payment had already elapsed. It's apparent that Janet was well aware of this and felt that she could just pocket the money since the only recourse is legal action, hardly worth it from out-of-state.

JMO.. but be safe and check with your CC bank first on the 90 day rule..mines (Bankone) is just 60 days limit to claim on any dispute..I recently just made the cutoff on a botched transaction (as in never got delivered) and filed the dispute at 59 days.. *whew*

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 4:06 pm

The worst part of the group buy with Kymco is that jeff got rbbed of his tools and a very special engien that he spent endless time building in the middle fo our Thing merged header group buy. Janet and Jeff had a falling out at this same time. (I believe Janet iwas the $$ adn jef was the design force at Kymco. When he left, the goup buy went out the window. Credit crads had been charged and no products had been built. Jeff and I were working on a proto type Thing Merged header that neve got the PHat Boy mods done. So mI ended up being over charged $94 on the original order. I had to send my eshaust system back twice and was ripped for $55 on the return shipping. So I am out $150 and have an exhaust that is nice but needs to have the Phat boy modified for my offroad application. I would first cut my leg off and eat it for breakfast before doing business wiht Janet Mcleod. I do not know her personally but she is not a fair bsiness person. We should all write letters to Hot VW and VW Trends and ask for the letters to be publsihed. We w3ill not get our money back but at lest we can warn others. IMHO thye do not do a fair and good business even if thye have "tasty products... You should see the Thing exhaiust offered in the new McKenzies caalog... An off road megered header with dual tucked mufflers that exit the stock bumper location. Now that looks tasty. More later, K-mann

Mark H · Post by **Mark H** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 11:30 pm

Kubelmann wrote:The worst part of the group buy with Kymco is that jeff got rbbed of his tools and a very special engien that he spent endless time building in the middle fo our Thing merged header group buy. Janet and Jeff had a falling out at this same time. (I believe Janet iwas the $$ adn jef was the design force at Kymco. When he left, the goup buy went out the window. Credit crads had been charged and no products had been built. Jeff and I were working on a proto type Thing Merged header that neve got the PHat Boy mods done. So mI ended up being over charged $94 on the original order. I had to send my eshaust system back twice and was ripped for $55 on the return shipping. So I am out $150 and have an exhaust that is nice but needs to have the Phat boy modified for my offroad application. I would first cut my leg off and eat it for breakfast before doing business wiht Janet Mcleod. I do not know her personally but she is not a fair bsiness person. We should all write letters to Hot VW and VW Trends and ask for the letters to be publsihed. We w3ill not get our money back but at lest we can warn others. IMHO thye do not do a fair and good business even if thye have "tasty products... You should see the Thing exhaiust offered in the new McKenzies caalog... An off road megered header with dual tucked mufflers that exit the stock bumper location. Now that looks tasty. More later, K-mann

I may be ramming my foot down my throat but I think you guys all have this completely backwards.

I know the two guys who work for Kymco and as far as I know Janet is the only person out of three original buy out owners who has an ounce of honesty!! They bought the business from the Jeff Kymala. Not the Jeff you are talking about.
The last co owner left huge unpaid debts and was suspect of pre-charging credit cards but Janet now owns the whole store. she is doing her best to pay off all the debts but is obviously overwhelmed.

The header /exhaust problem has always plagued Kymco and other local shops that get there headers from a local supplier that is absolutely Horrible at public relations. The guy lies constantly to everyone about having their headers made.
The Thing header problem is not just Kymcos. There are other shops that specialize in Things that are completely pissed of at this header maker.
But he is the only game in town.

I know it sucks to be screwed by a mail order place but I don't think thats whats going on here.

Post by **Marc** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:58 am

Mark H wrote:...I know it sucks to be screwed by a mail order place but I don't think thats whats going on here.

And just exactly what would you call it when you are shipped an incorrect/incomplete order, issued an RMA to return the goods for credit, and spend the next two years trying to get so much as a return phone call? The way I see it, if she had no intention of issuing a refund (and store credit would've been quite acceptable) she shouldn't have issued the RMA; now she has the merchandise back and I have nothing but the bill.
Janet maintains that her account was charged back already (in other words, she says I received my credit) but the bank shows no such transaction - they have made repeated attempts to contact her to resolve the issue, but she has evaded their calls and never called them back either....how hard is it to pick up the phone and return a call?

Mark H · Post by **Mark H** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:21 am

Marc wrote:
Mark H wrote:...I know it sucks to be screwed by a mail order place but I don't think thats whats going on here.
And just exactly what would you call it when you are shipped an incorrect/incomplete order, issued an RMA to return the goods for credit, and spend the next two years trying to get so much as a return phone call? The way I see it, if she had no intention of issuing a refund (and store credit would've been quite acceptable) she shouldn't have issued the RMA; now she has the merchandise back and I have nothing but the bill.
Janet maintains that her account was charged back already (in other words, she says I received my credit) but the bank shows no such transaction - they have made repeated attempts to contact her to resolve the issue, but she has evaded their calls and never called them back either....how hard is it to pick up the phone and return a call?

Marc I would call it a real problem and it definately sucks. But Janet has not even owned Kymco outright for two years. she used to be a silent partner. Unfortunately the other new owner was very unscrupulas . In fact he was an outright business moran. Hes gone now and unfortunately Janet has to sift thru all the bad transactions and try and figure out whats real and whats not.
I don't condone all of her behavior and if it were me I would just bite the bullet and send you what ever money you wanted. she may be paying out money that she thinks she already has but at least the customer is not pissed off and posting negative feedback on forums. Advertizing cost lots of money but bad avertising from pissed off customers can cost way more. Whether its her fault or not. Marc I sincerely hope you are able to have this straightened out. Good luck.

Capn Skully · Post by **Capn Skully** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:18 am

So what is the new name of KYMCO? I don't want to order from them.

I had a bad experiece with a supplier here in Louisiana. I ordered several sets of bearings and seals. One set was missing. The package instructions for missing items said I had to wait for the shipper to inspect the package, not to touch anything until I get their blessing. Then file a notice with them so they can review the case determine if I lost the parts or shipper. Late on Friday evening I needed to use the parts that already arrived. I called only to get an answering machine. I told the machine because a $2.50 part was missing from my order and it was obvious my UPS driver didn't take it they were going to loose a customer.

They never returned my call so I never purchased anything else.

People often complain about CIP1, but they have handled every issue I had with no problems.

"G"

Post by **Marc** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:29 am

Capn Skully wrote:So what is the new name of KYMCO? I don't want to order from them....

It's still KYMCO, but now it's "Kymco Automotive Racing".

Old web site ( http://www.kymcovw.com ) isn't up at the moment, I don't know if that's temporary or not.

hawiiansanddrag · Post by **hawiiansanddrag** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 5:55 pm

Hey guys.
I hate to see someone trashed out there when you only get one side of the story. The motor I sent Jeff in December 2002 to have a valve job dome was stolen in June 2003. When Jeff was removed from the company for what I heard were ethical reasons, I turned to Janet for recourse. She did everything she could to replace my motor. It was not over night but I worked with her and she did everything she promised. I happen to know that soon after this company was thrown in her lap her mother pasted away. Quite a bit to deal with! I also have dealt with Danny and he will do anything for you. She does not design the headers. I think you guys should try to work out whatever complications you had with her. I am sorry you had problems but the other side is she came through with flying colors as far as I am concerned.