GTM Performance Engineering: MHI Twin Turbo Official Release

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

I completely understand where you're coming from on this. I think this is why people are having issues getting their refunds. I absolutely think GTM is having liquidity issues due to people backing out, sunk costs for R&D and equipment.

However, I completely disagree that charging a customer a fee to exit the group buy is in any shape, way or form acceptable. They made numerous references to being ready to ship in August or so. It's almost 2014. There's got to be a point where the fee doesn't apply. The contract is two-way. If the customer is in breach for backing out, GTM may also be in breach for not providing a product in a timely manner. Maybe the contract doesn't have a set date in it. I'm sure when the contract was written, they had no idea that in December nobody would have their kits.That doesn't mean that the contract can exist in perpetuity. At some point the customer must be able to get out at no charge if there is no reasonable expectation of having the other end of the contract fulfilled in a reasonable time frame.

Originally Posted by Alkatraz

I agree to some extent Chuck. They definitely could wave a 'restocking fee' (lol at the irony in this term) in order to save face and not have people giving negative feedback. Many businesses would, others don't, thats GTM's choice. It looks like Mike made some effort to help out by a) not charging the full 25% and b) offering to put the $ towards other parts.

If the poster (forgot the username, sorry) could post more detail and explain why he didn't just get exactly $475 worth of parts, then it would be easier to comment. Not knowing more detail it seems weird to right off the $475 instead of at least getting something out of it? Again, not attacking poster, just need more detail.

The initial reason that he had 'restocking fee' written into the contract is because he was using the 'layaway' setup to try to save some money. Correct me if I am wrong but no one who paid up front has been charged this fee, correct?

Originally Posted by dragonbreath

Regarding your earlier post, I understand the cost of R&D. I signed up at the end of August, so the ball was rolling way before they received any of my money.

I sent them $1900 to get started. 25% of 1900 is $475. The reason I decided to eat it is because the invoice they provided me was crazy. Over $400 from which I could get from another vendor. Their advertised price. For the same exact items. $200 more for a clutch and flywheel. I asked if there was anything that GTM could do regards to pricing seeing as how I could get the same products for literally hundreds less than their invoice. I was told no. I feel thats horrible customer service and the reason that they wouldnt budge is because im screwed both ways. Pay over $400 more for the same product, or lose $475 and go with another company who I know has better customer service. Im going to support a company who I feel wants my business. So rather than spending $2100 to support them, I would rather reluctantly eat $475 to prevent from giving them any more money.

Originally Posted by Alkatraz

Thanks for clarifying Dragonbreath!

Were the prices that they quoted you for the parts the same as the prices listed on their web page? Or did they quote you more than their normal retail prices for the parts?

I totally understand that you decided to not give them any business as you were unhappy. No problem there at all. Thats what happens when a company lets people down, they lose more than just the initial business. They lose a lot of potential future business as well.

I probably would have just ordered $475 or so of parts from them and moved on. Looks like it would have been a good opportunity to cut losses and get away from the bad deal cheaply. But I have the advantage of hindsight so I hope that you are now moving forward and still going FI!

Originally Posted by dragonbreath

No the prices they gave me were also their advertised prices on their website. If it was more I would have stroked out lol. Unfortunately I didn't have the option of only spending $475. It was all or nothing.