Reflections on GTM over the years

Chuck33079

One of these things is not like the other.

And who would really trust Sam to tell a customer the depth of their financial woes? How does someone listen to all of that without a boulder-sized grain of salt?

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

mikey1600

lawyer up NOW, thats a load of crap.

bullitt5897

This story does not make sense...

Can you go into more detail of what happened? From what you have posted it sounds as the following happened:

You bought a TT kit and extras (what extras? This could impact your install)
You bought a transmission upgrade

You sent your car in for installation of the TT kit, upgrade of your transmission and installation of extra parts.

After 7 months you were unsatisfied with the progress and requested the car be returned to you.

(There is a gap as to what happened next as apparent in your post quoted above)

From your post I am deducting that Sam uninstalled the kit and transmission and returned you the car.

Based off what you posted Sam only charged you for the initial tear down and install amount of $700... This is the amount you claim he did not refund you and kept. This is completely legitimate as you bought a product and service then cancelled after work began... Most companies would have charged a restocking fee if you bought parts from them. This is the same thing. Now a TT kit install will cost you north of $2k+ Not to mention the install of the upgraded transmission so a $700 fee is a bargain... They could have kept more if they were greedy. I have known shops to keep all the install costs just to penalize the customer.

With all that said: there are a lot of gaps in this story and in order for you to get correct advice or answers you may want to be complete in your story...

I am curious how this really played out... And how Sam took 20k from you... I don't think he actually took 20k from you but rather you are upset over A $700 dispute... Am I correct in my thinking?

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Shop Cars: 2013 318whp Nismo VspecII 370z *SOLD*, 2009 1000hp+ 93oct 4.0L TT 370z Fast Intentions STAGE 4 #054

DEpointfive0

He's saying his refund was $700, so he lost $19,300

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Emares

I'll try to explain it in more detail.

I was in the GB for the TT kit, when they announced they were taking payments I gave a payment of about 12k for the kit itself, installation, valve body upgrade, oil cooler and transmission cooler.

After about a month I decided I wanted to have my transmission built, so sam too the car to start the job, he told me it would be done in a month (which I knew wasn't going to happen) at this point there still was no sign of the turbo kit. But sam says that by the time the transmission is done the turbo kit will be out and ready for install.

So 8k for the transmission and 12k for the turbo adds up to the 20k.

There was some more parts that I purchased from him but they were all electronics which I got back.

So anyway, this is where the "Gap" happens, it was basically just back and forth calls about what was going on, he claimed the turbo kit would be ready to install next week, next month, every call was a different excuse and same was for the transmission. This went on for MONTHS. After 7 months of him having my car with no turbo kit and the transmission not finished, I lost interest in the car. I told him I didn't want the kit, I knew he couldn't go back on the transmission because I knew they had started that. I wanted a refund on my 12k for the turbo. A month went by and no refund of course, so finally he gave me a day that the transmission would be finished, I had a 4 hour drive to pick it up just to get there and it wasn't finished. He claimed it wasnt fully broken in and he couldn't give me the car. I said screw it and took it, signed some papers, this is where it happened.

He claimed he had told me the turbo kit was on the car, and I had insisted on him removing it. He "Charged" me for the installation, removing it, and a bunch of other bs. Somehow, the 12k had disappeared and I have yet to understand. I didn't receive a turbo kit just like the rest of you guys. I just wanna know where he pulled a turbo kit and installed it over night. The transmission never worked either, shifted like crap. Ended up getting a new tranny and selling the car.

Chuck33079

GTM isn't sending anyone a turbo kit. Period. Anyone who thinks they're getting a single bolt from Sam is delusional. Get out and get on the list for another shop's kit.

Do we think the reason he's still waiting on the cast parts is that whoever cast the parts is waiting on final payment?

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

harbin9er

can anyone advise me on how to get a refund if I did a wire transfer?

BGTV8

Consult a lawyer ......

clkio

Never ever pay anybody you don't trust online with wire transfer dude, even vendors. Alawys use credit card or paypal so you get some insurance on your money.

bullitt5897

I just spent this last weekend at GTM. I met with SAM and the tech actively working on my car. They are actively working on customer cars, putting together everyone's kits to be shipped, working on people's refunds and working to get things right.

I am not saying this as a fanboy or because of any affiliation...

I am saying this as that was what was obvious as fact while I was in the shop... People's names were on boxes with packing lists on them, there were whiteboards with projects on them and what was supposed to happen, Sam had a list of bills and refunds with checklists next to them... It appears they are working to make things right.

For those saying GTM is going bankrupt and we should all abandon ship... This is not the case... GTM as a business is not going anywhere. Were there bad decisions being made? Yes, and Sam is working to rectify the situation and learn from the mistakes.

For those upset about the MHI kit... To be honest Sam should not have opened the GB until after all the dev work was completed... I saw atleast 6+ sets of cast turbo manifold revisions! From talking to Sam a revision and recast could take up to 3 months... In that aspect alone I saw atleast at a minimum 1.5 years worth of revisions from R&D... The same went for the V3 turbo manifolds... I do not believe the kit was ready for the GB and it is definitely a business lesson GTM learned. For those awaiting refunds for this GB you will get your money... I asked Sam on this specific subject and he said they are working on getting refunds out slowly but surely.

The mood in the shop was more towards "let's get it done" attitude.

All in all: I went to check on my car and to get my extra parts and bring them home. I sat down with Sam and asked him many questions. I had Sam show me what was going on in the shop and I made observations while looking for my parts boxes and sorting through what stayed and what I took home. There was no evidence that GTM was in trouble at the shop.

I hope this unbiased update will give some of you better insight to what is going on.

Mike

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Shop Cars: 2013 318whp Nismo VspecII 370z *SOLD*, 2009 1000hp+ 93oct 4.0L TT 370z Fast Intentions STAGE 4 #054

MMC Racing

You didn't go in with ear plugs in.. You let him speak..

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2014 F150 Raptor, 2014 Mazda 3, 2015 Nissan GT-R

roplusbee

I am not sure what you saw while you were there in regard to things owed to others, but it does make sense that they are trying to make good (as much as possible) with the community. I never liked the way things sounded when I talked to them back in 2010. I don't think anything has change between then and now, other than they got hung up trying to make a quick run of something that needed more work (just like some of their other offerings).

I am sure that they will make good with you, since you talk good about them AND you have spent a lot of money while they used your platform to develop things.

Any way you want to see this, it shows the true colors of this company and it's business practices. That is why I chose to stay away 4 years ago.

Rob

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2007 350Z NISMO #0618: Zerolift | UPREV | F.I. | Greddy | Competition Clutch | Injector Dynamics | Aeromotive | Pioneer | JL

mikey1600

it's good you are getting your car finished (I hope you really do for your sake), but pretty sure any of the current members wouldn't send any $$ their way for anything. Any new members asking about parts will get sent to the various train wreck threads, pretty sure they are screwed forum wise until next generation Z and most of us are not around anymore. (again not sure how much work came from the forums, would assume a fair bit)

They had a really good thing going with the group buy, but that's completely ruined their rep. Lots of people got completely screwed over and the people who didn't get screwed over, were all the other people saying that we were going to get screwed over lol

Juztin

Did you ask Sam what the heck happened that they could not get my waste-gate relocation kit ordered through CZP done in 5 months?

It's just 2 simple Tial waste-gates, some down pipes and misc piping for the recirculation option. The fact they can't get something that simple together is further telling of the fact they can't get any TT kits shipped out the door.

Next time you run a PR mission to Rancho Cucamonga, ask Sam that for me will ya? KTHNXBYE!

elperuano

Almost forgot about that "mishap". Another prime example.