On June 8th Rick sent me an e-mail stating that my centers will be there the following week, and then shipping to me a couple days after that. Never mentioned anything about the hoops. He never confirmed that anything arrived, but sent me a PM on the 19th saying my wheels will be shipping to me next Friday. Didn't give me a date but I assumed he was referring to the 1st of July. I'm worried as well that there might be something wrong with mine. My invoice doesn't say the offsets I ordered on it, just the sizes of the wheels. How is the manufacturer suppose to know what offset I ordered? Maybe I'll get lucky.

You got a invoice I never received one.

I had to beg for mine for the most part just like everything else with VIP. I think he just made one to make me happy though cause it has no order number on it and it's missing info about my wheels.

What are Venaci wheels really?
 

This may be the most important question asked in this thread. I asked the exact same thing a couple of pages ago. I always thought that Venaci's were just re-badged Work wheels. As such, I knew I'd be getting a high quality wheel of known specifications. Rick assembles the wheels himself from parts. Mark from RavSpec says that Work won't release a wheel not assembled. So we've established these aren't made by Work at all.

So Rick, answer this. Are they the real, forged, quality pieces or just replicas from a unknown supplier of substandard quality? How do I know what I'm really getting and where's the QC assurance? Are they being assembled by a qualified certified technician or a kid in the back of your shop? What specifications do they meet and how can it be proved? Make me feel good about what I'm buying at least, even though the purchase process kind of sucks. I'm not going to put junk on my car, not something as important as wheels.

Slowly the facts known by a few will come to light and be known by all.

Using pictures of another wheel company's wheel manufacturing process and wheels should have been a huge red flag.

This type of behavior shouldn't be tolerated by a forum and its members.

^whoa I didn't think about that...

The older Venaci wheels have all been Work wheels, the Venaci Mesh wheels I have (bought from a member here used earlier this year) Have Work logo's on the outside face of the wheel, have Work serial numbers on the inside of the barrels, and even Work valve stem caps. The only thing that says Venaci on it was the centercap, which I'm guessing is once the wheels were shipped to the states from Japan, Rick slaps on and sells them as Venaci wheels.

Rick stated earlier in the thread that they were sold to his "Venaci" company by Work as a private label deal. And that Work was not supposed to have released those finishes/styles under the Work brand.. Whether or not this is true we'll never know. In the end though they were still manufactured by Work, which is why I'm sure several members bought them (myself included, even though I bought them used.)

Now it seems that they have a new manufacturer, here in the states, but seem to be copying the original Work Gnosis designs.. Pretty shady in my opinion.

Sorry to butt in to your guys thread about trying to get your wheels, but its worth talking about.

So, If I'm really getting copies made in America, why have I waited six months to get something from Japan?!

I know the wheels do come from Japan, and there Work wheels. The phone line is back up again. I think hes just busy moving to his new place, which must not be easy. I hope everyone will get updates soon.

Phone line is back up? really... and what number are you calling?

Err come again...

Rick called me a little while ago and we talked about the front offset and determined that there is way too much lip,so he is going to check on a few things and get back to me.

These are the new Venaci Mesh wheels apparently.. Don't see any Work logos on them.. Looks like the guy is a mod on G35Driver.

Mystique - G35Driver

Meaning to say i just paid Rick a full payment for a replica the price of an original wheel?????? WTF?? Please respond to that question Rick!!

He's got the same title as I do on my350z as a "club" moderator. I'm not an actual staff member and I don't have any ban power... just assigned to moderate the Houston section where me and my buddies go to bs and plan out meet/cruises etc...

im gettin the venaci mesh. ill be goin to the shop tomorrow. rick said my wheels will be there on fri. hope he has them. if ya wanna know the shop's number 310-327-9938.

Since you're going to the shop tomorrow... maybe you can help everyone out by asking Rick the questions in the quotes below given that he hasn't answer them already.

GL with your visit tomorrow.

^^ talk bout adding insult to injury.not only are we questioning the wait and why all the false dates,but now the quality of the product.guys ill bring these questions to rick tomorrow when i see him.

I have similar wheels, it should say Work but one thing I got to know from Ravepsec was that even if you remove the bolts the center its welded with the lip so two pieces technically but its a single piece wheels, maybe the person removed the bolts and custom painted it?

This is what the guy on Gdriver said. His are venaci but not WORK

That guy appears to be clueless :ugh2:

Venaci is a brand, not a manufacture. In the past, it was apparent that Work Wheels was the parent company manufacturing the Venaci brand (Work engravings, Work valvestems, etc..). As of now it is not so clear who is manufacturing or assembling these wheels for Venaci/VIP-Status. On multiple occasions we've seen Rick mention "we are waiting on the centers". To me this could mean two things..

1. The wheels are coming from Japan however once here they are dissembling them so they can offer custom finishes (Gold, Purple, whatever..). The assembling is then done in house at VIP-Status (by someone who is inexperienced as we've already seen multiple wheels leaking) and shipped to the customer.

2. The center forging is not done by Work Wheels anymore but instead a local company in the US. This would explain why the wheels no longer have Work engravings and also the lack of quality control during assembly.


You won't get a straight up answer from Rick so it's up to one of you guys to do some investigating :tup:

Not clueless exatly but I guess he knows his are not Work

Regarding disassembling these as in pictures or the gnosis mesh can't be taken apart like Volks even if you take the bolts off as barrel is welded with the center this is what I have been told.

Not all 3 piece wheels are welded some are assembled with high pressure sealant.

Who is venaciwheels@gmail.com ?

That's Rick.

nah, u got the original WORK VSXX ... not replica.

Apperantly Rick just doesn't give a damn according to his partner. He's just playing games with us. There's a couple other generous post from him saying how were all liars and are doing this just to talk ****. He's had updates for quite sometime but would rather not help. Very professional to be coming from a forum vendor IMO. Just shows the type of business professionals these guys are.

First of all Jamaica is not and has no part of VIP-Status or Venaci wheels. It is apparent that some here are grabbing at assumptions and trying to put together a case which best fits their story. I am not arguing that there isnt a problem or hasnt been a problem. I prefer to stay out of the whole ordeal... However, we have tried to help people get information since we have a presence in the nearby vicinity and know rick on a personal level. How much Jamaica tries to help is up to him.

On the comments about venaci wheels they are 2 piece wheels (usually welded together) not 3 piece as some have stated. For the amount of customized venaci wheels I have only heard of one wheel that leaked and from my knowledge it was taken care of.

This post is only for clarification and to help get the facts out there. I hope people get their wheels and rick is able to clear things up. I do know Rick is taking steps to remedy these situations... Please lets leave the rest of the comments for the guys who have outstanding orders so that we can keep track of the progress of the customers.

thank you,

Mike

If he has no part in VIP or Venaci wheels then what is he doing reading through our invoices and PM's with Rick? Why does he go around claiming to have designed a Venaci wheel? Why does he come into threads and state he will answer on Ricks behalf? Why does he state he has updates but choses not to share? For someone who isn't involved sure sounds like he's got a lot going on. For someone who is suppose to be a professional and a vendor on the forum he sure doesn't act like it. Going around calling us liars and babies like we want to be in this situation. If it seems like were grabbing it's because we don't really have a choice anymore. Nothing about this situation is right.

Lets answer these one by one for you guys:
1: (Invoices) People asked Andrew to check up on their orders... so, Andrew stopped by the (VIP) shop talked to rick and was given access to view and confirm everyone's orders.
2: (Design) Yes, Andrew was given the chance to pick out/ Design his design for a 3 piece wheel. This was for his own set of wheels.
3: (On behalf) As many may not believe Rick is extremely busy... as with many of us entrepreneurs we take on many companies and roles... If you have never owned or run your own business you will never understand... You live, breath and eat work and are always behind! Rick owns several types of companies VIP Status happens to be one of them. Andrew, talked to rick and mentioned he would help take over since people were complaining that rick was MIA...
4: (Updates) Andrew got emotional with the situation and wanted to blast a few people who were not being truthful of their experience and trying to add fuel to the flame for no reason. (Bad Customers) as I like to call them are customers who are out for a vengeance "often not justified" to take down a company with lies or deceit... No matter what you do as a business owner (Apologize, give free parts, refund or etc..) they still blast your company and give you bad press... Andrew was striking out at what I believe was this type of customer and was not doing this to all those who have been patient and have been trying to work with rick to finish their orders.


Finally, I PM'd you back Billy about the whole situation. also, I appreciate your patience and diligence and I hope Rick makes things right for you. I also apologize for andrew's behavior towards you.

Mike

These quotes were posted on the my350z forum :tup:

Jamaica,
Reading is fundamental. Even Rick acknowledge I'm not startin chit... you have no say so otherwise :shakes head:

The :stirthepot: smiley was used for a reason....

Rick please call me

Could you link to these posts on my350z.com please?

I really hope the mods don't close this thread down after that...this thread is the only thing that at least gives me a little hope.

Rick really should get on here one last time and clean everything up before he leaves for good.

He's leaving for good? When? Not before he sends my 2 front wheels first!!

So he's accusing us of being lying?? Let me post the invoice here that shows no info on the sizing of the wheels:

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7945115_n.jpg

Description is just Auto Wheels with no offsets stated on it.. So who's the freaking liar now telling people that it matched what they ordered??

So here's the offsets what i ordered which is similar to one of the members in this forum Keng714
Fronts 20x9.5 +11 with 5mm spacers
Rears 20x11 -1

& when it came and found the mistakes, this is what Rick said to me:

"ok today is sat for me so work is close.
but from looking at the picture i think this is what happen.
This is what you have:
20x9.5 et+31 A disk with 25mm
20x11et -2 R disk for the rear.

From your pictures i think work put in your disk in the other way around,since we told them it's for a 370Z with Akebono.
I think they put your R disk in the front when it's to post to be for the rear.Which most of the time it's right to use R disk for the front for bbk,and O or A for the rears.
But in this case we need it for the rear.
So your front right now is a -2 that's why when you use the 25mm spacer it stick out like that.I think that mean sense.I will try to call work on monday morning and find out asap for you."

So tell me again who's the freaking liar who talks shit just to talk?

Its a relieve to know that :tup: thanks....