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asbug
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2008
Posts: 287
Location: N.W. Ga.
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 Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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Update on my SS bumper purchase.
They are totally worth it, I rarely spend that kinda dough stuff, but with the exception of having to retorque over the front corner bolt reciever, it was pretty painless.
I am happy with my purchase and would buy another set in the future.
I consider them an upgrade and they make the car more valuable in my opinion.
Pic just for giggles:
KC
_________________
1969 Ghia Vert - Jenny.
2004 B5.5 Passat Wagon - no name yet.
2012 Routan - Urban Assault Vehicle. |
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helen_nguyen
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 47
Location: VIETNAM
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| sirzo wrote: |
Looks like Helen missed the point!?!
Her post appears to be a bit of a cop out...looking like either she just doesn't get the issue  or does not think it worthy of rectifying  , or just doesn't care  ... all poor business decisions.
I don't think this post has been too negative on the later Ghia bumpers.
The issue I see from reading the posts are the earlier bumper bars, especially the ones with overriders (US not EU Helen!!!).
I am sure the pictures that John was referring to were the pictures showing the angle-of-attachment point issues that appear to have been documented to death ... argumentum ad nauseam!
If the bumpers were jigged properly (prior to welding) and the fitment improved, I am sure that the increase in sales would be very worth while... Her problem then would be other competing companies that may copy & jump on her band wagon (in true SE Asian tradition!).
If needed, I know plenty of Vietnamese people here in Sydney if we wanted to make sure she understands the issue by getting something translated & sent to her.
56cpe Jerry's phenomenal & valiant attempt/effort to put aside holiday time to visit & assist her should not go to waste.
Her avoiding him while he was in Vietnam is a bit disturbing though.
I am willing to try and give it a go for the team (least I can do) if wanted.
I deal with Vietnamese businesses all the time (including Vietnamese importers in Australia).
FWIW, I have a good track record in getting VBs to change practices (I'm a State govt food inspector).
Who knows... I have nothing to lose but time.
regards
Peter |
I understand the problem for VW Karmann Ghia EU. I am trying to solve them and i need some help. But i post these feedback mean all kind of our bumper still well except Kg EU. Please do not tell our bumper not good, everyone. And i will upload some photo for VW Karmann Ghia EU complete perfect as soon as possible. Thank you |
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kingkarmann
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003
Posts: 4111
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| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 10:48 am Post subject: |
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| asbug wrote: |
Update on my SS bumper purchase.
They are totally worth it, I rarely spend that kinda dough stuff, but with the exception of having to retorque over the front corner bolt reciever, it was pretty painless.
I am happy with my purchase and would buy another set in the future.
I consider them an upgrade and they make the car more valuable in my opinion.
Pic just for giggles:
KC |
Why hide that beautiful bumper with that VW plaque??
Otherwise it looks to be sharp Ghia 
_________________
"Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”
Mike Gerson
What is your "Bespoke Reality"? |
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sirzo
Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 10:58 am Post subject: |
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Hi Helen
Thanks for your continued interest and allowing communication to happen to try to solve this problem.
Your bumpers look great. Front and back, late and early, US and EU.
Once you fix up the attachment points on the early US style bumpers, I think you will have a fantastic product.
Sometimes cars can have accident damage which may make even correct bumpers hard to fit. This may still be an issue for some people even if you correct the attachment points - but this would not be PTT's fault.
Your bumper should be made to fit a Karmann Ghia that has never been in an accident. If this is done, it is up to the customer to make sure their car is in the proper shape to accept a bumper with correct attachment points.
I don't understand why your attachment points (see Jerry's pictures) are not at the correct angle. Either your initial sample was wrong or someone made the wrong measurement and this has been transferred to your product.
But to me, from the photos I have seen, your bumpers look beautiful. I think they are still the best on the market. Fix this, and I think PTT will be ( 100% for sure) the best on the market. No competition, except for a factory original of course.
It was really unfortunate that your company did not make Jerry a priority when he tried to visit you in Vietnam late last year.
From a business point of view (perspective) that was hard for everyone on the Samba to understand.
I am sure you will be able to fix the problem and sell a great product.
I could send you random front bumper bars, but I have no way to prove that they are 100% correct and have never been altered by someone or by an accident.
Surely you have heard of KGPR and House of Ghia in the USA? They would be a good start to provide you with a perfect sample that is "unmolested".
I think the only other way is for you to send a sample of your bumper to an expert to modify, check, certify it is OK and send back to you. Both would be a cost for your company to do.
But, surely the small investment that your company makes to do one of these two things will be paid off with an increase of orders from future (and return) customers!
We all want to help you, but we cannot do the work for you.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Tet next month  . My Vietnamese and Chinese friends go crazy during this time ! Great celebrations!
Best regards
Peter
PS: Tiền vào nhu nước sông Đà, tiền ra nhỏ giọt như cà phê phin
I hope my friend got that right for me! English meaning: Money influx is as strong as Da's river; expenditure is as little as dripping coffee
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56cpe
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2005
Posts: 198
Location: Western Australia
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| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 8:20 pm Post subject: Stainless Ghia Bumpers |
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John,
Apologies for the late reply - I have had family staying with us over Christmas, and Saturday was my last chance to spend some time with my Grandchildren - put them on a plane back to Port Macquarie this morning. Yes I am willing to do whatever to get this right - I need 4 sets for Clients myself, but still a little apprehensive dealing with people from PTT.
Got an email from Helen on Saturday, apologising, but the reasons given for a no show, were different to the original.
Got emails from a Cathy and a Jenny from the Sales Department, asking if I wanted to buy their Bumpers - I didn't bother replying.
Folk need to know that I sent PTT a Factory Front Bumper end - all they needed to do was copy it correctly - it cost me nearly $100 in freight. I am not the first -Scott Dempster sent Rooney samples, much earlier, and they still didn't get it right - and you would have to be a bit silly to snub Scott.
They need to fix the angled bracket and the position of the lower bolt hole.
I have always wondered why they changed the cross section profile from the original - you cannot fit a Bumper spacer mounting plate in front of the Bumper bracket, and that makes it weak. I am not convinced that talking to the Sales Department will solve the problem - they just do not seem to understand. If only we could talk to the Guy making them - get Him to fix the shoddy welding, get the angle right, and put the bolt holes in the correct position with square corners for max adjustment , and they would have a very good product.
Regards Jerry |
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Andre@KGPR/Airhead
Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2011
Posts: 228
Location: Ventura CA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 3:13 am Post subject: |
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| jpjohns wrote: |
| I wonder if someone could send her a correct bumper for them to compare and measure? I mean, I have the rear bumper off of mine... |
If you look back several pages, we sent bumpers to Viet Nam ourselves. Long story short, even less progress was made than you guys are making here. So that's a positive, I guess.
We got so frustrated, we eventually asked for our samples back. Never got them, and happily washed our hands of the mess. |
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NOVA Airhead
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2005
Posts: 5221
Location: Richmond, VA
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| Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:52 am Post subject: |
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| asbug wrote: |
Update on my SS bumper purchase.
They are totally worth it, I rarely spend that kinda dough stuff, but with the exception of having to retorque over the front corner bolt reciever, it was pretty painless.
I am happy with my purchase and would buy another set in the future.
I consider them an upgrade and they make the car more valuable in my opinion.
Pic just for giggles:
KC |
I have been happy with mine. As I posted before it took a little coaxing but I did get them to fit nicely.
_________________
Ghia Owner Emeritus |
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helen_nguyen
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 47
Location: VIETNAM
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| Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| sirzo wrote: |
Hi Helen
Thanks for your continued interest and allowing communication to happen to try to solve this problem.
Your bumpers look great. Front and back, late and early, US and EU.
Once you fix up the attachment points on the early US style bumpers, I think you will have a fantastic product.
Sometimes cars can have accident damage which may make even correct bumpers hard to fit. This may still be an issue for some people even if you correct the attachment points - but this would not be PTT's fault.
Your bumper should be made to fit a Karmann Ghia that has never been in an accident. If this is done, it is up to the customer to make sure their car is in the proper shape to accept a bumper with correct attachment points.
I don't understand why your attachment points (see Jerry's pictures) are not at the correct angle. Either your initial sample was wrong or someone made the wrong measurement and this has been transferred to your product.
But to me, from the photos I have seen, your bumpers look beautiful. I think they are still the best on the market. Fix this, and I think PTT will be ( 100% for sure) the best on the market. No competition, except for a factory original of course.
It was really unfortunate that your company did not make Jerry a priority when he tried to visit you in Vietnam late last year.
From a business point of view (perspective) that was hard for everyone on the Samba to understand.
I am sure you will be able to fix the problem and sell a great product.
I could send you random front bumper bars, but I have no way to prove that they are 100% correct and have never been altered by someone or by an accident.
Surely you have heard of KGPR and House of Ghia in the USA? They would be a good start to provide you with a perfect sample that is "unmolested".
I think the only other way is for you to send a sample of your bumper to an expert to modify, check, certify it is OK and send back to you. Both would be a cost for your company to do.
But, surely the small investment that your company makes to do one of these two things will be paid off with an increase of orders from future (and return) customers!
We all want to help you, but we cannot do the work for you.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Tet next month . My Vietnamese and Chinese friends go crazy during this time ! Great celebrations!
Best regards
Peter
PS: Tiền vào nhu nước sông Đà, tiền ra nhỏ giọt như cà phê phin
I hope my friend got that right for me! English meaning: Money influx is as strong as Da's river; expenditure is as little as dripping coffee
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Hi Peter,
I am very happy when seeing this post. Thank you very very much for your good idea. I will judge them follow that way. And i will upload some photo when it is complete. All the best things to you. |
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helen_nguyen
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 47
Location: VIETNAM
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| Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: Stainless Ghia Bumpers |
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| 56cpe wrote: |
John,
Apologies for the late reply - I have had family staying with us over Christmas, and Saturday was my last chance to spend some time with my Grandchildren - put them on a plane back to Port Macquarie this morning. Yes I am willing to do whatever to get this right - I need 4 sets for Clients myself, but still a little apprehensive dealing with people from PTT.
Got an email from Helen on Saturday, apologising, but the reasons given for a no show, were different to the original.
Got emails from a Cathy and a Jenny from the Sales Department, asking if I wanted to buy their Bumpers - I didn't bother replying.
Folk need to know that I sent PTT a Factory Front Bumper end - all they needed to do was copy it correctly - it cost me nearly $100 in freight. I am not the first -Scott Dempster sent Rooney samples, much earlier, and they still didn't get it right - and you would have to be a bit silly to snub Scott.
They need to fix the angled bracket and the position of the lower bolt hole.
I have always wondered why they changed the cross section profile from the original - you cannot fit a Bumper spacer mounting plate in front of the Bumper bracket, and that makes it weak. I am not convinced that talking to the Sales Department will solve the problem - they just do not seem to understand. If only we could talk to the Guy making them - get Him to fix the shoddy welding, get the angle right, and put the bolt holes in the correct position with square corners for max adjustment , and they would have a very good product.
Regards Jerry |
HI Jerry
I sent email for you again yesterday. I hope you will check it and give me your decision .
Best regards |
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semipixel
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2014
Posts: 56
Location: Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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Has anyone run into this issue? My front right and rear left overriders don't seem to point straight ahead. I tried switching them and it seems like maybe I received all left front/rear right overriders and no right front/rear left over riders.
Rear right looks ok:
Rear left seems to point outward:
Front left looks ok:
Front right points outward:
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c21darrel
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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semipixel
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2014
Posts: 56
Location: Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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| c21darrel wrote: |
On original bumpers... Rear lefts = front rights and rear rights = front lefts.
Here is my front bumper, i dont think they point exactly forward. Perhaps curvature of the car. |
Thanks, the thing is all 4 over riders seem to be identical, it's like I have 4 front left/rear rights. The ones that do look straight point slightly outward, along the curve of the bumper, but the other 2 seem to point way out. |
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Mscdman
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2014
Posts: 562
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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Wow. Talk about great reading!! I just spent over 2 hours reading 26 pages of bumper porn. While I don't have anything to contribute to the fitment issues, I am in the market for an upgrade in this area so figured I'd read what everyone said for the better part of a decade. A couple comments:
1) For all those who purchased from these obviously shady companies - I applaud your sense of adventure. Absolutely incredible!! The moment I read that choppy broken up English sales pitch or saw those responses from the dueling vendors eTerrorizing each other , I'd have jumped ship immeadiatley. No questions asked. See ya. The whole drama reminds me of one of those Nigerian scam emails (wrong continent, I know). I feel so bad for everyone that's had to deal with these morons. I'm sorry, but that's what they are.
"I promise you, best bumper. You give money. I give best bumper". Geeez O' Christmas. Are you kidding me?? Really?? I'm being punked right now, right....?
2) I can't believe how many posts go something like this:
- bumpers look great in package! Yay!!!
- bumpers fit like a turd sandwich. Not yay!!
- hey, I was thinking of ordering some SS bumpers...let's check out this PTT company
- wash, rinse, repeat
3) after reading these posts, I'd rather pay 2x the cost for a re-chrome set that fits than have to deal with "Ms. Helen", excuse me, whoever this person is pretending to be. To be honest, it's all probably the same person and the same group masquerading under different umbrella companies. HArrington.....Hellen.....Horrible fit. Coincidence? I think not!
Again - the patience of the members of this group is astounding. I could learn a lot from you all. (This is me clapping for you).
And this is me flipping off pretty much every vendor other than HOG or KGPR.
I've got to grab a towel, my eyes are bleeding. |
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djway3474
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2011
Posts: 2582
Location: The Real NDK So Cal
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| semipixel wrote: |
Has anyone run into this issue? My front right and rear left overriders don't seem to point straight ahead. I tried switching them and it seems like maybe I received all left front/rear right overriders and no right front/rear left over riders.
Rear right looks ok:
Rear left seems to point outward:
Front left looks ok:
Front right points outward:
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Looks like 4 of the same when you need 2 n 2 |
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semipixel
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2014
Posts: 56
Location: Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:23 am Post subject: |
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| djway3474 wrote: |
Looks like 4 of the same when you need 2 n 2 |
Thanks, that's what I figured. I don't have a set of original bumpers to reference so I wanted to confirm I was thinking of it correctly.
I let Helen and Company know, so we'll see what they're able to do. Other than this, the bumpers look good. Helen has been great so far so I'm sure it'll get sorted out. I will update when I have something! |
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John Moxon 
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13952
Location: Southampton U.K.
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NOVA Airhead
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2005
Posts: 5221
Location: Richmond, VA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:35 am Post subject: |
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| Mscdman wrote: |
Wow. Talk about great reading!! I just spent over 2 hours reading 26 pages of bumper porn. While I don't have anything to contribute to the fitment issues, I am in the market for an upgrade in this area so figured I'd read what everyone said for the better part of a decade. A couple comments:
1) For all those who purchased from these obviously shady companies - I applaud your sense of adventure. Absolutely incredible!! The moment I read that choppy broken up English sales pitch or saw those responses from the dueling vendors eTerrorizing each other , I'd have jumped ship immeadiatley. No questions asked. See ya. The whole drama reminds me of one of those Nigerian scam emails (wrong continent, I know). I feel so bad for everyone that's had to deal with these morons. I'm sorry, but that's what they are.
"I promise you, best bumper. You give money. I give best bumper". Geeez O' Christmas. Are you kidding me?? Really?? I'm being punked right now, right....?
2) I can't believe how many posts go something like this:
- bumpers look great in package! Yay!!!
- bumpers fit like a turd sandwich. Not yay!!
- hey, I was thinking of ordering some SS bumpers...let's check out this PTT company
- wash, rinse, repeat
3) after reading these posts, I'd rather pay 2x the cost for a re-chrome set that fits than have to deal with "Ms. Helen", excuse me, whoever this person is pretending to be. To be honest, it's all probably the same person and the same group masquerading under different umbrella companies. HArrington.....Hellen.....Horrible fit. Coincidence? I think not!
Again - the patience of the members of this group is astounding. I could learn a lot from you all. (This is me clapping for you).
And this is me flipping off pretty much every vendor other than HOG or KGPR.
I've got to grab a towel, my eyes are bleeding. |
I think you will find its been less out of a sense of adventure but out of necessity. Ideally you could go and buy an exact repro from a local company or have an OG bumper rechromed. Where I live you cannot find anyone to rechrome bumpers...at least that do a decent job within a 500 mile radius. The other alternative is to try and collect all of the pieces and/or buy them from KGPR. The last time I priced out a rechromed set of bumpers for my '71 from KGPR it cost about $2K.
I have been happy with the PTT bumpers. Could the fit have been better - sure but it wasn't anything outside of what I have experienced with other repro parts for my Ghia.
_________________
Ghia Owner Emeritus |
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Mscdman
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2014
Posts: 562
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| NOVA Airhead wrote: |
I think you will find its been less out of a sense of adventure but out of necessity. Ideally you could go and buy an exact repro from a local company or have an OG bumper rechromed. Where I live you cannot find anyone to rechrome bumpers...at least that do a decent job within a 500 mile radius. The other alternative is to try and collect all of the pieces and/or buy them from KGPR. The last time I priced out a rechromed set of bumpers for my '71 from KGPR it cost about $2K.
I have been happy with the PTT bumpers. Could the fit have been better - sure but it wasn't anything outside of what I have experienced with other repro parts for my Ghia. |
Yeah there is no one in Denver either. I feel that pain. But my god, those email exchanges between all these companies and the drama. It's painful to read, much less experience!
Out of curiosity, could you just have shipped your OG bumpers to a quality shop out of state? I realize this isn't ideal but I have to assume there are some reasonably priced chromers out there somewhere in the US...
I would be livid if I had to redrill holes in my body to make the bumper fit/attach (not sure that is what is being done admittedly).
Actually...I'm assuming there are supposed to be side blade holes in the front body for securing the front blades to the body. I know there are for the rear... |
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lhwood
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2012
Posts: 70
Location: san diego, ca
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:49 am Post subject: wow! |
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| Mscdman wrote: |
For all those who purchased from these obviously shady companies - I applaud your sense of adventure. Absolutely incredible!! The moment I read that choppy broken up English sales pitch or saw those responses from the dueling vendors eTerrorizing each other , I'd have jumped ship immeadiatley. No questions asked. See ya. The whole drama reminds me of one of those Nigerian scam emails (wrong continent, I know). I feel so bad for everyone that's had to deal with these morons. I'm sorry, but that's what they are.
"I promise you, best bumper. You give money. I give best bumper". Geeez O' Christmas. Are you kidding me?? Really?? I'm being punked right now, right....? |
Wow! sorry to say this but you sound like a racist. Are people shady because they don't speak perfect English? I have had a great experience twice with these people (broken English and all)
I'm sure you're a nice guy, but man you really need to stop being so biased based on face values.
It's my opinion that these people started a company and are trying to serve a niche market. I for one am glad they did. have you looked at some the ads on this site? People are trying to rip you off all the time, at the very least charging way too much for an item. i.e. I was looking at getting an original metal vacuum hose for my 36 horse on my oval, WW sells them for 8 dollars, someone on this site wants 40 bucks because it is "authentic" really??? Whose really shady and trying to punk somebody?
Just saying, don't throw stones |
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Mscdman
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2014
Posts: 562
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:59 am Post subject: |
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If you bothered to read the whole thread, you'd know these people are shady not based on their race, but rather their shady actions.
They seem to care only about getting our money and nothing about getting us a quality product.
I admire your trusting nature but cast your racist aspersions on someone else. Or better yet continue to do business with someone who is obviously shady. Good luck.
I'm not racist just because I won't buy from someone who speaks like that. It's not because of HOW they are saying it (I.e. Vietnamese). It's WHAT the message is I.e. "Just give me your money".
You can call me whatever you want, but one thing you won't call me is a sucker. If you want to start a company and sell to US customers, try marketing in a way that says " I give a crap about you" instead of "I want your money. Give me money and I give you bumper". Sounds so damn sketchy.
Have fun wasting your money. You won't get anywhere with PTT or any other vendor selling these SS bumpers. You know the definition of insanity? It's reading these posts and people falling victim to the same scam over and over again.
Last edited by Mscdman on Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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