Stuff Transaxles - Santa Ana

tantau · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 9:42 am Post subject: Stuff Transaxles - Santa Ana

Aloha!

I'm curious if there's anyone close by or familiar with this shop. They advertise in the mags and internet... so I assumed all was good... but.....

I was in need of a new tranny and had one on order but I'm getting "radio silence" since pmt....over a month now...... Sad

Help
BDK

www.vdub-ohana.com
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vtomike · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:37 am Post subject:

I won a trans from Stuff and it was a freeway flyer. I needed a stock one so they exchanged it for me. It worked great. They seem top notch to me.

tantau · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:05 pm Post subject:

Hmm... I hope my deal works out the same... but it's not looking like that at all.

The check was cashed over a month ago (at a check cashing business)... last spoke to him over 10 days ago (promised to send asap)... have left msgs and emails for the last 6 days (no return call).

Even got a hold of another business right in the same complex yesterday (DO Grinding), who said they'd check on it for me by walking over to Stuff.

I'm asking any fellow samba users, that if your in the area of Santa Ana, on 2950 W. Central... could someone inquire about the tranny going out to Hawaii. I'm sorta stuck on a rock... no bus for the last 2+ months now, it's really become a depressing situation.

Aloha
Mike aka BDK

www.vdub-ohana.com
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tantau · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:42 am Post subject:

Say vto... I was curious.... how long ago was your transaction with Stuff (Jose) ?

BDK
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tantau · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately, I'm finding out more "questionable/bad" news after the fact...

see thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=80914

Looks like the original owner passed away earlier this year maybe (mike watson), his widow gave the shop over to Jose the mechanic, and he's apparently running the name and shop into the ground by taking peoples money in return for no product (transmissions). Do not send money, he's still online at bugtrans.com and stufftransaxles.com... no more ads in VW mags though... obviously.

I've contacted the BBB,I'll keep updating whether this turn out for the better or worse.

Aloha
BDK
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Dave · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject:

I think the owner's name was Mike Harries, NOT Mike Watson. Mike Watson used to own CA Pacific/JBUGS, until he sold the business to Gary Vogl.
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r_sunada · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:15 pm Post subject:

If you don't get your trans by Christmas, if you want I can go check it out. I'll be up there on Dec 27. I think it's not too far from where my sister lives.

Aloha
Ralph

eweave · Samba Member Joined: July 08, 2007 Posts: 70

http://www.verio.com/whois/

Tantau.

Use the above address and plug in the website address. It will give you alternate contact phone numbers and an alternate street address and city as to where the registered contacts for the business is located.

I'm sure your request for a visit to this guys shop can be done by someone local. If I leave San Bernardino to O.C. I'll check it out but it might be a minute.

The above would be a good start and anytime a business cashes a check at a check cashing place then something is wrong. They immediately lose money on that deal where as in a back you cannot lose money depositing a check to your business account UNLESS that account is CLOSED or OVERDRAWN. Either way there is a problem.

Call the leasing agent to the business address too if nothing else works.

That could tell you quite a bit.
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tantau · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:15 am Post subject:

Thx eweave..I check'd out your link... looks like the info pretty much pertains to the original owner who passed away. The mags haven't run the ads for a few months or more... the website is good until 2009... so Jose is just riding the coat tails of once was a decent business operation. To date, no response, no emails, no return calls... small claims court is the next course of action (if he's even still in the US).

Aloha
BDK
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"He who controls the spice, controls the universe"

dakell · Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject: Stuff Transaxles

I got my $1750 transaxel from Stuff after many phone calls, e-mails and banging on the door. They had charged my card the full amount and had my core. I went thru VISA and I think I was going to get my money back(my wife had paid the charge card) when Stuff said I could have the transaxel the next day and I got it.
Now I live fear that it isn't what I wanted and paid for inside.

tantau · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject:

dakell.... how long ago was your transaction?? I was in the mainland during the xmas/new years and popped into LAX area... naturally since I've gotten returned mail and no phone contact since nov, I made a pit stop by Stuff Transaxles to see if Jose Montes was there.... unfortunately, it looks like he's pulled out of that area sometime in late december and moved on... if his expertise is VW trannies, he's gotta pop up somewhere...or be selling stuff on the side.

If there's anyone who has contact, address, new place of business... please let me know... I'm already having to file a case with the local HPD, as soon as I get a hard copy of the check... small claims looks like the next step... but who knows where he is... Sad

Aloha
BDK
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"He who controls the spice, controls the universe"

dakell · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject: Stuff Transaxles - Santa Ana

BDK
I started the process in late Sept and got the trans in late Dec.
I found the trans doesn't have the right 3rd and 4th gears(+ who knows what else is missing).
His name is Jose J. Montes
The phone number I had the most luck with is 714-707-0458 not 714-754-7001

travisatarr · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:54 am Post subject: Jose Montes Needs to go to jail!

I too was sold nothing but, BS over the phone that cost me $2000!! I talk to him on Friday from Mexico (don't think he will ever come back) just made up more BS. Wish I could found this forum earlier so I could have told him to stop the BSing and give back my money! Filling a judgment probably won't get my money back because it sounds like he is broke (using check cashing store???)... Just have to keep pressure on my credit card company on getting my money back. My attorney says it is criminal wire fraud that Jose Montes is doing because he never planed on fulfilling any of our orders. That can mean jail time especially since it happened multiple times. Mad

tantau · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:14 pm Post subject:

bump

Just want to keep this thread alive, just in case Jose (stuff Transaxles) pops up anywhere back in the US.

Mike
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"He who controls the spice, controls the universe"

sammler · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject:

Just bumping this. After looking at their web site I decided to check here. Glad I did! Thanks for all the good info.
pat
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Pat

tantau · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the bump! I had contact earlier in last year with promises or refund or trans delivery from the son... soon short after the phone # didn't even connect. I know the website stuff is still active from the original owner and doesn't expire for a while, but I don't think emails and/or phone # work.... if they do, or another one is found... please fwd any info that's possible.

Thanks again!
BDK
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"He who controls the spice, controls the universe"

tantau · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:59 am Post subject:

Bump..... still looking...still searching!
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tantau · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 4:15 am Post subject:

Bump.... still keeping an eye or ear out... thanks for any info!

"Lost Cause but not forgotten"!
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"He who controls the spice, controls the universe"

trinimage · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:18 pm Post subject: Thank you

Thanks all for keeping this thread going. Am looking for a rebuilt trans and bugtrans.com pops up on 1st page of search with lots of info. Decided to check Samba for a review/feedback b4 I order. Am very thankful for the heads up!

tantau · Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 2:33 pm Post subject:

Bump....

Still looking for any information to located Jose Montes who once worked for, then took over Stuff Transaxles (bugtrans.com). My hopes are since he's a VW trans. rebuilder, he's somewhere in the CA/Mexico area doing what he knows best (besides hiding).

Thanks for any help!
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"He who controls the spice, controls the universe"

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