TheSamba.com :: View topic - Aircooled Technology

Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:09 pm

Quote: curtis4085:
And do you really think for one second Jake that some could believe in all your years in business making and selliing these products you never heard feedback on someone using this part in hydraulic engine.

I have been the retail manger here since the Type 4 Store opened and we have NEVER heard anything, good or bad, about the rocker spacers being used in a hydraulic lifter engine. If people email me asking about their use in a hydraulic engine, I tell them the same thing that you were told because WE DON'T KNOW. We don't build hydraulic lifter engines and we haven't done any real testing of them. We don't sell parts for them either and frankly, it was an oversight on MY part that there isn't a huge banner across the top of the store site stating that fact.
Quote: curtis4085:
... so you can drive more sales by capturing the hydro market and ...
Dammit, you figured us out! It was a conspiracy from the beginning, us trying to corner the market on hydraulic engine parts! You're on to us now and have foiled our plans of domination in the hydraulic lifter world!
:roll:

Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:15 pm

Quote: Some people can't understand or accept clear and concise answers to their questions.
you missed my point as well. they did not provide that specific info at the time. Only now on this thread will he say for a fact no. His website did not state it nor did they at the time. Now if the good people on thesamba could not tell me what Jakes shafts were for, his website did not specify and after all that i called them and got attitude, and the same info on the website. If they said no sir that will not work for your application i would have been fine with that and moved on. Im doing a 30 dollar rebuild on my bus and only want the best. This isnt my first vendor or rodeo and was just wanting other to not step in the same pile as i just did. If others do not know what his parts are for if anything this thread should help clarify. and again I never had problem with them telling me the part will not work in my application. Its the not telling on there website and in the phone call i commented on. and only after the review i made did Mr. Raby says he would change the discription on his website, but not before he made some chidish comments here on this thread.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:20 pm

Quote: We don't sell parts for them either and frankly,

if i was told that on phone i would have never posted, yet the response was so non discript like website and with attitude i was left with a bad taste in mouth so i posted a review. At this point Mr. Raby started making personal attacks against me. Not professional for a business owners and thats why i continue to respond to this thread. Please tell your boss to move on.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:49 pm

Quote: I do not want this to get bigger than what it is. A customer service and product information issue.

Sorry. Too late to cover up your malicious intent, heck at this point I believe that you are a shill who called here to ask us a question just so you could start all of this non-sense. I can see through your plot quite well but its not working. Do you have any idea how many orders we have seen in the past few days for rocker shafts, rocker spacers and cylinder head related items for buses? I swear that I think we need you in the sales department because you can really move some parts! Heck, last week after you made your firsts posts my Google alerts were blowing up within 15 minutes (thats how I found you so quick!) from all the traffic and the web stats have been insane!

I would have called you this morning, but I forgot that I had a Dentist appointment and right now I am rather numb. I am afraid that if we talked right now I wouldn't have the ability to be quite so much of a jerk and I might disappoint you, so we should wait.

Quote: you decide weather the company handled themselves professionally in this matter, I accept that.
Honestly, if anyone reading this is as dense as you are or thinks that you are the one thats right here, we don't need or want their business. Over and over again you state the same thing and to date not one person has been able to decipher your gibberish enough to agree with you on ANY of the threads that you whining about me on. Its fairly hard to win at team sports when you are an individual without a team.

A lot of people can't handle direct communication these days and many people don't like anyone who has ever been successful in life. Because of this I am sure you had some members of the opposition try to side with you but I will GUARANTEE that NONE OF THEM have an engine in their vehicle with a RAT serial number that balances with our ledgers. The people that do NEVER have an issue with us and quite frankly they are the only people that have paid the price of admission. Lots of people don't like the guy that creates what they haven't got and thats just fine with me.

So.. You don't like me and you think that I sam a Bully and a pure jerk, so why don't you try this one on for size.

Questions?

Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:53 pm

Glenn wrote: Yes we are... a one day cooling off period.
Let's make it longer.

If anyone has something to add, PM me and i'll unlock it earlier.

Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:21 am

I bought a new piston/cylinder set, some engine bearings, and their engine sealant "kit". I chose to buy the P/C from them because they had a good price. What I didn't know is that they charged $65 dollars shipping from Georgia to Colorado for a box just big enough to fit four cylinders in(the pistons were already installed in the cylinders).

When I got the bill, I just figured no big deal, they made a few bucks on shipping. I took a look at the engine sealant "kit"(five tubes of various sealants) and there were no instructions as to what product goes where on the engine. Keep in mind, this "kit" is $100. Money well spent if it produces a tightly-sealed engine. I emailed them asking for the instructions. They emailed me back and told me because of one customer complaint, they no longer offer instructions and if I wanted an answer I'd have to sift through their forum to find it. WTF? I didn't find all the answers when I did a search on their site.

I posted a question on the Samba about what goes where and Jake was the first to respond. Instead of helping me, he again told me to look on his website where the info "belonged". Seems Jake likes to hang out on the Samba when it benefits him, which it has I'm sure. Anyway, the thread got pulled, but not before Jake showed his true colors, IMHO and a couple other Samba members.

I suggest before you hand over your money to this guy, read some of his posts. Many of his customers end up being "jerks"(his words) that he has no time for. There's a lot of other great vendors in the VW market that still have "time" for their customers.

Sat Jun 29, 2013 6:27 pm

i handed over money to this guy (Jake Raby). a bunch of it. And the product i received was worth every penny spent--and more.
Jake recently built and installed a high performance subaru engine and installed a subarugears 5 speed tranny into my 1974 Westy. i posted the initial thread on the build job and then we stopped due to all the negative BS.
i couldn't be happier with the bus or with Jake and his team's product, service and integrity. I can't tell you how many phone calls and late night emails i got from Jake and Dean regarding the job and detailing the engineering and progress. Well i tell you the bus is a total blast, strong and safe and a joy to drive. 145 hp and cool running. i smile every time i fire it up. it rolls up our nearby 7% grade in 4th gear at 65 mph.
What others think of as "arrogance" is, to my mind, overwhelming knowledge, confidence and expertise. He is all business and no bullshit. if you want to be told how smart you are go somewhere else. If you think your opinion is as good as his go somewhere else. if you want the best product available and everything delivered exactly as promised, then Jake is your man. I cannot recommend the man highly enough. He was a complete pleasure to work with and listen to as he would update me on the project. I like him and trust him and my brother has just signed up for the same transplants as soon as Jake can tackle the job. IF you want to hear more about Jake, his business ethics and his product, PM me.

Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:15 am

FNGRUVN wrote: I bought a new piston/cylinder set, some engine bearings, and their engine sealant "kit". I chose to buy the P/C from them because they had a good price. What I didn't know is that they charged $65 dollars shipping from Georgia to Colorado for a box just big enough to fit four cylinders in(the pistons were already installed in the cylinders).

When I got the bill, I just figured no big deal, they made a few bucks on shipping. I took a look at the engine sealant "kit"(five tubes of various sealants) and there were no instructions as to what product goes where on the engine. Keep in mind, this "kit" is $100. Money well spent if it produces a tightly-sealed engine. I emailed them asking for the instructions. They emailed me back and told me because of one customer complaint, they no longer offer instructions and if I wanted an answer I'd have to sift through their forum to find it. WTF? I didn't find all the answers when I did a search on their site.

I posted a question on the Samba about what goes where and Jake was the first to respond. Instead of helping me, he again told me to look on his website where the info "belonged". Seems Jake likes to hang out on the Samba when it benefits him, which it has I'm sure. Anyway, the thread got pulled, but not before Jake showed his true colors, IMHO and a couple other Samba members.

I suggest before you hand over your money to this guy, read some of his posts. Many of his customers end up being "jerks"(his words) that he has no time for. There's a lot of other great vendors in the VW market that still have "time" for their customers.

Rick, I am here to tell everyone that may read this that you have made inaccurate statements that you will not be able to substantiate, concerning your order. It is obvious that you have inflated prices, charges and other pieces of this puzzle in an effort to damage the reputation of our company. There are always two sides to every story and wile I can substantiate my statements below, you simply cannot, because they are off base, untrue and simply wrong.

Your shipping charge was $43.95 to ship your order all the way from Georgia to Colorado and that low price also included full insurance for damages or loss in a box that weighed 39 pounds. You also ordered a gasket kit, a sealant kit (which was $87, not $100 as you stated), front and rear seals and a set of rod bearings, which I gave you a $39 discount on.
Now, if you had problems or questions with your order, why didn't you contact the parts manager? You never sent me an email stating that you were unhappy with the shipping chrage or asking for further instructions.

Also, why are you just now posting this complaint when your order was completed and shipped back in FEBRUARY? Has this just became an issue that was worth posting after you did not receive the information you requested concerning a sealant kit? I believe so. These two items are separate, because you may have a complaint about not being told what you wanted to hear (because we won't do that) but that has nothing to do with your inaccurate postings concerning the transaction, which wrongly challenge the integrity of our company.

This is the type of conduct that we expect from those who are looking for the lowest price (which you stated in your complaint post above was the premise of your purchase from us) and can't see VALUE.

Please post your original receipts to substantiate your claims above, or edit your content to reflect accuracy.

Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:08 am

Rebecca,
Thank you for the research on this complaint. Last week while on vacation I had noted the post was made, and I had figured that the original poster was just one of those "ten percenters" that was impossible to please. I also figured that he just felt that any shipping charge would be too much.

His complaint was so insignificant to me that I didn't even take the time to post a counter reply, or even care about his statements.Then, and even more today it was clear that he was simply impossible to please and would never be happy.

Today, with your findings concerning his inaccuracies in relation to the costs he incurred, my thoughts on this have changed. I can see that he is not only impossible to please; but he has posted inaccurate information in an effort to be the "poor buyer" in hopes of deteriorating our image and character.

Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:58 pm

I made a mistake on the shipping. I was going by memory. I remembered it being $65. I don't know why. I sincerely apologize for my mistake. Which it was an honest one. I was not out to make you look bad by making up incorrect figures.

The sealant kit is just $13 away from being a $100. Not far off there. I still contend, and this is my biggest gripe, that for $87 for five tubes of sealant, it should come with instructions otherwise it's just five tubes of goop for $87. A customer should not have to go wondering around your website for the answer.

You had enough time to email me AND be the first to respond to my legitimate question here on the Samba, but yet you still didn't have time to give me an answer. Your first post in response to my question seemed like you just wanted to start trouble. That's bullshit in my book. It seems you have plenty of time to hang out here and get your ego stroked and fish for new business, but you don't have two minutes to give me an answer. :roll:

.....and you're wrong about me not being able to be pleased. The $600 I spent with you is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what I've spent with all the other VW vendors and I've never complained to any of them. I've never had a reason. Sure, they've all dropped the ball on at least one order, but a simple phone call or email had it quickly resolved. Something I tried to do with you and your company, but you chose not to be helpful. I will stand by that statement.

Thu Jul 11, 2013 11:03 am

Quote: I made a mistake on the shipping.
Your mistake was making posts that were inflated and unsubstantiated and challenging my integrity with them.

Your "mistake" could have potentially negatively impacted my reputation, and at this point I believe that your inflated figures were stated simply for that purpose.

If this wasn't the case someone who wanted to make an accurate statement would have taken the time to quantify the costs BEFORE making a post. This means your posts were not just unsubstantiated, they were completely wrong and off base.

What if I were a vendor that did not query these threads? Your statements that were wrong would have impacted my reputation and you would have gone unchallenged. This would not have been fair to me or my company at all. Considering this, anyone reading this should now see why I have taken this seriously.

Is the customer always right? Based on this situation it appears that the customer is not always right and can be blatantly wrong.

Quote: I was going by memory.
Wait a minute, you challenged the character of my company without even the common courtesy of referencing an invoice? Really?

Quote: I remembered it being $65.

You were incorrect.

Quote: I don't know why.
I do, because 65.00 sounded better; it sounded more unfair to you and would then be more damaging to me. Sure you "forgot", I call that "selective forgetfulness".

For the record, your memory only made for a 36% increase over what you were really charged. Oh hell, its only 36%, right? Hardly a small deviation. Isn't it ironic that you didn't make a statement that was "wrong" and reflected a CHEAPER price than you actually paid? Of course, no one would ever do that, right? You just happened to forget in your own favor. Of course.

Quote: I sincerely apologize for my mistake.
Just like you apologize for wasting my time having to counter your off base comments and inaccurate statements, right?

Quote: Which it was an honest one.
At this point, I don't believe you. Please explain why I should? If your mistake was indeed "an honest one" I don't believe you would have felt the need to state that in your quoted text above.

Quote: I was not out to make you look bad by making up incorrect figures.
You challenged my integrity and character by making your post, so right here, right now I will state that I am challenging yours; because I don't believe this. I totally and completely believe that it was your intent to damage my company, and you didn't stop with just this single post, but others you have made in other threads here on the samba. I expect the record set straight in those threads as well.

Quote: The sealant kit is just $13 away from being a $100.
Wait, only 13 dollars? Do you realize thats a 13% inaccuracy? Hardly small and of course it sounds more damaging to my reputation than accurately stating that the sealant kist cost 87.00. Why couldn't you have "forgot" and stated that the sealant kit cost 74.00? Thats only 13.00 less than the 87.00? Ironic how inaccuracies are always added up to your favor, isn't it.

Quote: Not far off there.
Nah, its only a 13% inaccuracy, it could have been a 36% inaccuracy, like the cylinder kit was inflated by you. Amazing.

Quote: I still contend, and this is my biggest gripe, that for $87 for five tubes of sealant, it should come with instructions otherwise it's just five tubes of goop for $87.
So if it cost too much, why did you buy it? Why didn't you just go buy some Permatex and assemble the engine? The reason why is because you wanted the benefit of a leak free engine. The sealants that you attained were sourced from 3 different countries and at least two of them were discovered by me and brought to the ACVW world by us. Like I said, if it wasn't worth it, why did you buy it.

Quote: A customer should not have to go wondering around your website for the answer.

Forst off, the description of the sealant NEVER SAID that it came with detailed directions or any directions at all, because it didn't and hasn't.

The customer is assuming the role of engine builder; just like I do every minute of everyday. Research is part of being an engine builder and its funny how many people want to say that they built an engine, but they won't accept the fact that there is work and research required to earn the title.

Quote: You had enough time to email me AND be the first to respond to my legitimate question here on the Samba, but yet you still didn't have time to give me an answer.
Wrong again. I did give you an answer and that answer was we did not have any specific application directives for the sealant kit. You didn't like that, but it was an answer and it was direct.

Quote: Your first post in response to my question seemed like you just wanted to start trouble.
Really? Looks like we both feel the same about each other; why would I want to start trouble with you? Why would such an incident be productive to me?

Quote: That's bullshit in my book.
Excellent choice of language there. Its kind of odd, seems like that term could also be used to define your "selective forgetfulness" concerning the costs for your components to be shipped?

Quote: It seems you have plenty of time to hang out here and get your ego stroked and fish for new business, but you don't have two minutes to give me an answer.
What does an ego have to do with anything? What you posted in the text just above is merely speculation and has no impact on your complaints stated in the original thread. Lots of people have egos, matter of fact I haven't met a man yet that impressed me that didn't have an ego and a handshake to back it up.

Quote: .....and you're wrong about me not being able to be pleased.
Really?

Quote: The $600 I spent with you is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what I've spent with all the other VW vendors and I've never complained to any of them.
Then why make such a big deal out of it and feel the need to inflict pain to my reputation with inflated figures? Why even open this thread back up? I know why, because you wanted revenge.

Whats that they say about he who casts the first stone? Yeah.

Quote: Something I tried to do with you and your company, but you chose not to be helpful.
We replied to the email timely and stated that the information was not available. The information was never quoted or advertised as being available. You chose to take your problem and make it my problem and for that here we stand.

Quote: I will stand by that statement.
Good, because its probably about the only thing that you have quoted that is both truthful and accurate.

I await your rebuttal.

Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:18 pm

You know Jake, I tried to take the high road with a sincere apology and if you knew me you'd know that I'm a sincere individual. I would have bet my life that the shipping you charged me was $65. I remembered the shipping to be a sore spot when I got the bill. I said no big deal, he sold me the P/C cheaper than Bus Depot, but made up for it on shipping. That's what I remembered and that's the honest to God's truth.

I tried to get the answer to my sealant question here on the Samba when I couldn't find the answer on your website, but you wouldn't even let me do that. You were the first, as usual, to post, but instead of helping you chose to stir the pot. This got other people commenting, and the next thing you know, you and a few other Samba members let it get personal and they pulled my thread. They didn't just lock it, they pulled it completely. In my opinion, they did you a huge favor, because you showed just how spiteful and unhelpful you can be. That's what this website is all about, or so I thought. People with a like interest coming together to help each other out, not a fishing hole for people like you.

I think people are starting to see the man behind the curtain. It's just a matter of giving you enough rope. That's one of the reasons I wished they hadn't pulled my thread.

Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:47 pm

Quote: I think people are starting to see the man behind the curtain.

What people have seen here is the fact that you were wrong.

Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:15 pm

I was wrong about the $65 shipping fee. I admitted it as soon as I found out about my mistake and apologized on two different threads to clear your name.

I'm willing to stop airing our dirty laundry in public if you are.

PM Sent!

Thu Jul 11, 2013 10:31 pm

Ok, let's move on.