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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3082 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Leroy Johnson Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2020 Posts: 1 Location: Bakersfield
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Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:16 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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Not bashing, but still currently accepting orders and money, but not shipping parts or even responding to attempts to contact. Waiting on a PayPal refund now. |
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scottstrahm Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2020 Posts: 1 Location: OR
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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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I ordered the Big Shot Shifter from Van Cafe a couple of weeks ago. First one arrived with painting chipped off of shifter shaft. Van Cafe is great. They offered to replace or give a credit. I decided to replace. Unfortunately, the second one also showed up with chipped shaft. Van Cafe will take care of my order. They looked at the rest of their inventory and told me that they all appear to have the same issues of paint chipping. Shew. |
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lt8x7 Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2020 Posts: 2 Location: Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:27 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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I ordered one back on 11 Nov. I cannot get any reply from him at all despite sending many emails.
I have lodged a dispute with PayPal and am waiting on their process to go through.
I noticed today that the rsfab.com website is currently saying "Website down. Back soon"
Not looking promising. |
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Franklinstower Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2006 Posts: 1892 Location: PNW
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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lt8x7 wrote: |
I ordered one back on 11 Nov. I cannot get any reply from him at all despite sending many emails.
I have lodged a dispute with PayPal and am waiting on their process to go through.
I noticed today that the rsfab.com website is currently saying "Website down. Back soon"
Not looking promising. |
Since you are in Sydney, maybe try to go through Todd at SubaruGears, they had partnered up for RSFab's shift linkage. Todd might have other means of getting through to Ray. _________________ '89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug |
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vandroid Banned
Joined: July 26, 2018 Posts: 64
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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Franklinstower wrote: |
other means of getting through to Ray. |
We sold off all of the shifters we ordered from this vendor out of principle and gave the linkages to our mechanic.Two words Americans understand, class action. What we find to be the biggest issue here is that a Vanagon vendor is standing behind all of this. After reading that the stock they have has issues with the finish, I hope at least they will explain that in the item description so those who still want this shifter know ahead of time that is has blemishes. Drop the price too. We replaced the shifters with the 025 shifter from T3Technique and couldn't be happier. Total elapsed time from clicking the payment key on the site to driving the van with the shifter installed, 6 days. |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7404 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 10:40 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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vandroid wrote: |
Franklinstower wrote: |
other means of getting through to Ray. |
We sold off all of the shifters we ordered from this vendor out of principle and gave the linkages to our mechanic.Two words Americans understand, class action. What we find to be the biggest issue here is that a Vanagon vendor is standing behind all of this. After reading that the stock they have has issues with the finish, I hope at least they will explain that in the item description so those who still want this shifter know ahead of time that is has blemishes. Drop the price too. We replaced the shifters with the 025 shifter from T3Technique and couldn't be happier. Total elapsed time from clicking the payment key on the site to driving the van with the shifter installed, 6 days. |
@vandroid, apologies for my ignorance but are you a vendor or a shop? Your posts appear to be well informed and I'm interested to know if I you can sell me something I can't live w/out. _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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vandroid Banned
Joined: July 26, 2018 Posts: 64
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Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2020 12:45 am Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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scottstrahm wrote: |
I ordered the Big Shot Shifter from Van Cafe a couple of weeks ago. First one arrived with painting chipped off of shifter shaft. Van Cafe is great. They offered to replace or give a credit. I decided to replace. Unfortunately, the second one also showed up with chipped shaft. Van Cafe will take care of my order. They looked at the rest of their inventory and told me that they all appear to have the same issues of paint chipping. Shew. |
@jimf909 |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7404 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2020 11:33 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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vandroid wrote: |
We sold off all of the shifters we ordered from this vendor out of principle and gave the linkages to our mechanic.Two words Americans understand, class action. What we find to be the biggest issue here is that a Vanagon vendor is standing behind all of this. After reading that the stock they have has issues with the finish, I hope at least they will explain that in the item description so those who still want this shifter know ahead of time that is has blemishes. Drop the price too. We replaced the shifters with the 025 shifter from T3Technique and couldn't be happier. Total elapsed time from clicking the payment key on the site to driving the van with the shifter installed, 6 days. |
@vandroid, so you're a mysterious Vanagon vendor who dumped their RS FAB product, replaced it with T3 gear and are not only bad mouthing Van Cafe here on the samba but telling them what their pricing should be.
How can I buy a T3 shifter from you? _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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vandroid Banned
Joined: July 26, 2018 Posts: 64
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 12:31 am Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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Vendor? We, as in my wife and me each own a Vanagon and I have a second Syncro. We decided to sell off the RS products on principals of bad business. All shifters have been removed from our vans and sold on the Marketplace. One of the Vanagon Group moderators asked why we were selling and he directed us here to add to the pages of disappointed customers of RS Fab. So we did. |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7404 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 12:43 am Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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vandroid wrote: |
Vendor? We, as in my wife and me each own a Vanagon and I have a second Syncro. We decided to sell off the RS products on principals of bad business. All shifters have been removed from our vans and sold on the Marketplace. One of the Vanagon Group moderators asked why we were selling and he directed us here to add to the pages of disappointed customers of RS Fab. So we did. |
Please accept my apologies. I thought you were someone else. I'm an idiot. Please don't let my posts reflect poorly on the rest of the samba.
The best to you, your wife and the vans.
_________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Californio Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2007 Posts: 1276
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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Small comfort to those who are losing their money, but I always wonder if a lack of response from a tiny vendor like this could be explained by an illness or accident severe enough to prevent business activity. Some people are in a place where they simply cannot answer emails or ship products. It seems unlikely that what we're seeing here would be caused by ill will. |
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D Clymer Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2005 Posts: 2978 Location: Issaquah, WA
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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vandroid wrote: |
Vendor? We, as in my wife and me each own a Vanagon and I have a second Syncro. We decided to sell off the RS products on principals of bad business. All shifters have been removed from our vans and sold on the Marketplace. One of the Vanagon Group moderators asked why we were selling and he directed us here to add to the pages of disappointed customers of RS Fab. So we did. |
I have to admit, when I first read your post, it came off sounding like you were a vendor who had a previous stock of his shifters and sold your inventory off.
I admire your principles. I'm not sure I'd personally go so far as to remove a nicely working part from my van because the creator/seller turned out to be a scheister, but I can completely understand why you would be so motivated. |
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dougass Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2016 Posts: 300 Location: NJ
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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So, what IS up with RS Fab? Looks like their website is down. Did karma come back around and bankrupt the guy?
The only reason I haven’t purchased is because of the reputation. _________________ '91 GL - 2.1 automatic named Klaus for weekend adventures.
#klausvan & @thisisklausvan |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22568 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 1:54 am Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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Short version up thread, his personal life is a hot mess. _________________ .ssS! |
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16CVs Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2004 Posts: 4020 Location: Redwood City, California
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Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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I've met the guy before at SyncroFest. HE had a nice display, I think he donated one to the raffle and seemed to have it all together.
I've driven that shifter and am not impressed. The English ones are way nicer.
Stacy _________________ 1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread. |
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SyncroButter Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2016 Posts: 383 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2022 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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Odd question for you all: do you know what thread these shifters have to attach the shifter knob?
Backstory: I bought one of these shifters at a swap meet, brand new and still in the box it was originally shipped in. It was missing the knob, so after buying the shifter I went to the RS Fab site and ordered a new one ($25 plus shipping) and guess what... the knob never showed up. That was 2 years ago.
So now I want to figure out what thread is used on these shifters so I can order the correct stud and then machine a pool ball or whatever... does anyone have this info? _________________ Grant
In the stable: 1986 Syncro Westfalia/Bostig, 1989 Doka Tristar, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1963 Solex 2200, 1938 Buick Special
Gone but not forgotten: 1989 Porsche 944, 1973 Standard Beetle |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22568 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 5:12 am Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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SyncroButter wrote: |
Odd question for you all: do you know what thread these shifters have to attach the shifter knob?
Backstory: I bought one of these shifters at a swap meet, brand new and still in the box it was originally shipped in. It was missing the knob, so after buying the shifter I went to the RS Fab site and ordered a new one ($25 plus shipping) and guess what... the knob never showed up. That was 2 years ago.
So now I want to figure out what thread is used on these shifters so I can order the correct stud and then machine a pool ball or whatever... does anyone have this info? |
Get a plastic vernier caliper and measure the thread width , 8 10 or 12 mm
Now place the scale against the thread and snap a pic
Blow it up and count threads per 1 cm, it will likely be 10,12, or 15
Meant as a “ teach to fish” post, not a snub in any way. The nice part is you don’t have to cull the responses for bad info.
_________________ _________________ .ssS! |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7404 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 8:14 am Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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Abscate wrote: |
The nice part is you don’t have to cull the responses for bad info.
_________________ |
Just when I was going to respond and say that from the photos it sure looks like a 1/4" MNPT.
_________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6235 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 9:35 am Post subject: Re: What's up with RS FAB? |
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SyncroButter wrote: |
Odd question for you all: do you know what thread these shifters have to attach the shifter knob?
Backstory: I bought one of these shifters at a swap meet, brand new and still in the box it was originally shipped in. It was missing the knob, so after buying the shifter I went to the RS Fab site and ordered a new one ($25 plus shipping) and guess what... the knob never showed up. That was 2 years ago.
So now I want to figure out what thread is used on these shifters so I can order the correct stud and then machine a pool ball or whatever... does anyone have this info? |
I'd just go to your local hardware store and get a bunch of nuts that look close. See which one fits. Bring your part in if it's not yet installed to try them out. _________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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