Afterdark dont have money to pay supplier!!! Personal experience

[y3llows14]

Man Im really mad at Afterdarktuning at this point. For those of you that dont know, I was one of the first few that put money down on Adam's first engine shipment back in September 02. He told me that they dont have an exact date on the engines but, I still went with him anyway because Im in no rush to get it since my car needed a new front end anyway. He told me I couldn't order my S15 conversion until the next shipment because the first shipment of engine is finally coming in and its already full. Felt a little relief that the engine was coming in (this is sometime in Feb 03), I pay him in full for the conversion. Due to some "difficulties" and "custom" holding them back, he said they won't have the egine in until May. I waited until June, and no engine have shown up. So I said forget and get my money back for the engine but not the S15 conversion because he told me that it should come in anytime. Then I get more bs from him saying that custom is holding the S15 conversion. He later told me that his shipping company somehow "lost" the conversion. Then July passes and he told me that he is getting the S15 conversion from another company that would get it here in 4 days. I called him up and he told me that he doesn't have the money to get the conversion from the supplier. WTF is up with that. I pay him for the product and he dont have money to get it? He told me that he would fix that problem and get my conversion to him by Wednesday August 6. I have been calling him since Monday and left several messages to check on the conversion but never get any phone call back. What do you guys think I should do. I really need to get this conversion to paint my engine bay along with my whole car before I drop in the RB25 (which is coming in tomorrow). Thanks

[4felix20]

i haven't been reading alot of great things about after dark tuning and dauntless...it seems you have been waiting almost a year!!! **** that. refund. lawsuit. not cool.

[float_6969]

Adam (Dauntless) is getting kinda screwed around right now. PLEASE be patient with him. He is a good guy and will do everything in his power to do you right. He has a good name with this community but has had problems getting the business into full swing. Make sure that you not only call, but email him. I know he had a lot of cars to deliver this week and then will be out of town this weekend. Give him time and he'll take care of you.

[y3llows14]

Dude....I gave him too much time. I have been waiting since September, wouldn't you be losing you patience by now? I call him at his work and on his cell phone. I emailed him to with no reponse.

[Holisticbeatz]

Yea, what's the deal? Everybody is getting ripped off on NICO.

Unless it's something inexpensive, I wouldn't buy it if I can't see it in person.

[Rockenreno]

From what I have hear, Daunt is a busy guy installing motors every day. The reason you can't get ahold of him is because he is working on cars or answering other people's calls. You have to understand that he has a very small staff and a LOT of customers calling him repeatedly every day. He simply can't deal with it all at once. He is prioritizing installing the engines in cars that come to his shop over shipping them out, but I don't know anything about conversions. Like I said, he is just swamped.

You have every right to be upset, as his reply time is horrible, but if you have the patience to wait it out he seems to come through on the deal and make things right. He is out to satisfy the customer, he just has too many right now. If you can't wait any longer then ask for the rest of your money back. I'm sure he'll comply. If you can wait till he gets the stuff in, then do that. He's not out to screw you, but his service is also very slow. You just need to understand that. (I know its a little late, eh?)

Best of luck with whatever you chose to do with your situation.

[Machine]

if hes such a great guy why does it seem like he bull****s EVERYONE he talks to?

[y3llows14]

But dont you think they would pick up the phone or reply phone call at least once a day. Im telling you....I call that place alllll day long. He know that I need this crap asap. Im not saying that he is out to screw people but, how the hell are you not going to have money to pay supplier when I pay him in full already. I would ask for my money back but everytime Im thinking about doing it, he give me a new delievery date. Im thinking to myself, what if I decide to go to another person which Ill have to wait, and the things come in? Ill be screw either way.

[Rockenreno]

if hes such a great guy why does it seem like he bull****s EVERYONE he talks to?

If you are talking about the arrival time of parts, importing parts is very tricky and often has tons of delays. It is no easy feat. I would trust him when he says his shipper was late or the parts are stuck at customs.

Like I said, if you go through him right now you will experience a lot of delays because he is swamped with so many customers and so little time/employees/stock of merchandise. I've talked to him and he has always been a class-act guy, but his shop is still experience growing pains. He hasn't even been open 6 months, it is to be expected. If you don't want to wait don't buy from him. There are many other quicker, more established shops like Heavy Throttle that will get your stuff quicker. Once Adam/Dauntt gets past this initial rush I think his shop will be great. Unfortunately, this rush looks to have no quick conclusion since I'm sure he's getting lots of orders that he just can't handle with his small shop when he has a serious backorder to deal with.

To summarize: I would not buy from him right now unless I lived in the area because he has proven he can't deliver in a timely matter yet. I do, however, trust him and have faith that he will deliver on his orders eventually and that his shop will be one of the best once everything settles down.

[y3llows14]

Like I said before, I know that I will have to wait. But why all the unfullfilled promised dates and not having money to pay supplier. I know a year is more than adequate to get my order to me, so dont tell me I cant wait and to go with another person. Read my previous post and you will understand why. I talk to him a lot of times, and he "seems" to be a nice guy and "seems" like always trying to help me out. But being nice and being prompt with what you are doing is whole different story.

[Rockenreno]

I call that place alllll day long. He know that I need this crap asap.

You and a lot of other people.

When you have hundreds (I don't pretend to know his number of customers, this is an example) of people calling your shop all day every day, are you going to answer knowing that its just going to be more complaints about something you can't change at that moment? I heard from someone he took a whole day to just call people back and update them, maybe he'll do that again. EVERYONE who calls him wants their stuff ASAP, and is tired of waiting, just like you. He has to deal with this all day and I'm sure its stressful, especially when he has engeins to install in the shop. Is it more important to tell people their stuff is coming eventually or fix a car thats in his shop? I think he'd probably fix the car thats there and get it taken care of.

Once again, he is overwhelmed and simply doesn't have time to answer every phone call (or apparently most phone calls) and take care of business. I am not affiliated with him in any way, and all of what I am saying is just my opinion on the matter from what I've gathered from numerous customers of his with both positive and negative feedback (I hear its quality work, but horrible delays). Is it poor service to keep delaying your stuff? Yes. Unfortunately, he is experiencing many delays and unsatisfied customers. I am pretty sure you'll get your stuff, but I have no idea how much longer it will take. Sorry

Once again, good luck with you problems and I hope I've helped you to understand what may be going on a little better. It is your choice to wait or to pull out of the deal. Neither is convenient I'm sure, but you are forced to make that decision. Good luck!

[float_6969]

I mean no offense to the newer members, but you just don't understand the influence he had on the board before he got the business started. He was a TREMENDOUS asset to this forum and I was actually kinda sad when he got his business started because he no longer had time for the boards. Just as Rockenero said, things are really slow for him right now due to being swamped with customers and understaffed. If you don't have time then get out of the import scene. Nothing come fast from the other side of the world. I'm sure that if you are truely unsatisfied he will return your money gladly and do what he can to try and earn your business in the future. But don't expect to get your front conversion from somebody else tommorrow. I've got money in hand for a swap right now and I won't even be able to put a DEPOSIT down until the begining of September. I agree that you have waited quite some time, but you are talking about a highly thought of member of our community and a quality business person who is having some troubles right now.

[Rockenreno]

I talk to him a lot of times, and he "seems" to be a nice guy and "seems" like always trying to help me out. But being nice and being prompt with what you are doing is whole different story.

How nice he is and how quickly he can deliver are completely different. As I have said and you will hear from every other member of the boards from when he was really active here, Adam is a great guy. Unfortunately his business is slow. I feel like I'm repeating myself, and I'm sorry about that, but I agree that you have been waiting for a long time. That's just the way it goes when you order from a new business, especially one that deals with massive importation delays.

[240SXedUp]

Listen... this thread is retarded. It's going on and on and the only thing I see coming from it is 3 or 4 people arguing over Dauntless's character. I dont know him. Ive conversed with him in a couple of threads, but I know nothing about him. What I do know is that Im sure he wouldnt apreciate this conversation. If you have aproblem with the way he does his business then ask for your money back and get someone else. Talking to us wont do any good. If you say that you are afraid to get someone else to do it then thats your own decision. But if its honestly taken you a year to get your engine then you shouldve gone somewhere else long ago.

[SmithSR]

if its honestly taken you a year to get your engine then you shouldve gone somewhere else long ago.

240-Keyy got his engine from Phase2, a nico sponsor, in five days from date of order to delivery of engine. Email 240-Keyy and ask him about it, or search for his post about it...product in stock, readily available for shipping, helpful staff, timely completion of the deal. Many members have said many good things about Phase2.

-Phil

[rousie13]

I haven't ordered any body parts, or engines from Phase2, but I have ordered suspension parts from them. They are very helpful and very timely with shipments. It only took them about 7 days or so to get me my Tein HE's to my door, which I thought was very quick. I haven't ordered from Daunt, but if your really having issues, Phase2 is a good place to go with.

[y3llows14]

Float_6969....I know that he was a great influence in the Nico community and helped out many people. That is why I went with him in the first place. How the hell are you gonna tell me to get out of the import scene if I dont have time to wait? I have been waiting for almost a year. Wouldn't you be anxious if somebody is holding almost 5g of yours and you dont get a reply? If he didn't tell me of new and for sure dates of my S15 conversion, I would have been out of it already. Like when he told me that he couldn't get the engine over the summer for me, I went out and went with Venus-Auto for the engine.

[float_6969]

So why do you continue to ***** about it here? Is it doing you any good? Are you getting anywere? If you are this dissatisfied then get your money back. I understand that you've been having trouble contacting him and I believe you. But I also believe that if you want your money back, he will get it back to you as soon as he can. If you are that worried about getting the stuff by a certain time, don't you think that maybe Afterdark might not be the place to go right now? I have absolutly NOTHING against Adam or Afterdark, but if I was in a hurry for a part or wanted it by a certain date, they wouldn't be the place to take my money to right now. I DO intend to purchase items from them in the future. I apologize if I insulted you, that wasn't my intention. All that I'm saying is to be patient for a couple more days until he has a chance to get back with you. And if you are REALLY worried about it, get a Lawyer. I don't reccomend that, but if you feel that is the only option you have then follow it. But continuing to repeat yourself over and over again isn't going to solve anything.

[SloS13]

Sounds like everybody is comfortable in Adam's sphincter. He might be the greatest guy and might have saved 100 kittens from a burning pet store, but business is business.

Quote »You have to understand that he has a very small staff and a LOT of customers calling him repeatedly every day. He simply can't deal with it all at once. He is prioritizing installing the engines in cars that come to his shop over shipping them out, but I don't know anything about conversions. Like I said, he is just swamped.[/quote]That may be, and probably is true but you don't see me going around getting more web-development work than I can handle. Lets say I tell 50 people today I can have them a fully working website in 30 days, and at the end of the 30 days, only 2 are done. Do you think the customer would understand when i say 'sorry, ive been busy doing OTHER people's work?' NO

Import/Export hassles is one thing, but not responding to a paying customer on a timely basis is bad business. exuses or not

BTW - is it me, or is everybody kissing Adam's ***?

[U12 2NR]

I don't see kissing, I see licking.

[nissanrcer240]

Quote »That may be, and probably is true but you don't see me going around getting more web-development work than I can handle. Lets say I tell 50 people today I can have them a fully working website in 30 days, and at the end of the 30 days, only 2 are done. Do you think the customer would understand when i say 'sorry, ive been busy doing OTHER people's work?' NO

Import/Export hassles is one thing, but not responding to a paying customer on a timely basis is bad business. exuses or not[/quote]

Well said

Quote »BTW - is it me, or is everybody kissing Adam's ***?[/quote]

no its not you, thats what im sensing too

[I H8 UR DSM]

for yellow, its become "go to as many message boards as possible and try to bash afterdark's reputation"....

Not the mature/professional/correct process to go about it. AT ALL.

[AZhitman]

I am gonna say this for the LAST time, and then people are gonna start disappearing from the board:

If you are NOT a current or previous customer of Afterdark, DO NOT enter these threads. Period. If y3llow wants to b****, let him do so, although I personally find it an absolute waste of time as no resolution will come of it.

As a non-customer, any comments, whether bashing or defense of Adam, are irrelevant and inconsequential.

I am weary of this entire subject.

Try me on this and see what happens.

[xyster]

I've never spoken to dauntless, and I got here after he started afterdark and stopped posting, so I'm kind of unbiased here. It seems to me that no matter what a great guy he is, what a great influence he had on the community and this forum, his business practices are unprofessional and inexcusable. It sounds like he's very busy, but is that a valid excuse to not deliver products in a timely manner to customers that are paid in full? Would you take the same treatment from a different engine importer? I doubt it. Just my .02...feel free to flame away.

[AZhitman]

xyster, did you not read my post above?

Put your 2 cents back in your damn pocket and friggin' PAY ATTENTION.

[xyster]

I was typing that post as you posted yours. Before I posted, it wasn't there. Take a look at the timestamp.

[AZhitman]

OK - thank you.

[PalmerWMD]

I am gonna say this for the LAST time, and then people are gonna start disappearing from the board:

If you are NOT a current or previous customer of Afterdark, DO NOT enter these threads. Period. If y3llow wants to b****, let him do so, although I personally find it an absolute waste of time as no resolution will come of it.

As a non-customer, any comments, whether bashing or defense of Adam, are irrelevant and inconsequential.

I am weary of this entire subject.

Try me on this and see what happens.

I ADMANTLY Agree!

We <are> gonna crack down on this.ONLY actual customers have the right to comment in these threads.

Fred..

[PalmerWMD]

OK

Fred..

[240_Keyy]

ok I consider myself to be an actual customer since I put down a substantial deposit on a motor back in January. Although I did not get a motor from Adam I used all of my deposit to buy various other things (such as an exhaust, turbo timer, etc) SO I feel that I can make a valid point here.

When I originally put the deposit on the motor back in January, I was told that it would be ready to ship out by the middle of February. When february rolled around, I was told it would be march, when machc came I was told April. When april came, I got fed up and cancelled my motor order and told him to refund the money in the form of parts that he had in stock. So I got all kinds of belts and filters and fluids and an exhaust and all sorts of things for my deposit money. On that aspect, when he did ship all of my stuff it came and it came quickly. There was one little mistake, but he made it up to me quickly and with freebies on top of that. With the stuff that he actually has in stock, his prices are good and he ships quickly. On that I will stand by him.

However, I WILL NOT attempt to order another motor from him because I feel that there is no way that he can guarantee ANYTHING when it comes to a ship date or even availability in the first place. When it came to my motor, I was always being told some sort of story about somebody that did this or customs that did that and could NEVER get a straight answer out of him. I do not trust him with my money on a motor, period.

And as SmithSR pointed out, yes i did order my clip from Phase 2 and get it within 5 days shipped from California to Texas. The clip was in fantastic shape and they went above and beyond all of my expectations. I am at the point now that I order almost exclusively from Phase 2 as I feel that the staff there know me and they provide customer support that is absolutely second to none.

So cliffsnotes --> Don't buy from Adam unless it is little stuff as he does not have the ability right now to give you big stuff quickly. Buy big stuff from Phase 2 motortrend because they are absolutely fantastic and will tell you exactly what they have and when they can get it and if they can't get it in a timely manner, they will let you know IMMEDIATELY. Hell they will even call you and tell you it is not available and offer you other options.