JJ240 wrote:Maybe its changed in the last week but as far as i know short of walking into the shop its about impossible to get ahold of adam.
Which proves you dont know anything.
afterdark tuning and sr20det
I'm a relative newb on these boards ( lurker usually ). And at the risk of getting banned for life ( being that Daunt is a mod here ), these are my unbiased outside observations...
<begin suicidal speech>
I've been a part of automotive forums ever since I could drive ( I got my license at 17, now 24 ). And if I had a penny for everytime a long time member of a board decided to start his own business/shop, I'd be rich. ( not literally, but you get the point ).
And without fail, there are always bumps in these develpoing business's. And 100% of the time, it's because a person decides to go ahead and start one purely relying on his "passion" and knowledge of the topic. Noone ever thinks about the business aspects, and more importantly, the customer relations aspect of a business.
And no matter how much a person(s) may play off the whole " I'm an enthusiast like you, trust me " thing when starting a business, it comes down to one thing. Money. Noone is going to bust their *** and risk their own finances to start a business so they can help a pimply 16 yr old build a "nice car" half way across the country. Not to say they're not enthusiasts, but that whole ideal is WAY secondary to keep the business alive.
I know Daunt is a mod here, and apparently has many friends on the boards. Which is unforunate. Luckily for him, it's the only thing keepnig him alive. If this had been a random guy with 10 posts, everyone would be all over him conspiring on how to blow him and his family up.
I've lurked, and seen the progressions of the whole after dark drama, and I have to say I don't see 1 upside to the whole thing.
Even if Daunt ever recovers from all this, this will always remain as After Darks first impression. Not easy to come back from...
</end suicide speach>
Okay, blind folds on.. pull the trigger....
<begin suicidal speech>
I've been a part of automotive forums ever since I could drive ( I got my license at 17, now 24 ). And if I had a penny for everytime a long time member of a board decided to start his own business/shop, I'd be rich. ( not literally, but you get the point ).
And without fail, there are always bumps in these develpoing business's. And 100% of the time, it's because a person decides to go ahead and start one purely relying on his "passion" and knowledge of the topic. Noone ever thinks about the business aspects, and more importantly, the customer relations aspect of a business.
And no matter how much a person(s) may play off the whole " I'm an enthusiast like you, trust me " thing when starting a business, it comes down to one thing. Money. Noone is going to bust their *** and risk their own finances to start a business so they can help a pimply 16 yr old build a "nice car" half way across the country. Not to say they're not enthusiasts, but that whole ideal is WAY secondary to keep the business alive.
I know Daunt is a mod here, and apparently has many friends on the boards. Which is unforunate. Luckily for him, it's the only thing keepnig him alive. If this had been a random guy with 10 posts, everyone would be all over him conspiring on how to blow him and his family up.
I've lurked, and seen the progressions of the whole after dark drama, and I have to say I don't see 1 upside to the whole thing.
Even if Daunt ever recovers from all this, this will always remain as After Darks first impression. Not easy to come back from...
</end suicide speach>
Okay, blind folds on.. pull the trigger....
AZhitman wrote:Settle it down - Let's not get this one closed.
Jeez, you'd think people were talking about your mothers. :rolleyes
Haha, really.
And it is true what Jesse said. Whenever a new small business starts things take a while and ****.... Hell, even with some already established small businesses **** takes a while. It all depends on how much business he gets, and from the sounds of it he's getting a good amount. Maybe after the initial wave of the engines he can start to stock or at least have a steady flow of them and drastically reduce the wait period.
Then again, I can always be wrong.
It's unreasonable to expect Afterdark (or any startup company) to operate without problems within it's first year or so after opening up. Try to open a businuess yourself- it's not so easy.
That said though, I think it is a good test of Afterdark's businuess "strength" to see how it deals with these unavoidable setbacks and problems. Thus far, I've been seeing a lot of mixed reports: some people have received very personal service and nice kickbacks for their time wasted (like J-Spec Tuner, I beleive), while others seem to be hearing excuse after excuse as the months pass by. On top of this the whole "dirty laundry" garbage with Afterdark's (ex) employees doesnt sound very good either.
If this thread is to serve any purpose at all, it is to help people who are considering buying from Afterdark learn what the company really is all about before they send off their money. The mixed reviews that we're hearing right now really arent enough to make a decision, in my opinion... I say sit tight and wait for Daunt to try to set the (his) record straight before sending him any more orders.
That said though, I think it is a good test of Afterdark's businuess "strength" to see how it deals with these unavoidable setbacks and problems. Thus far, I've been seeing a lot of mixed reports: some people have received very personal service and nice kickbacks for their time wasted (like J-Spec Tuner, I beleive), while others seem to be hearing excuse after excuse as the months pass by. On top of this the whole "dirty laundry" garbage with Afterdark's (ex) employees doesnt sound very good either.
If this thread is to serve any purpose at all, it is to help people who are considering buying from Afterdark learn what the company really is all about before they send off their money. The mixed reviews that we're hearing right now really arent enough to make a decision, in my opinion... I say sit tight and wait for Daunt to try to set the (his) record straight before sending him any more orders.
ok first off i dont have a problem with adam and i have solved my problem. i have called the bank and stopped payment on the check.
2nd, i posted on here because adam has not paid his web hosting fees and they dont seem to answer the phone there. i know they are busy, its no big deal, but i'm not whining, i simply cancelled the check and ordered from motorex who said hey 1 month is no problem.
my problem with adam and his service is this, i called he said aug. 20 a container was coming and that i could get a motor in that. the problem is he has guys on a waiting list(didnt mention that) and has orders from 8 months ago to fill( didnt mention that)guess he left out some details huh? even told him i needed it no later than the end of sept. ( that doesnt look likely)
as far as hurting adams rep, i'm not doing it. nor is anyone else on this board from what i have read. its simply put, dont say things if you arent going to be able to deliver. the guy who was waiting 6 or 8 months for a motor should be pissed as all hell. busy or not, business is business. motorex is hella busy and they dont make excuses. same with enjuku, booked solid for months, swap waiting list is huge. you call them, they tell you straight up, its a 3 month wait at best. no bull**** from those places.
stop trying to defend ( as another member stated) sketchy details and reluctancy to give details or the truth about something. 2 motors with rod knock? what they dont inspect the motors before the buy them in japan. come on, thats bull**** and everyone knows that. he said on the phone they inspect all motors before they by them and import them. well that doesnt add up. if it doesnt have rod knock there, it doesnt magically get it on the boat ride over to the states.
as i said earlier, adam should just stick to doing swaps and supplying motors to people who can make it to his shop. that solves all these shipping problems, etc. makes sense to me.
2nd, i posted on here because adam has not paid his web hosting fees and they dont seem to answer the phone there. i know they are busy, its no big deal, but i'm not whining, i simply cancelled the check and ordered from motorex who said hey 1 month is no problem.
my problem with adam and his service is this, i called he said aug. 20 a container was coming and that i could get a motor in that. the problem is he has guys on a waiting list(didnt mention that) and has orders from 8 months ago to fill( didnt mention that)guess he left out some details huh? even told him i needed it no later than the end of sept. ( that doesnt look likely)
as far as hurting adams rep, i'm not doing it. nor is anyone else on this board from what i have read. its simply put, dont say things if you arent going to be able to deliver. the guy who was waiting 6 or 8 months for a motor should be pissed as all hell. busy or not, business is business. motorex is hella busy and they dont make excuses. same with enjuku, booked solid for months, swap waiting list is huge. you call them, they tell you straight up, its a 3 month wait at best. no bull**** from those places.
stop trying to defend ( as another member stated) sketchy details and reluctancy to give details or the truth about something. 2 motors with rod knock? what they dont inspect the motors before the buy them in japan. come on, thats bull**** and everyone knows that. he said on the phone they inspect all motors before they by them and import them. well that doesnt add up. if it doesnt have rod knock there, it doesnt magically get it on the boat ride over to the states.
as i said earlier, adam should just stick to doing swaps and supplying motors to people who can make it to his shop. that solves all these shipping problems, etc. makes sense to me.
<hits you in face with pie>Wuss wrote:</end suicide speach>
Okay, blind folds on.. pull the trigger....
You do make good points, and it is always appreciated to get an outsiders point of view on any subject.I don't believe anyone should flame you for what you've said, as that's exactly how it looks.
<hits you with another pie>
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EZcheese15
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2011 Titan Pro-4X
2007 BMW 328i - Location: St. Charles, IL
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And I'd like to agree with RXspeed....
It's not that Adam is intentionally trying to screw anyone over, because he isn't. And he may be trying his absolute hardest to please everyone. However, honesty is far more important than getting engines. If the engines are delayed, explain why. It's time customers get the truth on it. You know that engines haven't been held up in customs for 8 months. You know the engines either weren't expected in japan, or they didn't have rod knock. One of the two has to be true.
It's just time to fess up to the real truth behind some of these issues. Instead of pretending everything is going great, when it's not. I think the honesty right there will be enough to save the company, but it's going to have to come from Adam, as he is the only one who knows the real truth behind all the issues.
It's not that Adam is intentionally trying to screw anyone over, because he isn't. And he may be trying his absolute hardest to please everyone. However, honesty is far more important than getting engines. If the engines are delayed, explain why. It's time customers get the truth on it. You know that engines haven't been held up in customs for 8 months. You know the engines either weren't expected in japan, or they didn't have rod knock. One of the two has to be true.
It's just time to fess up to the real truth behind some of these issues. Instead of pretending everything is going great, when it's not. I think the honesty right there will be enough to save the company, but it's going to have to come from Adam, as he is the only one who knows the real truth behind all the issues.
Everyone who has sent Adam money for a swap has been given the option of a refund........
The motors that are bad will be replaced..........
Im going to say this again.......Everyone has had the option of gettting their money back.......
If you are a customer an have a problem have a problem call the shop........
Now that the idiot kids are gone, the shop can be run in a more proffesiional manner.......
And guys I dont care what you post on here about me or Adam or Afterdark anymore......Because thats about all your good at, talkin smack...............
The motors that are bad will be replaced..........
Im going to say this again.......Everyone has had the option of gettting their money back.......
If you are a customer an have a problem have a problem call the shop........
Now that the idiot kids are gone, the shop can be run in a more proffesiional manner.......
And guys I dont care what you post on here about me or Adam or Afterdark anymore......Because thats about all your good at, talkin smack...............
Nismodave, Are yuou adam? No. Shut the ***** up #1.
Nismodave, Do you have any explaination about why people wait 8 months for nothing? No. Shut the ***** up #2.
Nismodave, Can you understand that this guy is unable to get in contact with adam? No, shut the ***** up #3.
Nismodave, get off adam's d*ck.
Nismodave, Do you have any explaination about why people wait 8 months for nothing? No. Shut the ***** up #2.
Nismodave, Can you understand that this guy is unable to get in contact with adam? No, shut the ***** up #3.
Nismodave, get off adam's d*ck.
AZhitman wrote:Dave - I'll ask once more to cool it.
I specifically said no name-calling, yet it continues.
The business will sink or swim on its own merits, not on your defense of it or anyone else's criticisms. That said, I wish everyone involved the best of luck.
Ok hitman Im sorry for using the word idiot......:rolleyes
You have to understand tho.....Im a little more experinced when dealing with shops, good and bad.
Ive worked in and dealt with them since I was a young teen....
Ive seen many battles between shop and sh1t talk all over the place.....some justified and unjustified.....
But never have I seen a shops rep attempted to be ruined on a public viewing source such as this.......NICO.
Ive seen alot of what gone on here and at afterdark.......
Im a man of integrity and honor......an DAMN IT when I see something that is not right I get passionate about it....
So yes Im making it my place to defend Adam.........Yes he has had a sh1tstorm of issues come up in the last year.......but any new shop does.......
The unfortunate thing is that the people who had a good experience (whch outweighs the bad in this case) with a shop are not likely to put up threads teling the world how happy they are........So the people that have a problem vent on the board.......
Its thier right.......but its not right.
So I come to defend this man and shop.......
These are my last thoughts on this subject........
Some of you need to get lives and let the man be........dont be such a bunch of haters at a mans success.......He has worked DAMN hard to get here.........
Its unfortunate that others take joy in trying to bring others down.
P.S......If anyone wants to talk to me go to my profile......feel free to contact me.........
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AZhitman
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No one here is taking "joy" in bringing anyone down. That is preposterous.
If there is MISINFORMATION, it will be deleted. Point it out.
Adam is more than welcome to join this discussion.
Here's the deal: From here on out, if you do NOT have current or past business experiences with Afterdark or Adam as a customer or a colleague, then shut up and stay out. Period.
This has gotten damn ridiculous and I've a good mind to delete the whole damn thing.
And your rolling of the eyes hasn't helped your credibility. You're calling people "idiot kids", yet defending a 19-year old. No logic whatsoever.
If there is MISINFORMATION, it will be deleted. Point it out.
Adam is more than welcome to join this discussion.
Here's the deal: From here on out, if you do NOT have current or past business experiences with Afterdark or Adam as a customer or a colleague, then shut up and stay out. Period.
This has gotten damn ridiculous and I've a good mind to delete the whole damn thing.
And your rolling of the eyes hasn't helped your credibility. You're calling people "idiot kids", yet defending a 19-year old. No logic whatsoever.
U12, did you not see hitmans post? This applies to you also, chill out, theres no reason to be bashing anyone just for the sake of sounding "tough" or whatnot online. relax.... the sun still rises the next day man.-chet
dave: let it go man...U12: how about you show some sensibility #1, some controll #2 and some maturity #3.
dave: let it go man...U12: how about you show some sensibility #1, some controll #2 and some maturity #3.
dave, i would love to say it to your face, but unless you're willing to pay my plane ticket from NY to WI, it's not gonna happen.
My point in my little message wasn't to be an internet tough guy.
It was to let Dave know to keep his trap shut. I don't care how good Adam has been to him, his case does not apply in this thread. If people have complaints, LET THEM COMPLAIN. It informs the rest of us. I don't want to see people like Dave saying that the only real complaint is that the guy didn't ask for a refund yet. That's bull**** to have people waiting so long and the solution is to ask for a refund. Regardless of it's a new or old shop, a business should be able to handle what they take on. If you're too busy, stop taking orders until everything is caught up and straighted out.
I feel as though this guy got screwed, and dave is basically saying it's not Adam's fault because they're a new business and they're busy. Bull****.
We're not new to this car thing, and time and time again we've seen our fellow enthusiasts get burned by shady shops, sellers..etc. As a collective front we should see to it that this bad practice does not continue. How do we do it? Complain and let others know where NOT to take their business.
My point in my little message wasn't to be an internet tough guy.
It was to let Dave know to keep his trap shut. I don't care how good Adam has been to him, his case does not apply in this thread. If people have complaints, LET THEM COMPLAIN. It informs the rest of us. I don't want to see people like Dave saying that the only real complaint is that the guy didn't ask for a refund yet. That's bull**** to have people waiting so long and the solution is to ask for a refund. Regardless of it's a new or old shop, a business should be able to handle what they take on. If you're too busy, stop taking orders until everything is caught up and straighted out.
I feel as though this guy got screwed, and dave is basically saying it's not Adam's fault because they're a new business and they're busy. Bull****.
We're not new to this car thing, and time and time again we've seen our fellow enthusiasts get burned by shady shops, sellers..etc. As a collective front we should see to it that this bad practice does not continue. How do we do it? Complain and let others know where NOT to take their business.
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AZhitman
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- Location: Surprise, Arizona
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U12 - I agree with what you're saying.
However, I was VERY clear. If you are not a current or past customer, save it. It's not that your contribution isn't valuable, it's that it's not based on FIRST-hand knowledge, if you're not a customer.
Dave's case DOES apply here - He is detailing his experiences with the shop. Dave, consider yourself strongly and clearly advised to keep it at that.
Thanks.
However, I was VERY clear. If you are not a current or past customer, save it. It's not that your contribution isn't valuable, it's that it's not based on FIRST-hand knowledge, if you're not a customer.
Dave's case DOES apply here - He is detailing his experiences with the shop. Dave, consider yourself strongly and clearly advised to keep it at that.
Thanks.
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EZcheese15
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Daunttless
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I am here, and I am still alive. I have been reading but there really is no point in me responding. The people who are conducting business with me know what's going on and that's all I really care about. I haven't been posting because it's a moot point for me to get into a fight on the internet because no matter if you think I'm justified or not, and no matter what I say, I will end up losing no matter what because that's the nature of the internet. So I will just sit here and watch every now and again until my customers are taken care of, and then I will be back to NICO in full swing. There is all sorts of misinformation Hitman, but you and I both know that doesn't matter, because people will believe what they want to believe. There isn't some huge obscene number of people who I have owed engines to for 8 months, theres 1 or 2 left. The others have been taken care of. The 2 or 3 people I still owe engines to have only been waiting at most 2 months or so. I do not have a huge long waiting list of people, I have bumped everything back so that I wouldn't have a huge long waiting list. We're finishing a number of swaps right now, and then we're moving on. Shortly the web situation will be resolved. Shortly the engine situation will be resolved. I doubt the former employee situation will ever be resolved, but oh well, that happens. All in all, I will have everything taken care of, I"m working as hard as I possibly can to make it happen, and it will happen. When it does, I would hope that actions speak louder than words. As for the people who have no idea what's going on but feel like making comments based upon very little information and rumor, I would ask that you refrain from doing so. Yes, 8 months is a long time. No, I'm not happy about it and I'm sure my customers aren't happy about it, but I am taking care of it, and there are not hordes of people as there seems to be made out to be. If you don't know anything, obviously it's still your right to voice your opinion, but when you don't know anything, why would you voice an opinion on something you don't understand? I hope you all enjoy your collective days very much, and I will be going back to work now. Enjoy your day, and feel free to call me at 319 396 6030, I am here, if I don't answer it's because I'm pretty much the only one here and if I'm in the middle of something, I can't answer the phone, so just try back a little later or leave a message. Thank you very much, Enjoy your day yet again!
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Daunttless
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