Picked up my car from the shop, unfinished & incomplete.

[cpt276]

First, I'd like to start off by saying that aside from this unfortunate situation, Adam is a good guy, with honest intentions. He opened up his shop for his passion and respect for the Nissan silvia/240 and the 240 community. This description is a reaction to my frustrations with his business practices, not his character.

Adam picked up my car on May 27th. It was due back to me that following weekend.

May 31st (week of): I called for a status update, he had told me that the engines were stuck at U.S. Customs, but mine was at the shop. He said my car was 6th in line, and it would be another 2 weeks before he got to my car due to the delay. (Side note: U.S. Customs has been very tight on national security since 9/11. This delay was understandable.)

June 7th: Talk to Adam. Realize my engine is indeed stuck at customs with the rest of the engines. I must've not understood. ok.

Forward on toJune 16th (week of): Engines finally arrive at Afterdark. At this point, I'm told my car is 3rd in line. So that is approximately 6-7 days away.

Weekend of June 21st: A car is squeezed in line before mine. Why???? Still don't know. So my car really isn't 3rd in line, is it?

Weekend of June 28th: Someone is driving their car into town to get worked on. Again, my car is bumped back. I talk to Adam about my concerns. At my plea, he assures me I could have my car by the July 4th holiday.

July 3rd-5th: I call the shop only to hear that the shop is closed for the holiday. So much for getting my car when promised.

July 15th: I am told about some internal issues at the shop.

At this point Adam gaurantees a finished product by July 27th, or a full refund, along with the finished product.

July 25th: I get a call saying he would be delivering the car the following morning.

July 26th: Adam calls, says he is having some wiring/starting issues. Asks if it's ok to deliver it Monday (July 28th). I agree to the Monday delivery on the basis that the fmic be free of charge.

July 28th: No car.

August 8th: My brother & I visit his shop to check the progress of the my car. The engine, and the parts that should be on there seem to be there. The wiring harness is a mess, due to repeatedly taking it apart & putting it back together. I am content with the fact that there is indeed an sr motor in there, and that the problems he has described to me, are indeed true. I'm told at this point, he is within hours of finishing.

August 9th - August 29th: I have not heard from him since. My frustrations with his inability to keep his paying (paid) customers updated AT ALL, lead me to leave 4-5 voicemails per day...still, no contact from Adam. On the week of August 24, I leave him several voicemails & send him emails telling him I am picking up the car on friday August 29th, finished or not.

August 29th: I rent a trailer & pick up my car at Afterdark Tuning... unfinished. It appears as if it had not been touched since I was last there 3 weeks prior.

He promises to have my refund in a couple of weeks (Sept. 12th).

The car is in now my garage. With the resources out there (a pdf of the sr factory service manual, and a usdm fsm on cd), and to the best of our abilitiies, my brother and I will attept to finish the project.

At first inspection of what I have to work with, this is what is missing: intake piping & filter, fuse box cover, and ignitor chip. Also, the blitz exhaust is for an s13 (the box is correct, the content is incorrect).

[Toahk]

Sucks, on the bright side you are getting a free engine thats already in the car.

[mattback]

so what ever happend to that place ??

kids instead of mechanics ??

[Phax]

He promises to have my refund in a couple of weeks (Sept. 12th).

How the hell can he afford to give you a FULL refund? Think about that for a second? Is he such a good guy, that he's going to give away an SR20DET plus however many hours of labor for free? I hope he comes through for you.

[Phax]

so what ever happend to that place ??

kids instead of mechanics ??

Mechanic... you don't need to be a mechanic. What are you thinking? Even the magazines have instructions on how to do it. How hard could it really be? :rolleyes

^^^ Sarcasm intended.

[cpt276]

Honestly, I don't think I'll see a refund. But he may surprise me.

Also, there was some bartering on parts he did have at his shop. So I deducted the retail prices off of the total. I also had a hard time accepting a 100% refund, so I lessened the amount...I was trying to be as fair as I can, considering his situation.

Right now, all I want are the missing parts (ie., intake piping & filter, ignitor chip, fuse box cover, test pipe, and the correct blitz exhaust... I have an s14 box w/an s13 exhaust)

...basically, I want the parts I paid for.

[spec-v5150]

DAMN. That sucks dude. Stuff like this makes me SO happy I had a good friend willing to come down and help me. I don't have frst hand knowledge of being a customer so I won't bash, but 3 months and you STILL have an incomplete swap...? I understand problems arise. But DAMN. That is almost 4 months of problems. LOLHope everything works out for you.

[Cyberkreig]

seems to me the list of Sr owners with horror stories is growing. And you even took your car to a 'reputable' shop.

[D1SR240]

That sux, but good luck with the refund and your parts.

[y3llows14]

The refund that he promised me a month ago never arrive. His business is really screwing me over. Have any of you guys got in touch with him lately. He has almost 3gs of mine since February or so and I need it back to complete this project. If any of you guys are able to reach Adam, please tell him to contact me. My name is Jim and he owed me money for my S15 conversion.

[mattback]

you guys need to deal with secret services from now on ;-)

we actually take care of our customer!

[89240sx]

^^^is that a shameless plug to take advantage of someone in a bad situation?

[worknprogress]

it's starting to look like i'll have to take the same route though i'm not fortunate to be anywhere near enough to go get the car myself i'll have to have it shipped , my final parts have arrived at the shop so i'm giving him 2 weeks to have my car finished S13 redtop , S15 front end , all aftermarket parts turbo , intercooler , injectors , and electronics all installed and tuned if not done i need my money car and parts b/c 4 months compared to the 1- 1 1/2 promised is gettin kinda old

[y3llows14]

Worknprogress....how do you know if your parts came already? Are you able to contact him? If you are able to contact him, can you tell him to give Jim a call? Thanks

[worknprogress]

no mvp told me they arrived they had a tracking # still can't get in touch w/ anyone at afterdark

[y3llows14]

Does any of you guys live near Afterdark tuning? You mind stopping by to see what is up?

[Darius]

I live in Ames, Iowa about an hour from Cedar Rapids where I believe Afterdark is.

Does anyone have an address of the shop? I'm going to go there next week for some research business anyways.

[worknprogress]

After Dark Tuning 3536 18th Ave Sw. Cedar Rapids , Ia 52404

awesome , i had a FMIC and injectors scheduled for delivery today at afterdark , checked the tracking # and said rescheduled delivery hmmm.... looked at the details both attemepts buisness closed at like 11:00AM and then 1:30PM this is getting very fishy

[cpt276]

In attempts to retrieve the few remaining parts & wrong part, I have left him several voicemails & emails. I have also threatened to file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau on Tuesday (Sept. 2nd) if he did not contact me that day. He has responded that he'll take care of it, now i haven't heard or seen signs of any resolution to my situation yet.

I have made several calls to his shop & cell phone. Both lines cannot accept anymore messages. So now, it is impossible to know anything.

My suggestion to everyone who has business with him is to file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau, then look to the forum on th rwd sr, "sad it has come to this" to see if you want to take further action.

(This is what I was afraid of... the shop filing bankruptcy or customers filing a legal suit against him, then my car & parts be stuck at his shop indefinately. This is 2nd suggestion...if you can get your car outta there, do so!)

[drifter_for_life06]

That really sucks man, sorry to hear about your problems with all that, at least you got a free motor : )

[InstantRice]

^ perhaps....

[cpt276]

There was no free motor. Like everybody else that has done business with AfterDark, I paid upfront (I should've listened to my gut at that time). Anyway, I still haven't recieved the missing parts or gotten the correct exhaust, and more importantly, the remainder of my refund.

[drifter_for_life06]

damn man that really sucks, hopefully you get everything soon.

Good luck

[JJ240]

so what ever happend to that place ??

kids instead of mechanics ??

Actually the problem was that the mechanics didnt get paid and left. And there was no communication between owner and employees about where the product was, and when the product would get there.

[drifter_for_life06]

That could be a big problem

No pay, no communication, no schedule=disaster for everyone

[cpt276]

It appears there was a total lack of communication from the owner to his employees, and the shop owner to his customers...

Now I understand why the employees did what they did... although I don't condone the actions, I understand their reactions.

[JJ240]

what did we do that you dont condone?

[cpt276]

from what I've been told...taking what does not belong. justified or not. if that was not the case, then i apologize, cause then i was mislead.

again, I've only heard one side of the story.

[JJ240]

Ahh interesting. Guess I never heard that one to my face.

[drifter_for_life06]

Im not exactly familiar with the shop, but it seems as if the owner doesnt care anymore, seems as if he is ready to close up shop and leave whats in the garage there and walk. Just my opinion.