Southwest Autoworks aka MotorWeb aka SportCompact sucks too

[Fenvy]

I am very disappointed how SWA is doing business. I made a payment of $182 via PayPal with a verified account with confirmed shipping address on 4/22/2004. I called in early May to check on status, each week was the same reply: next week, next week. On 5/24/2004 I called in to request a refund, at first a lady, I think by the name of Jess say it will be done by next day: nothing. On 5/26/2004 I called in again, someone else said refund will be issued by 5/28/2004 and still nothing. I called in again today 6/02/2004 and Steve said tomorrow it will be done.

I originally bought the short shifter from SWA because of what people have been saying but from the looks of it they certainly don't live up to their name. I think NICO administrators should help us resolve the problem, since SWA is listed as a sponsor, or at least remove SWA from sponsors list to prevent the same problem from happening until SWA's lack of management can be proven resolved.

SWA has lost my business and I would recommend others NOT to do business with them. First it was Alex, the contact who disappears after getting our money, no assurance notice was taken. Then the back order, the least they could do is to inform us, the customers, that our order can not be fulfilled. Third it was the refund that took over 5 business days to process. If you are reading this, get my drift, don¡¦t buy from SWA, aka MotorWeb, aka SportCompact unless you want to be scammed.

I am not the only one complaining or being anal: check out this threadhttp://www.nissaninfiniticlub....60744

[Fenvy]

I spoke to Steve again today; he referred me to SWA¡¦s accountant, whom I verbally requested my $182 refund. She said she would refund me by paypal but I have a business paypal account so I would be charged for the 3%, meaning I would only get about $176 back. In her very words she said, ¡§Well yeah, we¡¦ve also been charged 3% so¡K¡¨ indicating that she won¡¦t compensate me for the full refund I deserve. Again SWA does nothing to recuperate for their faults.

[DAEDALUS]

Is there no way they can just mail you a check?

I emailed you. After reading this again, I don't think you have a valid dispute with your credit card. This is strictly between you and paypal, since the 3% is a condition of your use of their service. They take 3% no matter what, no matter who sends you money; I don't think SWA has any control over this. That's why a check would be better, or direct deposit to a bank account.

[MainEvent212]

eh, good business would be to send you the total amount of money for their screw up...regardless of losing otu on their part...

[yashin]

Really. That sucks. I thought NICO advertisers were supposed to look out for NICO members, not screw them over.

[D1SR240]

eh, good business would be to send you the total amount of money for their screw up...regardless of losing otu on their part...

yea but if it was a good buisness he shouldn't be asking for his money back in the first place.

~swave

[DAEDALUS]

Whoa, hold on a bit guys. I agree this sucks, and I would be upset too about paying and waiting for parts that don't show up. But let's be fair to a reasonable extent. He sent $182, they recieved $176. They sent $182 and he recieved $176. Paypal is the middleman that takes their cut both ways...blame them a little at least for not having ethical policies on refunds for situations like this.

[yashin]

Yeah it is paypal that takes it, but it was SA fault that his order was messed up, since they caused that, they should give him the paypal back. Or maybe give him credit or something. It's only 6 bucks, but it's bad business.

[AZhitman]

Settle down guys, we're working on it.

I took 2 hours out of my BAH (busy as hell) day to go meet with the owner and discuss these concerns FOR you guys.

SWA wasn't truly to blame here, as they got hosed by the supplier. However, the owner has assred me that this will be rectified.

As I said in the other thread, if anyone has beef with them, please email me (no drama please) with an explanation (brief) of the situation and what you want to be made whole. I will present these to him 'en masse' when i meet with him in a week or so.

As your "captain", that's the best I can do.

[crzycav86]

Actually, paypal does refund the 3%. After receiving a payment via paypal, there is a little button that allows you to refund the money back to the sender. If you use this method to refund the money, that 3% is refunded as well.

SWA obviously didn't refund him using this method. I think they just sent the money due as a regular paypal transaction, and thus it was taxed by paypal....

[DAEDALUS]

That only works if you haven't already accepted the payment, correct? Thinking they would get a shipment and be able to send out the merchandise, it's reasonable for them to have accepted the payment.

[240SXedUp]

First it was Alex, the contact who disappears after getting our money, no assurance notice was taken.

I'd like to clear Alex's name. He started a GB for Viper alarms and he followed through, it was just moved to another forum. So far I'm 100% satisfied with his business. I've never dealt with SWA, so fight on about them.

[NissanLunatic]

Thank you 240SXedUp. I had to step in here. For most that don't know the history behind SWA, I started it in 1999, and sold it to MotorWeb in December of 2003, and stepped down as a Director of Operations in April of 2004. I did NOT disappear, I am on this forum at all times, and if any of you have any concerns over me selling SWA, please feel free to e-mail me any time at[email protected]ThanksAlex

[Fenvy]

1) No, I am not blaming alex at all but I expected SWA to let us ,who made payments, know the fact that "alex is no longer with the company" and your new swa contact is "_________" That never happened. Many of us on the other thread, too, were concern what's going to happen with their payment; or more alarmingly, what¡¯s going to happen with the credit card number and personal info?

2) Again I must repeat this part, SWA never bothered to let us know there will be a back order. When I inquired about the status it was always next week, next week which ultimately lead to 30 days and beyond. Paypal charge 3% on recipient¡¯s account but if it was refunded within 30 days the 3% was refunded as well. Having a eBay power seller account and paypal business account, I¡¯m well aware of this so I¡¯ve asked whether the item in regard will be in for sure? If not I would like a refund. A mistake I¡¯ve made is letting the guy talked me into refund at that time since he assured me that the item will be in by ¡°next week¡±. Had I requested a refund within 30 days it wouldn¡¯t made a difference because it literally took me over 5 business days to talk to someone who¡¯s actually in charge of the paypal account. Meaning you¡¯re ****ed either way.

3) I would like to argue that I should be refunded a full $182 because it¡¯s not my fault that they can¡¯t get their item in stock, if they don¡¯t have it refund the money! Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s coming next week next week next week. At this point it looks like this is what I have lost: $182 + $6 + 30 days + my time and effort in talking to them over the phone + long distance phone bill + more time spent warning others of their foul business ethics. How much does that worth to you? I bet every one of you would rather spend another $20 instead of going through what I went through. But, I just want to get my money back at this point, the $6 is a forfeit on my end but hopefully, SWA will lose a lot more money by my story.

4) I am glad that NICO administrator is taking some action in an effort to resolve the matter that¡¯s trouble NICO members.

[NissanLunatic]

1) Completely agree with you, no one took the initiative to let you guys know, apparently, the new owner thought I should have to come on here and let you all know I sold SWA.2) Please understand B&M has said two weeks every two weeks, a week before the group deal even started, even though we had 10 B&Ms on the shelf (the week before I stepped down)3) If it was up to me, I'd refund it in full, no questions asked, as I had done for a year and a half prior to my selling the business4) Greg has my number (so do all of you) and has kept in touch with me over this situation.

Thank you for your understanding of my personal decision to sell SWA.

Alex