I ordered a motor that was described to me as follows:
JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) engine with 34,000 miles. Best of 4 engines in stock. Will make sure it has a decent looking distributor attached, but the 6 month warranty only covers the long block. Salesperson said it would take 3 days to ship. ASAP was to email me a copy of the invoice and fax if the email did not work. I was to be called back with the total shipping cost.
After not getting a copy of the invoice by 10:30 am I called back. I asked if I could cancel the order, as I was getting nervous about working with ASAP. I felt like I was getting a run around on the invoice and thought I might get run around on the engine. Only 2 hours after the order I was told that if I cancelled the order I would have to pay restocking and shipping, since it was already prepped and loaded on the truck. I was forced to go through with the order.
My wife got a call Monday from Central Freight. Seemed odd that an engine that was already loaded on Thursday was just on its way Monday. My wife took delivery a few days later while I was out of town. The engine is not at all as described. Here are my issues:
1 - Never sent receipt or confirmation
2 - Never confirmed price of shipping, just range. Then shipment came COD and unannounced.
3 - Not a JDM engine - air filter is white and says "Made in USA" - JDM uses green NPN
4 - Not 34k miles. The engine shipped has Engine code A20A3 Ser. 3315356. It matches a US engine code. There is no distributor as promised.
5 - Looks like it overheated badly.
6 - Stop leak and rust in water hoses.
7 - Oil pan has been removed and water pump replaced. (This is only necessary after well over 100,000 miles.)
8 - Water pipes are very corroded. Some are even bypassed because they rotted through.
9 - Receipt shows 90 day warranty, not 6 months as described.
10 - Burnt oil and sludge throughout.
They sent an abused hi-mileage USDM, not a low (34k) mile JDM. Only a fool would install it.
Central Freight is in on the scam. After paying COD shipping of $136.20, I got another bill for $136.20. After some delay, a truck arrived unannounced to pick up the engine. The return shipment that was supposedly prepaid by ASAP, but later I get a bill for $431.83. I didn't order the shipment and why the hell is it over 3 times more to return than deliver?
There have been no direct responses to my concerns and no up-front invoices at any time, just unauthorized charges.
Here's the scam. Promise customer a good deal on a good engine. Send a pile of crap. Return shipping covers the total engine price, then they try to screw the customer and take them to court in Texas with any dispute. How much worse it would be for any fool that actually installs it.
"Some Promise, We Deliver" says the website. What a joke.
Sure wish I had found this website before giving up my credit card. I submitted a dispute and expect to prevail on that. I may be screwed out of the $136.20 in COD shipping if these clowns don't come correct. Then I'll have to deal with Central Freight coming after me with a claim based in Texas.
What a hassle. I can't figure out why anyone would want to run a business just to screw people. How can anyone feel good about taking money that way? These losers are down there with predatory Tow Truck companies. I may lose a few bucks and time, but these clowns lost their dignity a long time ago.
Carlos
Carlsbad, California
U.S.A.
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