Seeing another complaint against the same company spurred me to write this report. When I contacted who I assumed was the owner by phone, he was generally courteous but occasionally talked over me and rushed me. A bit rude, but no big deal. During our call, I was very specific with him as to what I was looking for in a reproduction plate. I was looking for an exact replica, as advertised. He assured me he knew what I wanted. I figured after all his crapping on about how famous he was and how all the studios use him, I'd get what I ordered.
Wrong! To his credit, he did send my plates out promptly as promised. Unfortunately, they resembled something you might get out of a gift shop at an amusement park verses a replica plate that would pass muster with fellow car club motoring enthusiasts. They looked cheap, the letters detailing the state's name were stamped as in a block verses the original individually stamped letters and there were no indentations for registration tags, something I asked him specifically about when I ordered them.
The frame and clear flimsy plastic plate cover were a joke. Cheap plastic frame and a clear cover that was creased and unusable as well. Maybe these would look okay a block away, like in a movie, but up close, they were crap in every way thinkable. Poor craftsmanship, bad product. I wouldn't think of putting these on a car.
I called this prince of plates and tried to explain what I didn't like and how he mis-represented his product. He came unglued, interrupting me with a full on yelling fit. Screaming at me that he'd been in business for 26 years and never had these kind of problem calls. He then bellowed for me to send back the plates to his PO BOX and told me to F*K OFF, (really!) and slammed the phone down, hanging up on me. That was a first for me experiencing this kind of customer service, and from such a hack of a vendor.
I figured, everybody has a bad day, so I typed him a polite confirmation note.
I sent this with the plates to his PO BOX as he requested. I sent them certified mail, tracked and confirmed their delivery. I disputed the claim with my credit card company after I heard nothing from him over the 30 day period of time he had to refund my dollars. Big surprise, no refund. Now he has my product and my money.
Long story, short... He told my credit card company he'd never heard from me, didn't know of any complaint and never received the plates back from me and suggested I was cheating them and pulling the wool over their eyes. So, they let him keep the money and because they valued me as a customer, refunded me the same dollar amount. He knows they won't bother chasing him because it's not worth their time. He misrepresented his product, lied to me, cursed at me and took my money even after, at his request, I returned the plates. Buyer beware, he's got a license to steal.
Funny thing is, you never know who you're screwing, and over what, less than a hundred bucks? What a narrow focused pinhead! I'm in several car clubs and have been in the Motion Picture business for over 30 years. Several of my colleagues are in elevated positions in the transportation and production side of the business. When we all get together for a beer I'm sure they'll all love this story. So eat crap CR8APL8. Oh, and have a nice day.
Jerry
Hollywood, California
U.S.A.
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