Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette - NCRS Discussion Boards

Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

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  • Matthew # 33902

    Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

    Dear Fellow NCRS Members:

    I am writing this as a warning after a lengthy battle with AL at Chicago Corvette. I realize that some of you might do business with this company but after my ordeal with them I wanted to try and save someone else from having to go through what I went through.

    To make a long story short, I agreed to buy an original Corvette part from Chicago Corvette that they had reconditioned. I trusted AL from Chicago Corvette to deliver the exact part that he described to me and that I agreed to purchase for $3000.00. Before I gave him my debit card, I asked about their return policy and AL assured me that if I was not happy for any reason, I could return the part for a full refund. Needless to say that when the part arrived it was very apparent that AL had had lied about the numbers on the part. I immediately had the part shipped back via UPS, incurring another $70.

    After speaking with AL he told me to grind the incorrect numbers off of the part and use "J B Weld" to touch it up and then have it painted. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. When I finally got a chance to speak, I let him know that I had already sent the part back as per our original agreement. After hearing this, he shouted "That's going to cost you a $300.00 restocking fee." After that, he promptly hung up the phone on me.

    Fortunately my credit card handled the case from there and reversed the charges however, three months later AL tried to charge my card again for $3000.00. Imagine the inconvenience of having your debit card unexpectedly charged for $3000.00. Again, I had to go through all the paperwork to get these charges reversed. This time I cancelled the card.

    To show you what kind company Chicago Corvette is, after they received the part they promptly put it on eBay. The pictures that they took, avoided the area where the numbers were and the written description was again a misrepresentation. Apparently the winning bidder must have had a similar problem with the part because it ended up being listed 2 more time each time with a different winning bidder.

    Please save yourself the time and frustration and DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM CHICAGO CORVETTE unless you like to gamble as they do not stand by their word. I apologize for the lengthy message but hopefully this will save someone else from having to go through what I went through.

    Matt
  • Rick S.
    Expired
    • January 1, 2003
    • 1203

    #2
    Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

    Matthew,
    Sorry to hear of your problem and I seem to recall a similar post about Chicago Corvette approx 2 weeks ago. Sounds like they don't want to stay in business long if they suggest a customer to forge a part.
    Rick

    Comment

    • Matthew # 33902

      #3
      Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

      Thanks Rick. Do you have any idea what date the other message was posted? I wouldn't mind reading that one. You know what they say... "misery loves company"... I guess.

      Thanks Again,

      Matt

      Comment

      • Rick S.
        Expired
        • January 1, 2003
        • 1203

        #4
        Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

        Matt,
        It is down this page, first listed on Monday, Dec 4th about recommendations for a tri-carb rebuild. Read Patrick Hulst's first post.
        Rick

        Comment

        • Patrick H.
          Beyond Control Poster
          • December 1, 1989
          • 11608

          #5
          Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

          Better yet, search the Archives for even better ones from me.

          I'd burn my Corvette before buying a part again from Al.

          Patrick
          Vice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
          71 "deer modified" coupe
          72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
          2008 coupe
          Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.

          Comment

          • Rick S.
            Expired
            • January 1, 2003
            • 1203

            #6
            Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

            Patrick,
            I didn't want to possibly mislead Matt on how you feel about Chicago Corvette. I do remember that in the past you have posted about them and I know it is good for the soul to be able to vent. It's amazing this guy is still in business. Too bad vendors can't conduct their business like Tom Dewitt of Dewitt Radiator

            Comment

            • Matthew # 33902

              #7
              Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

              After spending the last hour reading through all the posts... I turns out that another member purchased the part I referred to in my original post. I'm not sure about that member would feel about me posting information about his purchase but I did contact him to make him aware.

              Not sure what he is going to do but hopefully it will work out. I can't believe these guys are still in business!! Does anyone know if AL Fierke is the owner of Chicago Corvette Supply. From my dealings with them I was under the impression that he's the owner?

              Matt

              Comment

              • Frank C.
                Expired
                • January 1, 1986
                • 277

                #8
                Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

                Hi All...would this also apply to Lectric Ltd? doesn't Al own it too? Frank

                Comment

                • Joe L.
                  Beyond Control Poster
                  • February 1, 1988
                  • 43193

                  #9
                  Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

                  Matt-----

                  Yes, I believe that he's the owner.

                  From what you described, they engaged in VERY dubious business practices. However, it would certainly be interesting to know more about the part involved. The extent of the dubious business practices seems fairly obvious. However, the extent of the misrepresentation regarding the part depends upon what we're talking about. For example, with some "numbered" parts, virtually all of the value is in the "numbers" (whether THAT makes sense is something I question, but it's another issue, entirely). So, if the "numbers aren't right", a $3000 part might be $30 part. On the other hand, some parts achieve a good part of total value based upon configuration. In those cases, if the "numbers aren't right" a $3000 part might be a $2000 part. There's a "big gap" between these 2 scenarios, so it would be interesting to know more about the part.

                  One thing that's MOST disturbing here: if a few months after the transaction was reversed by the bank and the part returned to them, they again put through a charge of $3000, then that's a VERY serious situation. In some states, that act might be prosecutable as a criminal offense. Of course, they would likely claim that the charge was just a "mistake". If the charge was just for the $300 "restocking charge", that's another matter. That would be a very dubious business practice based upon the "full satisfaction" guarantee you received, but it likely wouldn't amount to a criminal offense.
                  In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                  Comment

                  • Matthew # 33902

                    #10
                    Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

                    Joe,

                    Thanks for the message. I'm going to refrain from getting into the exact details because as I found out tonight, another NCRS member unknowingly purchased the part and I wouldn't want to unintentionally make matters worse for that member. I have contacted him and will hep him out in any way I can.

                    I will say this, because of the issue I had with the numbers upon inspection, the part was almost worthless to me. I asked very specific questions before purchasing. Luckily I took proper precautions and had AL answer my questions in writing via email so I had proof that he lied. (Not only that he lied about the numbers on the part but also the "Full Money Back Refund" that I would receive if I was not satisfied for any reason.)

                    Although most of this mess is over, I am still looking into the possibility of criminal charges. I hate to say it but unfortunately it might end up being more trouble for me than it's worth. (Especially after having to spend all that time getting back my money twice and having to jump through all the hoops to do it.) If anything else big happens I'll definitely post it. In the meantime I'll be happy if this post does two things: 1 - Spares anyone else from having to go through what I went through and 2. - Results in much deserved lost sales for Chicago Corvette.

                    Comment

                    • Clem Z.
                      Expired
                      • January 1, 2006
                      • 9427

                      #11
                      i think he is the guy that bought up all the NOS

                      from holley when they were cleaning house of obsolete parts

                      Comment

                      • Edward Boyd

                        #12
                        Re: i think he is the guy that bought up all the N

                        If the Chicago Corvette experiences are so negative shouldn't NCRS refuse their advertising?

                        Comment

                        • Terry F.
                          Expired
                          • September 30, 1992
                          • 2061

                          #13
                          Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

                          You are not the only person. Unfortunately, there are more of us out there. Terry

                          Comment

                          • Garry Barnes

                            #14
                            Re: Fraud Warning: Chicago Corvette

                            You can put me on th list that got screwed by Chicago Corvette a few years ago.

                            I won't go into the details, but I do think that the "restocking fee" is a revenue producer for guys like this. In my call to them I clearly described the item that I was looking at from their catalog and they called me back and said they had the exact item. When I got the item two days later it wasn't even close to what I described nor what they said they were shipping. When I called them to return it they said that they would have to charge me a (I think it was 15%) restocking fee if I wanted to returned it. The restocking fee would have been about $45, plus I had to pay for shipping back to him for something that was not my mistake. Not a bad little scam, he gets $45 for one of his guys to put it back on the shelf and he gets the part back to resell again. In the end I was able to avoid any charges, but my time is also worth something.

                            I know how the public can be and sometimes business owners have to put barriers in place in order to not be taken advantage of by consumers. But in the case of a clear "screw job" it can only be interpreted as a selfish and don't give a s___ attitude towards any reasonable concept of customer satisfaction. There are too many other places out there to find what you need without going to this guy.

                            Garry #18531

                            Comment

                            • Terry F.
                              Expired
                              • September 30, 1992
                              • 2061

                              #15
                              Re: i think he is the guy that bought up all the N

                              That has been discussed before regarding other people. The answer worked out to be NO. I don't recall why though. It seems money is simply what it boils down to. It seems as long as they pay their NCRS ad fees, they can sort of shove it in us anytime they like. Terry

                              Comment

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