HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED HELP!

[Jacob A.]

Dear Fellow NCRS members, please read this in full and help me out.

You may or may not remember that I was one of the guys that Chicago Corvette sold a set of incorrect heads to for my 57 Corvette. The heads sent to me were Tonowanda Cast 3740997's making them passenger car heads, vs. the Flint Cast 3740997 heads that would have been correct for Corvette applications.

I posted questions about these heads on this board when I purchased them back in early Nov of 2006. I got great information from this board, thanks.

I took delivery well into December, It took C.C. OVER a month to send me the heads. Upon an investigation with very well respected members of this board, I learned that they were the incorrect Cast Heads, and I sent them back to Chicago Corvette. Robert, at Chicago Corvette gave me confirmation of their arrival back at Chicago Corvette in Mid-January, but Al was out of town, and he couldn't issue credit till Al was back, 3 weeks later!!! Al Fierke, yes the owner of Chicago Corvette, finally told me on Feb 5th. 2007 that I would get a FULL refund, and he would issue the credit to my account immediately.

Regardless of having SEVERAL phone call conversations, and listening to several excuses from their company. I still have not gotten a penny back from Chicago Corvette. I have spoken with everyone that works there. The accountant, Leanne is very nice, and assures me that I will get my money back. She even offered to pay me interest!!! When I speak with Al, he just puts me on the phone with her. I told them last week that they had till Friday of this week to get me my money back or I would file a dispute. Of course now it is after the cut-off for a dispute. My Credit card company is being nice enough to let me move forward with a dispute on Friday, as I had already called them and my account was noted before the cut off period. HOWEVER, and this is where I need your help!!! They are going to need proof that this company has screwed other people over too.

Please, Please, Please come forward with any negative or inconvenient stories that you, your neighbors or friends have encountered with this company. I have told my Credit card company that I am going to post this thread on a World-Wide Website and it should stand as proof as to what this company is all about. The Credit card company has already told me I have a 50/50 shot at getting my money back. Can you believe that? I paid this guy 2981.95 on a Credit card, and have paid 8.24% interest on that since Nov 2nd. He is a fellow NCRS member, he advertises in the Driveline. Since the NCRS lets him advertise, I thought he would have been legit. Should the NCRS let a guy like this be a member, or even advertise in our Drivelines for other younger members, like me to be suckered from?

Without your help, I am out 3 grand, and just think about how many other people out there will be screwed over if he gets away with this!!!!

PLEASE HELP!!!
Best Regards,

Jacob Angel
NCRS # 40987

[Ridge K.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

Jacob, I’m sorry but I can’t help you with information about the business tactics of Chicago Corvette, as I have not done business with them. However, when they treat one fellow member like that, they hurt all members of ths club. I can’t help but think that when your message is brought to their attention, and it will be, you will get the refund immediately. I wish the NCRS President would contact them and express how disappointing this is to all brother members of this club.
Being in the early stages of my own C2 restoration, I will not do any business with Chicago Corvette, until I hear that you have received a fair, and just refund. Please update this board as soon as you receive it, IF you receive it. Thank you for passing on this very valuable information, and good luck to you in achieving justice. Ridge Kayser #45955

[Brian Monticello]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93329

...a similar thread on another forum

[Jacob A.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

Thanks guys!!

I have posted this entire purchase on the board from start to finish. I FOR SURE will report what happens on this board, and Al Fierke KNOWS THIS!

I have been so patient it is ridiculous, and have been a really good sport about the situation, even when Al gets a little rude on the phone.

This is HIS chance to show us that he will do the right thing!!!!

Thanks again,
Jacob Angel
# 40987

[Kevin M.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

Jacob

Cancel your credit card after they fix this F up. It's BS they can't refund you. And why the hell did you wait so long, with there track record with you. I really can't believe the CC Co told you, you needed proof? You returned the merchandise and awaited a refund and we're led along believing it would come. That acknowledgment alone should warrant a refund. Do you a have anything in writing about the refund, did you get delivery confirmation when you sent the heads back? I just canceled an eBay purchase and my CC Co told me just to make sure I got delivery confirmation. Call back that sweet Leanne and record the phone call.

I'd lean on the CC Co harder it's not like VISA or what ever CC you used wouldn't be seeing further charges with this Company they all work together and can get your money back.

Kevin

[don Izzo]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

Some years ago around 1992-93, while hunting for parts for my Belair at the Carlisle meet I couldn't help notice that someone had plastered the fairgrounds with home made fliers warning everyone to stay away from Chicago Corvette.

When I bought my 60 it was a basket case. There were only three parts missing, The distributor, the carb, and the steering wheel.

I responded to an ad for a WCFB and found myself on the phone with AL. I told him I didn't care to do business with him and told him about all the fliers. He gave me a cock and bull story about some guy trying to rob him of his parts and it was not his fault yadda yadda yadda. He Even said he tried to make it right with this guy but he wouldn't have any of it...So...I bit. He sold me the carb and distributor which both needed to be restored. He took care of this and shipped me the parts. As I recall a long wait for the distributor.

Long story short the carb ran so bad I sent it back no less than 5 times before demanding a refund. Instead, he sent me another restored carb that ran as bad as the first. I finally gave up and swore never to do business with him again. The fliers were right Buyer beware!

[Jacob A.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

My Credit card company told me that proof wouldn't hurt. It wasn't mandatory that I send proof, but with a 50/50 shot at getting my money back... I figure proof won't hurt, and they agreed.

I waited so long, because I wan't even told I would get a refund until Feb 5th. As Al was out of town for several weeks. You are right, I should have filed sooner. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I have even defended AL on this board and suggested him as someone who seemed to really know carbs....for carb resto to someone on this baord.

If I get my money back, I will post it on this board, and he can fix his reputation up.

Thanks again guys! I really need your help! Hopefully some of these comments will be worth 3 grand worth of proof to my Credit Card Company.

Best Regards,
Jacob Angel
# 40987

[Jacob A.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

On last Thursday Leanne, the accountant told me via telephone that she had just gotten an email from her bank stating that my credit, and several other customers return credits had been issued to the wrong accounts. On last Thursday she told me that the issue had been straightened out and that the bank would issue credit immediately.

I called the bank today, and checked my online account... no money almost a week later!

I just got off the phone with her again. She said, "well let me call the bank again and see what's going on". Then I said, you know... "I would love a return confirmation # or some form of delivery confirmation of the heads, as the only confirmation I have that they were returned is my local UPS lady, and several telephone calls with Robert, Bob, and AL Fierke of Chicago Corvette in which they have all confirmed verbally with me that they do have the heads and that they were received in the exact same condition as they were when they were shipped out to me in the first place. She told me she would have to go to another department to get the # and could she call me back. THen she asked for my phone #, and then it dawned on me.... They have never even called me once, since this whole thing has started.... it has always been me! Talk about customer service!

I told her I would wait at home until she called me back with an answer from the bank, and a delivery confirmation #.

I will tell them today, when and if she calls me back...

They can either send me a cashiers check overnighted by the end of business today, with tracking # for the full amount. Or I will follow through with my dispute, and continue to expose them.

Thanks for your help guys!
Jacob Angel
# 40987

p.s This is MY first purchase ever from Chicago Corvette, I had no track record before! I almost bought a set of 997' s from him on ebay, and I backed out of the sale as the dates were incorrect for my car. He let me back out without negative feedback, as long as I bought another set of 997's that he had with the correct date. Those heads are the ones I am having problems with.

[Jim R.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

Its one of thoses days for me, first myself being abused by Long Island Corvette ,and now to here this about chicago corvette ,now i know i will never buy from them either ,the only places that i have dealt with that treated me like a wanted customer are paragon and corvette central , i guess i will buy what i can from them from now on ,also i have had good help from stoudt auto supply over the years on used parts.

[Richard T.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

All your credit card company needs is proof that the heads were returned. UPS can provide this from the tracking number of the shipment. They even have a signature of the receiver. If you have your tracking number you can get this info on line and print it. Provide this with the proof of purchase to your credit card company and they can pull the money back from Chicago Corvette. They normally give the company 30 days to reply to the charges and if they do not the credit to your account stands. Good luck Rich

[Jacob A.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

Thanks everyone! I have now got the tracking #'s. It took some creative ingenuity on my part.... because I had to get them from Chicago Corvette, but it worked, and now I have the tracking #'s and I can prove that they did receive the heads, Jan 16th and 18th....

Leanne just called me back,as I was writing this thread... and stated a Merchant Services auth # and batch #. Hopefully this thread got back to Al, and maybe this is why I am seeing some action finally!!!!

Thanks,
Jacob Angel
# 40987

I will still post the outcome of this entire transaction for you all to read!

[Martin T.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

Rich, I was about to write a response similar to yours. I am glad you passed the information on to this poor guy. The saving grace of a credit card is the ability to cancel the transaction for non-performance by a vendor. It is too bad a Company like Chicago Corvette does not consider the bigger picture when they opt to lie. Instead of growing their business with a good reputation they are destroying a good thing.

[Richard T.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

That's one of the best reasons to use a card as they provide this service for free. Chicago Corvette should be out of business, this has been going on for years but he just keeps finding new customers. His user ID on e bay is vettewheelman so beware!

[Clem Z.]

CC knows it can get away with it because

there are owner in this hobby who will pay $15,000 for the correct 5 tires and $5000 for a throttle solenoid. with buyers like this they know that they can get what the want when they want it. there are lots of corvette owners out there that price or inconveniences is not a problem. i bet there have been lots who have had the same problem as you and just said "the hell with it because it is only money" and never pursued it any farther

[Jim D.]

Re: HELP! CHICAGO CORVETTE OWES ME $2981.95 NEED H

Also known as "Mztercarb" on E-Bay. Who knows how many more names he goes by.