Bad Avoid Importshark

[Never thought]

he said the $100k wasn't his. if your gonna instigate atleast get it right.

He claims it’s not him and he setup someone’s eBay account using his personal email. I think Muncie was pointing out the absurdity of that with that comment.

 

[A Member Who Left]

he said the $100k wasn't his. if your gonna instigate atleast get it right.

So those of us who have had problems with this guy are now the instigators? Get real. The fact that many of us Stinger owners are even talking about this is fact enough of who the instigator is here.

 

[Ozstung]

So those of us who have had problems with this guy are now the instigators? Get real. The fact that many of us Stinger owners are even talking about this is fact enough of who the instigator is here.

Yep no smoke without fire.

 

[ballistic]

I also set up two other Ebay accounts--one of which brings in about $100k per week. That's technically connected to me too even though I've got nothing to do with it anymore.

$100k a week. No need for anyone to belittle the man. He's fine without us.

He claims it’s not him and he setup someone’s eBay account using his personal email. I think Muncie was pointing out the absurdity of that with that comment.

could be be but i was just pointing out that he did not say he makes 100k per week.

So those of us who have had problems with this guy are now the instigators? Get real. The fact that many of us Stinger owners are even talking about this is fact enough of who the instigator is here.

point me to the post where i said those of you who've had problems are now the instigators. i won't hold my breath waiting.

Yep no smoke without fire.

not defending mike. i don't know him from a hole in the wall.

 

[Helo58]

This is why I hate social media. The "piling on" effect that threads like this have will harm this business despite the validity of the claims (good or bad) and will disproportionately represent the magnitude of the issue. Any responsible person buying from ANY vendor should use a credit card. Most credit cards have consumer protection features included with being a cardholder that allow the cardholder to dispute charges with a vendor. This alone is sufficient to remedy just about every problem mentioned here. Is it possible that recourse outside of the above mentioned action (including whingeing all over the internet about it) is only self-serving and aggrandizing done under the guise of "helping the community?"

 

[ScottM]

@Helo58 I'm not a big fan of social media either, but it has definitely helped get information out there (good and bad). Having said that, it's up to the person reading the "goods/bads" to take it as they will with anything. I think the biggest problem with this vendor that I see and have a problem with is the reaction. A customer shouldn't have to think first "what if things go bad, how will I dispute the charge"? The customer should have faith in a vendor to solve the problem by either fixing the problem to the customers satisfaction quickly or giving a full refund promptly. It's pretty simple, things happen and we all know that. This vendor appears...in several threads to push the blame away from himself. This is not a product issue, this is a "make the customer happy and move on issue". This vendor does not appear to do that. This vendor will continue to do what he does and make money. It won't be my money, but that's probably just a drop in the bucket for him.

 

[Helo58]

@ScottM, to be clear from the outset, I have never purchased anything from Import Shark so I am neither for or against them personally. My opinion really speaks to the larger point that, with social media, not everyone commenting on an issue has a dog in the fight. With that, there is seldom a penalty for these potentially damaging and often anonymous "opinions" being spread by unaffected parties if they are untrue or exaggerated. Verifying or refuting the entirety of these "opinions" by the affected vendor has the potential to create an undue burden for the vendor depending on their size. I feel it akin to a "mob mentality" and not a good thing for a forum to perpetuate despite the noble pretense.

 

[Weareblondi]

how about the fact that sal, the boss of this forum, hasn't ousted him. that right there speaks volumes. i am certain that if sal thought that there was any hinkey type of sh#t going on, he would have pulled him from the forum. as in any business, and i am sure that there are a bunch of us business owners/professionals here, there will always be people who have a problem, people who want to make the problem a huge problem and the ones who just jump on board and agree with whatever is being said. thats just my 2 cents. and, like was posted before, i have had no dealings with importshark other than pleasant exchanges on this forum. he could be the nicest person of the planet or he could be my older brother in disguise, in which case, get the torches and we will make a run for his castle.

 

[ScottM]

@Helo58 ; I have never purchased anything from this vendor either. I was going to, but then I thought "what if something goes wrong?" I won't take that chance knowing what I know. And this vendors reaction has affected some on our forum directly. This is not something that a forum member found online and stated "look what happened to this person", this is something that has directly happened to several of our own. I guess that's where I'm pleased with social media in this case. I can be on a forum with members who have a car exactly like mine, trying to order the exact part that I want, and I can see what happened in many cases. What happened not only from vendor to customer, but what happened when the part was installed (how easy, how hard, how it looks, how it works, how it compares to another part I might have wanted). The bottom line is; this isn't the 90's where a vendor could do an awesome job or a vendor could do a horrible job and it was hard to the see the outcome. In 2018 I/we can see most everything and determine what action to take. I just think in today's day and age a vendor that doesn't realize that he/she HAS to solve the problem amicably, is a vendor that is creating their own downfall.

 

[Helo58]

@Helo58 A customer shouldn't have to think first "what if things go bad, how will I dispute the charge"? The customer should have faith in a vendor to solve the problem by either fixing the problem to the customers satisfaction quickly or giving a full refund promptly. It's pretty simple, things happen and we all know that.

Some of us grew up in an age when the phrase "caveat emptor" was the norm. Translated, this means "buyer beware." Until the 1970s-1980s, this was the legal business norm and when you purchased something, it was yours to keep... even if it burned your house down. The idea that the buyer doesn't assume all responsibility for a purchase has changed dramatically in my lifetime. Resultingly, anytime I give my hard earned money to another person/business I always consider the wisdom of the decision unless I go into it prepared to lose my money (i.e. Craigslist item priced too good to be true).

Having "faith" in a vendor is a poor choice that will likely leave you disappointed at some point. It is my contention that in these cases, once should use the law and consumer protection remedies to resolve the situation, not the court of public opinion.

 

[ScottM]

If I can't have "faith" in a vendor to solve the problem, then I move on. This is why I will not purchase from this vendor. It's pretty simple, there aren't only 5 vendors who do something anymore. There are 20-25... and thus why many go out of business. Often times they are just the middle man and the only thing that separates them from the competition is the customer service before AND after the fact.

 

[Weareblondi]

@Helo58 ; I have never purchased anything from this vendor either. I was going to, but then I thought "what if something goes wrong?" I won't take that chance knowing what I know. And this vendors reaction has affected some on our forum directly. This is not something that a forum member found online and stated "look what happened to this person", this is something that has directly happened to several of our own. I guess that's where I'm pleased with social media in this case. I can be on a forum with members who have a car exactly like mine, trying to order the exact part that I want, and I can see what happened in many cases. What happened not only from vendor to customer, but what happened when the part was installed (how easy, how hard, how it looks, how it works, how it compares to another part I might have wanted). The bottom line is; this isn't the 90's where a vendor could do an awesome job or a vendor could do a horrible job and it was hard to the see the outcome. In 2018 I/we can see most everything and determine what action to take. I just think in today's day and age a vendor that doesn't realize that he/she HAS to solve the problem amicably, is a vendor that is creating their own downfall.

i agree, and as you pointed out, it isn't the 90's where they just hid behind a veil of anonymity. in this day and age of instant reprisals and instant gratification, most vendors can't hide anymore. there are lots of us who will call bullsh*t on bad items. but, if the vendor is the middle man, we have all seen items that look the same but are just a tiny hair off in precision. cause in point, the plugs in my stinger. left bank were all gapped between 32-34 while the right bank were between 33-36. same plugs, same car. human error and all that, but, like you posted, vendors today have to be able to resolve any issues amicably and professionally. but again, i don't know the man other than forum posts, so i can not make a judgement on his character from others opinion of him.

 

[Weareblondi]

there might be 20-25 vendors who sell the same items, but there are probably only 2-3 who produce the items. so, not buying from one and buying from the other might get you the same faulty piece in which case, the difference between vendors is how they will respond to a resolution. there is another forum member who i talk with on a regular basis, purchased the led spoiler that goes across the rear window. don't want to say who he purchased this from, but the piece was faulty from manufacturer. it would have cost more to ship it back than the actual piece was worth. vendor told him to keep the piece and refunded the money. vendor took the customers word that the piece was faulty. that is faith on the vendors part.

 

[Weareblondi]

also, there was a post here about starting a group buy and how they were upset that the vendor wasn't receptive to the idea. could be that the vendor was waiting to see how many pieces he could get before he himself offering a group buy. or, it might not be worth it for him and for the forum members to do a group buy. cost savings-shipping. i don't know. i'm just, as a moderator and a stinger enthusiast, trying to keep the peace and keep this thread civil. please.

 

[Helo58]

@Helo58 ; I have never purchased anything from this vendor either. I was going to, but then I thought "what if something goes wrong?" I won't take that chance knowing what I know. And this vendors reaction has affected some on our forum directly. This is not something that a forum member found online and stated "look what happened to this person", this is something that has directly happened to several of our own. I guess that's where I'm pleased with social media in this case. I can be on a forum with members who have a car exactly like mine, trying to order the exact part that I want, and I can see what happened in many cases. What happened not only from vendor to customer, but what happened when the part was installed (how easy, how hard, how it looks, how it works, how it compares to another part I might have wanted). The bottom line is; this isn't the 90's where a vendor could do an awesome job or a vendor could do a horrible job and it was hard to the see the outcome. In 2018 I/we can see most everything and determine what action to take. I just think in today's day and age a vendor that doesn't realize that he/she HAS to solve the problem amicably, is a vendor that is creating their own downfall.

I know I am a dinosaur but I will concede that there are likely some benefits to social media. However, I remained convinced that the negatives far outweigh the positives. Given the recent revelation that an abundance of Twitter and Facebook users are fake, Amazon reviews are fake or paid for in many cases, Yelp reviews were found to be fake, I take very little comfort in the "consensus" method of purchasing an item based on the opinions of others. I have found it useful occasionally but not without error, especially when the reviews vary widely as in this case. I also have no requirement that the merchant be friendly or even agreeable, just offer me the product I want, at a price that is reasonable, and in a timely manner. If any of those are misrepresented to me in my transaction outside of reasonable limits, I simply cancel my transaction via the credit card company for simple cases. (many don't know that if enough transactions are contested with a vendor, the credit company will no longer process transactions for the vendor eliminating this form of payment for them) This is a very effective tool. For more complex cases, stronger legal remedies may be needed. In either case, I take my business elsewhere. I don't have an activist mentality where I feel it is my job to save others or punish the vendor by organizing a boycott, voicing my experience, or disparaging them in other ways. It simply isn't value added for me to do so.

 

[ScottM]

i agree, and as you pointed out, it isn't the 90's where they just hid behind a veil of anonymity. in this day and age of instant reprisals and instant gratification, most vendors can't hide anymore. there are lots of us who will call bullsh*t on bad items. but, if the vendor is the middle man, we have all seen items that look the same but are just a tiny hair off in precision. cause in point, the plugs in my stinger. left bank were all gapped between 32-34 while the right bank were between 33-36. same plugs, same car. human error and all that, but, like you posted, vendors today have to be able to resolve any issues amicably and professionally. but again, i don't know the man other than forum posts, so i can not make a judgement on his character from others opinion of him.

I agree for sure! It's not always the "middle man's" fault. I just say, as you did...handle it professionally.

there might be 20-25 vendors who sell the same items, but there are probably only 2-3 who produce the items. so, not buying from one and buying from the other might get you the same faulty piece in which case, the difference between vendors is how they will respond to a resolution. there is another forum member who i talk with on a regular basis, purchased the led spoiler that goes across the rear window. don't want to say who he purchased this from, but the piece was faulty from manufacturer. it would have cost more to ship it back than the actual piece was worth. vendor told him to keep the piece and refunded the money. vendor took the customers word that the piece was faulty. that is faith on the vendors part.

Again, I agree. There are only so many suppliers of a specific part. The part can be off somewhat and understandable, nothing is perfect. And yes, it's a two way street on he "faith" road. It's all about trusting each other to do the right thing. That's just my opinion though.

also, there was a post here about starting a group buy and how they were upset that the vendor wasn't receptive to the idea. could be that the vendor was waiting to see how many pieces he could get before he himself offering a group buy. or, it might not be worth it for him and for the forum members to do a group buy. cost savings-shipping. i don't know. i'm just, as a moderator and a stinger enthusiast, trying to keep the peace and keep this thread civil. please.

A group buy situation is different in that there are several variables. Often times there are a certain number of participants that need to be involved before it can be started, this takes time. Sometimes the participant pays first and must wait (sometimes getting a refund if the group buy does not take place). And at times it's the group buy that is started by a middle, middle man. In other words someone sees a profit from buying not directly, but from another middle man...this creates more complexity. Group buys...the are a way to make and save money, but they require patience for sure. and @Weareblondi , This thread is civil... I think. I have yet to use a bad word.

I know I am a dinosaur but I will concede that there are likely some benefits to social media. However, I remained convinced that the negatives far outweigh the positives. Given the recent revelation that an abundance of Twitter and Facebook users are fake, Amazon reviews are fake or paid for in many cases, Yelp reviews were found to be fake, I take very little comfort in the "consensus" method of purchasing an item based on the opinions of others. I have found it useful occasionally but not without error, especially when the reviews vary widely as in this case. I also have no requirement that the merchant be friendly or even agreeable, just offer me the product I want, at a price that is reasonable, and in a timely manner. If any of those are misrepresented to me in my transaction outside of reasonable limits, I simply cancel my transaction via the credit card company for simple cases. (many don't know that if enough transactions are contested with a vendor, the credit company will no longer process transactions for the vendor eliminating this form of payment for them) This is a very effective tool. For more complex cases, stronger legal remedies may be needed. In either case, I take my business elsewhere. I don't have an activist mentality where I feel it is my job to save others or punish the vendor by organizing a boycott, voicing my experience, or disparaging them in other ways. It simply isn't value added for me to do so.

I do agree that social media has gone way too far and the old "believe none of what you don't see, and only half of what you do see" does not apply like it use to. For me, I'm the kind of guy who tries to read between the lines when I read reviews. If you're a pain in the butt like me, you read all of the reviews top to bottom and then dissect each one. Then and only then do I buy, usually the item or the service is long gone by the time I'm ready.

I just think that with this new day and age...the power is in the hands of the buyer more than ever and the vendor or service provider has to go above and beyond. Well, they don't have to...but then they risk losing business because they play the "I'm right, you're wrong" game. It's just how it is. My money is important to me and if I can buy the same item from someone else, which I did...why worry about the "what if's"?

 

[Rango]

This thread will never end!!! One crashing wave after another! I'm getting sea sick ... my face is turning green!

 

[Jingguily]

Been going through this drama. Very exciting. Here's my 2 cents:

- Both sides talking about emails and facts yet no one wants to share the correspondence. This makes me feels like both sides have something to hide. Using privacy as an excuse is a joke, we're talking about a public business here.

- Now what I know for sure is the way Mike answered to the criticism; which was very unprofessional. This leads me to think that if you use ImportShark and face no issues, then you will not have to deal with him and everything should go well. Now if you have an issue, then it seems that you have to bend over and take it deep no lube because this guy sounds like he's never going to compromise.

Now this is just my 2 cents from reading this forum so it shouldn't be worth much. I will personally avoid, I don't like taking it deep without lube.

 

[Ozstung]

Been going through this drama. Very exciting. Here's my 2 cents:

- Both sides talking about emails and facts yet no one wants to share the correspondence. This makes me feels like both sides have something to hide. Using privacy as an excuse is a joke, we're talking about a public business here.

- Now what I know for sure is the way Mike answered to the criticism; which was very unprofessional. This leads me to think that if you use ImportShark and face no issues, then you will not have to deal with him and everything should go well. Now if you have an issue, then it seems that you have to bend over and take it deep no lube because this guy sounds like he's never going to compromise.

Now this is just my 2 cents from reading this forum so it shouldn't be worth much. I will personally avoid, I don't like taking it deep without lube.

Yes I have similar opinions but I just couldn't be bothered to put all detail down so far and create a point of view then to have someone high and mighty to come along and say " Nothing to see here" All I will say if the criticism is unwarranted why would the thread title even be accepted and allowed to be continued?

 

[AV8R]

And my two cents....lol... bit of humour to lighten the mood.