Warning - poor R&D and customer service + credit card dispute

[idiot280]

TLDR; Vendor sold a "bolt-on" part that didn't fit. They ghosted me after I asked about it. I filed a credit card dispute and won. Be careful this holiday season.

 

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Just a heads up for anyone considering buying from "Flex Engineered" during their Black Friday sales. No, that is not their real name, but you can figure it out easily (fabricators of suspension parts and other things). I don't wish to even give them the SEO. I recently had a pretty frustrating experience with them that I feel the need to share. I was going to keep this to myself, but as they are advertising Black Friday savings - I hope to save at least one person from their hassle. 

 

I bought a set of “bolt-on” hood hinges from them, advertised as compatible with the Datsun 240Z. However, when I tried to install them, it was clear they hadn’t properly tested these for the 240Z. The hinges wouldn’t fit because they interfered with the grill mount, which is placed differently on the 240Z than on the 280Z. After some research, it became obvious that "Flex" didn’t take this difference into account. Basically, they used me as a test mule for a product that wasn’t fully developed or properly tested.

 

The worst part was how they handled it. After I contacted them with photos showing the issue, they initially responded but then went silent for weeks. They even quietly started changing the product page and removing photos to cover up the problem instead of addressing it directly. It wasn’t until I filed a dispute with my credit card company that they sent a return label - no explanation, no apology, just a blank email with the label.

 

If you’re thinking about purchasing from them, especially during their sale, I’d recommend being cautious. Your purchase might go off without a hitch. But my experience showed they might release products before they’re properly tested, and they don’t handle customer issues very professionally. There are other vendors who prioritize quality and honesty with the Datsun community - "Flex Engineered" just doesn’t seem to be one of them.

 

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Edit: 

Apex Engineered

 

Edited November 8 by idiot280

[A to Z]

"it's the Russians"

[NewZed]

RTPD = Read the post disappointed

 

You should have created a fake name that at least leads to the mystery company.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Flex+Engineered&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS862US862&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[idiot280]

53 minutes ago, NewZed said:

RTPD = Read the post disappointed

 

You should have created a fake name that at least leads to the mystery company.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Flex+Engineered&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS862US862&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

Yeah. You're right. Not helpful to be nonspecific. I don't need a fake account to tell the truth though. Post has been edited.

[G-Tech]

Sucks to hear you had such an issue. I have had problems similar with other companies also. It's super frustrating.

I know i have purchased a handful of things from Apex Engineered. Some were fine but the rear subframe for a s130 chassis i got from them certainly had some modifying to be done. I have learned very rarely is something "Bolt-on". Even when they say it is. My Brakes from Arizona Zcar had to be modified, my Custom stub axles from whitehead performance interfered with the shock mounts and i had issues with the rear coilovers from T3. 

I guess my 2 cents is every company tries putting out parts that aren't 100% 

I would say be careful buying those hood hinges til you talk to them and see that the problem has been fixed. 

All these companies are small and trying to do more then they can handle. Hence mayb why their customer service sucks. It's tough out there and i hate to see post like this. There are certainly worse companies that don't deserve to be in business but i just don't feel this is one of them. I'm thankful for this company making what they do.

FWIW, I have  absolutely no ties to any company. I'm just an enthusiast   

Good luck with your build. Not trying to stir shit up (even though i feel i just did)

 

[idiot280]

1 hour ago, G-Tech said:

Sucks to hear you had such an issue. I have had problems similar with other companies also. It's super frustrating.

I know i have purchased a handful of things from Apex Engineered. Some were fine but the rear subframe for a s130 chassis i got from them certainly had some modifying to be done. I have learned very rarely is something "Bolt-on". Even when they say it is. My Brakes from Arizona Zcar had to be modified, my Custom stub axles from whitehead performance interfered with the shock mounts and i had issues with the rear coilovers from T3. 

I guess my 2 cents is every company tries putting out parts that aren't 100% 

I would say be careful buying those hood hinges til you talk to them and see that the problem has been fixed. 

All these companies are small and trying to do more then they can handle. Hence mayb why their customer service sucks. It's tough out there and i hate to see post like this. There are certainly worse companies that don't deserve to be in business but i just don't feel this is one of them. I'm thankful for this company making what they do.

FWIW, I have  absolutely no ties to any company. I'm just an enthusiast   

Good luck with your build. Not trying to stir shit up (even though i feel i just did)

 

I don't disagree with a single thing you wrote. In this very specific case, their marketing was clear. They fit. Hood hinges are almost always direct replacements unless otherwise specified. These shouldn't be complicated or require modification. For these hinges to fit a 240Z, the grill mount must be completely removed. It would be a total grill delete. That's a significant asterisk to "bolt on."

[G-Tech]

Glad i didn't start a whole thing here.

FWIW i also agree that a Grill delete is an excessive thing to overlook or not mention.

Like i said, it's a valid point to bring to peoples attention.

Happy Building in the future!

Edited November 9 by G-Tech