My BEGI experience
#61
Elite Member
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Posts: 5,360
Total Cats: 43
Wow..
Come to think of it, I've never ordered anything from Bell. Considered it several times but always ended up calling FM for some reason which I've been pretty pleased with overall. Ordered a few parts for a friend on a Sunday morning and was surprised to be holding it on Tuesday afternoon. They even called on Wed to make sure I got the parts and was happy.
Honestly I can say first hand I've worked for several companies like this previously. While the company might've provided a fantastic product or great service, their customer service skills and ability to follow a time line were a complete failure. It can ruin would could be a great business, not providing complete satisfaction for your customer.
Sorry to hear you're out the parts, I'm sure it would've been nice to have them for other projects or to unload on the forum. Also sorry to hear that's the type of reply the owner would give you about the service your received from his business.
#62
I just need one more post as a response...
#63
I asked her if the car could be tuned for more power with the new tune box that she was going to put on it and she stated that it was on the stock computer because the box wasn't ready. She also stated that when she was done testing it she would send me her mule to test on the MSM.
Three hours later I'm at BEGI's shop and Stephanie looks flustered that I'm there. I tell her I'm there to pick up the car and she tells me that she needs to wash/detail it before I leave. I tell her that’s not necessary. She walks off stating she will be right back. 30 min later she walks back up front saying they had a couple of things to check out before I could leave. I go outside to smoke a cig and see my car is around back outside with the hood up and tools scattered all over the engine bay.
I asked about the air box and Stephanie stated they had to make more and she didn’t charge me for it but would call me when they made more next week. She also stated that the gauge pod would be in next week as well. I left some what disappointed. On my way home my boost gauge line melted and stuck on 8psi.
When installing it later that day we realized the DP was mild steal, not coated, and rusty. We also noticed it had the stock DV still installed. I called Stephanie about the problems and she stated her checklist had the mild steal DP on it. When I reminded her about our conversation regarding coating the SSDP she said she would talk to Corky. She also stated that they would mail out the Forge DV that day.
My invoice was emailed after I had left the house for my surprise pick up of my car. I had paid Stephanie $1577.oo that day and that was the price after the credit for $350 for the turbo sale. What I had on my check list and thought I was getting.
GT2871 - received
Cast mani - received
Stainless SSSGDP
Stainless lines – received
IC piping for stock IC
Tune box
Air scooper
Air box
Heat shield
Forge DV
Gauge pod
GT2871 - received
Cast mani - received
Stainless SSSGDP
Stainless lines – received
IC piping for stock IC
Tune box
Air scooper
Air box
Heat shield
Forge DV
Gauge pod
I never received my Forge DV or Gauge pod in the mail.
After looking over the invoice I realized Stephanie charged me full price for the kit if you minus the FPR that I didn’t need on the MSM. I sent an email to Stephanie stating why I was upset and that I was supposed to be paying cost. If I had known they were going to charge me full price minus a free install I would have done it myself rather than leave my brand new car at their shop for three months while making the payments on it.
I got no response. A week later I sent it to Corky and got a prompt response stating he would talk to Stephanie and fix any issues. After no response from the email to Stephanie and two messages left I ordered the parts to fix my car myself.
At the time the S-kit was $1700 retail with the added parts of stainless dp (150 retail), upgraded turbo (200 retail), tune box replacing FPR (0), Stainless return line (40), and pillar gauge (25), forge dv (130), cold air box (160), and air scooper (120). My retail total would have been $2525.00. When she stated the total was $1820, I thought that was great. Right inline with what I was thinking. I basically got upgraded BEGI-S system for the regular price. She took the $350 out of my $1820 and I owed them $1470 plus tax.
BEGI-S $1735.00 (no FMU)
Stainless downpipe $150
SS SG DP $250 (gotta get straight which one you were supposed to get now, and also include the supposed coating!)
Upgraded turbo $200
Stainless return line $35
A-pillar mount $21.99
Forge valve $150.
Cool Air Box $178
Air Scooper $150.
Retail total: $2334.99 (downpipe excluded since you can't decide which one it was you were supposed to get.)
But lets look at what you were billed for, once again.
BEGI-S $1569.28
Stainless downpipe - did not get one, did not pay for it either.
SS SG DP - did not get one, did not pay for one either
Upgraded turbo - No charge
Stainless return line - did not get one, did not pay for it either.
A-pillar mount - you paid $17.15
Forge valve - You paid $117
Cool Air Box - No charge
Air Scooper - No charge
Total: $1820.40.
Sold turbo < $350>
Sales tax $106.60.
Please explain to everyone again just exactly where it was you got hosed? $2335 worth of parts for $1820?
What I actually got was at the regular BEGI-S minus the FPR plus stainless lines.
I basically got hosed on the deal due to BEGI never sending the parts out that would complete what I ordered.
Looking at the way the invoice is written up either Stephanie forgot about the other parts or just flat out didn’t plan on providing them. Either way since this was a demo kit at cost didn’t the price look kind of high?
Bell owes me a SSSGDP, Forge DV, FPR/tune box either or, pillar gauge, Forge DV, cold air box, air scooper. The reason that I didn’t put difference of SS vs Steel DP is due to the utter piece of crap they sent me.
It was not even the pipe pictured online.
It had a slip fitting installed in it to change the length as needed and had an inch thick piece of steal as a mount at the turbo to clear the wastegate. I was plagued with compressor surge the entire time I owned it due to the crappy design.
She forgot about my appointment to drop off.
She was sick the entire build and didn’t communicate the timeline to the shop guys.
Due to her office being an absolute trash can when she looked for my check list she couldn’t find it but remembered S-kit plus GT28.
Besides, your story about my trash can of an office means little to me. You drop off the car after having wrecked it! The front bumper was falling off. The bumper is also rubbing on the tire. I clearly remember the air scooper being used to hold the damn bumper on. Your car was trashed. Dirty and smelled. Who wrecks their car, does not fix it, then spends $2K on a new turbo? Certainly would not be my car!
She didn’t have the car finished when she called looking for the money and lied. When I dropped in that day to pay it still had their actual testing downpipe on the car and none of the extra parts put on. Embarrassed that she got caught in a lie she let me take the car incomplete with the wrong DP installed.
This was confirmed by the **** quality and no heat coating of the DP along with Corky out their taking measurments of all the IC piping and DP.
Corky is an awesome guy that makes sweet parts. I feel he would rather be in the shop than handling problems/orders. He needs someone better than Stephanie, but hey she’s family.
Stephanie is very disorganized and sick too much. She forgets prices, parts, discussions and ultimately screws customers either on purpose or accidentally.
As for me being sick, that much is true. But damn it, it is absolutely NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS that I have stage 1 COPD. I do not go around advertising it because I deal with it. Life goes on. I spend 6-7 months a year sick with bronchitis and/or pneumonia. I am sick right now. But you know what, where do you get off getting pissy about me being sick? Are you in-humane? Have no sympathy? You should. You keep smoking and you will walk in my shoes some day. Then you can come back to me and gripe about me being sick again. Grow up.
to be continued....
#64
BEGI? It’s been 2 years since I dropped that car off. Can I get my parts? I’ll gladly use them on another Miata in the future as I believe most of them are very high quality.
You are entitled to your opinion, and free to post what ever lies you see fit. If I owed you an apology, you would get it. If I owed you parts, I would remember, and also have documentation that fact.
Jake in Corpus
PS I still have the invoice if you can't find it.
PS I still have the invoice if you can't find it.
Again, what is your motive for doing this? Free parts for a car you no longer own? Money for items you never paid for? Or are you just being a jerk? Two years after the fact.....
Stephanie
#69
#70
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Taos, New mexico
Posts: 6,612
Total Cats: 567
Well played. This is sounding more and more like jacob being an asshat. I did not realize that you had sold the car, you already screwed up by waiting this long. Also.. you dropped off the car a few weeks early? Gtfo, lol. Next time make sure to have a fit right after something happens, it doesn't work the same after waiting a few years.
#75
#76
#78
Stephanie
#80
Jake, I sort of thought my ramblings about Margaritas were just part of the fun. Sorry you think I must be boozed up all the time. I must admit, a six pack of Tecate is my favorite snack. That's just the morning break, I get serious at lunch with stuff that would kill you kids. Evenings are no holds barred. Somebody needs to keep the booze suppliers in business and I like to think I'm doing my fair share. We all have our responsibilities and heros; Stirling Moss, Jose Quervo, Juan Fangio, Mr. Bacardi, Schumacher, Old man Corona, young Mr. Vettel, Wild Turkey, Niki Lauda, Fosters, Sir Brabham, The Scots Stewart and Clark, our own Mr's Hill and Gurney, and, of course, our own Lone Star Beer.
Sorry, I got carried away. Someone might think I'm serious.
In my best judgement, your character has shown through and clearly noted to be lacking. Stephanie's well documented response is spot on. I offered to discuss the matter and you called me a drunk. (please note above for evidence...) While not enthused about trying to one up on insults, may I just suggest you go find some other group to pester.
Frank, is there any merit in having the only '99+ engine management that can pass a state inspection? Or, what about the MX5? Clearly, we have the only tuning solution for it. We also have the safest/fastest MX5 forced induction system. It is a huge hoot to think we out did Cosworth. Clearly, we did. We sure have lots of man/girl hours invested in these. Sitting on our thumbs is not high on our list.
Savington; I am somewhat surprised that you are "proud" of not having any component of mine on your racer. I am not concerned that you use my pieces, but "proud" that you don't is certainly of some concern. Over the years, at least with folks over 30, I think I have acheived a position of "no bullshit". Goodness, you may step forward as the first person I can recall that suggests I am full of bull. Clearly, that concerns me, as you don't seem to be full of same.
When you think you need a few more ponies, perhaps our 20th generation intake manifold might help. It sure took a bunch of tries. Nine pounds lighter, too.
Downpipe might offer a bit of help too. A little more science applied to intercooling may also offer a tick. Shameless plug number 1007: bellintercoolers.com
Corky
Sorry, I got carried away. Someone might think I'm serious.
In my best judgement, your character has shown through and clearly noted to be lacking. Stephanie's well documented response is spot on. I offered to discuss the matter and you called me a drunk. (please note above for evidence...) While not enthused about trying to one up on insults, may I just suggest you go find some other group to pester.
Frank, is there any merit in having the only '99+ engine management that can pass a state inspection? Or, what about the MX5? Clearly, we have the only tuning solution for it. We also have the safest/fastest MX5 forced induction system. It is a huge hoot to think we out did Cosworth. Clearly, we did. We sure have lots of man/girl hours invested in these. Sitting on our thumbs is not high on our list.
Savington; I am somewhat surprised that you are "proud" of not having any component of mine on your racer. I am not concerned that you use my pieces, but "proud" that you don't is certainly of some concern. Over the years, at least with folks over 30, I think I have acheived a position of "no bullshit". Goodness, you may step forward as the first person I can recall that suggests I am full of bull. Clearly, that concerns me, as you don't seem to be full of same.
When you think you need a few more ponies, perhaps our 20th generation intake manifold might help. It sure took a bunch of tries. Nine pounds lighter, too.
Downpipe might offer a bit of help too. A little more science applied to intercooling may also offer a tick. Shameless plug number 1007: bellintercoolers.com
Corky