From jhogan@fbody.com  Sat May 18 00:21:09 2002
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From: "James Hogan" 
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Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 00:14:26 -0400
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Subject: [ma] BAD experience with Reator Products
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Let me start by saying this is only my opinion based on my experience, maybe
others have had better experience but I think this one is worth sharing.

For anyone following the saga of the Broke Ass TA, I broke the 4l60e back in
September, being as patient as I am, I waited until the end of the winter to
order a TH400 and a Gear Vendor (why fix it for a NJ winter?). Once I had
the parts, it took me 3 weekends to get the car running trouble free as I
was very excited to have it running but I had dropped the insurance and
registration since I knew I wasn't going to fix it quickly. I put a few
short drives around my block on the car, no problems. But, as my luck would
have it, the stock LS1 flexplate broke as I was at mufflex to get a new
y-pipe put on as the y-pipe had to be removed to fit the GV.

SO, on the advise on a few list members, I called Reactor Products in CA and
told them what I had, what I needed. I'm not 100% sure who I spoke with,
either Jerry or Ryan or Olen - all sound the same to me and they never give
me a name when I call. Anyhow, the person I spoke with said that if I can
give them some measurements, they could drill me a flexplate and overnight
it back to me in "1 or 2 days" - since my only other option was to try the
cheap, stock $60 part in my $6000 drivetrain (2300 Moser 12 bolt, 350$
Denny's driveshaft, $1500 TH400, $2200 Gear Vendor) I thought that $220 for
a solid flexplate from them in 1-2 days, same as it would have taken me to
get a stocker here, was a good deal. They asked me for some measurements
which I just didn't have/don't know - SO since I really wanted the flexplate
ASAP - I asked Wayne Edelen on the MA list to pickup one at his local cheap
supplier and OVERNIGHT it to them - a 60$ flexplate and 40$ shipping -
ouch - but again, seemed worth it as I should have the new flexplate here
for the weekend and this way they had the exact bolt pattern and such that
they needed.

I could not have been more wrong - 3 weeks later I STILL have no flexplate.
I called them last Friday to question where it was since 1-2 days had now
reached 1-2 weeks, I honestly tried to continue being patient. He (which
ever clown I spoke with) told me "maybe by next Friday" - So I got home from
work today to find no flexplate - I called them about 5pm their time
figuring it was the end of the day, I shouldn't be bothering them - "Hi this
is Jim Hogan, just curious about the status of my flexplate" - INSTANTLY -
the tool who answered began yelling at me as if I was doing something wrong
by asking where my, now up to 320$ instead of the $220 I was originally
quoted, flexplate was. I was _BOTHERING_ them and _INTERRUPTING THEIR WORK_
... _THEY HAVE OTHER ORDERS TO FILL_ and _MORE IMPORTANT_ flexplates, he was
being nice to me by _BUILDING MINE RIGHT AWAY_. Keep in mind he is at this
point actually yelling at me. Again, trying to be patient with them, I ask
"well you told me 1-2 days before I gave you a credit card and sent the
stock part - can't you just match the holes and drill it." he then continued
on to tell me he was working on it and it was very difficult to match
(uhhh) - he then told me "MAYBE by next Friday" - and at that time, I
repeated "but you told me 1-2 days, it's been three weeks" - he then went on
this long yelling rampage and hung up on me - some customer service.

I then tried several times over the next half hour to call them so I could
politely cancel my order and ask them to return the stock flexplate - with
Memphis just around the corner - I still have no running car and no parts
either. Needless to say, they did not even pickup the phone.

Having been left with no choice because they won't talk to me, I called my
good friend Wayne to pick up another stock flexplate and send it to me - at
this point, I'm better off trying my luck with a stock flexplate than
waiting for them as I could probably break it and replace it 200 times
before they get me one in "1 or 2 days"
SO seeing as they have taken so long (I am not convinced he has worked on it
at all)
their customer relation is to hang up (I am concerned that even if I do get
one and have problems, they will not stand behind their product)
I am also not convinced that if they can't match and drill holes that my
guinea pig flexplate will be worth the $320 I'd of been paying for it and
why is mine now 320 instead of 220 like the others - custom flexplates is
supposedly their business, is my custom flexplate  more custom or do they
just randomly change prices for people?

So with no options left with Reactor, I called my credit card company - they
hadn't/haven't charged me yet and the credit card company says it is illegal
to block a specific vendor from charging me, I ended up canceling my credit
card and having them send me a new one - at this point - the worst I can
lose is the 60$ stock flexplate and the 40$s in shipping to them - better
than giving these people 320$s so that they can continue to run a poor
operation robbing other people and holding up their projects then treating
the customer like they are doing something wrong when they call to find out
where there $320 version of a $220 flexplate is 3 weeks after being told "1
or 2 days"

So again, call this a vent if you want - but I think people should know what
kind of scam operation this is. I guess the only good news is that if/when
they finally complete the flexplate, someone out there with an LS1 will be
able to get one from them at a ridiculous overpriced charge or the guys at
reactor will call me to find out why my CC keeps failing at which time I'll
hang up on them as they did me and they can keep trying to call until I'm
ready to talk to them again.

I'll be trying my luck with a stock flexplate again and if/when I can't make
it to Memphis, it will be cause Reactor products are liars and thieves. My
suggestion is that you avoid this company regardless of their claims.

...wish me luck - maybe the stocker will work out for me :/

- Jim "yes boss, I'll have my work done in 1 or 2 days" Hogan
http://jim.fbody.com/ - 98 Navy Blue Still a Very BATA