Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi gang,

I thought I would warn you about some issues we are having with an *** product.

After doing some research for my brother we decided to buy a new set of Medium rate rear springs for my brothers HJ 61 factory turbo Land cruiser. This springs sat in the shed for a couple of weeks before we fitted them to the car (having fitted leaf springs before). The springs rode well BUT never balanced the car in relation to the front springs (ie slightly lower, the front springs are Tough Dog). The springs have been fitted for around 2 months when my brother doing a service prior to a big trip to Coral Bay notice a crack in the lower leaf on the passenger rear side spring. Please note the springs have never been over loaded and the biggest load would have been from a single axle boat with a 25HP engine on it that had been dragged behind the car 5 times He notifed *** and the rep with whom we genrally deal said " It should be covered by warrenty(sp) " ...

The car left *** as it was travelling to Coral bay the next morning, on the return trip the broken section of leaf fell out. Once back in Perth my brother proceded to chase up the replacement spring and or pack from *** and was told by the rep that it was not going to covered by warrenty as it was not fitted by *** and emu have not see a spring fail like this...

Here in is the issue, if we were told when purchasing the product that it was not covered by warrenty if we fitted them we would have had *** fit the springs, also regardless of what any producer of goods tells you- isn't anything goods sold for a purpose and fails in genral use deamed as not fit for purpose?

Really pissed off at a genrally good 4x4 store has given us the finger.

Has anyone else had issues with emu *** *aka* leaf springs, please chime in?

Daniels

Thats a very common reply from them.

Just ask the sales guy to prove you fitting the springs is what made them fail. Then say "well lets see what fair trading will say".
I have had similar dealings with diff locks from them.

I have edited your post removing the name of the company as this site is only a very small privately owned site and nobody around here wants big lawyers knocking on their door. So to be safe we don`t allow naming company`s out write in this type of situation.

Thanks Guts, I wasn't to sure if naming the company was wrong. So thanks for editing it.

I spoke to them on friday and discussed the fair trading thing. I then asked them that if a vehicle is to recieve warrenty they would have to follow every vehicle around to ensure it was not over loaded or abused. To this the sale rep said thats about right......

We are not unreasonable, IF the cruiser had been over loaded etc we would not have asked, additionally we would have speced HD springs.


My veiw of this company has now changed and I will not use or recommend there goods to anyone anymore, .

Has anyone else had leaf springs fail near new from a after market 4x4 store that is australia wide and been given this same responce?


Daniels

It is a crying shame (Because of possible law suits) we can't name these stores that sell a product because of a great advertising budget and then leave the customer in the lurch.

If we could name them it would prevent a lot of this me thinks. Obviously it isn't just big stores that disrespect the customers.

Hey mate, surely the failure is due to a manufacturing defect, whats the break look like? maybe it would be worth getting a metalurgist to look at it and see why it failed if its not to expensive, they go back to the company with that. I have the same brand springs in my middy, that were from a 60, they are an OLD set thats had much use and abuse, and apart from being soft they are fine

Are you dealing with an *** owned dealership/franchise or just a shop that stocks *** gear?

I'm surprised they're not coming to the party with warranty for a relatively low value item.

-Stu

what ever happened to the customer is always right???

it seems to be crazy not to replace a single leaf to avoid bad feedback.

I understand that the company cant be named and shamed for the legal risk, but if it is true then I dont see how the risk occurs.

Defamation is only an issue if the information is not true, a photo of a broken spring should prove it (speaking of which pics). Pretty sure the site would be safe.

IM all for the above suggestion of saying bugger them and getting a report written on the metal. probably cost a few hundred but if your sure it was faulty you could then give them the report and the bill for it and let them know kindly that you want the report paid for and product replaced or you will pursue them through small claims tribunal.

Any company facing the hassel of a tribunal over a few 00's will just write a cheque. The cost of building a defence report and their own time would be worth more.

Or just say your going to do it and see what happens.

Stuff them - poor service needs to be squashed! tell everyone you can - without getting outers sued that is

Mate doesn't matter whether you fitted or they fitted them the product has failed.

4WD Stuff wrote:It is a crying shame (Because of possible law suits) we can't name these stores that sell a product because of a great advertising budget and then leave the customer in the lurch.

If we could name them it would prevent a lot of this me thinks. Obviously it isn't just big stores that disrespect the customers.

Whats wrong with telling the truth??

Trains

trains wrote:

4WD Stuff wrote:It is a crying shame (Because of possible law suits) we can't name these stores that sell a product because of a great advertising budget and then leave the customer in the lurch.

If we could name them it would prevent a lot of this me thinks. Obviously it isn't just big stores that disrespect the customers.

Whats wrong with telling the truth??

Trains

I can't speak for the owners of this site but I suspect that not everyone speaks the truth and it would be difficult for the owner to tell what's true or false.

Then there is the court appearances.

I can understand a business making a mistake here and there but it is the businesses that do it over and over again that you would want to crucify. A simple mistake can explode into a big story and be very costly to a decent business and person.

I had a simular problem with *** head office in Melbourne some years ago with a failed greaseable shackle pin from my 60series suspension kit, fitted by them. This kit was only six months old and had no off-road use as it was fitted prior to a trip to Cape York and was being bedded in.
They wouldn’t accept that the pin had failed (broke the end off it) and that was even after I showed it to them!!!
Nearly ¾ of an hour latter I got to speak to the ‘Head Honcho’ of the suspension department and after he had seen the pin I thought great, I’ll get a new pin and be on my way, but no! A long discussion followed where they still didn’t believe that it failed and wanted me to buy a complete new shackle setup (not just the pin) and wanted to keep the pin for research.
Another long discussion ( disagreement ) followed which finally lead to them agreeing to sell me a new pin; I actually bought 3 for a few spares just in case one broke?? The old pin, I kept it as they made me pay for a new one!!

All this in mind, I never had another problem with the suspension kit and have fitted more *** kits to 60 & 80 series Cruisers and a Hilux with no drama’s travelling some of Australia’s toughest roads.

Shame about the backup service, destroys what would be otherwise a great product. Let’s face it, even the best of products can and do have failures!!

coights 40th wrote: Shame about the backup service, destroys what would be otherwise a great product. Let’s face it, even the best of products can and do have failures!!

I just don't understand why they just didn't give you a pin. It probably cost them 50c. Any product can have failures. It seems they are too arrogant to admit that their product could be a failure.

I must admit though, till now I haven't gone out of my way to sell leaf springs. If I send leafs to WA which is still cost affective and there is a problem, it costs me too much in freight stuff too and fro. (Not an issue for the big companies though)

Shane

Should have gone an EFS kit as I have heard really good after sales service if anything goes wrong, and I reckon they would have replaced it had one of their leaves broken. (that is if it wasnt efs and I'm not talkin through my ASS)
I wonder if ### would still have used the overloading excuse even if they had fitted it?
I mean overoading a leaf spring to the point where it broke would really take some effort, It obviously had a Fault before it was fitted.

Hope they try and save whats left of their reputation and accept that its better to fork out for a new leaf than have a lot of bad publicity going their way.
Good Luck.

Go through the small claims tribunal, if no agreement there then VCAT or whatever it's called in your state (cost you $36.00).

That is all these businesses understand nowadays, if it's going to cost them time and money to show up and defend themselves you'll get a new spring.

*** need to wake up and not treat customers like crap when one of their products fails.

4WD Stuff wrote:

trains wrote:

4WD Stuff wrote:It is a crying shame (Because of possible law suits) we can't name these stores that sell a product because of a great advertising budget and then leave the customer in the lurch.

If we could name them it would prevent a lot of this me thinks. Obviously it isn't just big stores that disrespect the customers.

Whats wrong with telling the truth??

Trains

I can't speak for the owners of this site but I suspect that not everyone speaks the truth and it would be difficult for the owner to tell what's true or false.

Then there is the court appearances.

I can understand a business making a mistake here and there but it is the businesses that do it over and over again that you would want to crucify. A simple mistake can explode into a big story and be very costly to a decent business and person.

Yer can agee with that.
There is a difference of a small problem, or a continual chain of events.

Did you read the saga that I endured over on this thread?
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic145143.php

On the other hand, I can not say enough good things about EFS and Terrain Tamer and their product, and after sales service.
Second to none.

Trains

The service at EFS head office isn't the best but most of the retailers are good bar one that I can think of.

Having your product made offshore and sold here does not help the situation either, quality is lost to stay competetive in the market place, That is a big problem because it is impossible to have quality control on every item. The return procedure for stores to send back to head office is also becomming a major issue and lots of work.
At the end of the day the customer should be looked after, and the big companys should be more concerned with there product in the market place, than making another massive profit per year.

Thanks for the feed back guys I will keep you informed on the progress and outcome of this situation.

I hope this helps and warns others out that may be looking into buying a suspension or suspension product for a repritable(sp?) 4x4 store with a brand of shock/spring that is carrying an native ozzy animal in it name (I hope thats open enough for you guts ) that there after sale service and product leave a lot to be desired. Based on my personal dealings

Go with EFS.

Daniels

You seem fairly passionate.

Big companys get away with not doing the right thing because they think if they so no enough times that you will go away. In fact most people do go away.

You might have had a gut full and couldn't be stuffed taking it any further but it may be worth your while giving it another shot.

Shane

Hi guys
This is close to heart as I get annoyed at the larger companys with this kind of thing.

I have not had similar experiences with suspension but am annoyed at them treating the aussie market like idiots.

You can buy Aussie made parts, such as a locker, from the US shipped to your door off ebay for cheaper than buying from your local *** dealer. Thats after they have shipped to the US and made a small profit and overhead over there. When queried about such a bloody injustice they replied - well you guys will pay that much so we charge that much.

So - lets shame these buggers and see how long the new word of mouth forum lasts!!! head to http://www.womf.com/ and post it up. It only services Brissy for now but reaches internationally.

I wish Aussie would stopripping Aussies off!

little rusty wrote:
I wish Aussie would stopripping Aussies off!

Serveral years back I had an issue with a 4x4 accesorries store that uses a three letter acronym for a name.
Similar issue, springs were less that 12 months old and had not held their arch, a 2inch lift spring, had about 1 inch of clearnace to the bumpstop in the front, the rear was OK but lower than it should have been. They were not over flexed (used the full kit, inc shocks) .. but as I had fitted it myself, no warranty... go away was the response in a nutshell.

your all talking about tjm right?

arb383 wrote:your all talking about tjm right?

doubtfull knowing what other distributers are like.... but we arent naming names are we.........








stupid git

love_mud wrote:Serveral years back I had an issue with a 4x4 accesorries store that uses a three letter acronym for a name.

arb383 wrote:your all talking about tjm right?

Might need to state if it has a vowel in it or not

arb383 wrote:your all talking about tjm right?

So you stand behind the products you sell then?

arb383 Why don't you get the big boss to do the right thing by these people. Do you have any say?

Shane

It's pretty rough when a company that claims to be one of the worlds largest distributors of aftermarket 4X4 gear can carp in the face of joe average.

A new set of leaves is beyond the price range of most people and those that get them usually need to save up first.

Then a company that wouldn't even see the cost of a set of springs on their weekly, let alone annual books, doesn't even care about the harm done to a poor consumer.

Shame, shame, shame.
Who is this mob so we can boycott them