Quote:
Originally Posted by FR-S Matt
Great to see aFe reaching out to help someone. They moved up in my book.
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Uhh, this hasn't changed anything. Yes the company responded to negative press because it threatens their bottom line.
1) Have they provided material certs or source information to earn our trust or just said the right words to band-aid the situation?
2) Have they offered to replace the units that were sold under the (admittedly) bait-and-switch mentality? I heard no discussion of recalls or replacements.
3) Is there a way to distinguish between the "good aFe" and "bad aFe" exhaust components before you buy (version number or vendor labelling)?
While I appreciate the olive branch and your words ... as potential customers, we're smarter than that. Words != action. Plenty of other vendors already disclose material info, manufacturing locations, details. Plenty of other vendors actively support their products, and they don't have to deal with bad press (since corners are not cut and issues are resolved as they arise... not weeks later only due to a crapstorm).
If you expect a loyal following, you've got to go the extra mile to be more transparent and helpful than any other company. If it's too much effort or cost, then enjoy your diminished market share from the 86 community.
Keep in mind that some of us do actually know what goes into proper QC. I'm a mechanical engineer with a materials background. There was a meeting just yesterday about the process of guaranteeing quality from the outsourced manufacturing operations we have established in Monterrey, Mexico. Machine shop work is 1/2 price, but their setup costs are high (due to new equipment and training). If you're mass producing in that type of environment, you HAVE to develop a rigorous set of criteria to validate EVERY operation. Sensors have to be calibrated frequently, and results should occasionally be verified by a 3rd party. Trust nothing until it's sufficiently proven, then you can confidently back up your products.