FT86 Speedfactory

[churchx]

Imho their reps should post here or on site short notice to explain/inform on what has changed and why. To me it looks some "optimization"/staff cut/change in some communication/sales/shipping procedures/maybe merge with some other shops to keep business afloat. For example "We needed to cut salesforce that worked with individual custom customer requests to keep prices low, same with custom shipping, and now we have only one shipping policy for everything, which as of now is.." and so on ..
To me it looks that ft86sf still might be considered as shop to buy twins parts, though i too don't like some of changes, but the issue i see that it alienates old customers that were used to different policies/ways to do things, and that changes slipped in unannounced / not known to existing customer base, and disappointment keeps growing for ones expecting things as in past.

[raz.sofer]

BAD.


(I have opened a thread about this a few days ago): here


I have bought Morimoto headlights / FT86SF headlights on 10.7.2019 because of an accident that broke the headlight. Subaru wanted for a single headlight OEM about 2000$. (Not living in the US, prices are SUPER HIGH here.)



I have looked at my options and decided to go with these, because they have an E-mark, which is very crucial here in order to pass MOT.

The headlights arrived packaged really well and I gotta give them credit for it, no scratches or anything else.



Package picked up photo, on my way home from UPS center.



I have installed them later that day in a PROFESSIONAL BODY SHOP as we don't have any "headlights specialists" in Israel due to very restrictive laws about anything tied to aftermarket parts, so this was my best shot. I don't think that I need to mention that I double checked EVERY single thing they did during the installation to make sure they are following the instructions.



Body shop installation process proof





Everything was fine for a few days, I was satisfied and excited, until I decided to wash my car.

I noticed condensation during the wash but I have experienced it with other cars with original headlights before so I did not worry.

After done washing, drying and putting the car to the side in order to sit with my friends and making room for the next car to wash, I have noticed that the condensation got even worse, and now, there are water spots! WTF?



BEFORE STARTING, I DID take to my consideration this sheet:





The condensation did reduced after a while, but not gone. Thee water spots dried up but not gone. It is very bad in the mornings, and after a wash.



I have sent them an email, on the spot when I noticed it, with the images below:

Water spots driver side

Water spots passenger side

Water spots passenger side 2

Condensation on driver side

Condensation on passenger side (sorry for my shakie hands)

This was taken at Saturday the 20th, and I did not expect any answer until Monday.



Monday came, I waited, but didn't get an answer (and I'm also considering the 10hr time difference between Tel Aviv and Iowa).

Tuesday came, end of the day at Iowa (5PM, middle of the night at our timezone), I checked my email, no answer.

Now, it's Thursday (Wednesday for you guys, I guess), end of the day, and I still didn't get an answer. 3 days to get an answer if this problem is "normal" or not? For an 1000$ shipped item? (Proof):



(NOT F*KING JOKING.)



This is unacceptable, for this price point and for such a reputable company.

I will not buy from them again.

I guess this is taking advantage of me not being from the US, I do hope it's not.

I'm still giving them a chance to answer until Monday, but I guess that if I don't get an answer, I will call my VISA company and tell them that I was scammed.



Update:
They answered and apologized for the delays, and talked to the manufacturer. We have reached an agreement. I guess the experience wasn’t bad after all, just need to be patient
I guess you can count it as a product review rather than a company review


Update #2:
We have reached an agreement, Since they told me what they are going to do and I accepted, they stopped answering emails. It’s been two weeks now.

They said they are going to send out new headlights without an additional cost (I still have to pay customs fees and other stuff when it will arrive, but I decided to put those fees aside and pay them myself).

They have told me they will ship the headlights to the manufacturer request (29.7.2019).
After about 4 days, I have contacted them to see if they shipped them out, didn’t get an answer.

4 days after that, I have sent them another message, asking if the headlights are shipped, never got a response.
Today I sent them again, hoping to hear back.


This is the conversation


I have typed in red an explanation about the relevant emails.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by raz.sofer

BAD.

Well, that's unfortunate. I won't make excuses for them but I don't agree with going full retard either. Maybe it will just take a while longer for the moisture to evaporate. Doesn't look like spots. It looks like actual beads of water. The sheet does say "long time."

Mail order is a time-consuming way to do business. Be patient. Let's give them plenty of that time to make things right.

[raz.sofer]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Well, that's unfortunate. I won't make excuses for them but I don't agree with going full retard either. Maybe it will just take a while longer for the moisture to evaporate. Doesn't look like spots. It looks like actual beads of water. The sheet does say "long time."

Mail order is a time-consuming way to do business. Be patient. Let's give them plenty of that time to make things right.

I don’t understand what you mean by going full retard. I’m waiting about 5 days for it to evaporate and it’s going back and forth, from worse, to reduced, to only a part of the headlight from full steam inside, depends on the hour of the day.
About the water - I don’t think it matters if those are beads or spots, water shouldn’t be inside the headlights this way or another
Read the whole line that contains “long time”
It just says to check all the bolts / other mounting stuff

You can’t say this is normal by any means. I am waiting patiently, but they can’t leave me hanging for 3 days (4 now). Even if they sent an enquiry to the original manufacturer, they can at least update.


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[Ultramaroon]

Can't quote you. I'm just saying that your reaction is way over the top after only a few days. They aren't amazon. More like two guys in a dark warehouse. Maybe they went fishing.

[Infinity]

I placed an order with FT86SF for 4 Toyota center caps to replace my Scion ones. They only sent 3 and I received no notice my order would not be complete. My account was charged for 4 center caps and I have received no refund. I sent them an email yesterday and they have not responded.


I wish they would have notified me the order would not be complete so I could have ordered the center cap somewhere else.


When is the last time anyone has actually contacted someone at FT86SF?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Infinity

When is the last time anyone has actually contacted someone at FT86SF?

They got back to me yesterday. We good.

[raz.sofer]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Can't quote you. I'm just saying that your reaction is way over the top after only a few days. They aren't amazon. More like two guys in a dark warehouse. Maybe they went fishing.

Updated! As you said, patience is the key


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[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by raz.sofer

Updated! As you said, patience is the key

[raz.sofer]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Did you get to an agreement with them?
Since they told me what they are going to do and I accepted, they stopped answering emails. It’s been two weeks now.

They said they are going to send out new headlights without an additional cost (I still have to pay customs fees and other stuff when it will arrive, but I decided to put those fees aside and pay them myself).

They have told me they will ship the headlights again to the manufacturer request (29.7.2019).
After about 4 days, I have contacted them to see if they shipped them out, didn’t get an answer.

4 days after that, I have sent them another message, asking if the headlights are shipped, never got a response.
Today I sent them again, hoping to hear back.


This is the conversation


I have typed in red an explanation about the relevant emails.


I have also updated my comment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ultramaroon]

So, Morimoto took the heat on those? Interesting. If Brian V. is a real person instead of a pool alias, then he's probably drowning in issues.

The same email account replied to my requests for update. I was happy to see the reply but disappointed when only one of the remaining two items was delivered. :/

I suggest keeping the interaction pleasant. I bet we're just a couple people in an otherwise grumpy mob.

[raz.sofer]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

So, Morimoto took the heat on those? Interesting. If Brian V. is a real person instead of a pool alias, then he's probably drowning in issues.

The same email account replied to my requests for update. I was happy to see the reply but disappointed when only one of the remaining two items was delivered. :/

I suggest keeping the interaction pleasant. I bet we're just a couple people in an otherwise grumpy mob.

I know they are by Coplus, I don’t know them too well so I don’t know that to tell you about that...
Maybe it’s just one guy. I really have no idea..
We have a reason for our grumpiness, put aside the product for a moment, that’s the manufacturer’s fault. Why do I need to chase down the customer service after I got an answer? I think that even the costumer service at VW (which is awful to the point of non existence in Israel) was better.
He got back to me 10 minutes ago.
I hope this goes right and I can seperate my ways with them peacefully...
I’m not even mad, I just got to a point of frustration. Damn, I just want something I paid for (and this thing wasn’t cheap) to be good, or at least matching the price I paid for it. If I wanted water in my headlights I would just retrofit them myself



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[Ultramaroon]

I'm sure it'll work out just fine for the both of us. Great to see his/their reply.


update: Yay! Happily surprised to see the last remaining item on my porch. FT86 SpeedFactory eventually delivers.

[coolguy1o1]

So I ordered the passenger side exhaust delete cover but they sent the driver side. First time ordering from them and already got messed up. Emailed them but no response yet.


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