March Performance - Be careful

[wmhjr]

Just a quick note about a recent issue with March Performance. I purchased a March 13105 Serpentine kit through Summit Racing on March 17th, which was delivered on the afternoon of March 19th. Upon receiving the kit I discovered a few problems, most notably that the front alternator bracket had a blemish on it. This is before attempting to mock up the kit. I immediately called March and talked to Elija about it and some of the other issues. The rest really weren't that bad - more that there were some discrepencies and some slightly incorrect bolts. Elija indicated that I should first try to work it out with Summit, but that if Summit wouldn't take care of it then March could probably resolve it.

Summit had no way to swap out just the single bracket, so I called Elija and sent the bracket to March. When I sent them the bracket, I sent a copy of the invoice, which shows the tracking number. I also showed a copy of the UPS delivery confirmation which shows the date and time I received the box. Finally, I included the date and time that I talked to Elija, which was about an hour after UPS dropped off the package. Now, recall that I identified the blemish within an hour of UPS dropping the package off, and that I immediately called March. Now, March is saying that I must have scratched or damaged the bracket and they won't replace it. They stripped the clearcoat but the blemish is apparently under the clearcoat so it won't go away. They're charging me for return shipment, and that's the end of it.

I can tell you there is zero possibility that I scratched or damaged the parts. I opened the box on a padded table, and even when I mocked up the parts I was wearing latex gloves. The fan was never on the alternator (until I just placed it over the shaft after the alternator was in place but never put a nut on it).

Not sure what I'm going to do about this, but I'm not happy and frankly do not believe that March stands behind their products. We'll see what happens but I can promise it's the last March product I'll ever purchase. In general, the quality of their product seems good, but I no longer have any confidence that they stand behind their stuff. I worry that if clearcoat starts to come off in a couple months, I'll be on my own again. At the prices they charge, this is unacceptable.

[ProdigyCustoms]

We are a pretty strong March dealer and I will call the man there for you. I am not saying you scratched the part. But did you see the amount of tissue, plastic and tape they use to protect their stuff? I know the owners personally and they are as fussy on finishes as anyone can be. So it is probably impossible for them to believe it went out that way.

With all that said, I will make a call for you. Your saleman at Summit does not have the stroke I do.

Next time, buy from us. you would have got is cheaper and had the back up.

[wmhjr]

Thanks, Frank - Elija just called me. His sales manager will be back on Monday and they'll talk about it then. I honestly didn't think to give you a call about this - you know I've gotten other stuff through you.

Anyway, I talked to Summit as a fall-back. If this doesn't work out, then as soon as I get the specific component assembly number (we think it's 50701 - the box containing this specific bracket) they'll swap it out. I'll just need to determine which exactly components are in that box.

I've got to say that the box looked unmolested, and it was packed extremely well. I can't for the life of me figure out any way it could have gotten damaged after being packed. All I know is that I noticed it immediately - and I called March prior to doing anything. I will say that the documentation was pretty poor and there are some incorrect parts. For example, the rear mount bolts that they include (3/8x1") are incorrect. They're too long in both a stock Pontiac 4x, a 16x or a KRE Aluminum head. The instructions/diagram is also incorrect showing a bunch of wrong info. So, my confidence that there could have been no issue prior to packaging isn't what it could be.

If you're interested let me know and I'll forward you the information I emailed to March identifying the discrepencies (confirmed by Elija at March). They really need to correct the kit contents and update the diagram.

Thanks VERY much for helping out. Just another reason I keep letting folks know about you and Lisa.

[vp23271]

Frank, Very cool for you to step in and offer help even though the item was not purchased thru you. You and Lisa are both a class act!

[ProdigyCustoms]

Yeah, I talked with Elija. I did not want to bother his manager or the owners on their cell phones on Good Friday, but I will follow up Monday.

[Vegas69]

They aren't the friendliest bunch over there but they have always sent me quality parts. I just got a new bracket in the mail yesterday to replace a dinged bracket from my engine builder and it's 99% perfect.

[Lowend]

I must add a side note here since you mentioned the bolts.

The hardware that March includes in their kits is horriable quality.
When I installed my serp kit last year the head of one of the waterpump bolts sheered off on me (nowhere near torque spec). When I was drilling to use an easy out the metal was so soft I had trouble telling if I was drifting into the aluminum waterpump (I wasn't).

Ended up having to order bolts from a speciality company in Washington (try finding a 2+" allen head bolt locally) and replaced all of them.
Other people have had similar experiences.

Frank - maybe you wanna mention this next time you speak with a March rep

BTW - it is really classy of you to help out an non-customer on this

[Throttle]

I have had a issues with bolts and hardware being wrong in the March Perfromance Kits before..

[XLexusTech]

Just read this and I have to say that is some 1st class support from Frank ... A+

[wmhjr]

BTW - it is really classy of you to help out an non-customer on this

Just to make sure I'm clear, I sure am a customer of Franks. Got my Moser crate rear end and all my Ididit steering stuff from Frank. Just a case of the "Doh!" in not thinking to call him for this.

[6'9"Witha69]

i have had a issues with bolts and hardware being wrong in the march perfromance kits before..

+3.

[1969CamaroRS]

I had a blemish and a nick on mine, after numerous emails and phone calls (none of which were returned), I just gave up.

So yes they do ship blemished/nicked parts and yes they don't seem to want to fix them. They make nice stuff, but their customer service leaves a lot to be desired.





In hindsight, I should have just returned all the parts to Summit and had them deal with it, rather than waste a bunch of time and try to resolve anything with March.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

oh oh.. cards being pulled again.

[wmhjr]

Mine looked like this... BTW, it was like that before mounting. I just went ahead and mounted the brackets just to check fitment. Never intended to leave them on. And the alternator fan was not on. I just stuck it on the alternator shaft for a pic -never put a nut on it.



Nice stuff, but I really thought it would be easier dealing with the company.

[Vegas69]

FYI....it said right in my package that if you mount the brackets...you own them basically.

[wmhjr]

FYI....it said right in my package that if you mount the brackets...you own them basically.

That's why I called them BEFORE mounting them. I called within an hour of UPS dropping the package off. That's what really ticked me off. When I returned the bracket to them, I included the invoice, which had the tracking number on it. I then included a printout of the UPS tracking showing the date and TIME the package was delivered. Then I showed the exact date and TIME I called in, who I talked to, and what was discussed. The window of time from UPS dropping off and me calling in was less than an hour. The only reason I didn't just send the entire thing back was because at the time it seemed as though it was going to be taken care of. :(

[Vegas69]

Not saying your wrong...I'd want it fixed as well. I just paid 75 bucks for a new bracket my engine builder d"ckedd up. Wasn't worth the hastle. With your deal I would make March or Summit eat it for sure.

[1969CamaroRS]

Especially with it being under the clear, no way they could have claimed you caused that, same with the blemish on my first pic, that is flaw in their process.

[Lowend]

Just to make sure I'm clear, I sure am a customer of Franks.

After seeing this I think I will probably be too

[Bad Bowtie]

Mine looked like this... BTW, it was like that before mounting. I just went ahead and mounted the brackets just to check fitment. Never intended to leave them on. And the alternator fan was not on. I just stuck it on the alternator shaft for a pic -never put a nut on it.



Nice stuff, but I really thought it would be easier dealing with the company.

I have received one of the Pontiac kits with a flaw similiar to this one, but fortunate for me it was in an area that could not be seen once installed. Like you said for the price of these kits March's customer service could be better. Maybe Frank wil give them some customer service 101