Ride tech ride tech ride tech...

[toofun]

Well I have yet another Ride Tech question that Tech support has left me hanging on... I called because I had a question on the upper arm bars in the rear... Called Tech support at 5:30 and asked what I thought was a simple question.. I have the upper arms that have a spherical end on ONE END.. The tech told me that the end with the spherical end on it (also where the adjustment nut is) should be connected to the tabs on the AXLE BUT when I looked at the 48 hour CAMARO build on youtube, it clearly shows it going into the CRADLE portion with a couple of aluminum bushings beside them.... OK so I was told to go online and look at the directions... told the tech they do no show it in the directions with Spherical ends they show it with the same hard BUSHING ends even checked the camaro installation pages with and without double heim joints the pictures and directions are the same...... So the tech tells me that he will have to go out back and CHECK them out to see and that he will call me right back... Hey guys, I know it was 5:30 and I didn't know you close at 6:00 BUT when you tell someone your gonna call them back, if you don't plan on doing it until the next day then you should at least give them the courtesy to say "hey I may not be able to get back to you today cause we close at 6pm but Ill get back to you tommorrow"... instead of just blowing it off all together and potentially have someone sitting in their shop waiting for you to call them back (like I did!!!). Just pisses me off that I had to call back after an hour to find out that everyone had gone home for the day...

BRET has been great in the past but I know that when you own your own business you are going to care more than anyone else and BRET obviously does due to the fact that I have seen him comment on here before WAAY after hours. He is the man for sure but this has been frustrating to me cause its the SECOND time during this build that this has happened to me with TECH SUPPORT..... ANYWAYS, can someone steer me in the right direction on how these arms go in? Is the "48 hour camaro" video ON YOUTUBE right having the spherical rod end go into the CRADLE with the adjustment nut OR does that spherical end and adjustment nut go into the axle tabs? BTW I have a MOSER axle with the tabs already installed so that is gonna be a big help. Oh and if you answer back BRET please know I am not trying to trash your company. As an owner of a business myself I would want to know if someone or something needed to be addressed in my operation.

Thanks in advance

Mark
TOOFUN

[Vegas69]

I can't see where it would make any difference from a performance standpoint. They are just trying to decrease harmonics through the chassis by using a poly end and spherical vs. spherical/spherical. It will be easier to adjust pinion angle/alignment with the rod ends on the chassis.

[toofun]

So are you saying that I should just go ahead and put the spherical end the way that the 48 hour camaro had them in the CRADLE not on the AXLE tabs?

[marolf101x]

The mounts are the same width so it does not matter which way the bars go in. Like Todd stated we are just trying to decrease NVH while maintaining maximum performance you can live with daily by using one rubber bushed end and one solid end.
We installed the bars in the 48 Hour car with the adjusters on the AirBar side as it's easier to get a wrench in there.

I apologize for the lack of technical information in both the instructions and our staff. As you may have noticed our directions/installation instructions are incorporating a lot more CAD drawings to help the installer. Unfortunately sometimes our "performance team" moves faster than our "instruction team" can keep up with!

In that regard we have been working diligently on creating animated instructions using our CAD system that will show the installer exactly how we put everything together. . .we are just a bit behind.

I'm sure Bret will be on here shortly to respond, which means I'll get an ear full tomorrow morning!

Thanks for keeping us on our toes. Our physical parts are only a portion of the solution you are purchasing and as such everything should be perfect.

[brownz]

I must say that every time I contact ride tech its positive, with that said I just swapped my regular bars ( on heim one rubber) with the newer bars that have the heim joints on both ends. Now my car is a sec gen camaro but shouldnt matter for this.

I installed the bars with the heim joint in the cradle not the rear end. if you place the heim on the rear end you cant get a wrench on it to tighten if you are adjusting the pinion angle. So you will need to put the heim in the cradle side. as stated the ends should be the same width so switching them should not be a problem.

Hope that helps

[bret]

I saw this post last night as I was spending time with my wife and kids. I thought about responding...I actually composed a couple of responses, but deleted them until this morning.

Mark, your tech question inspires a couple of my own.

1. As a fellow business owner, at what time do you allow your employees to go home?

2. As a fellow business owner and hotrodder, how do you survive either activity without the simplest of problem solving skills?

As you call me out in CAPITAL letters, you proclaim to not want to trash me or my company.

Bull****.

If you want to pick a fight with with someone at my company, you better start with me because my employees are way over your head.

I happen to know that Brit Marolf who responded to your attack on us last night, put aside babysitting his baby daughter to offer a most gracious response.

I do not know who you talked to here yesterday at 5:30 in the evening. It could have been Darren...he went home at 6:00 to care for his newborn daughter and ill wife.

It could have been Rodney, who went home at 6:00 to prepare for this weekend's JDRF benefit because his daughter is a severe diabetic.

It could have been Kyle, Danny, or Jeremy, who went home at 6:00 as well to attend to wives, girlfriends, children, lawns, leaky faucets, and laundry because they will be working ALL WEEKEND in Nashville at Goodguys this weekend.

While your question is important...you paid for a product and you deserve all the technical support possible to get it installed and enjoy it...it is not as important as the dignity and well being of my employees and their families.

I hope you see fit to make sure everyone on this forum and many more see how you've been treated here. Its who I am, its what I do, its what I beleive.

We will bend over backwards for our customers...we will not bend over forwards.

[harleygolf1]

Nicely said!!

[barraza]

We will bend over backwards for our customers...we will not bend over forwards.

I'm going to remember that quote. It goes well for some of my customers.

I don't own even a single ridetech part, but as a business owner, I admire their business model and dedication to customer support. Keep up the good job.

[Vegas69]

A prime example of the customer IS NOT always right. At some point you have to stick up for yourself and end a relationship with a client. Good for you Brett.

[killer69]

We will bend over backwards for our customers...we will not bend over forwards.

this will be hung on the wall in the front office by friday.
best quote i have heard in along time

[esenior]

Bear in mind that my only exposure to this issue is what is posted above. Based on this, all I see is a frustrated customer.

The two things I pulled from the original post is that the instructions don't match what he is installing and that tech support promised a return call, but failed to do so. I don't understand how that has any impact on the dignity and well being of your employees and their families. If someone said they would call back, they should do so, even if they don't yet have a solution.

A couple of months ago I had an issue with an engine I bought from Summit racing. They said they would look into it and get back to me. Later that evening, I got a call to say that they were unable to resolve, but would follow-up the following day. While I wasn't happy that the issue wasn't going to be resolved that night, I was glad to have gotten the follow-up. I don't think there is any problem in returning a call to say that you are still working on the problem. This 5 minute investment only strengthens the customer relationship.

After I read Brett's reply, I went back and read the original post. I'm sorry Bret, I see frustration, but I don't see someone trying to pick a fight. While I do think that the thread needed a response, an attack against one of your customers is not the path I would have chosen. No, I'm not a business owner, but I do have a few years of customer service experience (and lots of years experience as a customer!). I am still confident that this relationship can be salvaged, but the actions that follow are going to be pivotal. As a potential customer, I am curious to see how/if the situation will be resolved.

---Eric

By the way, I think this might be a more pertinent quote:
"The purpose of business is to create and keep a customer" (Peter Drucker's, not mine)

[tommycomfort]

I have never run a successful business like ridetech, but I do know a little about leadership and Bret just showed that he does too.

Tom

[dhutton]

Although I can see Brett's point I never like to see a vendor going at it with a customer on a public forum. It leaves a bad impression with me, one that will likely last a long time. It is one of the reasons why I never did business with Driverzinc.

[toofun]

Bear in mind that my only exposure to this issue is what is posted above. Based on this, all I see is a frustrated customer.

The two things I pulled from the original post is that the instructions don't match what he is installing and that tech support promised a return call, but failed to do so. I don't understand how that has any impact on the dignity and well being of your employees and their families. If someone said they would call back, they should do so, even if they don't yet have a solution.

A couple of months ago I had an issue with an engine I bought from Summit racing. They said they would look into it and get back to me. Later that evening, I got a call to say that they were unable to resolve, but would follow-up the following day. While I wasn't happy that the issue wasn't going to be resolved that night, I was glad to have gotten the follow-up. I don't think there is any problem in returning a call to say that you are still working on the problem. This 5 minute investment only strengthens the customer relationship.

After I read Brett's reply, I went back and read the original post. I'm sorry Bret, I see frustration, but I don't see someone trying to pick a fight. While I do think that the thread needed a response, an attack against one of your customers is not the path I would have chosen. No, I'm not a business owner, but I do have a few years of customer service experience (and lots of years experience as a customer!). I am still confident that this relationship can be salvaged, but the actions that follow are going to be pivotal. As a potential customer, I am curious to see how/if the situation will be resolved.

---Eric

By the way, I think this might be a more pertinent quote:
"The purpose of business is to create and keep a customer" (Peter Drucker's, not mine)

Nicely said Eric and SPOT ON ACCURATE to what I was feeling.....

Bret...... DO SOME RESEARCH BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR BIG FAT MOUTH!! I am not the only one that COMPLAINTED about ridetech customer service NOT RETURNING CALLS!! Plenty of others have too.. LOOK IT UP if your competent enough to. I didnt come out and attack you personally like you just did to me. ridetech sent me wrong parts... (TWICE!!!) did I complain before? NO cause they took care of it (took two times but still), I have had RIDETECH tech support not call me back before also.. again no complaint as I figured it out (using my SIMPLE problem solving skills as you so eloquently put it). Customers pay ALOT OF MONEY FOR YOUR SH*T AND MOST OF US ARE GARAGE MECHANICS SO SORRY IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG AND I HAVE THE NERVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT!!! Thanks to members on this board and the response by one of your staff last night, I was able to get the answer I was looking for. A THANKS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE WAY BUT you never gave me the chance, just started firing away.... So what did you do now? Lost 1 customer for life for sure and burned a bridge in my community cause anyone who sees my car is gonna get a copy of my so called "attack" with your response with it. Already showed it to a few shops this morning and they all couldnt believe that kind of response from a supposedly PRESIDENT of a company.

TOM... What you just saw BRET do was not leadership... it was a statement from someone with no CHARACTER but plenty of ARROGANCE!!! There is a difference. When you deal with customers that are paying alot of money for a product and they have problems with customer service, you should deal with it in a manner that not only cost you a customer, but in a way that doesnt cost you POTENTIAL customers that person may be involved with.. He may look like a big man in your eyes, but that was not a smart business decision.... NUFF SAID.

[dontlifttoshift]

I like this one where you went to the forum before you read the instructions https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ent&highlight=

and again to the forum BEFORE you even gave them a chance to fix it https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ere&highlight=

and one more that was seemingly resolved with a simple search https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...LEM&highlight=

You can only shoot first and ask questions later for so long.

[toofun]

I like this one where you went to the forum before you read the instructions https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ent&highlight=

and again to the forum BEFORE you even gave them a chance to fix it https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ere&highlight=

and one more that was seemingly resolved with a simple search https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...LEM&highlight=

You can only shoot first and ask questions later for so long.

All three of those were QUESTIONS, not COMPLAINTS... and in all of them they were answered and THANKED for their responses. Legitimate questions for the garage enthusiast who is trying to learn everyday..Im sorry but are us novices not allowed to buy the performance parts and ask questions on this board cause I see a ton of people doing it every day with vendors and suppliers more than happy to take our money.
Come on guys.... REALLY?

[dontlifttoshift]

It's not that you were on the forum "asking questions". It is the fact that you went to the forum first that grinds my gears. I am not a novice, but believe it or not, I don't know everything either. When I want an answer I SEARCH for it, either here, other forums, re read the instructions, or use my own experience to problem solve. If I come up empty then I call the manufacturer.....that has always worked for me.

I sell parts. I deal with vendors every day. If started a thread everytime I didn't get a call back in a half hour my post count would be 53,658.

[toofun]

Donny... I agree with you but sometimes when you do searches they may not yield the results your looking for. Yes sometimes you can miss things in the directions as well, and sometimes places are not open when you need an answer at that time. This site has always been a wealth of information to learn how to fix and do things in general. So I can see where you are comming from

If you read my original post, Eric had it spot on. It was out of frustration and I was not attacking anyone.....it happens to alot of people. I take aggravation from my customers too but they are my CUSTOMERS and they pay me well so I listen. I did not come out and ATTACK Bret or INSULT him in my ORIGINAL post the way he did ME in his response. Yes I didnt take the high road in MY RESPONSE to him but screw him!, Im not gonna take that from ANYONE especially someone I paid money to for product...

Was my post an attack? I dont think so... was it written with a bit of frustration? Absolutely.

[dontlifttoshift]

Maybe a little less of this would help

[esenior]

As stated in my earlier post, I do understand Mark's frustration, but I do not agree with firing back, this doesn't accomplish anything.

"Billy Mays"....too funny!