[DeTomaso] Need Help

[Tom Shinrock]

I'm located in Iowa and having problems with a California vendor.  

I'm at my wits end on resolving my problem so I'll see if anybody on the list can help.

My situation is this;  I bought an A/C condenser from Classic Condenser Specialists (CCS) last year based primarily on communication with Mike Dailey that he had success getting his stock A/C working with their condenser.  CCS sells on eBay claiming the condenser would fit in the OEM fan shroud, which it did.  

After payment they promptly shipped the condenser and I found out they shipped the early style which wouldn't fit my '73 car.  I called and they were very helpful in shipping me the correct unit.  I had the condenser installed and the A/C charged and the A/C was working very well until a month later the condenser sprung a leak at one of the 180 degree connecting tubes on the side.  I could see the green dye and bubbles coming out of the leak as all my escaping R-12 was contributing to the ultimate demise of mankind.

I called CCS up and Davis promptly answered the phone.  Davis said they would fix the leak and pressure test the condenser before sending it back to me.  I got the repaired condenser back in less than two weeks.  Although I was bummed that I had to go through the hassle and expense of getting the condenser fixed, I was very impressed with their customer support.  I got the condenser installed and the A/C charged up and again was seeing cold air out the vents but it wasn't long after that the car was put away for winter.

After the long winter finally ended I got the car out of storage in April.  We had a couple days where temps got into the 80s and I noticed the A/C wasn't as cold as it was before I put it away.  I took the car in to the place that does my A/C work and they said I lost a pound of R-12 over the winter.  At first they couldn't find any signs of leaks at the fittings or the compressor but then they noticed dirt on the outside of the condenser.  The dirt was sticking to an oil film and sure enough they found dye along the tubes near the place where the leak was repaired.

I called CCS and again Davis promptly answered.  I told him what happened and insisted they send me a new replacement and not attempt to do another repair.  He agreed and said they would ship me a replacement after they got mine back to verify the leak.  This conversation took place on May 12.

I shipped them the condenser on May 20.  On May 30 I got a UPS email notice that a shipping label had been generated by CCS.   I checked the shipping status for a week and it never showed that the condenser was shipped.  After about 8 days I called CCS and talked to Davis.  I was told summer was their busy season (makes sense) and that the label was generated in error and my condenser wouldn't ship until the following week.  That week came and went so I called back and talked to Davis again.  He told me told the condenser was scheduled to ship out the next week.  That week came and went so I called Davis again.  He told me that another Pantera condenser was returned and they determined the cause of the leaks was bad fittings and new fittings were being received the next day.  I told them I was wanting to take the car to a show the end of June and they said they would be willing to three day ship it.  That was over two weeks ago.

I've been trying to get through to CCS ever since.  I've called almost every day (several times a day), I've left voice messages, I've sent emails but it was like they they disappeared from the face of the earth.  When I bought the condenser last year I was trying to verify that they knew what a Pantera was and that it would fit the fan shroud.  Davis said they knew it fit because they make the condensers for Steve Wilkinson.  In desperation I called Wilkinson yesterday to see if he was having any problems with his supplier.

Steve heard me out and said he never heard of CCS.  I told them that CCS told me they sell to him and that they were located at 10630 SantaFe Ave,South Gate, CA.  Steve said his condenser supplier was located in South Gate.  I gave him the telephone number I had been using to call CCS but he said that isn't the number of his supplier.  He said if I was willing to hold he would call his supplier.  When he came back he told me he learned his supplier and CCS are one in the same.  Apparently CCS is the retail side of the business.  He even made a statement that CCS should not have sold me the condenser. I told him the CCS sells on eBay and advertise Pantera condensers as well as condensers for other classic cars.  Steve gave me the phone number he uses to call CCS and said the owners name was Albert.

I thanked Steve for giving me the number.  I immediately called the number that Steve had gotten through on 5 minutes prior and got the same voicemail greeting as I got using the other number.  I've tried both numbers several times yesterday and today and again left voice messages to have them call me back. 

I'm convinced they are screening my calls and refuse to deal with me.  I don't understand why this is happening because all my conversations up to the last were cordial and I thought they were forthright explaining what was going on.  All I know is they got my money and my leaky condenser and I ended up with nothing.

Meanwhile, my Pantera is just sitting in the garage as the summer rolls on.  There are some events coming up in July I really wanted to take my car to so I'm seeking any and all suggestions on how I might get this resolved.

Here's the contact info for CCS:

Classic Condenser Specialists
10630 SantaFe Ave
South Gate,CA  90280

323-569-9844 (this is the number listed on eBay and the one that Davis always answered.)
323-569-9916 (this is the number that Wilkinson gave me.  He told me the owner's name was Albert)

If someone could stop by or call either number and see if CCS answers the call and let them know I need to talk to them ASAP I would really appreciate it.  If you do make contact please let me know.

I don't know what else to do.

Thanks for any and all help.

Tom Shinrock
5186



-------------- next part --------------
   I'm located in Iowa and having problems with a California vendor.
   I'm at my wits end on resolving my problem so I'll see if anybody on
   the list can help.
   My situation is this;  I bought an A/C condenser from Classic Condenser
   Specialists (CCS) last year based primarily on communication with Mike
   Dailey that he had success getting his stock A/C working with their
   condenser.  CCS sells on eBay claiming the condenser would fit in the
   OEM fan shroud, which it did.
   After payment they promptly shipped the condenser and I found out they
   shipped the early style which wouldn't fit my '73 car.  I called and
   they were very helpful in shipping me the correct unit.  I had the
   condenser installed and the A/C charged and the A/C was working very
   well until a month later the condenser sprung a leak at one of the 180
   degree connecting tubes on the side.  I could see the green dye and
   bubbles coming out of the leak as all my escaping R-12 was contributing
   to the ultimate demise of mankind.
   I called CCS up and Davis promptly answered the phone.  Davis said they
   would fix the leak and pressure test the condenser before sending it
   back to me.  I got the repaired condenser back in less than two weeks.
   Although I was bummed that I had to go through the hassle and expense
   of getting the condenser fixed, I was very impressed with their
   customer support.  I got the condenser installed and the A/C charged up
   and again was seeing cold air out the vents but it wasn't long after
   that the car was put away for winter.
   After the long winter finally ended I got the car out of storage in
   April.  We had a couple days where temps got into the 80s and I noticed
   the A/C wasn't as cold as it was before I put it away.  I took the car
   in to the place that does my A/C work and they said I lost a pound of
   R-12 over the winter.  At first they couldn't find any signs of leaks
   at the fittings or the compressor but then they noticed dirt on the
   outside of the condenser.  The dirt was sticking to an oil film and
   sure enough they found dye along the tubes near the place where the
   leak was repaired.
   I called CCS and again Davis promptly answered.  I told him what
   happened and insisted they send me a new replacement and not attempt to
   do another repair.  He agreed and said they would ship me a replacement
   after they got mine back to verify the leak.  This conversation took
   place on May 12.
   I shipped them the condenser on May 20.  On May 30 I got a UPS email
   notice that a shipping label had been generated by CCS.   I checked the
   shipping status for a week and it never showed that the condenser was
   shipped.  After about 8 days I called CCS and talked to Davis.  I was
   told summer was their busy season (makes sense) and that the label was
   generated in error and my condenser wouldn't ship until the following
   week.  That week came and went so I called back and talked to Davis
   again.  He told me told the condenser was scheduled to ship out the
   next week.  That week came and went so I called Davis again.  He told
   me that another Pantera condenser was returned and they determined the
   cause of the leaks was bad fittings and new fittings were being
   received the next day.  I told them I was wanting to take the car to a
   show the end of June and they said they would be willing to three day
   ship it.  That was over two weeks ago.
   I've been trying to get through to CCS ever since.  I've called almost
   every day (several times a day), I've left voice messages, I've sent
   emails but it was like they they disappeared from the face of the
   earth.  When I bought the condenser last year I was trying to verify
   that they knew what a Pantera was and that it would fit the fan
   shroud.  Davis said they knew it fit because they make the condensers
   for Steve Wilkinson.  In desperation I called Wilkinson yesterday to
   see if he was having any problems with his supplier.
   Steve heard me out and said he never heard of CCS.  I told them that
   CCS told me they sell to him and that they were located at 10630 Santa
   Fe Ave, South Gate, CA.  Steve said his condenser supplier was located
   in South Gate.  I gave him the telephone number I had been using to
   call CCS but he said that isn't the number of his supplier.  He said if
   I was willing to hold he would call his supplier.  When he came back he
   told me he learned his supplier and CCS are one in the same.
   Apparently CCS is the retail side of the business.  He even made a
   statement that CCS should not have sold me the condenser. I told him
   the CCS sells on eBay and advertise Pantera condensers as well as
   condensers for other classic cars.  Steve gave me the phone number he
   uses to call CCS and said the owners name was Albert.
   I thanked Steve for giving me the number.  I immediately called the
   number that Steve had gotten through on 5 minutes prior and got the
   same voicemail greeting as I got using the other number.  I've tried
   both numbers several times yesterday and today and again left voice
   messages to have them call me back.
   I'm convinced they are screening my calls and refuse to deal with me.
   I don't understand why this is happening because all my conversations
   up to the last were cordial and I thought they were forthright
   explaining what was going on.  All I know is they got my money and my
   leaky condenser and I ended up with nothing.
   Meanwhile, my Pantera is just sitting in the garage as the summer rolls
   on.  There are some events coming up in July I really wanted to take my
   car to so I'm seeking any and all suggestions on how I might get this
   resolved.
   Here's the contact info for CCS:
   Classic Condenser Specialists
   10630 Santa Fe Ave
   South Gate, CA  90280
   323-569-9844 (this is the number listed on eBay and the one that Davis
   always answered.)
   323-569-9916 (this is the number that Wilkinson gave me.  He told me
   the owner's name was Albert)
   If someone could stop by or call either number and see if CCS answers
   the call and let them know I need to talk to them ASAP I would really
   appreciate it.  If you do make contact please let me know.
   I don't know what else to do.
   Thanks for any and all help.
   Tom Shinrock
   5186