HotBodies is pathetic!

[NSantana]

Hi all,



Just figured I'd share my horror story of dealing with the HPI/HB support team...


About 2 1/2 weeks ago, I purchased the HB steering cranks for my HPI Nitro 3. For some reason, the particular set I purchased was the "runt" of the pack. Everything was wrong with them (the bearing posts were about 1/2 mm off and the threads weren't the same as those on the original like I was told they would be by my LHS). Anyway, I explained my situation to HB and was told to send the product back and they would gladly replace it. 2 1/2 weeks later, after sending numerous e-mails asking the status of the product (which was sent priority mail btw) they told me that they DID receive the product but couldn't contact me because they didn't have a phone number for me (I wonder if they even bother to look at the e-mail correspondence that I sent along with the product that had my e-mail all over it?!?). They stated that they were sending the product back to me because it's "NOT A HOTBODIES PRODUCT". This is a sad way to dodge responsibility...They (HB) said that they were Megatech or GPM or somthing which is sad; They consider their own work as having GPM (clone) quality. I will no longer be buying anything from HPI after this (so sad since I was such an HPI fanatic). I'll stick to QUALITY brands like Mugen Seiki and Kyosho. I'm going to WPR to get some REAL steering cranks then I'm going to look for somewhere to sell the Nitro 3 online. Next car will probably be the FW-05 or I might give the MSX-3 a try.


...

 

[olds97_lss]

Wow!!! That does suck!

Prior to the HB/HPI merger, I had the HPI savage dual brake setup. My hex cup that the brakes disks ride on was notched out really bad from the axle. I searched high and low for the cup by itself, but all I could find was the brake kit containing the cup.

I emailed HPI about it and that I couldn't find just the cup on their website. After a couple days of waiting, someone replied with the part number for the cup and that he couldn't find it on their website either. He asked me for my mailing address and 3 days later, I got a new cup in the mail without even asking for it.

 

[nitrolight]

I feel for you dude... Nothing is more frustrating then dealing with employee mentality customer service... But don't fool yourself into thinking the next company brand will be any different... The bottom line is ALWAYS the buck...

 

[Plaidfish]

Was the part in fact an HPI or hotbodies part???
did you purchase it new??

 

[NSantana]

..Yes, the steering cranks were from HotBodies. That's what the worst part. They don't even recognize their own quality. What that tells me is that there's no difference in the parts...just the wrapper. I never even knew that those companies made parts for the nitro 3 (except GPM but everyone has always warned me against them).




..and yes they were new

 

[MustangMan]

I just installed the Hot Bodies steering kit on my RS4 and the only problem I had was at full lock left it hit the servo mounting screw, but I have the Hot Bodies carbon upper deck too...

Other than that it fit perfect. It's a shame you didn't have the packaging to send with it too...

 

[NSantana]

yeah, I've got the HB chassis and upper deck...next time I know to take pics of myself buying the item...then send the item while STILL INSIDE the plasitc lol....gotta find a way to make the plastic stretch far enough ....


...btw i do have the packaging and receipts and all of that...i just didn't think i'd have to send all of that...oh well, guess I'll give Wolfgang a call and see if he still has any of his cranks left.

 

[mnm]

Are you sure it’s a Hotbodies part? I mean I had numerous friends that where gipped into thinking they where getting a Hotbodies part but at the end it turned out to be GPM, the packing was infact Hotbodies, but the content inside was defiantly GPM.

Btw I have numerous GPM upgrades on my rs4, and haven’t had a single problem.

 

[NSantana]

ok well how could i tell if it was a counterfeit HB product so I can notify the BBB of this LHS who's selling the counterfeit parts. If in fact it is counterfeit, I'll never spend a dime there again.

 

[NSantana]

Problem resolved

Hi all,



I received a call today from the HB customer svc. manager and after discussing the topic shortly, they're sending me a new set. The part IS in fact from HotBodies...turns out they had more than one version...Well, I guess after admitting it is theirs and not totally stiffing me, they're not pathetic anymore...a little of a pain in the @$$, but not pathetic. :hammer:

 

[mnm]

thats good to hear. I'm glade everything worked out fine.

 

[kwong2001]

Hot Bodies is more of a pain in the ass than anything else. It IS hard to get a hold of them, but they seem to warranty their products. I had the truckzilla kit with the .46 and went through two .46 engines never getting passed break in cuz something always went wrong, and both times they warrantied it and gave me a new one.

But admittedly, with the luck i've had with their products, I probably won't buy anything from them again.

 

[McoupeRS4EVO]

LOL your not going to deal with hpi, becuase you sent hpi a gpm product.

and btw i had the same problem, and you simply run a tap through the holes, and it fits perfectly.. I'm even sure the way you put up a stink, the lhs would have done it for you free.

LOL again.

 

[NSantana]

LOL your not going to deal with hpi, becuase you sent hpi a gpm product.

and btw i had the same problem, and you simply run a tap through the holes, and it fits perfectly.. I'm even sure the way you put up a stink, the lhs would have done it for you free.

LOL again.

Excuse me? If you'd READ the earlier posts, HotBodies call ME and told me it was theirs and sent the replacement. And to quote my LHS "try sending it to hotbodies"... :hammer:

 

[McoupeRS4EVO]

i apologize

 

[bustedgears]

That's kinda funny (wierd not humorous). I've dealt with HPI's customer care without any problems at all, but I guess I've gotton lucky.