How did they handle it wrong? They don't manufacture the chip. They just sell it ("sold it," that is - they don't sell it anymore) and program the tune. Alta can't do a recall. The manufacturer has to do a recall, and they didn't manufacture the product.

I do agree that Unichip should be issuing refunds, though.

 

Like I said I work for a parts company and things like this happen. They could have recalled all the Unichips they sold because of product defect and refunded the customers, then hit Unichip for the money. Thats how it should have gone. Now if someone had the Unichip and was happy with it then they could have kept it with no further recourse. But the rest of us could have been taken care of and the problem would be mute.


To be fair, I really like Alta, they have always responded to me quickly and been very helpful. They have some good products and very nice staff. They have a decent return policy and a good tech dept. I just think this Unichip issue could have been handled better. I was never offered a refund even though I had problems within the first month. And had it sent in at least four times. I still have minor issues. I would jump at the chance to send it back and get a refund.

 

That doesn't make any sense to me. How is a reseller/retailer responsible for a recall on a product they didn't make? All they could have done was accept a return on the product. But again, it's not their responsibility, as stated in their return policy.

 

Does wal mart manufacture games? No. When I bought a game in wal mart and it did NOT work, they issued me a refund. Which is technically against their policy; however, it was done. I was not told to go and ask a refund from EA. I was dicked around by the manager at first but at the end it all worked out, they ate the cost of defective product that they have sold me.

 

First of all, Alta is not Walmart. A non-specialized multi-billion dollar corporation can afford to make exceptions every once in a while. Do you honestly think that a small local game shop would have given you the refund? Not a chance. MAYBE a store credit if you were lucky.

Second, Alta offered the guy store credit, which IS indeed making an exception. They didn't HAVE to do it as per their return policy.

Third, a refund is not the same as a "RECALL." Recalls happen when something goes wrong with a batch product in the manufacturing process. Thus, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to issue a recall and offer people either a) a replacement product with the problem fixed or b) a refund. It is not the responsibility of the retailers to conduct a recall. However, the manufacturer usually conducts a recall through its retailer(s).

 

It doesn't matter. Alta took the money from the OP they should give it back.
If you speak to the right person in the right way, they will.

By offering store credit they essentially admit their wrong in the situation. Plus the parts did not fit and were defective as stated in one of the posts. Wasn't it even admitted by Alta?

Wow your knowledge amazes me! refund and recall are different, really? REALLY?

When a car manufacturer issues a recall on a particular model. Do you drive to their HQ and have them fix it or do you go to the distributer/dealer and have them do the work?

a. yes, b. no.

When a person buys a new car and transmission goes out in less than 10 miles, when does the consumer go? HQ or the dealer that bought the car? Who issues the refund for the car? Why don't you ask me how I know.

We are talking about giving OP his money, which is refund and has nothing to do with a recall.



EDIT* if OP was in US, the easiest thing would be to sue alta for the original costs and all the other money he has wasted. He has been more than patient, for christ sake's it's been over a year!

 

You misunderstood me. I WAS refering to the problems with boost tubes and intercooler. The chip thing was an addon since you think the problem is his MINI that is somehow different from all the other minis.

 

You mean if you yell at the right person, the right way, and make a big enough deal out of it. Regardless, it's still not analogous to this situation. A CD or DVD is not an electronic device. It would probably be handled differently, but then I'm not a gamer so I wouldn't know.

"Wrong doing?" I'm not sure it's "wrong doing." What did they do that was wrong? Sell a product that they didn't know wouldn't work (sorry for the double negative)? Offer a "refund" even though it's against their return policy?

^^Not analogous. If you have a problem with an Apple computer you bought at Best Buy and it's still under warranty. Do you send it to Best Buy or Apple? Apple. (Or you take it to Best Buy and THEY send it to Apple. Either way, it still goes to Apple.)

Again that's like saying "I bought a MacBook at the Apple store and now it doesn't work. Do I take it to Apple or Apple?"

Can you read??
1. The post I was responding to was saying that Alta (not Unichip or Uni or whatever) should do a recall.

2. Alta gave him store credit. The refund point is moot. Although it would be nice if they refunded some of the shipping costs and bit a bullet there.


He would lose, as per their return policy.

My apologies. No, I haven't heard/read of any fitment issues to speak of. So, that post is effectively moot.

As for his car being the issue... I didn't mean to imply that it was. If I did, then nevermind that... I was probably sleep deprived. I DID mean to imply that maybe his ECU just wasn't accepting the piggy back (like so many others have had an issue with).

EDIT: Wow that's a long post.

 

I don't yell, I just talk to people and persuade them to see my side.


Did alta NOT admit that the boost tube was too short? thus being defective. That would be the wrong doing I was talking about. Perhaps wrong doing is not a good word for it, selling defective product sounds better.



I would bring it to best buy 100% of the time. If they choose to send it to Apple (which they will) that's their own choice to get their money back for the defective product. I always go back to the place where my money was spent, not the 3rd party.



Once again, go to the place where you spent your money, once they have your product they can whatever they want with it as long as i get mt refund.



I do not read every single post, just the once that spark my curiosity. But I agree, Alta can't do a recall, that's just stupid. They can however, issue a refund.

Well it's pretty moot now, its been awhile. But If i was in his shoes I would refuse their "store credit" and demand my money back. If they refused... well thank god for AMEX.




does their return policy cover defective parts? I'm curious. Its not readily available on their first page, and I'm not in the mood to dig around on their website.


I'm curious what is this mighty knowledge of yours based on? Actual business law background or keyboard warrior background? These situation are covered extensively in any intermediate BLAW class. I'll hold my tongue on my own guess.

 

lol. ^^^

Good stuff Tsar.

 

Riiiiight.

And they offered to exchange it. Sometimes bad products get missed in quality control. It happens. Sometimes people just draw the short straw consistently.

Uni (or Apple in this analogy) is not a THIRD party. The retailer is a third party. Way to be on top of it.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way. Sorry to bust your bubble.

You don't have to read every post. But before you get on your high horse and respond to one you should read enough to take everything into context.

They did. Store credit. Thanks for not reading.

It's people like you who make internet shopping a risk for everyone else.

Read post #3.

It's based on logic. If their return policy states that item you bought is non-refundable. Then it sucks for you. They came out and said it, and you agreed to those conditions. Granted, you could probably sue them for SOMETHING and win. God knows thats how the lazy @$$ people in this country are. And the fact that you're encouraging that behavior sickens me.

But yes, I do have some knowledge of the law, as per the Poli Sci and Press Law classes I had to take for my Journalism degree. I've also done work in tech transfer at the university, which deals with a good amount of disclosure and confidentiality agreements. Granted I'm no lawyer, nor do I claim to be. Apparently you are though, so maybe you should represent this guy in court.

Bottom line... what happened sucks, but it can't all be blamed on Alta. They did the best they could. They gave him store credit for the chip. As bad luck would have it, the parts he got as a "refund" were deffective, and his only options are to live with it, exchange them, or sue somebody (and likely spend a lot more money than it's worth). They're a small, specialized company, not a billion dollar corporation. Apparently, you don't get that concept. Not that I'd expect you to at this point.

With that said, talking to you is like talking to a three-year-old about inferential statistics. So I'm done banging my head against a wall.

 

I skipped over the other useless banter because, well it was useless. Just highlighted one fact to point out, that it does NOT matter what kind of company you own. One can be a SP, partnership, LLC, or corp.; the company is faced with the same liability. I'm done too, you should have payed more attention in your "press law" class and maybe actually take BUSINESS LAW class too. Otherwise this argument was similar to explaining a right turn to a NASCAR fan.

Good luck to the OP. And I still want Alta to participate in this wonderful discussion.


EDIT* funny I found a post where Alta issued a refund for the Unichip. OMG they just violated their return policy...

 

I have one more thing to add, then I promise I'm done. Alta violated their own return policy, right? Twice, right (at least)? God help us all... that might just be great customer service.

Edit: I deleted/retracted a section that was stooping to a level I didn't really want to go to.

 

OP,

I hope you solve your problem with them soon. It is always frustarting being on the short end. If you still have unresolved issues, there is always small US claims. Don't know how you can do that in Germany.

Thanks for letting us all in NAM know about this.

PS: Adam told me in a PM that they will pay for all defect return shipping. I do not know what he told you.

 

I don't see how they gave him the short end. They gave him credit towards other products.... the fit of the intercooler and boost pipes are a bit different than alta screwing him over, which is what seems like you're suggesting, and I don't think that happened.

 

You have your opinion and I have mine.

Just trying to help the OP rather than spend too much time with the sematics.

 

First off, I have lots of ALTA's stuff and so far NO ISSUES 100% Satisfied Customer and will continue doing business with them.

But like in any business who sells to thousands of customers, there are those rare occasions, an anomaly, which can never be explained fully and THIS appears to be one of those instances.

I think..........the point being made by the OP is that if you continue to receive defective parts as he purports - from ANY merchant or vendor like....say Uber ? Would you want store credit for more merchandise, or a just simple refund as stated in store policy. But was the refund request within the time line in store policy ?

I surmize that since the OP was out of the country, refund / return time may have lapsed due to shipping distances. He did state a third party address was used for all shipping. And, especially not being privy to all verbal conversations on the phone, I would say Alta bent over backwards to make him happy.

I have a question not bought up - With all the MINI's in Europe, doesn't anyone overseas sell ALTA's products ? Would have the OP been better off going to a local distributor ? Could be.....

 

i bought my mini in germany...
in Mainz Germany from a dealer who "caters" to the american military sector.. if i had done any mods to my car there, i probably would have had to order them and have them shipped via apo.. that being said.. so many people either, one dont ship to apo's, or charge like such a ballooned charge for it, its not cost efficient.. people dont realize when they ship to an apo, that they are only shipping to NY, and then it goes it to the military postal service.. they see apo, and charge rediculous prices..
that being said.. one question.. why couldnt alta.. take the chip back, refund the man his money.. then turn around and tell the maker of the chip.. look your stuff doesnt work, we are losing our a$$ and you have a few options.. make a better chip.. , or we stop selling them.. plain and simple..
or go ahead refund what alta pays for the chip.. surely they dont pay 700 dollars..
either way.. cahmon someone give him his money back.. its really not that difficult.. for 700 dollars, i would even forego the shipping money i had into it..

 

lol,many of these posts are just hilarious. I love some of the white knighting