Please... please for the love of all that is holy, tell me you did not buy the titanium pulley...

 

Ok, must of taken a lot of backbreaking shoveling to dig this golden oldie back up again...

I purchased my antenna on January 9, 07, the day after I bought the Mini. Well technically my brother bought it for me as a birthday gift. The Mini was a gift to myself. By the time AMVIV rolled around in late March the surface was a mottled purple. Thats barely 5 months. When you consider the Mini is garage kept. It's a second vehicle and not used around town much and for a month it was in the shop being modded. Granted it is Texas, but it's not when the sun is blaring down singeing all thing. Thats just way to quick for that to happen.

I too have a BBK with black anodized hats. I knew before I bought them the hats would turn. It's why I didn't get red hats, they turn a ghastly pink. I know in time anodized items subjected to heat and UV do turn.

At MOTD in late April 07, Kellen of Craven Speed made me an offer on one of their very small ones, also anodized black. It's now almost December, a scant 6mo since purchase. The Mini has been in the sun a lot more, full days at a time in all along the South and Southwest, from GA to AZ. The Craven Speed antenna is still as black as the day it was purchased.

Not even going to get into the replacement story. For those interested run and advanced search using my name and antenna. It will be in that listing.

Craven Speed Antenna Rating 10

P.U. 1 and only that much because it did function as an antenna.

 

OK, so we have 2 very different reports on how the PU antenna ages (one said it is just fine after many months of use and the other said that it turned color quickly, while other similar antennas from other vendors retained their color). Let's say neither party has any agenda here and both reports are accurate. What could account for such a result? Would the logical answer be a lack of quality control? Also, why wouldn't PU take care of gnaster's problem? As I recall (assuming I do recall this correctly) that PU treated his complaint with disdain. So MidniteCoop has had nothing but positive PU buying/product experiences. What accounts for those who have had just the opposite? Not all at once now!

 

Guess this actually happened sooner than i thought.

Axis wheels....another wheel company that PU ripped off blatantly....seems to have removed the Axis TC EVO from their site. And guess what....PU no longer sells them on their site either. But I bet it's total coincidence that both designers happened to make a wheel that looks exactly the same AND has a removable/paintable lip cause that's so common for one piece wheels

If you compare the two pics....you will see that PU appears to have gone so far as to remove the AXIS logo from the indentation on one of the wheels.



With logo installed filling up the indentation


PU wheel again...and again, just empty indentation on the spoke where the name used to be:


Another of the removed AXIS badge


You can also notice that the spacing of the screws is exact. The TC EVO is one of the only wheels like this with the removable beauty-lip that allowed painting....this was an AXIS Special. Seems a bit odd that PU would come up with the same exact design with the screws in the same exact position and just happen to leave a blank indentation on one spoke.

 

Edit - comment moved from other thread:

Blackie -- it's been fun (although not for you, unfortunately) to watch your progression as a PU customer:

From: PU is a'ight. they have some product I like and some I'm not too happy with when it comes to quality control -- but they're okay overall.

To: well, some issues have developed -- but I'm working it out with PU

To (several months later): yep, still working out those same issues, but we are talking

To: PU still says it's my fault, but we're trying to work through this

To: They've charge me AGAIN for these @#$#% lug nuts!!

and Now: @$%&*@ #*&*^ *&%^ PU and the &^$%# horse they rode in!!


Edit - You should open another thread titled "The Life and Death of a PU Customer: an Autobiography"

 

No I didn't, even so...if I had why are you worried about what I CHOOSE to purchase...

 

You should have left it in both places since I find it interesting as well.

 

Didn't Axis rip off Palo Uber? I'm sure that the world's greatest living legend in his own mind came up with this wheel design first!

 

Just goes to show the lengths I went to in order to give these cretins a more than fair shot to make things turn out right. When their PU tuner lugs failed more than once the screw started to turn, as it they switched to their subtle bribery tactic (e.g., reduced the price on their CF scoop, sent an unasked for free PU antenna, an extra tuner lug key, etc), but when all else failed they went with the now famous "it's not Uber, it's you; you're just too difficult to please". No amount of bribery can make a wrong a right, so I'll ask the question; what is so hard about replacing a faulty product with one that will actually work properly (the same exact product, not some off-the-shelf, non-locking, plain old regular set of lugs they desperately wanted me to take instead of their continually failing, rusty tuners)? I guess if a PU rep wanted to make me out to be an impossible to please crank, they have me all set up for it. And the funny thing is they don't give up; please see their just announced release of the "perfected" replacements that "will clear customs shortly". Wonder if they'll send me another set......

 

You'd find anything interesting that might make you out to be something other than a unwitting lackey of the Evil Empire. Say it as you say your prayers tonight, "All hail Darth Uber!"

 

Believe it or not, he's looking out for you.

 

...and in case you did miss it:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=121518

Palo Uber Mini Tuner Lug Replacement
We have just been advised our NEW Tuner Lugs are due in the port on December 12-14th, and will clear customs shortly thereafter.

PLEASE EMAIL US at gabbianos2003@yahoo.com to let us know if you need a replacement set, and in 12m or 14m size. The finish problem has been corrected and we have changed our packaging that it will arrive in.

There of course will be no charge whatsoever to you. Correcting this finish problem has taken longer than we expected, but we stand behind our products quality 100%, and appreciate your patience. A new tuner key will also be included. Our manufacturer has assisted us in correcting the finish error as quickly as they possibly could. Again, sorry for the problem and we appreciate your continued support and patience.

Geoffrey, Palo Uber Mini

Now we can all rest easy.....

 

Maybe everyone should request a replacement; flood them with requests and make them check to see who actually paid or who fought for a refund and finally got one. I finally did get a refund, so I'm not bothering, but you all feel free to drive them nuts; be my guest.

 

nah dude.....it's fine to point out and warn people about the problems with PU. But, there is no reason to screw with them and harass them in that way.

 

I doubt "progression" is the proper word. Regression or disintegration seems more appropriate to me.

 

It was a joke (which I would have thought obvious), but I cannot think of a more deserving group to be harassed, given the mistreatment (of their customers) that they seem to love so much.

 

Let me ask, what other vendor continually brings up the issue of their product needing to "clear customs"? It strikes me as a not-so-subtle way of PU trying to impress you with "our stuff is made in the UK (or at least Europe)". Why is this needed? Gag me.

 

Not to mention that the line about:

"The finish problem has been corrected and we have changed our packaging that it will arrive in."

sounds suspiciously like:

"We're rebadging a completely different manufacturer's lugs now, so hopefully these will work out better than the other ones."

 

Thanks for mentioning that Scott; I was thinking the same thing, but then forgot about it after laughing so hard over the "clear customs" BS.

 

Exactly,
And you seem to be reading their eagerness to replace the parts no questions asked and clear the air with the thread:

Palo Uber Mini Tuner Lug Replacement

The wrong way!

That sounds like a vendor trying to change for the better to me.
Not a fan of the dark side if you ask me.
Just to be clear!

 

Also, about post #637
I didn't miss it I just didn't bring it in to the thread.
Didn't wan't people to think I was working for them or anything!
Still sounds to them working to make good!

 

The idea of sourcing a better manufacturer to ensure a functioning product has never occured to you?
Happens everyday in every industry.

 

Just remember - talk is cheap, especially in the "no replies allowed" vendor announcement forum. Time will tell if:

a) the parts actually arrive when they're supposed to,
b) the exchange process is really as trouble-free as PU is making it sound, and
c) whether the new lugs will be any better than the old ones were. We've all heard the "Oops - bad batch, problem's been solved now!" song once too many times.

 

Actually to be honest...
When I got my Hamann grille, it took a month to get to me from germany due to getting locked up in the wonderful world of Customs.
And again when I got my Orciari Cowl Scoops, same thing although this time it was from italy I believe.
So I do believe them when they say that as a reason.
When I was waiting for one of my wings, they had a issue with it arriving, and it arrived at my door the day they said.
Those were coming from mymini and minimania, if you must know the vendors as well.

 

I believe the customs thing too...they're probably importing some parts from some foreign country. Lots of stuff out there for our cars....and at good prices.

What i don't believe is that they say they're importing this stuff from their company in London. Over on MINI2 (the UK MINI forum)...there are people from London unable to get parts from PU without shipping them in from LA....and they're unable to visit any store or PU buisness in London. There is no PU company registered legally over in London or the surrounding area.

Not to mention...their website is registered from LA.....and their buisness is registered as being run from a HOUSE! in LA (check google maps ) and with zero employees . http://www5.city.newport-beach.ca.us...OODS%20WHOLESA