BTW, I checked the stubby I've had for probably 8 months. FWIW, it is not painted; it is annodized, absolutely, and it is NOT fading.

 

From what i heard it wasn't a threat against an actual NAM person, but against a company that they said was "copying" "their" products when someone pointed out that PU was selling rebadged products. I don't think it went anywhere though.....most likely because the product really wasn't PU's to begin with. If i recall correctly it was wheel related.

Edit...yup i was right, wheels: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...wheel+sportmax

He talks about how some legal stuff was filed about sportmax taking their design or whatever. But it's the same wheel with a different badge. Same goes for the other set which is actually an Axis wheel which is in that thread too.

 

I don't think there have been any threats of litigation against other posters that were actually made public on the forum. I don't know what's happened in PMs or e-mail.

I do know that PU has claimed to have filed a lawsuit against SportMax for supposedly infringing on PU's "design", but there's been no follow-up, and as expected, the SportMax wheels are still widely available. Likewise, I think somebody found the PU lightbar from another vendor (no name was given, as far as I can remember), and PU claimed that they were suing the other vendor, but again, there's no followup.

 

It's also important to note that the design was somehow stolen with a time machine as Sportmax has been around for far longer than PU and their wheel was released before PU's was. Same with Axis and Axis is held in very high regards when it comes to wheels....they've been around for years and would have no reason to copy the design of PU.

It is also suspect that they were attempting to rebadge the konigsedder (sp?) bodykit as their own. They had photoshopped a pic to remove the company's logo from the side of the car as well as the liscense plate and called it there own as well as the exhaust in the picture. When i brought up the question of whether or not it was similar to the konigsedder kit, they told me i wasn't supposed to release it to the public yet (despite it being on their public website) and they instantly removed it from being on sale (for $1200 more than what other companies charge for the same kit).

Now there is the question of whether or not the lug wrenches and lugs are Gorilla....:impatient

 

I think they are completely bluffing (okay, lying) when they claim design and patent infringement. I'm still waiting to hear back from this:

 

I have not been to many of the big Mini events and was wondering has PU been to any and sold their products one on one to people? I'm not saying that they haven't, I don't know.....

 

I think SportMax and PU have came to some kind of agreement. I was looking for the SportMax 003 wheels with gunmetal finish and cannot find them anywhere. I even called up SportMax and asked for them. They said the model in gunmetal color is discontinued, but they still got the bronze one. I found it strange that they will discontinue gunmetal and yet still got the bronze color model. I would think that gunmetal is much more popular color.

I don't think SportMax stopped making those wheels because PU sued them. It is more likely that they have some kind of exclusive arrangement for PU to be the only reseller for that wheel. PU will probably want to sue me now I have made a "guess" on what happened.

 

Interesting stuiff. I had no idea so much intrigue was involved here.

 

Anyone ever start a thread: HAPPY PU CUSTOMERS STEP IN HERE TO TELL YOUR STORY
?

 

Based on the situations though that may not be enough to make any strong point. The existence of so many flawed items is unheard of in the MINI community.

Regarding the wheels.....how many actually know that they aren't real and that the stuff about being designed "by palo uber the famous artist, and developed by some special guy in germany" is all a lie. Or that the quality is far less than what it's built up to be. Sportmax isn't a high quality wheel by any means.....Even if someone was alright paying extra for the same wheel to someone in the MINI community, would they remain happy when the finish on their sportmaxes went bad (a common problem with sportmax wheels due to cheap clearcoats and paint).

Or about the lugs, antenna, and scoops....that's cool that there are happy people with their purchases, but the fact that lugs are rusting, antennas are browning, and some scoops fit so poorly that they need to be sent back (or they mysteriously start crumbling).....the eexistence of such "bad batches" should be of major concern when it comes to quality. So even if there are 15 happy customers and 3 with faulty products.....that should raise some questions as to their quality control.

 

The "Bad Batch" excuse is used by other vendors also, just doesn't seem as often and consistant. Bad products can slip thru from time to time but a good vendor will do their best to check the quality of their products before shipping. A vendor does handle the product at least twice before you get it, when they received it and put it into their stock and when they pulled the part and packaged it for shipment....

 

Just curious, as I have a few of the PU products and I have obviosuly had problems with some that had to be replaced (I mean, I started this thread), but did either of the past two posters (RallyMINI and minimarks) have first-hand experience, as I did, with PU products and problems are you you both reacting to what has been said about PU by others?

 

I am a happy PU customer..

got the black scoop and the carbon fiber scoop! :D

suits my car and fits just great!!

Coen

 

Did I mention any one vendor? Just stating that good vendors try to not ship improper stock, but that some can slip thru... And no I have not purchased from PU as I have read to, to many threads such as this...

 

I have never purchased from PU which is why i have never voiced complaints about personal customer service or product flaws. I have stuck to what i have dealt with which is the lies and false advertising. These two areas require no purchases to be apparent. I'm sure PU has mentioned that i never bought from them....but it doesnt take me sending them money to discover that the wheels are fake and that the artist isnt what they say he is.

So no, when i speak, i have never had any product problems with them. I have however been a reader of NAM's vendor announcements for about 4-5 years and have dealt with PU's vendor announcements which is where my experience comes from. As one of the veteran members who attempts to help people, i have read many PU problem threads (here and on other boards) and only seek to share such knowledge so that people can make the proper decision as they see fit.

 

Rally:

I appreciate your effort to help. I also appreciate that you can get a flow of opinions from the quantity of complaints, but without seeing the wheels for yourself how can "you" know they are fake?

 

Just wanted to say me to

Perhaps we could start a thread of happy customers

 

Mini:

My apologies, as I guess I read too much into your post, as I did attribute your comments to mean PU specifically. I guess it was the line "other vendors also", which made me think you intended your remarks to mean PU was the subject.

 

What is the reason you have both? You have more than one Mini or you like to change from time to time? Any preference?

 

I have had people take pictures of defining features such as the markings that wheel companies place on their wheels. The 'forged' imprinting on the outside wheel alone in the exact same position on both wheels is enough to ensure atleast some knowledge of fakeness. There are lots of threads and pictures if you look around....just gotta spend the time searching as i have.

The funniest lie they made was also the easiest to disprove.....they claim that Palo Uber is the most famous living expressionist artist as well as the designer of the above wheels. I majored in Art with a concentration in Art history from one of the "new ivies" and could not for the life of me find his name in my expressionist books. I went to ask some of my art history proffessors including the ones with the PHD's focused on modern expressionist art....no luck. You can even do a google search without finding any information about the artist. So "most famous living expressionist artist"? I think not. I did some further research to find info on the galleries..... of the ones i saw, they all turn out to be restaraunts or cafes ( i was assured by PU that they were atleast 5 star...hahaha). Certainly being on display in a cafe isn't enough to make you "most famous" in the world. If so, i should really look into it, as i have had my pieces in many galleries and just recently held a solo exhibit in an art gallery (read: not a decoration in a food establishment).....am I the most famous artist of our time? I surely hope not

It's just hard to take someone seriously when they say such things. I'm sure they are trying to write me off for not buying things from them....and if people fall for it, that's fine. But in all honesty....no purchase is necessary to find the lies....just research into friends' and strangers' experiences, problems, and stories. All of the necessary information is out there, even for those who haven't purchased a PU product.

 

I think it's time to put PU to rest. There's enough bad press about them here to show future customers that they should look elsewhere. They dont' supply any products that can't be sourced elsewhere if you look hard enough. I'd say just stop buying from them and they will eventually disappear.
Most famous living artist... that should raise the BS meter high enough that any halfway intelligent individual would look elsewhere.

 

don't forget to mention that they claim their wheels are MINI specific... when how could that be if they have 2 sets of lug holes and are not of the correct hub size? i'm all for people trying to make money and run a business, etc... but not when it's done the way PU has been.

 

pssssst, boost gains from a scoop. (need there be more said?)

 

I first had the black one.. Now I want to switch to carbon in combination with the cf mirrors and backstrip

Coen

 

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