ECS Tuning Won't Take Back a Snap-in Adapter That Doesn't Work

[Jobu]

Originally Posted by ECS Tuning

Paulk1 - Please PM me in regards to the order issues you had so I can look into what happened on your order as well.

ECS Tuning

I think these things should be settled in the open. Otherwise the people on this thread are deprived of information they can use to make better decisions. Its great that ECS is a good sponsor, but when a relationship between a sell and a buyer turns adversarial, I think the Xoutpost membership should be empowered to represent themselves effectively. It should be obvious if the customer is trying to defame the seller, so I see no harm in being open.

[Jobu]

So, here is how it all ended:

I sent the part back via UPS. ECS received it and issued the credit for the cost of the part. I did not, as discussed above, remove the dispute from my CC. So it WAS NOT accurate for ECS to say that ECS could not issue a credit while a credit card dispute was outstanding. ECS credited the price of the part, not including shipping, which was to be expected. I paid for my own return shipping. I followed up with Continental Presidential Plus , which told me I did not have to end the dispute, that when ECS' bank contacts my CC company, the dispute will be automatically withdrawn, and the original charge will go through, and their credit will net out to my only paying for the original shipping.

At the end of the day I was out the shipping both ways, which was about $26. Not insignificant, but nothing to cry over. I was satisfied with the end result, but boy did I have to spend time and effort to make it so. I don't like spending my time on this type of thing. I want my purchases to be seamless, like on Amazon.com. I dont' like to fight for things, and I don't really like having to use these boards for such purpose. But, I had no choice, because the origninal position by ECS was "no."

The lesson here is that ECS cares about it rep on this board and if you play that card you can get a satisfactory result in the event of a dispute. Another important lesson is that you only get to dispute a charge once so don't remove it until you are satisfied.

I haven't figured out why the Snap-in did not work. That's for another thread!

[Paulk1]

I sent you a PM like you asked. Your customer service should have handled my problem with my two phone calls. Not trying to save face here!

[SCardamon]

Oh ECS,

[DoubleA]

I have had good service from ECS, but last time I ordered a set of sway bar link and I received 2 different brands, something I didn't like and ended up not installing it. Shipping those back was not worth it so they now sit in a spare parts drawer in my garage. Lol

[vtmikev]

Very few if any places take returns on electrical items unless DOA. I have never ordered from ECS so I have NO experience with them. with that said, I side a bit with them on this one and I think they stepped up.

Unless you were unaware of the need for dealer programming and the cost associated with it, I think the problem should have been resolved at the BMW dealership. If they do not want your business, take ALL your Service and future vehicle Purchases elsewhere. I really think the dealership was worse to you than ECS.

[vtmikev]

There are many BMW dealerships in North Jersey and Rockland so if the dealership is messing with you...move on to one that values you.

[zalzala]

Originally Posted by Jobu

So, after the iPhone 4s announcement I excitedly ordered the iPhone Snap-In Media Adapter (84212218390) from ECS for my brand new X5d with BMW Apps. I specified 2nd day air. The item had to be ordered from the distributor, so I had to wait a few days, but they didn't specify that when I placed the order - it was a waste of expedited shipping, but whatever, its wasn't worth complaining about.

I get the item, but when I snap it in I sadly discover that it will not play music. (It does other things fine, however). What a disappointment after all the hype of BMW apps, etc.

I call ECS. It takes some time to get the BMW specialist, but they eventually email and suggest I get the dealer do a re-flash. Fair enough. I tried making an appointment at my dealer, but my dealer didn't want to do it (because they didn't sell me the part). The dealer said "how do we know its not a defective part?" Now I'm caught between my dealer and a internet parts retailer.

So, even though my dealer is being a jerk, I can't be sure the $212 part isn't defective, so I requested a return from ECS. They refused. Reasons stated:

1- They don't accept electronic items for return (I wasn't notified at time of purchase)

2- It was already "installed." (Um, snapped in?)

3- It needs "other parts" from the dealer. (They won't tell me what parts, however.) This doesn not sound right to me. Seems like an excuse for ECS not to take back the part.

Does this sound like behavior we should support on this forum?

ECS is this really how you do business? I've ordered successfully from ECS before, but I am extremely dissatisfied now.

I have same car with apps but no adapter yet. I am going to buy from my local dealer. But if installation is straight forward. What does reflash men?

[SlickGT1]

I had similar cust service issues with them. returning stuff is a nightmare. The reps that hang out on the forum save the company from severe backlash. That service at least counts for something in my book.

[PUREVIL]

Originally Posted by DoubleA

I have had good service from ECS, but last time I ordered a set of sway bar link and I received 2 different brands, something I didn't like and ended up not installing it. Shipping those back was not worth it so they now sit in a spare parts drawer in my garage. Lol

EXACTLY my scenario... I have had good service from them and will continue purchasing from ECS as needed but I was suprised to receive an unmatched set of sway bar links. Check out the photo, one black and one silver. Kinda wierd.
As with yours, they are currently taking up space in my toolbox. Eventually I will paint them both and install them I guess.