My experience with Koni
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (15)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Near Seattle, WA
My experience with Koni Dished out a few pockets of change to get some nice struts, two front struts... upon arrival, one adjuster is seized, I call Koni started the warranty process, and chose the option to pay 1/2 price and have them send me the replacement strut pronto...
-Two weeks later, nothing, not a word from Koni, or email.
-I call them up, they tell me they are back-ordered for 2 months. (yea, thanks for the heads up...)
-2 months go by, and nothing, not a word, email, letter, not even a ******* carrier pigeon from Koni.
-I email them... they respond next day and say it was shipped the week before. (again, thanks for the follow up...)
-Last night, I got the strut I've waited for!!! So excited, I open the box and guess what? The strut was not secured in the box, the spring cup was loose -it was stroking up and down the strut, just from looking at the all the scratches and paint chips!!
Trust me, I'm no 'queer eye for the camaro guy' ranting about cosmetics.. but just that this **** of service - I just couldn't imagine experiencing from a manufacturer with a reputation like Koni.
I did call them first to complain, trying to be calm and constructive, but I'm just
... they offered to send me a can of spray paint *which made me laugh out loud inside*, and I got that condescending response because I wasn't exactly being calm and professional... except in this case, I was the customer, and the negligence of their error acknowledgement just shows the level of integrity they upkeep.
-Two weeks later, nothing, not a word from Koni, or email.
-I call them up, they tell me they are back-ordered for 2 months. (yea, thanks for the heads up...)
-2 months go by, and nothing, not a word, email, letter, not even a ******* carrier pigeon from Koni.
-I email them... they respond next day and say it was shipped the week before. (again, thanks for the follow up...)
-Last night, I got the strut I've waited for!!! So excited, I open the box and guess what? The strut was not secured in the box, the spring cup was loose -it was stroking up and down the strut, just from looking at the all the scratches and paint chips!!
Trust me, I'm no 'queer eye for the camaro guy' ranting about cosmetics.. but just that this **** of service - I just couldn't imagine experiencing from a manufacturer with a reputation like Koni.
I did call them first to complain, trying to be calm and constructive, but I'm just
... they offered to send me a can of spray paint *which made me laugh out loud inside*, and I got that condescending response because I wasn't exactly being calm and professional... except in this case, I was the customer, and the negligence of their error acknowledgement just shows the level of integrity they upkeep. That is unacceptable, IMHO. Did they refund your 1/2 price after they received the bad shock? So many companies seem to have QC problems and I think most people never call them on it, largely because performance parts are installed at a shop and the customer is largely unaware of the issues. There is something to be said for doing it yourself! (I have a Borla cat-back QC story you would not believe, and they also seem to have a good reputation too)
Ya should have taken a picture of how it was packed, to send them and post it here.
Ya should have taken a picture of how it was packed, to send them and post it here.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (15)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Near Seattle, WA
Yea its a big bummer...
I'm shipping the broken one back today, we'll see about the refund - although I do have confidence the transaction part will be more pleasant. They didn't charge me 2 months early for the replacement, and they do respond when you end up following back up with them.
I just REALLY hope this lack of attention to detail hasn't/doesn't spread to the manufacturing plant...
Just looking at the PO: it says "93-99 CAMARO FRNT" ... Mines a 00... Koni confirmed they will fit on the phone call, and said "whats written on there doesn't matter" (????) WOW, so its okay to mess up PO's these days???
I'm shipping the broken one back today, we'll see about the refund - although I do have confidence the transaction part will be more pleasant. They didn't charge me 2 months early for the replacement, and they do respond when you end up following back up with them.
I just REALLY hope this lack of attention to detail hasn't/doesn't spread to the manufacturing plant...
Just looking at the PO: it says "93-99 CAMARO FRNT" ... Mines a 00... Koni confirmed they will fit on the phone call, and said "whats written on there doesn't matter" (????) WOW, so its okay to mess up PO's these days???
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (15)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Near Seattle, WA
I paid big bucks for Koni's 'finest quality product...', and I received absolutely nothing in my experience with Koni to back that up. Sam did his part & beyond for my expectations - goes for both in coaching me in my setup, and offering to help with Koni's obvious shortcomings...
On The Tree
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: UP YORN, AL
I still think if your a dealer and you sell someones products, instead of the customer having to deal with this, the dealer should be the one who deals with the company. I just believe you should get what you pay for, and shouldnt have to deal with shitty customer service.
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Come to think of it, My buddy had some similar odd shipping issues with Strano springs, no Koni's though. His order sat there for a month before they filled it or even sent him payment confirmation. He may chime in later today about it.
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Second, I'm often on backorder on springs. I try to put that on the website, and contact folks telling them so when they order. I probably miss one or two in the process.
Third, I don't charge for the springs until they are here, ready to ship, because I think that's the correct thing to do. But it seems that some thing I should charge for them regardless. I kind of damned if do, damned if I don't sometimes.
Fourth and finally. Why did the person not call me if they had questions?
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
As for Koni warranty: In my experience they have been very, very good. Sometimes they run out of shocks--which makes replacing them a bit difficult. I think they should keep some on hand there just for cases like this, but I'm not ITT/Koni. 
The warranty is theirs, it is not mine. I'm happy to try and help if you bought them from me, but I can't magically make them appear any more than your dealer can whip up backordered warranty parts from GM.
The warranty is theirs, it is not mine. I'm happy to try and help if you bought them from me, but I can't magically make them appear any more than your dealer can whip up backordered warranty parts from GM.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
As for Koni warranty: In my experience they have been very, very good. Sometimes they run out of shocks--which makes replacing them a bit difficult. I think they should keep some on hand there just for cases like this, but I'm not ITT/Koni.
The warranty is theirs, it is not mine. I'm happy to try and help if you bought them from me, but I can't magically make them appear any more than your dealer can whip up backordered warranty parts from GM.
The warranty is theirs, it is not mine. I'm happy to try and help if you bought them from me, but I can't magically make them appear any more than your dealer can whip up backordered warranty parts from GM.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
First, not sure what that has to do with Koni...
Second, I'm often on backorder on springs. I try to put that on the website, and contact folks telling them so when they order. I probably miss one or two in the process.
Third, I don't charge for the springs until they are here, ready to ship, because I think that's the correct thing to do. But it seems that some thing I should charge for them regardless. I kind of damned if do, damned if I don't sometimes.
Fourth and finally. Why did the person not call me if they had questions?
Second, I'm often on backorder on springs. I try to put that on the website, and contact folks telling them so when they order. I probably miss one or two in the process.
Third, I don't charge for the springs until they are here, ready to ship, because I think that's the correct thing to do. But it seems that some thing I should charge for them regardless. I kind of damned if do, damned if I don't sometimes.
Fourth and finally. Why did the person not call me if they had questions?
Maybe you could tack on an option in the billing to process payment now, or upon restocking of your inventory. Default it to whatever you prefer, but give them the option, that way it basically becomes their responsibility to decide, cut some of the headache when they gripe at you.
OP, I know how you feel.
