ECS Deseptive Advertising

[Fifty150hs]

WARNING

Do not believe ECS Tunings "lifetime replacement" for the tools they sell. What they actually mean is you buy the tool, it breaks, you pay them for the same tool again and send back the broken one, then you get a store credit, NOT YOUR MONEY BACK. Beware.

I now have a $275 credit to buy more of their deceptively advertised products when what I want is my money back for the tool that broke. When I called them I got nothing but attitude about it.

AVOID ECS TUNING. DO NOT REWARD THEIR DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING.

[andrewwynn]

Ok I misread your post at first. I would expect exactly as you, they would copy fcp euro model of buy replacement, send in broken part and get refunded once the broken part gets there.

What if you send the broken part first to get credit and use credit for replacement?

The situation you described is not a good policy just ending up with store credit not really replacement of the "warranteed" item.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

WARNING

Do not believe ECS Tunings "lifetime replacement" for the tools they sell. What they actually mean is you buy the tool, it breaks, you pay them for the same tool again and send back the broken one, then you get a store credit, NOT YOUR MONEY BACK. Beware.

I now have a $275 credit to buy more of their deceptively advertised products when what I want is my money back for the tool that broke. When I called them I got nothing but attitude about it.

AVOID ECS TUNING. DO NOT REWARD THEIR DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING.

Yeah. FCP Euro has similarly changed their "lifetime replacement" policy to that as well. But I have noticed they are no longer charging a 5-10% premium on their parts either. Still weighing whether or not I want to keep buying from them. I have enough BMWs that store credit might make sense... but the principality of it has me still on the fence.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Ok I misread your post at first. I would expect exactly as you, they would copy fcp euro model of buy replacement, send in broken part and get refunded once the broken part gets there.

What if you send the broken part first to get credit and use credit for replacement?

The situation you described is not a good policy just ending up with store credit not really replacement of the "warranteed" item.

Because I had to pay for the replacement before they shipped it. Then return the broken tool. If it had been a true lifetime replacement they would have refunded me the first money for the damaged tool when they replaced it.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Yeah. FCP Euro has similarly changed their "lifetime replacement" policy to that as well. But I have noticed they are no longer charging a 5-10% premium on their parts either. Still weighing whether or not I want to keep buying from them. I have enough BMWs that store credit might make sense... but the principality of it has me still on the fence.

I discovered the same thing on my last set of replacement parts. Store credit instead of refund as they used to. But, they announced the change and made it obvious. I don't think they're claiming "lifetime" replacement with store credit.

NOw I need to figure out what to spend my $250 on at ECS, because not only is it a store credit (actually "rewards"), but it expires after 2 years. It will be the last think]g I buy from them. I don't like doing business with shady companies.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

Because I had to pay for the replacement before they shipped it. Then return the broken tool. If it had been a true lifetime replacement they would have refunded me the first money for the damaged tool when they replaced it.

Yes I agree. When I've done warranty replace at FCP I pay for new they refunded new replacement cost I think including shipping once they got the broken part. Misread at first as I mentioned.

What I read was that you didn't want replacement just wanted to cash out. Not what you said and I agree it's deceptive if you only get store credit every time something breaks. In reality it wouldn't make much difference other than you have some $ tied up like savings account for next time X5 breaks.

I have to see what FCP says about this. Ive only ever gotten refund to cc when part was returned in the past.

[X5only]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Yes I agree. When I've done warranty replace at FCP I pay for new they refunded new replacement cost I think including shipping once they got the broken part. Misread at first as I mentioned.

What I read was that you didn't want replacement just wanted to cash out. Not what you said and I agree it's deceptive if you only get store credit every time something breaks. In reality it wouldn't make much difference other than you have some $ tied up like savings account for next time X5 breaks.

I have to see what FCP says about this. Ive only ever gotten refund to cc when part was returned in the past.

I've been buying car parts from FCP Euro for many years, and I don't recall a time they ever just offered money back for a broken part. You always had to buy a replacement for the broken part and get your money back when you send to them the broken part at your cost. But I find this perfect for self-car maintenance and I have no complaints with them. I think this business model would turn into a loss if they just refunded your money. The model has to be supported by new purchases and they benefit from volume sells/stock turn over discounts from their suppliers. That's where they make their profits given car parts don't break that often as they're busy making sells from repeat customers . What ECS is doing, on the other hand, is pure crooked.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Yes I agree. When I've done warranty replace at FCP I pay for new they refunded new replacement cost I think including shipping once they got the broken part. Misread at first as I mentioned.

What I read was that you didn't want replacement just wanted to cash out. Not what you said and I agree it's deceptive if you only get store credit every time something breaks. In reality it wouldn't make much difference other than you have some $ tied up like savings account for next time X5 breaks.

I have to see what FCP says about this. Ive only ever gotten refund to cc when part was returned in the past.

FCP recently changed their warranty deal. It is now for store credit. But, I think they sent out an email announcing the change and I don't think they call it "lifetime replacement". That term is what is really deceptive. And I think they know it. They got super defensive when I called them out about it.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by X5only

I've been buying car parts from FCP Euro for many years, and I don't recall a time they ever just offered money back for a broken part. You always had to buy a replacement for the broken part and get your money back when you send to them the broken part at your cost. But I find this perfect for self-car maintenance and I have no complaints with them. I think this business model would turn into a loss if they just refunded your money. The model has to be supported by new purchases and they benefit from volume sells/stock turn over discounts from their suppliers. That's where they make their profits given car parts don't break that often as they're busy making sells from repeat customers .

I agree, but I wasn't looking just for a refund. I wanted the tool replaced. In order to do that I had to purchase a replacement and then send back the broken tool. ECS should then have refunded me the cost of the broken tool. They would still be paid for the tool, but they would be honoring their warranty. That is exactly how FCP used to work. Buy the replacement part, return the old part, get refunded for the old part when they received it.

[X5only]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

FCP recently changed their warranty deal. It is now for store credit. But, I think they sent out an email announcing the change and I don't think they call it "lifetime replacement". That term is what is really deceptive. And I think they know it. They got super defensive when I called them out about it.

Really? I recently returned some broken parts and got money back to my paypal account. Or maybe the new policy applies to new purchases.