Jet-Hot Rip-off! Warning!

[trudellt]

Forum members beware!!! Anybody who is considering coating their parts at Jet-Hot should read the following account of my problems.

What follows is a specific list of problems with Jet Hot and (in their defense - to be fair) what they have offered me to compensate. Please share this information with friends in your respective car clubs.

After my parts failed QC twice and various processes had to be repeated, the parts came to me with the following issues:

1) Packaged with the hangers pointed inward (toward each other), and strapped together, the hanger on one pipe gouged it's way through the coating on the opposite pipe. It banged so hard that metal flashing and burrs are visible. To make matters worse, it hit so hard one time as to cause a DENT! This can't be repaired by recoating.

2) Only one pipe tip was properly protected. The other pipe exit suffered a direct blow to the end of the box. The opening is now out-of-round. This was an obvious packing mistake. The pipe tip was directly up against the side of the box! Fed-Ex did nothing wrong - the damage was inevitable. This can't be repaired by recoating.

3) There is a 3" oval dark ring that can't be removed with multiple applications of Blue Wenol or Mother's. I tried.

4) There are linear dings that look to be the result of a flange from another pipe striking mine. This is obviously from careless handling. This can't be repaired by recoating. There is also no way to correct this short of brazing on a weld, grinding it flush, and recoating.

5) The pipes have multiple scars that I can't remove with cleaners.


Jet-Hot had the following to say:

1) "Send me some pictures and I'll see if I can get you some money back".

That's nice. How about a complete refund on the process? What about buying me new pipes, since my are beyond repair? My pipes were sent in perfect condition. I just wanted to change the color to Sterling. I received garbage in return. By the way. I sent pictures. They offered nothing.

2) "9 out of 10 Cobra pipes come out OK."

Is that supposed to be good? Yikes!

3) "We can't expedite repair of your pipes because we are so busy." "I could tell you it will be 2 days to get you off of the phone, but realistically, it is about 10 working days"

I guess it doesn't matter since recoating them will not fix them.

4) "If you get the scratches repaired locally, we will pay for it."

I guess it doesn't matter since recoating them will not fix them. The color won’t match anyway.

5) "Just take the pipes to any exhaust shop to have them fix the tip"

Yeah, right. Tuffy and Midas do that all of the time. I forgot that the price Jet-Hot quoted me included me driving my parts all over looking for somebody to put them back in-round after they were done packing and shipping them. My mistake.

More customer support quotes:

6) One event that was particularly interesting is when I was told I couldn't get status on my order because a customer service rep. said "IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE!"

7) “Welp, you need to call back tomorrow because I can't help you, we close in 35 minutes, and basically nothing is going to get done the rest of the day". Oh yeah, that one is choice. You know, don’t tell customers that – even if it is true. We don’t want to hear that.

8) Jet-Hot’s last words to me were “Call us back when there is something we can do for you”. I’m not kidding. Those are the exact words. Shameful. I almost fell over. I felt so betrayed.

Jet-Hot also sent me a shipper to return my parts. Nice try on their part. They just want to get the evidence out of my hands. I would not allow my parts to get screwed up any longer (and take the leverage away from me). After all, they have a poor track record of repairing parts – just check the forums. Parts just get worse and worse every time they are sent back.

Jet-Hot, re-coating the pipes will not correct the irreparable damage you have caused. When are you going to understand that? Besides, I’m having too much fun (at your expense) showing the parts off at my club. Just got back from a swap meet as well. The gear-heads at work all were shocked. I think I’ll just keep the parts in the trunk of my car to show people whenever I can.

We (as consumers) are too passive. That is why I offered the following to Jet-Hot:

Refund my money or I will share my experience with as many potential customers as possible.

What was the response from Jet-Hot?

They declined my offer.

At a minimum, any reputable company would have at least refunded the cost of the process. Since my pipes are damaged as well, they actually owe me much, much more. The cost of the custom pipes is much higher than the cost of coating.

Please, everyone, do yourselves a favor and go elsewhere. Don’t make this fraudulent company any more money then they already have.

[RaceDeck]

OUCH! what a bad experience.....I had HPC do all of my coatings and they did a great job and offered great service. They even coated my roll bar to match the pipes.....HPC=High Performance Coatings

[JoeLafives]

I've never dealt with Jet Hot but I have to say that many of their responses seem very reasonable. I know that's not what you want to hear, but here's an example that you wrote:

>>3) "We can't expedite repair of your pipes because we are so busy." "I could tell you it will be 2 days to get you off of the phone, but realistically, it is about 10 working days"

I guess it doesn't matter since recoating them will not fix them. <<

They said "repair" not recoat. Additionally they sent a shipper. How do you expect them to repair the damage unless you send the items back? Take pictures and get a receipt. Get the ten day promise in writing. What have you got to lose.

I'm assuming here but basically they had one guy that screwed up the packing on the pipes and know they are willing to work out the problem. Perhaps they'll sandblast, fix the dents and recoat who knows?? Good Luck.


Best
Scott

[John McMahon]

Once again, it seems that the ongoing issue of proper shipping is evading the folks at Jet Hot.

I have told them on numerous occasions EXACTLY how to package these pipes for shipment. I shouldn't have to tell a business that, but I have.

I did manage to get a refund after 2 or 3 attempts to get my order corrected somewhat failed.

The best thing to do is to be located near one of their plants and simply drive them there. My first time out with the PA plant in '97, all went well but as soon as I had to have them shipped to LA, that is where the nightmare began.

I'll see if I can dig up the name of the rep from PA that I spoke to. He was representing the president of Jet Hot in my matter.

I'll try and follow up and either post here or email you directly.

JM

[trudellt]

Let me clarify:

By "repair", Jet-Hot (Todd) was referring to recoating (not actually fixing dents). They wanted me to take the parts elsewhere to have the dents fixed (on my dime and on my time).

I worked at a custom tube manufacturing plant and have patents on my library wall which attest to my knowledge of tube fabrication and bending. The pipes would be cheaper to purchase than to repair.

I have sent them pictures and they didn't care because they can't fix dents or the out-of-round tip.

Again, their words were "call us when there is something we can do for you". All they are offering is a recoat. Unfortunately, I'm out hundreds of dollars before I can get to that point.

So Jet-Hot has offered nothing "reasonable", if you carefully read what I wrote.

[Tom T.]

If they won't make it right, you could sue, probably successfully, in small claims court.

Best of luck,

TT

[flipper35]

I had good luck with the office in Tempe AZ. I had horrible luck with Fed-Ex though. It took FOUR weeks after getting a tracking number from them. Tempe is only a 3-4 hour drive from here. They were packed well but the box was trashed by the time it got here.

Brent.

[Double Venom]

Jet-Hot:
Started using them in '92. Met the owner at a PRI show. By '96 over 60% of the jobs we sent them had to have some work re-done and then recoated.

Went to HPC... ok, but after "X" number of jobs, remember we build streetrods as well, the quality started down the same path.

About '99 Louis, from "Hot-Shot" out of Florida asked for our business. I sent him a set of side pipes and custom Cobra exhausts for experimental purposes. (Actually they were and are for the DV II)

Many sets later, no shipping damage, no gouges, all but one set was returned on time or early, and the one that was late, Louis called, said it failed inspection and he was redoing at his cost, plus a discount.

In my opinion Hot-Shot is going to end up in the same category as Finish Line!

Hot- Shot is not well known...yet, but they will be!

DV -- 300 Cobras are NOT enough! Have you signed up yet?

[dscott]

I had the same problem as many of you including John M. and Jet Hot did make it right with me also. I've sent about 5 sets of headers and sidepipes to them over the last couple of years and each time they have come back very nice. It's really too bad they can't get their quality control up to par. I have another set of pipes I need to send them now but I'm having second thoughts after hearing this again. Hey DV, how about some info on the company you are using, phone # etc.
Don

[66cobraboy]

www.hotshotusa.net

1-888-440-5553

Eric

[Tom T.]

I'm having my headers and sidepipes coated--will let you know how they do. They sound like a quality outfit.

TT

[Jack21]

Hmmm. Nix'd Jet Hot right from the start. Too expensive, compared to their competitors. In comparison, Airborne Coatings in Connecticut called me and asked if I would like some imperfections repaired, welded & ground, before coating. Although I must say, when they shipped them back, the packaging wasn't the best I'd seen.

Found a new company in Fredricksburg, Virginia. About a 45 minute drive from DC. Just did my "J" pipes prior to welding. They look pretty good so far.

Damn shame. Thanks for the heads up.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

I sent Jet-Hot my headers back around 1995 or so to be coated. I used the Pascagula plant in Mississippi because it is close to me in Louisiana....They did a good job on my headers but sent them back loose in a rather large box for them to beat and bang on each other the whole trip. Lucky for me it was a short trip and they only had minor scratches...I callled them to report this and they said if I'd send them back they would recoat and send them to me..fair enough,I asked about their packing and shipping????They said they pack and ship all their stuff just like they did mine,I said I guess I'd have to live with the scratches as next time they may be dented.......

I do like the coating they use and it has held up well over time,their packing and shipping department should all be shot though....Next time I'll use a different company......

David

[Double Venom]

Thanks Eric.

I left the above thread hanging. I went after the link and Louis' phone number, got called to dinner and forgot.

Tell Louis DV sent you and demand the ClubCobra discount!

DV --- 250 + Cobras....my gawd is that going to be awesome!

[66cobraboy]

DV,

After hearing all the bad stories I have became a little nervous about who to use somewhat near me. I read a post that you gave about Hot Shot and I put them at the top of my list to call.

Thanks for the recommendation!

Eric Miller

[Double Venom]

AND....AND...

If any one uses Hot-SHot / Luis and they don't like the work, will you be kind enough to let me know. Luis knows I will be all over him like stink!

DV...300 Cobras is NOT enough! Are you registered?

[SSSnake]

I am going to use a place called Prism coating about 10 minutes from my house. www.prismpowdercoat.com. This way if anything goes wrong, I can talk to them face to face and not take crap over the phone. They use the Cermakrome (same stuff as finish line). They will also powder coat anything you want. I think they have a couple hundred different colors of powder coat.

Glenn

[d boothe]

Call Luis at Hot Shot. Not only does he do great work but he WILL stand behind it!!! dino

[dscott]

I called Hot Shot and they said they can't fit the Classic sidepipes in their polishing machine. DV, how are they doing them for you? I liked the pricing and turn around time he quoted.
Don

[Double Venom]

Uh-000h,
I forgot about that. They CAN do black, but not silver. Sorry guys I forgot about that. Actually, if you get right down to it, Luis CAN do silver, but because of his "booth" the Silver wont or doesn't turn out to Luis' expectations. This only applies to Classic Roadsters sidepipes!

DV -- 300 Cobras is NOT enough! Are you registered?