Rattlebars will take your money

[Jim Osborne]

After leaving a review at VRCC about how I liked the Rattlebars Kick Shifter but the chrome was peeling off and how great the service was because he was sending me another one, the following happened. I received a new one in the mail to replace the one I had with the chrome peeling off. When I opened the box I noticed that the chrome was also peeling on the one they had just sent me. My wife and I laughed about how unlucky we were getting two with the same problem. We boxed it back up and returned it without even taking it out of the house. I send them email and enclosed a note about what happened. Some time later I received email from them (Chet Walters) calling me a liar and stating that I had bent it to cause the chrome to peel (keep in mind that this is the new one he just sent me, unused). He also stated that I would be charged $34.10 for handling and rechroming the part I sent back, and that it was not in that condition when they mailed it. Since I had used a credit card to buy the original one, I could not stop him from doing that, he still had my credit card information. I am now stuck with a kick shifter with the chrome peeling off and a $34.10 charge to my credit card for nothing. If they had told me in the beginning to just pay them $34.10 and they would send me another one to replace the one I have, I would have said ok, after all I have used the one I have for some time, but paying $34.10 for one that was damaged when I received it, and that I sent back is not right.

[V-MAN]

I've got to say that I am very surprised to see a post like this regarding Rattlebars. I know Chet Walters and have spent more then a couple of dollars on his products. I have also installed his products on other peoples bikes ... they have always arrived in perfect condition and the chrome after 32K miles and all kinds of weather is still PERFECT. Chet is a standup guy and I've seen him go the extra mile more then once for people and his product. Maybe you should CALL him and TALK to him and not rely on e-mail for communication :? I think that would be a reasonable step before "slamming" a good vendor. JMO
http://www.v-man.org/images/gif/soapbox.gif

[Jim Osborne]

Here is the email message I received after sending him the part back.

--------------------------------------------------

We got the shift lever. It did not leave here like that. We did have a
problem with what they call "onion skin" peeling on about 5% of the last run
of shifters. That was not the problem with the shift lever you sent back to
us.

One cannot bend a plated item. It breaks the chrome. We have credited your
account with the following:

$50 deposit minus $5.75 shipping for the return box minus $6.85 for shipping
the lever to you minus $21.50 for replating the shift lever that you
damaged.

Total refund - $15.90

We won't be sending another lever out. If you wish to send us your lever we
will look it over and if it's our fault, we will replace it for free. If
it's your fault like the last one we got, we will be happy to repair it and
replate it with the charges noted above applied.

-----------------------------------------------

I also called and left a message but no return call yet. I have sent him several messages trying to tell him the story but to no avail, includint the following message.

------------------------------------------------------

Chet I never even used the lever. I opened it in my kitchen and examined it
and found the peace of chrome pealing off.. I boxed it back up the same day
and mailed it back to you a couple of days later. I joked with my wife about
how you were having a problem with 1% of the levers, and how unlucky I was
to receive two of them. I am sorry that you think that I would do something
like that and then try to return it when I never even took it out of my
kitchen. I guess I will just have to keep the one with the chrome peeling
off and cause I am sure you will tell me the same thing. I will also be
telling other people on various internet places that I feel I am the one
that got ripped off

[Cattman]

I see you joined this board just to gripe about the same thing you have posted on VRCC,Delphi, VOOA and I'm sure other sites. Chet is a man of integtrity and we aren't hearing his side of things. Go out and ride and quit griping. We are about riding here. :wink:

[LaMonster]

I don't know you but I do know Chet and his actions speak louder than your words. I don't know what you think you are accomplishing here but one post on one board is plenty, I have little respect for someone who joins every board he can find just to slam a guy. There are two sides to every story and I wouldn't make any judgement againt Chet just from hearing your side.

[Dragbars]

Ok....I'll jump on this band wagon....after all, Chet is the person who gave me my handle and I've always known him as a stand up person and a shrewd business man. I'd like to hear the other "side" of the story TYVM :D

[Yogi]

Yep, I'll join in too I have several of Chet's items and have many miles 40,000+ on all of them. They still look like the day I bought them. Chet has also taken time with me personally to work out some things on my Valk. Definately a standup guy. Go beat your drum somewhere else....
we can't hear you.

[laborman]

I, like the rest of the posts above, am quite surprised at the negative comments directed towards Chet and Rattlebars. I have spent many dollars with Chet, and will absolutely continue to spend my money with him. He has always produced a great product, and stands behind what he sells. Recently I sent an email to him asking for adivce. NO! He didn't have to take the time to respond...but respond he did. Chet gets my vote, my business, and my money. I seriously doubt Chet will "honor" the negative posts (on many boards), and dignify it in any way. I accept Chet's silence (on all the boards) as a person I know who stands behind his products and his business.

[sarge]

Same here, I have a RattleBars kick shifter on my Valk that I bought used and is probably about 4- 5 year old and it looks like new. Quality is excellent. I have Cobra boards that have pitted and flaked and I believe flaked only because the boards were scraped by me. Cobra would replace them but hey the pitting is on the bottom and I'd just scrape the new ones :lol:

[keith]

Well First of all I would call him direct and tell him the sitituation and see what you can work out. i know cobra backs there product i called them about my floor boards because the chrome was flaking and they had me send them back and they sent me new ones and I'm sure rattle-bars will do the same your first mistake was E-MAILING him i always like to talk to a guy in person. hope this helps and good luck.

[holmes]

Chet is a fantastic businessman and has gone well above and beyone the normal course of "business" to help people he's never met. I have several of his products and each one has arrived in perfect condition. The chrome swap stuff I have is also perfect and the deposit was always credited back to my account in a timely fashion.

I'm not going to call you a liar (yet) but your story sounds like a few crucial parts have been omitted. That is of course just my pigheaded, stubborn and more often than not, correct opinion.

Holmes

[Rocket]

I'm not going to call you a liar (yet) but your story sounds like a few crucial parts have been omitted. That is of course just my pigheaded, stubborn and more often than not, correct opinion.

Holmes

Hey!! I was going to say that!!! :D

I have little respect for someone like this that slams a great vendor with excellent products on every board, instead of resolving the problem directly.

[Jimmie]

I need to say something here. I bought the Rattlebars kickshifter for my GL1800 when chet released it. I also bought the re-lo kit at the same time. I had a problem with the bolts stripping. I DID have to put some effort into reaching him by phone, but when I did he took care of everything and more. I wouldn't go as far as calling this guy a lier. Lots of things could be happening that we don't know about. My point is when I have a problem I don't use email or a BB. I call the vendor and keep calling untill I get it resolved, one way or the other. The email he posted from Chet does seem out of character for Chet. He never once told me that I was responsible for damaging my parts. I hope there is a follow up post once this gets resolved, good or bad.

[REDVALK]

good point Jimmie (and good points by the others too). I've heard the same kind of complaints about Hal on some boards. But i'm betting those folks never bothered to call him and talk to him. Cause if they had, i assure you things would have gotten worked out.

Mistakes happen....things happen....but quality companies stand by their products and their actions. and people keep coming back. I've only bought one item from Chet...and it was years ago....so i don't have much personal experience with him. But EVERYTHING i've ever read or heard....until this .....says the man is a man of good character.

Same way with Hal (but then you all know that :oops: ). i've heard some occasional complaints.....but can't remember hearing of somone who called him and talked to him and was STILL unsatisfied.

Bottom line. Call the guy. Work it out on the phone. Sure these vendors are busy. Sure you may have to call a few times. But before ya' go a slammin'....call and talk to the person first. It's just too easy now days to get on the Internet and type something negative...without taking the time to really work the problem out or get all the facts.

And usually as i recall there are two sides/versions to every story........i'd like to hear the other side.......

[Jim Osborne]

Thanks for all your coments but I did call on the phone. I got a return phone call from a lady telling me that he was out of town and the parts were back ordered and when Chet returned he would send me another one. She did not address the money chargeg to my account. Then I loged onto VRCC and found the following message from Chet.

"I told you that we would replace it if it was not damaged in the same way as the one that we got back was. I showed it to the plater and that lever was placed in a vice and bent, the vice marks were still on it, and the chrome was sprung off of it and cracked in several places.

My wife who is our "inspector" is extremely fussy about our chrome and it would not have left here that way unless there was some sort of mixup (we are all human).

Again, if you will send us even a picture of your current one, we will replace it for free and refund your shipping, if it is not damaged in the same way.

If it's our fault, we will take care of it as always. That's the way we do business and always have."

Now how would any of you feel if you got the above message a couple of days after calling on the phone. Yes Chet does have a good rep. and I would of loved to settle this without comming here. I thought the purpose of this board was just for that, telling people of your experences both good and bad. I expected to get slammed for this post because of his rep. and I am sure that you people have had good results with him. I never thought that it would be any different with me. For some some reason Chet thinks I bent it and mailed it back. What possible reason I would have for doing that, I don't know. If I wanted to send him one with the chrome pelling off, I could have mailed him the one on my bike.

[Fuzzy]

While you can still climb out. I've read your last post on the VRCC board. It looks to me that you got cought damaging your own part and you still want everyone to feel sorry for you. I for one have to believe that Chet is right on the money with this one.
The fact that you claim to be a retired LEO does nothing for me. I could make the same claim, but it wouldn't be true. Also the fact that you have joined every BB that you can find to bitch about it tells me what kind of person you really are.
Post like yours are just plain bad for everyone including you.

[Jim Osborne]

The one I sent back to him is the same one he mailed me the day before. Why would I bend it and send it back the next day. I still have the one I bought from him with the chrome peeling. Had I sent that one back, I could have excepted the bent statement because I have had it for sometime and would have been open to paying for another one. I agree with everyone, Chat does have a good rep. and I am sure he does not do business this way most of the time, if he did he would not remain in business very long, but if you got acused of something that you did not do, you would be just has upset has I am. I would hope that Chet and I could reach some agreement but has long has he insises that I bent it on purpose then mailed it back, I can see no resolution. I wanted noting more in the begining then to get a new part without the chrome peeling off. I would have even been willing to pay the amout he charged me to do that, but as it is now I still have a bad part, and was charged for something I returned without even using it. Has for my statements about my Occupation and other things I said they are the truth and I said them because several people said " What do we know about this guy ". How do I know you are not the brother of Chet, only because you will tell you are not. I am not trying to upset anyone, I am just upset and flustrated.

[LaMonster]

Chet has never post here or the new VTXOA board so I suggest if you want to continue this conversation that you do it on the board that Chet visits and that would be the VRCC, This board or any other board I run is not for your own person pity party. It would be one thing if you were a contributer to this board but your only post are to try and get some kind of response from Chet (who never comes here) and from customers who will continue buying from Chet because of his long standing reputation. Take this back to the VRCC if you must.
http://bbs.valkyrieriders.com/forum/general.cgi
http://bbs.valkyrieriders.com/forum/tech.cgi

[Hawk]

:clap2: THANK YOU LAMONT!! :clap2: I was hoping you would you step in Bro'. Sorry Jimmy but your story doesn't fly here. :no1:

[Jim Osborne]

G I thought that was contributing, I thought the whole reason for a board was to discuse things both good and bad, pro and cons. Not to just come on and pat each other on the back and tell tall nice tails. If all boards felt this way no bad information about anybody would ever be published and all dealers, even bad ones would be ok. If I had made these statements about someone you thought was bad or you had problems with I Guess it would have been allright. Just because you had good dealings with Rattlebars does not mean I can't have bad dealings with them. I was wrong to post here because I see that this board is for happy things only.

[V-MAN]

Jimmy D

You still don’t get it – that is very obvious by your follow up posts! I think everyone here that made a post has been sympathetic and has tried to point you in the right direction. It’s gotten to the point that the majority that frequent this board are tired of hearing you snivel. So you finally made a phone call (which you should have in the beginning) … after slamming the guy on various message forums. For being a retired (read plenty old enough to know better) cop you don’t handle your affairs very well. You want to run around the internet and post a one sided story (yours) in hopes to banter support for yourself. You claim to have made the post here to “help” the membership – that is a joke, you were not a member here until YOU had a problem. You posted here to get support for yourself and to add to your smear campaign of Rattlebars Manf. Frankly if Chet says you bent the kickshifter and it had vice marks on the piece then I believe him 100%. I have seen his integrity and I know he is a good guy with great products. You on the other hand have also proved your character – a whiny, sniveling weasel http://www.v-man.org/images/gif/crybaby.jpg (my personal opinion of course). I also hope that Chet does see this board and does NOT refund anything to you – you deserve nothing.

[Scottie]

Jimmy D

I don’t post too much on this board as I’m still kinda new to the Board. I’ve posted on other boards because I knew they were willing to share their knowledge and that's what I needed at that time. I’ve posted on another board because I’ve ridden with most of the guys and we all pretty much ride the same brand. Knowing some of the guys posting is important. It helps me figure out if the person complaining is legit or is being a crybaby.

Frankly the tone of your message was wrong at the get go as is your smear campaign. And that downward tone continues with each post. There is no doubt that you have a problem. I think Rattlebars is the least of your problems.

Now I don’t recall purchasing anything from Chet so I’m not product biased, but for the past 4 or so years that I’ve been hanging on the VRCC board I’ve heard lots of positive comments and seen lots of good product. Don’t get me wrong Jimmy D, there HAS been some negative comments about some of the suppliers, but usually it was done in a positive tone, and usually the problem was resolved, and a positive post followed.

Now I didn’t join this board to hear people whine. I joined it for support and positive input. So do us all a favor and piss off. Take the solitude being alone to learn how to communicate in a truly positive mode before you return to any of the boards.

[PIBIT]

Chet is the most reasonable, flexible and fair vendor I have ever dealt with in any industry...not to mention extremely patient and understanding.
I guess, like everyone else he has a limit and you may have hit it..way to go!
PIBIT :D :D

[Jim Osborne]

Why don't you people who are such good friends of Chet call him up and ask him if anything I have said on this or any other board is not what happened. If you will read these posts and other posts on other BB you will see that I have stated good things about Chet, his company, and his reputation. I never did think, he did, or was doing anything he did not believe was right, but in this case he is wrong and I am the one paying for the bad information he received.

[LaMonster]

One more time. Chet is not on this board, your wasting your time and ours.
Take this back to the VRCC if you must.
http://bbs.valkyrieriders.com/forum/general.cgi
http://bbs.valkyrieriders.com/forum/tech.cgi

[Valkcabbie]

HAHAHAHAHA...Good grief! Lamont, that's the first time in the 5 years I've known you I've heard you shout. I'm glad to see you nip that contentious attitude in the bud. After all we all came over here to share positive energy. Thanks for keeping this sort of thing in check. I visit the board weekly these days and really don't have much to say since my Tarpon fishing addiction has taken over my life and the Valk trips have been fewer as the boat trips increase. Puff and I do plan a trip up the coast sometime in August if there's anything happening we'll try to attend...best vc

[LaMonster]

Good to see your alive and well Bro. :D

[Jim Osborne]

6187.12 in reply to 6187.11

I sent Chet a picture of the peeling shifter I still have. He emailed me back and stated that they had some problems with someone bending and returning some parts, and that I had got mixed into that catagory by mistake. He also stated that somehow I got mailed one of the damaged parts. He send me another shifter without charge and gave me a credit for the charge he made to my card. I am glad he has it figured out because I did want to order other stuff from him. I have lots of respect for a guy who will take the time to check things out and find the truth even if it did require some proding on my part. I never intended to slam Chet, I just posted what happened. I did not enlarge the problem in my post, I only stated what transpired in an effort to let people know a problem I was having after all thats what boards are for, to post both good and bad experenses. It would have been taken has a good post had it been about someone not known or disliked but it happened to be someone well liked and with a good reputation. In my opion Chets reputation is well deserved and is intack. Thanks to everone for all the posts, both good and bad. If any of you get in the Sacramento CA. area lets go for a ride. The Sierra Mountians are a great place to ride with lots of old 49er towns to visit. Thanks again - Jim Osborne