Figured I should share this with the members...sorry for the long read.

So, I purchased a set of the sport wheels from another member on here knowing that there was a paint chip in one of the wheels. I found Wheel Techniques http://wheeltechniques.com/ close to my house in Santa Clara CA. I went in before purchasing the wheels to ask if they could repaint the wheels in the matching OEM hyper silver. They said, "Of course! $200." Sounded good to me so I bought the wheels and took the chipped wheel down to get repainted on 6/29.

I show up on 7/5 to pick it up and I find a number of things wrong: dripped powder coat, marred clear coat, and the inside of the wheel was a very dard gray. The guy who handed it to me said that was how it comes. So, I get the owner over to take a look at this and he apologizes and takes it back. I'm then told it'll be Tuesday 7/10. I wasn't too thrilled about it taking another 5 days and I'm told that there's nothing they can due and I'll be put back in the queue.

I show back up on 7/11 and I'm shown a wheel that has a large (quarter sized) bursted air bubble on the surface of the wheel and lots of little marks (10+) where dust had settled on the rim while drying. They aren't happy with the work and explain that it's hard to do, that they made a disclaimer that there would be imperfections (no verbal or written disclaimer was given), and that they could knock $50 off the total if I take it as it is.

At this point, I'm not too pleased but also not too difficult on them. They say they "can try again and *maybe* it'll be better -- but no guarantees". I ask them to do a better job and that I'll take the $50 back. They agree and bump me to the top of the queue (which makes their former statement a lie) and get it completed by today, 7/12.

I go to pick up the wheel and there are still a few imperfections that I'm OK with. I get my $50 refund and rolled the wheels to my car in the sun to take another look. I notice the freshly painted wheel is slightly darker than the OEM - noticable when next to each other and another worker noticed the same thing. So, I call over the painter and tell him I'm not happy with the difference and ask to speak with the owner to get my money back. He goes back inside and a few minutes later they lock the doors and set the alarm!

When the owner finally does come out, I ask him if our conversation was over based on him closing the doors and setting the alarm. He says, "There's nothing to talk about. I passed the wheel and the paperwork is done." The owner then gets in his truck and drives off. I'm left speechless and without recourse...except to bitch in an online forum.

Lesson learned - don't take your wheels to these guys. I'm unimpressed with the quality of their work and their customer service leaves much to be desired. I will post this in other G35 forums so other car lovers don't make the same mistake.

 

name of the owner is?

Thanks for the warning.

 

File a report with the BBB. At least they'll have something on record.

 

How about some pics to show exactly how shoddy their work is? Post a comparison photo of the damaged wheel to the original wheels and some photos of the imperfections.

 

I know of many people who have gotten work done there before and other than being slow they have no complaints. I too went there to get an estimate before to refinish some wheels and was quoted $190/each. In all fairness, the guy who gave me the estimate told me that if I refinished only one or two wheels there would be a good chance the colors not be matching becuase of the lack of consistency of clear cost mixtures from barrel-to-barrel (or however is it mixed). He even told me that if I did all four, but at separate times they still may not match and that if I was worried about it the best thing to do would be to do all four at once, wait until I needed to do all four or even explore aftermarket wheels.

 

I feel you pain I had the same BS with those guys. I high recommend not taking your rims over their. You should have paid with your credit card so you can cancel transaction. I canceled right after this first mistake.

 

I wish I had been told the same thing...but I wasn't.

I did pay by credit card and I'm going to try to get my money back that way. I got a few more opinions from acquiantances and they all say the same thing (without being told the whole story) - the new wheel is darker.

Anyone selling *one* sedan sport wheel in good shape?

 

where is wheel Techniques loctacted?

 

http://wheeltechniques.com/

One location in Santa Clara (where I took my wheel) and another location in Sacramento that I can't comment on.

 

post this in the norcal section.

 

Can a mod move this to the appropraite NorCal section? Thanks!

I just put the wheels on and I'll post pics shortly...

 

kick his ***.

 

Ok - here are the pics:

The front wheel is the repainted one. Pretty close but noticeably darker:



Front repainted wheel:


Rear OEM wheel:


How it's supposed to look (the other side):


So, does anyone have just *one* 18" sport wheel in good shape that I can buy

 

Yes, I have also had HORRIBLE experiences there. If you don't bring in a set of 6K HREs for them to work on, your wheel gets last priority. Its unreal how bad it is over there.

 

if its that bad... i suggest actually calling the BBB and not letting them get away with it anymore.