Don't go to Wheel Techniques!
 

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! :icon11:

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. :D

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? :rolleyes:

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:
http://img43.imagevenue.com/loc1048/...122_1048lo.JPG
http://img17.imagevenue.com/loc1171/...122_1171lo.JPG

Front repainted wheel:
http://img164.imagevenue.com/loc758/..._122_758lo.JPG

Rear OEM wheel:
http://img104.imagevenue.com/loc924/..._122_924lo.JPG

How it's supposed to look (the other side):
http://img129.imagevenue.com/loc490/..._122_490lo.JPG

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

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.