Just to let everyone know the final outcome. Most of the white patches haven't come out. I finally got to talk to one of the installers at Stongard and he told me that the directions that come with their covers are not correct for the Stook. It should be installed from the hood outwards instead of the center of the headlights outwards as the instructions say to do. Customer service was nice about it initially and said they would refund my full purchase/shipping cost and send me a replacement. But 2 days later, I got a call from the same customer service rep saying the President had heard about this and would only refund the purchase price minus shipping costs.
Hard to believe these folks will remain in business with such poor customer service. I own a small business and make a really good living treating people the way I would want to be treated. What a Neanderthal! A replacement set would probably have cost them less than $10 and would have resulted in a positive post.

 

After that whole fiasco with the headlight thing, the guy's still a MORON. This'll only open up all those old wounds and re-confirm to everybody involved in the last thread that Stongard AIN'T where it's hap'nen.
Good luck with the new install. Hope it works out for you.

 

Forgive me if I'm not surprised. I didn't get my shipping cost back either.

 

Whats wrong with these guys? Didn't they lose enough business last time?

Some people will just never learn how to treat customers.

Anyone want my $250 discount coupon for a full install I got at Asheville Days? I'll even pay the postage to send it to you!!

 

I'm sure that lots of people have had no problems with StonGard, but based upon what they seem to do when someone has problems, I can't see myself using their products.
Who wants to chance buying something that not only doesn't work as advertised, but you have to absorb the shipping costs of that product when it fails?
Of course, nothing like a customer service rep saying something positive, and then having the president make it look really bad by putting a very negative spin on it. Makes one wonder how the president got to that position.
I wonder if he realizes what word of mouth can do to a company?
sousleau

 

The shipping cost is a minor item. What is significant was the many hours that I've spent and will have to spend applying the covers, continuing to squeegee them to try to get rid of the bubbles, and then having to laboriously take them off. All of this when you're told by their installer that you installed them per their instructions but the instructions are wrong. They weren't even interested in my suggestion to include a page of special instructions for anyone who ordered a set for an S2000. I suspect the president is also the owner and not much of a businessperson.
Reminds me of an event many years ago when I bought an aquarium from a local aquarium/fish retailer. After about 6 months the aquarium developed a small leak and when I tried to get it replaced by the retailer under the 5 year warranty, the owner accused me of leaning on the aquarium thereby causing the leak. So I threw out the aquarium and ceased buying the expensive fish from that same retailer. A few months later I was on a flight where I noticed the gentleman next to me was reading a memo from the aquarium manufacturer. Sure enough, he was a regional VP for the aquarium manufacturer. He immediately apologized for the retailer and had the whole 9 yards sent out to my house. He said they would have gladly reimbursed the retailer with no questions asked. He said the fundamental problem was that the retailers were "hobbyist" first and business people a distant second. I suspect the owner of Stongard is not really a businessperson and really doesn't know any better.
The good news is that there seems to be a group of good business people and enthusiasts providing aftermarket goodies for the Stook.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lovetodrive2000
[B]Whats wrong with these guys?

 

I got my stongard (full kit) installed back in February. I dont' think its a good install and attribute it to both the installer AND the product itself. Looks like the installer didn't take his time and was probably drunk when he did it. There are lots of air bubbles and "white patches" that have not come out (since February). Also, some edges are crooked. Yet, he's the ONLY authorized installer in the area so I had no choice. The product itself sucks because it doesn't look like it was made to fit very well. The instructions say the installer is suppose to "stretch" it to the edges of the fender/bumper, etc., but looking at it, it just doesn't see like that would have made it fit any better.

Well, at least there will always be the protection factor. I just don't think its worth the $900+ dollars I paid for the job.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by redleader
[B]I got my stongard (full kit) installed back in February.

 

back then, I was told that stongard was the best. I was not aware there were alternatives. Although it really doesn't make a difference if you think about it because whatever you end up putting on there is for the sole purpose of getting beat up, rocks chipped at, bugs flying on to, etc. So eve if it was nice, it would end up looking like crap in a matter of time. But anything is better than putting a bra on.