caveat emptor

[doug]

There seems to be a bit of a mixed/sketchy past here with high praises for good work followed by multiple complaints of unfilled orders. This from a variety of other car groups going back a few years. It's beyond our scope to determine what's really going on here. I would just like to say that the presence of forums, threads, or posts regarding John Perez (a.k.a. CarbonOne) should not be taken as an endorsement from Tesla Motors Club. As always, caveat emptor.

 

[bonnie]

Kids these days :tongue:

Seriiously? Glad you think it's funny. Many of us do not. ... moving on.

 

[dpeilow]

Another must read

Carbon1 - Lexus ISF / IS-F / LFA / LF-A Forum

 

[dpeilow]

spawnaero_john - Google Search


And again

Spawn Aerodynamics - Bullittes CF build thread. - Page 13 - Nissan 370Z Forum

The Audi TT Forum :: View topic - Care of carbon parts

Banned - 6speedonline.com Forums - View Profile: spawnaero_john

 

[AnOutsider]

Seriiously? Glad you think it's funny. Many of us do not. ... moving on.

I realize it's a touchy situation for you, but take a step back and breathe. I wasn't laughing at your plight. He's 23 now, and has been running scams for at least 2-3 years. It's more of a "shaking my head" at the situation and namely, his age.

At least you got SOMETHING though. I fear with this made public here, he's not going to do anything to help salvage his rep.

*edit* here's a more appropriate non-board smiley:

 

[bonnie]

Y'know, I haven't been freaking out and don't need the 'take a step back and breathe' advice. I'm 57 and known as a fairly calm person. A number of people on this forum have lost money, I've only been reporting facts (without emotion, I might add). It's not a touchy situation for me. It's a fairly clear situation.

I guess the little laughing face at the end misled me into thinking you thought the whole situation was amusing. Apologies.

 

[AnOutsider]

I realized the smiley wasn't appropriate to convey the message, hence the explanation and search for a replacement. I wasn't calling your age into question, the breathe was akin to just saying "chill" or "relax" -- I wasn't laughing at you.

As you said. Moving on.

There's more than enough info on this guy and he's of legal age to press charges. I hope you guys do. It's far too common for guys like this to get away with stuff because he thinks he's invisible on the internet.

 

[bonnie]

At least you got SOMETHING though. I fear with this made public here, he's not going to do anything to help salvage his rep.

I got something? Really? I just placed an order from another supplier for sills. The ones I received today are not going in my car. I am also sure enough that I won't be getting the other parts I paid for that I placed orders for those, too. If you'd like to buy some imperfect parts, send me a pm. And I'll also give you my spot in line for yet-undelivered door pulls and tail lights for half-price.

His rep has already been well-publicized on this forum. This is not the first discussion of what's going on. Here's the problem (at least as I see it) - because we're all hoping to get something that we paid for, no one is saying anything. That does no one any good. And that's exactly what's happened on other forums. Note that I only received sills. If I really believe speaking up will impact whether or not I receive the tail lights and door pulls that I also paid for, then in effect, he's holding us hostage. I don't believe I'm going to get those parts.

I'm not trashing John. I actually think he means well and has every intent of delivering parts. I'm only reporting my facts of the situation and allowing others to draw their own conclusions. Had I better understood the situation earlier, I would have had options to get charges reversed, etc. I don't have that option now.

 

[dpeilow]

I'm not trashing John. I actually think he means well and has every intent of delivering parts. I'm only reporting my facts of the situation and allowing others to draw their own conclusions. Had I better understood the situation earlier, I would have had options to get charges reversed, etc. I don't have that option now.

Here's what we have found

- Traded under at least 4 names in as many years.
- Exactly the same complaints and MO reported every time, namely some parts turn up to get good reviews then others get later and later until people never get their order unless they resort to paying for a collection etc.
- Items reportedly appear to be good quality then rapidly degrading when on cars.
- The same sort of platitudes we have seen here.
- Lots of people waiting for refunds.
- At least 7 different brands of car and their forums reporting this.
- 2 groups resorting to legal recourse.
- When banned he is not heard from again by members of those forums.
- The guy is preparing to relocate half way across the country.


I'm all for supporting small businesses get going but I would suggest that genuine businesses would look after their customers and fulfil orders rather than go touting for new business on other forums in this situation (and prioritise those sample orders on the new forum).

I would suggest that those with an interest try to join all these threads together by contacting members on the other boards I have posted and speaking to this guy on the Lotus board who was looking at possible class action.

I'm investigating my legal options against COJ, and wonder if you could be of assistance. If you are member at Lexus or other forums where COJ's operating, and you know of members who have been, shall we say, mistreated by COJ, I'd ask that you forward my contact information to such individuals. I'm trying to assemble a list of such individuals, as well as their losses.*

My contact info is:
Robert R. Sachs
Fenwick & West LLP
[email protected]
415 875 2410.

 

[doug]

I actually think he means well and has every intent of delivering parts.

This is the kind of good will that a confidence artist preys upon.

 

[bonnie]

I would suggest that those with an interest try to join all these threads together by contacting members on the other boards I have posted and speaking to this guy on the Lotus board who was looking at possible class action.

I'll do that. Thank you for pulling it all together in one spot.

For those worried that because we're talking about this, he'll not deliver anything more ... he did call the courier yesterday I set up near his house, saying he'd have Benji's hood and another member's sills ready. The courier confirmed with me. I'm dubious, but my point is that talking about it isn't changing the outcome.

This is the kind of good will that a confidence artist preys upon.

You're exactly right. As one delivery commitment was broken after another, I kept wanting to believe him. I felt bad for him. I worried that if I pressured him, he'd just cross me off the list and I'd never get my parts. Whether his intent is good or not, the net result is the same.

 

[AnOutsider]

I don't believe at all that he is a rip-off artist or that people are not going to get the parts the ordered from him. That's my take on it anyway.

Even with the posts dug up from other forums?

 

[benji4]

For me right now the focus is getting parts done for people on this forum. He is indeed making progress on that, albeit not as smoothly as anyone had hoped. You have to start somewhere though... I think that in the past (well, present too) he has bitten off more than he can chew. Would I recommend ordering a part from him now? No, I wouldn't, because you can see that he still has backlog left to take care of.

Here is what we know at this point:
1) He has filled more orders than he has not filled for Tesla customers.
2) He won't get any more orders obviously until he takes care of his backlog.
3) He is making progress on the backlog, but too slowly.

Being a rip-off artist and being someone with problems is a very different thing. He, I believe, falls into the latter category. If he fails to take care of his backlog then I will be the first to admit I was mistaken. I'm just not quite ready to hang the guy yet.

 

[Jaff]

Pffft!!!...This just leaves me cold Benji...no offense to you, but I paid a premium to have my parts shipped first...all I've received is bupkas ...a pile of broken promises, and unanswered voicemails & emails!

Here is some great news -- the carbon fiber hood and side air intakes I've been waiting on for sometime shipped today. I'm of course not happy about John missing deadlines, but I the truth is that he is producing and delivering parts. Here is the situation on my order at the moment:

1) Received: door sills, door pulls, rear wing, gauge bezel
2) Shipped: full CF hood, side air intakes
3) Waiting for: NAV bezel, side air vents, center console

Over the past few months a number of orders have been filled... Too slow, yes. Still, I think we should continue to work with John on getting the rest of the orders filled. I've been speaking to John on the behalf of Bonnie, Sparrow, Felix, and a few other people and I will continue to do that. Bonnie, he owes you a new set of sills among other things. No doubt that some of his actions have done less than inspire confidence, but at the same time I don't believe at all that he is a rip-off artist or that people are not going to get the parts the ordered from him. That's my take on it anyway.

 

[Doug_G]

Pffft!!!...This just leaves me cold Benji...no offense to you, but I paid a premium to have my parts shipped first...all I've received is bupkas ...a pile of broken promises, and unanswered voicemails & emails!

Sounds like an effective M.O. Give one or two customers excellent service so they'll sing his praises on the forums. Abuse that good will until you get banned. Move on to another vehicle forum, and repeat.

 

[doug]

I noticed that this showed up over on the Fisker Buzz forum:

Carbon Fiber

FiberMatt
Yesterday, 09:58 PM (This post was last modified: Today 01:25 AM by FiberMatt.)


Carbon Fiber

Hi my name is Matt. im a Chicago native and car guy.

I wanted to gauge interest in a new potential line of products. im a owner/operator of a carbon composite company and im looking for new forums to sponsor. I respect the process of a paid sponsor so i wont post web site or photos yet. Im very very interested in working on cars i enjoy.
Here is the process, i need parts to make the mold. The person who provides the parts gets super cheap carbon. I would like to be a productive and active part of this forum. this isnt just my job, its my passion. My quality and price is unmatched. just because you drive an expensive car, doesn't mean you should pay a crazy price. i even offer a 'directors edition' with built in cameras on my z06 line. Im always experimenting with the latest tech and hottest looks. I do much more then regular carbon. My parts not only look great but also function great. I bring to the table years of experience and passion.
Again, im just trying to get a feel if there is any interest.

Please feel free to reach me at [email protected] or obviously post up here.

Since it sounded like a similar MO, we decided to look into it. Seems there is evidence of at least some relationship with Carbon One Industries.

 

[dpeilow]

Yeah, I thought another carbon fibre supplier turning up in Chicago was a bit too much, so I did some digging.

Turns out that "John Perez" and "Matt Locaciato" have posted addresses pretty close to each other (Berwyn and Cicero) at some point in time. That made me even more suspicious.

John Perez claimed to be 23. That fits with his Myspace page. On some sites Matt Locaciato claims to be 29 and into mountain bikes. Whether this is *actually* him or they are one and the same, who knows?

MLocaciato has offered similar services to Hyundai and Vette forums.

Anyway the clincher was this: Matt Locaciato is mayor of Fiberworks and Carbon One Industries on his Foursquare page.

Some more info for whoever is compiling a case.

 

[AnOutsider]

I saw that too, and immediately wondered of that could be his new "partner"

 

[TEG]

OMG. Now Fisker, eh?

Twitter "I'm at Carbon One Industries"

 

[doug]

Perhaps just a business partner, or maybe not event that. But it seemed a little fishy and worth bringing to the attention of others. Make of it what you will.