RaceEvolution. Any good?

[Rehab]

Being new to this site I'm not sure if anyone will see this if I post here, but I will for now rather than getting pinged for starting a new thread with the same topic.

It's gonna be a wee rant to get some shit off my chest anyway, and hopefully if someone searches for Race Evolution on here (like I didn't prior to dealing with them) they'll find this thread like I just did.

Needed new front guard. Thought I'd do a test run first to check quality/service etc. Ordered screen bolt kit, fairing bolt kit and frame sliders for the CBR. I also asked (via email after I'd finished the order) which bar ends would fit best and their weight. Got told the alloy ones would be best and they were "extremely light weight" (huh???). He then tried to charge me for them and I had to email and correct the order.

First problem: When ordering I initially ticked that I'd pay by credit card/Paypal. That didn't work due funds, so I transferred the money directly into their account the next day. A day or two later I'd heard nothing until I got an email stating I owed them another $5 for shipping. Checked invoice which said I'd already paid $4.95 for shipping so asked what was up? Told that because my method of payment was different to what I'd originally stated, shipping was an extra $5. Odd, but guessed my fault so paid it into their account in cash at the bank that day and asked them to rush the order because I was now in a hurry due the delay. Got told the order was already on the courier and he'd check the tracking number shortly and get back to me.

Several days later I had no stuff but was still short about $140. During the day I rang, texted and emailed a total of 8 times and got no answer and no reply. Three days later I get an email wishing me a happy day or some shit and giving me the tracking number. Went on the NZ Post site to check where it was (somewhere between New Lynn and Glenfield I assumed) and discovered that it had "Departed Country of Origin" - China of course..... FFS.....

Turns out that despite the website being covered with "We are 100% Kiwi owned, So you know you are buying from a name you can trust. Based in Auckland, we work hard everyday to find you only the best deals." they actually hold no stock and order shit from China when you order from them. Hence the massive delay and also the fact that there is no quality control at this end - if the supplier sends you the wrong stuff, you know before they do.

So, a couple of weeks after paying, the shit turns up. The screen screws are supposed to be blue but they are black. The first one I put on the bike has the head snap off as soon as it makes contact with the fairing using zero force. Upon inspection, the ring of "metal" holding the head to the screw is about a half a hair's thickness. The fairing bolts don't fit the existing nuts and don't come with their own so are useless too. The anodizing has got all scratched in transit in the crappy plastic bag and so even if they did fit and weren't crap, they look like shit and worse than the ones I'm replacing. One frame slider required slight modification to fit over the existing lock nut on one side. I did the alteration by widening the hole slightly using a blunt drill bit held in my hand, and it cut through the plastic like butter. I'd be stunned of they do jack shit if the bike falls off it's stand - if it goes down the road at 10km/h they'll be ground off in about half a second. Given the quality of the other fixings, I am most certainly going to replace the bolts with decent ones I can trust too. They will be on the bike only as long as it takes for me to be able to pay for Oggi Knobs.

I have asked for a refund on the screws and bolts and explained what I've just written here. The sliders are my own stupid fault for buying cheap and because I have altered one I'm sure they won't refund them anyway. I also asked for their physical location so I can take the crap to them so won't have no stuff and no money at the same time. They don't wanna tell me???

If you're thinking of buying fairings off them, first I'd get a CAT scan to find out what's wrong, and then read the Help section on their website which details all the ways in which you won't get your money back ( http://www.raceevolution.co.nz/help ). I won't reproduce it here, but you'll see that they will replace bits broken in transit (if you photograph, pay for postage etc etc) and yet also state "We are in no way responsible for items once dispatched.". You can also return your fairings for a refund (less $100 + 15% - 30% of the purchase price + postage) BUT "custom kits are not returnable. "Customisation" includes but not limited to colour, decals and shape". So I guess you could get a partial refund for a clear flat piece of plastic with no stickers if that's what you'd ordered?

Anyway, will be fair and update if I ever see any of my money again. Lesson learned, but hopefully I can save someone else from making the same balls-up.

Oh, just remembered, to add insult to injury the packing/customs slip on the box clearly states that the value of the contents is $15.

And for balance, the following are fecking brilliant:
Just Fairings - great prices, great service, awesome product.
Kolorinn Kustom - as above and a right laugh as well
Fast Bike Bits - where I should have gone instead of Race Crapshite. Quality mostly European gear online at good prices and, although he doesn't have a shop, you can go to Liam's house in Te Atatu to see the stuff and he'll even help you out with installation and so on. And he uses what he sells too.

[Steve Gauge]

Here we go again , Not surprising , I dont think Ice mistro had any luck getting his money back so count your losses and right it off to experience , at the end of the day his products sold have to suitable for the purpose its sold for (fair trading act) thanks for sharing though good warning for others.

[Steve Gauge]

and I forgot , I like this part , WE TAKE NO RESPONSABILITY FOR ITEMS ONCE THEY ARE DISPATCHED , are you kidding they are dispatched from china brilliant

[Grantman_]

I bought a front and right side fairing for my cbr250rr from race evolution round Feb this year. It took about 5-6 weeks from what I remember, and yes, it was shipped from China. I had sent the guy a picture of the paint scheme, and that's exactly what was ordered.

Some may be surprised given the comments on here, but the fairings were, and are, nothing short of mint. They fit perfectly and even have all the right decals. In fact I was, and am still somewhat, convinced the manufacturer must surely have bought Honda's tooling. The screen I ordered with the fairings, and the screen bolts, all look absolutely fine and work fine.

I also bought a muffler which arrived with a couple of small dents. I wasn't too happy about that obviously, but decided to cover the dents with a sticker and live with them. Annoyingly the muffler was missing several screws. I contacted the guy and they were sent through without drama.

[Icemaestro]

I have a small claims hearing mid Jan. in regards to the above post - I think the problem is that they go on about being 100% new zealand owned, you're buying from a nz company etc, when all they do is buy it off a Chinese company and put a massive mark up on it (in my case this was about 350%), and it all depends on how good the manufacturer is. I would guess in the case of the cbr250 that it's a very good mould (incidentally, it was a report from someone else who bought a cbr250 kit that was the reason I went with them as well). However as we have found it's obviously a bit hit and miss, and the problem being they don't honour or even admit to having those problems.

[RSrider]

Just had the displeasure of dealing with them. Placed order for black screen and fairing bolts on 27/12. Nothing on their website says they are non-operational over holidays. Had not received order by 4th Jan I so emailed him, and he tells me that he was on holiday and that my item would arrive tomorrow or next day. Didn't receive item until the 7th Jan , and when they do arrive the screen bolts are silver, not black and the fairing bolts are so cheap looking it isn't funny. The Black colour is already coming off before I even attempt to fit them, and when I do go to fit them the allen key just wears the black off in seconds.

Too make matters worse he tells me that he has no black screen bolts in stock, but I can wait for them to come off "backorder" in about 10 days!!! More like I can wait for him to go and buy them off Ebay and then add his own 50% markup to it!!

Although he has agreed to accept my return and refund me, I still believe this guy needs to have a goo hard look at the way he deals. Almost not worth the hassle.

[Rehab]

Too make matters worse he tells me that he has no black screen bolts in stock, but I can wait for them to come off "backorder" in about 10 days!!! More like I can wait for him to go and buy them off Ebay and then add his own 50% markup to it!!

Although he has agreed to accept my return and refund me, I still believe this guy needs to have a goo hard look at the way he deals. Almost not worth the hassle.

Try 350% markup. Backorder means he orders them again from China and you might get the right ones next time around. They'd still be shit quality though. Considering we both ordered pretty much identical items and had identical problems surely they realise their method isn't working or, even better, they won't be around much longer. It'd be really nice to search on TM without most of the search results coming back with their mis-spelt shitty ads.

My saga continues.... They wouldn't give me a physical address to take the shit back to so I was forced to post it. The package then went missing. Whatever you do make sure you use a tracked package, if not a signature required courier.

Icemaestro, how'd you get on? PM me if you haven't been to court yet and you want a spectator - I'd like me meet these turkeys.

[sil3nt]

The domain name was registered by Prudhvi Gaddipati and an address for this person isn't hard to find.

[Icemaestro]

Wasnt it you methane who I sent the details to a little while ago?? My small claims hearing is on the 25th ..,don't think your allowed spectators lol. My main concern is them not paying up after the small claims...

[Rehab]

Although he has agreed to accept my return and refund me, I still believe this guy needs to have a good hard look at the way he deals. Almost not worth the hassle.

How's this for continuing hassle? FFS I am sick of these fucking dicks

Hello Prudhvi,

As you know, the package I returned to your company Race Evolution in Dec 2011 has gone missing and is presumed to have been lost by NZ Post. I lodged an inquiry and request for compensation with NZ Post on Jan 4th 2012. On that date they sent a letter to Race Evolution requesting you to confirm that you have not received the parcel. They sent a similar letter to me on the same date, which I received on 5th Jan.

Today I have received a further letter from NZ Post dated 18th Jan. They state that they have not had a reply from Race Evolution confirming that the parcel was never received. Therefore they are unable to continue the enquiry or consider my application for compensation and now deem the matter closed.

Have you sent the letter back to NZ Post confirming you have not received the parcel? If so, on what date? If not, why not and when will you send it?

I would like to get this matter sorted out and be able to claim compensation from NZ Post, but in order to do that I need you to take action quickly. NZ Post have said that, although they have terminated the enquiry, they will reconsider my application for compensation if they hear from you in the near future.

Your urgent attention to this matter is appreciated.

[Rehab]

The domain name was registered by Prudhvi Gaddipati and an address for this person isn't hard to find.

Being a limited company their details are publicly available on the companies register. To save a couple of clicks for anyone who is interested, if you click http://www.business.govt.nz/companie...panies/1919489 you get:

Company Addresses:
Registered Office
42 Duncan Street, Dunedin Central, Dunedin, 9016 , New Zealand
Pending address change

Address for service
42 Duncan Street, Dunedin Central, Dunedin, 9016 , New Zealand
Pending address change

Directors Showing 1 of 1 directors

Prudhvi GADDIPATI
11 Connaught St, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland, 0600 , New Zealand

[Cracker]

RaceEvolution are the "Faulty Towers" of the NZ fairings business. I must be one of the few who got a positve financial experience. The invoice they wrote up and I paid was $9 short of what it should have been according to them. The tail fairing for a Ducati track bike was hand finished and average . Its now painted and fits and thats all that matters I quess. It may last 2 or 3 lowsides, as long as I alternate

[Rehab]

RaceEvolution are the "Faulty Towers" of the NZ fairings business.

Think I might be taking a ride to Blockhouse Bay today.....

Dear Prudvhi,

No reply to my email or phone messages? I realise it was an incredibly difficult question and since you run an online business you probably don't really need to attend to telephone or email messages do you? You run a spectacular business with fantatic products and service and I'm going out of my way to tell everyone in the motorcycling fraternity how helpful you are. Thanks heaps for getting back to me so quickly even though I don't really need the money and I've got hours and hours to waste dicking around with this nonsense that has now been going on for 3 months.

Thanks again, you've been a huge help.

All the best,

[Steve Gauge]

yeah go around he would love to see you on a sunday , call it a customer relations exercise

[Icemaestro]

Do it!! :-p be interesting to see if he turns up to court on Wednesday too...