Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 15:25:25 -0700
Reply-To: AL_KNOLL@HP-ROSEVILLE-OM2.OM.HP.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al Knoll <AL_KNOLL@HP-ROSEVILLE-OM2.OM.HP.COM>
Subject: Warning: Do not patronize Vanagon Projekt
In-Reply-To: <19990906160353.BB6C229E@palrel1.hp.com>
Item Subject: cc:Mail Text
Fellow Listees.
I have had a very bad experience regarding promises and commitments
made by Detlev Hanschke and Peter Lotz DBA Vanagon Projekt.
Patronize them at your own risk!
They have refused to honor their business agreements and have
misrepresented their expressed intentions regarding warranty service
for motors that they supply and promises to correct various issues.
Two faxes follow. Both Peter Lotz and Detlev Hanschke have expressed
no interest in following through with their commitments.
Al (not a happy camper)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fax sent 28 AUG 99:
FROM:
Al Knoll
PO Box 3113
Auburn, CA
95604
Vanagon Projekt
c/o Livermore Engine Center Ltd.
456 Franklin Lane
Livermore, CA
94550
Dear Mr. Lotz,
I have been unable to get a response from your partner Mr. Hanschke
regarding completion of the work on my Volkswagen per our agreements.
(enclosed).
I have been unable to secure a date from Mr. Hanschke regarding start
of the work or when the work will be finished.
The expressed warrantee of 6 months, 15,000 miles by Mr. Hanschke has
not expired.
The correct motor, discussed in detail with Mr. Hanschke on the 5th of
June, has not been installed even though full payment as noted on the
enclosed receipt from your place of business has been paid more than
90 days ago (May 20th 1999) as shown in the attached copy of my
personal check for $2476..
My VISA transaction of $3000 as noted on your receipt faxed to me on
the 12th of August has been paid to your firm.
I personally feel that you have misrepresented the intentions of the
Vanagon Projekt to honor their commitments to me.
As you know, I have been without reliable transportation since mid
July and this has caused me to cancel several events that I attend on
a yearly basis. (Persied Meteor Shower, Saline Valley DVNP, annual
trout fishing trip to Island Park ID for Henry's Fork Foundation,
attendance at committee meetings for TNC, Annual Monterrey Historic
Automobile Races and others). I have had to make other arrangements
for commuting to my place of business because of the lack of response
by Vanagon Projekt to agreed-upon commitments. This inconvenience is
no longer tolerable.
I have discussed this matter with my VISA company and they are in
agreement that barring completion of the agreed upon motor replacement
as discussed in the accompanying documents within five working days,
they will at my option withhold funds in the amount of $3000 to cover
the expense of having another firm fulfull your obligations.
I encourage you to respond within one business day with a definite
schedule not to exceed five working days to which you will adhere to
complete the work that you have promised at no additional cost to me
per our previous agreements.
Sincerely,
Alfred F. Knoll
CC: Ordas, Timmons, Owen and Owen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fax Sent 01SEP99:
Al Knoll
PO Box 3113
Auburn, CA 95604
To Vanagon Projekt
C/O Peter Lotz
Livermore Engine Center
Livermore CA, 94550
Dear Mr. Lotz
As you and I discussed today you are a working partner in the Vanagon
Projekt with Mr. Detlev Hanschke.
The Vanagon Projekt as I explained in a previous fax, a copy of which
is attached has failed to fulfill it's contractual obligations
regarding warranty service on an engine conversion in my Vanagon.
Your fax to me yesterday, also enclosed, indicates that you do not
intend to act on the matter of fulfilling your promises and
obligations to me as a customer of the vanagon projekt in which
business you are a working partner.
My contractual obligations as noted in the previous fax have been
fulfilled regarding payment for services and parts procured through
your business in good faith. I have faxed you a copy of the paid
receipt.
I would like your statement as a working partner in the Vanagon
Projekt as to when my vanagon will be finished.
Should I not here from you in one working day with a definite
completion date for the services quoted by your firm to require no
more than 19.5 working hours / 2.5 working days I will consider you in
default of contract and that the Vanagon Projekt has misrepresented
itself as a bonafide business in the City of Livermore.
Per your estimate:
Remove engine 3hrs
Install A/C compressor 1.5hrs
Install power steering Pump 1.0hr
Install I5cyl setup 14hr
I have been put to great inconvenience by the Vanagon Projekt's lack
of commitment to me as a paid in full customer. I find myself without
transportation because of your businesses failure to fulfill it's
contractual warranty obligations in a timely fashion. Should I not
hear from the Vanagon Projekt within one business day of
01SEP99@1700Hrs regarding a firm commitment for immediate resolution
of this warranty problem I will have no recourse but to charge the
Livermore Engine Center DBA Vanagon Projekt for my transportation
needs during the time I have been unable to use my car.
At this time I have no recourse but to withhold funds as stated in the
previous communication (attached) and to contact the Bureau of
Automotive Repairs and the Department of Consumer Affairs regarding
resolution.
I had hoped to work with your firm to resolve these issues but your
reply today is clearly an attempt to further stall any progress in the
matter.
I hope we can work things out in and ethical and satisfactory manner.
Sincerely ,
Alfred F. Knoll Dated: 01 SEP 99
CC: Ordas, Timmons, Owen and Owen