GMA451

Could someone please help me in dealing with Fine Design RC. I'm not going to personally attack Chris's character, but I'll describe my situation and if any of you guys personally know him, maybe you could help me out by talking to him. I ordered two Lehner 2280 motors in April 2009, and it's now June 2010 and no motors, and I was charged for the motors within days of ordering them. I've contacted Chris many times and been told many stories regarding the motors, which started with blaming Lehner for the delay, then blaming the shipper for loosing them, and then about two months ago he admitted to me that he had a really bad year and wasn't able to pay for the motors, even though I had already paid for my motors. He assurred me that he was not going to rip me off and that he was going to get the motors, they are at Lehner waiting for shipment, but he just needed to make a payment on them. Well, I waited another month and talked to him again, this time they were on the way. I asked him to please give me an update as soon as they arrived. Well......it's been another month and not one email or phone call from Chris. The guy has always been very nice over the phone, and I have been very, very, patient with him considering I'm out a $1000, and he has never through this entire ordeal once emailed me or called me. My last phone conversation was very pleasant with him, and he assured me he would call, but I'm just not getting anywhere with him, and getting really irate at him over the phone [from a thousand miles away] won't solve the problem. Just looking for some help. Just as a note, I've ordered some small items from him before with absolutely no problems.

FE_Chris

My Feedback: (2)

File a complaint with your credit card company. Your not the only one. Chris Fine seems to have been doing this kind of crap for years.

MsDarla

I had a few problems,Parts arrive a year later,Parts missing but things do happen and getting caught in the middle it might be difficult for him.
Things can take place that Chris cannot control: Lost mail/package,Supplier issues etc. []

idocdave09

My Feedback: (1)

But he can control the billing of them until he ships them.
Dave

GMA451

I appreciate your comments, and I'm trying not to get irate or personal over this. But do remember Chris himself told me almost a year later that he had a bad year and didn't have the money to purchase the motors, or what he essentially told me was, I don't have your money anymore to pay for your motors. So, all of the stories of lost motors and shipping delays were completely false, since the motors never shipped from Lehner because he had never paid Lehner for the motors. He has total control of the situation, which is unfortunate for me, since getting my money back may not be easy. I'll keep trying to contact him, which is not easy. It usually requires 4-5 phone calls per day for several days before he'll answer.

Ron Olson

My Feedback: (1)

I don't know if it's Chris' fault as I heard that his brother took over the business. Most of what I've seen and heard the past few years about Fine Design hasn't been good which is too bad. I met Chris a few years ago when I went to Lansing to see how the FE boys do it at the Michigan Cup race. He seemed like a helluva nice guy and talked to me like old friends although we had just met.

Darla, tell them about the boat that you bought from Fine Design!

MsDarla

Bought a RTR from him with a bad ESC,Then RX failed,Burned-up batteries,Another ESC went.Bought a few things that were nearly a total waste. RC snowmobiles [&o]
over $2000 of junk.

But then again lately my RTRs are junk and spent nearly $3000 this time.

nomobux

My Feedback: (4)

Time to take up Bocce Ball ( way cheap, if no wagering ).

GMA451

I'm going to periodically update the post as I continue my quest to get my motors or money from FineDesign. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Buereau of New York (BBB), and received a reply back that my complaint had been forwaded to FineDesign. I emailed, and left a phone message, with Chris Fine informing him that I contacted the BBB and posted my story on an RC website, and have tried contacting him via phone at least 40 times this week. I informed him [via email] that if he will send me the motors or return my money I will contact the BBB and let them know the issue has been resloved. No response.

13BT

Many years ago I asked Finedesign and fastelectrics.com for quotes on an identical product and setup. I got a concise and detailed reply from fastelectrics and a 2 line abrupt reply from finedesign. Guess who got my business?

tallpauly

My Feedback: (1)

has this issue been resolved??

GMA451

No, this has not been resolved and I don't expect that it will be anytime soon. I will continue to try and contact Fine Design, and I may try and talk to someone with the chamber of commerce in Middletown, NY, regarding their business practices.

tallpauly

My Feedback: (1)

you know I really hate hearing things like this.. A similar thing happened to me with a company in cali, I lost about a grand and the better business bureau did CRAP, I live about 2 hrs from fine design, and have been meaning to take a trip to his shop, I cant promise anything but, if i can help I will...... shoot me a email with the details [email protected]

Rich404

GMA451,

Credit card companies are really good in situations like this. Call them up, explain the situation & getthe chargedisputed. They will normally refund you the amount 100%. (There may be a timetable though)

The sooneryou call the better. Also, the BBB is a waste of time, credit card disputes are the only way to get things resolved with bad vendors these days.

Fine design seemed a bit flakey for a few quite a few years now. Even though Chris is known to be a wealth of information, it is better to stay away from him on the business end.

Now everyone knows: Stay Away from Fine Design!

-Rich.

GMA451

Finally, today I got through to Fine Design and spoke with Chris Fine, after calling daily for a month. Essentially nothing has changed, he informed that he's in really bad financial trouble, but he is going to come through with the motors. They are still at Lehner, but they will not release my motors until the entire order is paid for, according to Chris. However, he seems to have forgotten that he told me over a month ago that the motors were at customs awaiting clearance. I don't really know what to believe, and he admitted that his reputation is totally shot, and that he can't refund my money, and I'll just have to wait on the motors, and there's no use in contacting him anymore.....the motors will be there when they get there. Chris also told me that he seldoms answers the phone since so many others are calling him. He also recieved the complaint from the BBB, he's essentially telling them the same thing, he's trying to pay for the motors so they'll ship them. My guess is that he'll be bankrupt any day now, and I'll have learned a $1,000 lesson. I'm going to go through the credit card company and see if I get anywhere with that.

Justaddwata

My Feedback: (3)

definitely pursue the credit card company. I had one dispute resolved over 6 months after I made payment. They simply said if the items were supposed to arrive in a few months then that is when they would start the dispute date - not the payment date. My dispute was more than $1000 too.

Give them a call and see what they will do for you - there has to be some reason they charge all the fees they charge

Rich404

GMA,

Dude,call your credit card company & dispute the charge!!!! Once he goes bankrupt, you don't want to go down on his sinking ship!!

HE IS NOT GOING TO SEND YOU THE MOTORS!!!! But he will keep your money if you let him!!!!

Let the credit card company reimburse you so that you can get the Lehner's from a REPUTABLE source. The credit card company will deal with him and your hands will be washed from it. Fora credit card company with billions, it is no big deal, it is a simple write off, but for you, you are out of $1000 if you don't do something about it soon!

His ship is sinking and you are on it!! Get in the lifeboat man! Let him go down with his own ship!

I also had to dispute charges from seedy companies like this & it is easy!!!

Call the 800 number on the back of your credit card!

Good luck!

-Rich.

misshydro

ok take a easy..Here what else you can do.. For one call his state attorney gennerial office in his state.. Trust me this will get his attention. Also go to the better bisness burrow too. Joe had to go after somebody that ripped him off and he got his money back too... You dont want a state attorney gennerial office after you..

GMA451

Thanks guys, I am working with the credit card company and I think I can get my money back. As for the better business bureau.....I filed a complaint and they forwarded to Fine Design, and Chris told me that he received it. I completely agree that he's a sinking ship.

madmaxximus

Im in canada,got screwed by the same after thousands of $,after tones of chasing got the stuff some what sorted out,acouple of items still no show,($50 bucks),,well I added it up to learning cost,,
Never will i refer any one or do busines with FINE DESIGNE...
Lets hope i dont have to travel to NY,[:@],,lol
I know this is electric stuff,but custemer sevice,looking after stuff and giving a dam about what they do, BONZI rocks,,,thanks to FDM i whent the other way,They are awere that its funded by spare cash and are happy to get a piece of it,,,,,,,
Maybe it is the reason he is having issues[:-]
How ever i dont dought the man has knoledge ,just a tremendous lack of respect for hard earned money,,,,,
\for what is worth this is nothing I havent told him,and some
I feel for you rc brother

JPriami

My Feedback: (21)

I really need to hear good things about this guy cause I just ordered something from him at about $500. he was supposed to ship it today but i cant get a return email or phone call

Ron Olson

My Feedback: (1)

Dude, I'd see about putting a stop payment on whatever you used to pay him with ASAP!
With zero communication you may be up a creek.
Chris or his brother are more than welcome to come in here and reply to anything. We won't hold our breath waiting though. Anybody who can manage to get through to them can pass this along.

GMA451

Absolutely shocked, but Chris Fine called me a few days ago and informed me that he had my motors! They arrived a few days later. When I talked to him he apologized again and again, and said that he was sending me water cooling jakcets and motor clamps at no charge. He told me that he was trying to settle up with anyone else whom had purchased items and had not received them, and wanted to make everything right. I told him that I would post this information so that all would know that I got my motors. I appreciate everyone who responded with helpful advice. Now I'm finally ready to get what has been a 65" MHZ Popeye "static display" boat on the water!

JPriami

My Feedback: (21)

I set things in motion to protect myself already on paypal. But honestly I'd like to see everything go like i want it to and I get the boat within a week from buying it. I'd like to be one of the customers that says yes I have delt with chris and it went well.

Ron Olson

My Feedback: (1)

For FE boats and hardware I highly suggest Steve at www.offshoreelectrics.com . I've yet in all of these years ever seen one bad word about him or his service and I have bought items from him several times from hulls to radio systems and just about everything in between that I could use on nitro boats.

From what I've gathered is the Chris Fine really isn't running the show any more, that his brother took over the business. Whether or not this is true, I can't say for sure. I did meet Chris maybe 6 years or so ago and he talked to me like we'd known each other for years. He seemed to be a really good guy at the time but things do happen. In this way it's sad to see what has happened the past year or so.