Just wondering if my situation is par for the VPD course.

I sent a deposit of $500 in December of 2009 and the complete payment of $4000 in February of 2010. Up until fall of last year I have not heard anything from John. No emails, no calls, nothing.

Throughout 2010 and the first part of 2011 I would get occasional emails from him regarding where my parts were, when they would be shipped out, what I should be expecting, etc.

So June 2012, 29-31 months later...

I am not trying at all to flame John, I would just like to know if this is normal...if I should continue trying to initiate contact with him, or should I find someone to recoup the money...

Finally I received my pistons, crank, bearings and connecting rods. It took months of prodding and calling and deadlines, but they showed up.

Now I need to work on the engine block and get him to send me the rest after the deck height is measured.

Wait!! Was that a Porcine Aviiator that just went by???
--
Too much iron, too little time

It may have been, but it certainly doesn't excuse the terrible service that you've received so far..

yes ryan there is a santa claus

Wow. There are a lot of people with the same story here.

Where is this guy located? You can contact the state Attorney General and have them investigate and prosecute on your behalf, since he's doing "business" in his home state.

Just the number of people on this one thread is enough reason to get the AG to look into it. The thread isn't official or detailed enough, but you could all call the AG office and get things going.

I really think this guy should be dealt with.

NYS Attorney General is at 120 Broadway, NYC,NY

I ordered from JP an engine and trans swap kit. It took him 11 months front to back, many promises, excuses and when the parts were delivered not the best condition, no hardware and just shameful all in all.
I will never do business with him again but found the key is to be RELENTLESS, call his house, his cell, his friends shop, all listed on his web site, look him up on google maps and his house is exposed, call ten times in a row, he will do anything to get you off his back, I know, I was relentless and thus got all my parts in 11 months.

I sent an email to John a week ago asking for a refund, no response. Daily calls with voicemails left asking for the same thing, no return calls.

Today I finally had a chance to speak with him. I told him that 3 years of empty promises was enough and that I was calling to cancel my order. He became belligerent and told me that I had two options. Option 1, wait for the parts ans be happy with them or, Option 2 wait until he has money to refund me. I then asked him what I was supposed to do, waiting for 3 years was completey crazy. He then told me that the parts would ship tomorrow.

WTF!!!!! This is complete bullsh!t.

I see the tradition continues. This seals whatever doubts I may have had. VPD is definitely a no-go situation, for exactly this reason, for me. I do hope you get the parts that you've paid for, or your money back, with interest. John has obviously been using it to help stay afloat.

Still nothing. Tons of calls, some answered most to voicemail. Never get a return on voicemails, nor emails for that matter.

I have been promised it would "go out" I can't remember how many times. Which is strange because the last conversation I was told that now everything thing was finally in and my parts would go out as a package...but months ago I was assured that everything was found and ready to go out.

I am beyond fed up with this joker.

Well it has been nearly a month and I still have received squat from VPD. I decided to give him one last try about a week after I posted and finally was able to make contact.

So here is the story:
At the time of my order THREE YEARS AGO, there was another customer with similar names, we also ordered the same kit and parts. Only one kit was shipped out, the other...mine, was not shipped out. Despite my emails and calls for the last couple of years I have received nothing.
I was finally able to make contact with VPD three weeks ago and the shipping snafu was identified and I was told it would be corrected quickly. The parts were found, "around the shop" and it would be boxed and shipped out to me. Three weeks ago I was promised parts and the kit, tracking number, etc still I have nothing to show for it. I asked for a refund and I got the no no no lets get your engine built for you story. I have tried to make contact with VPD via phone for the last few days with no success. Messages left, emails sent, full mailboxes, yadda yadda.

I am a little concerned that 2.5 years later he is finding my parts around the shop and will "kit" them and then ship them to me. I know how a shop works, I find it hard to believe that my parts are still laying around and have not been salvaged or misplaced with other kits and what I might receive is mismatched with unmatched parts.

VPD seems to tout great products and even some good results, but this type of service and the other service/dis-service I am hearing about here and via emails is absolutely nutty. I should have gone with my gut and spent a little more on KGTrimning or other sources, at least I would have satisfaction...

If your name is Ryan Holloway, and not John Johnson, then I'd say the story is pure bs.

That said I know the man has been away for most of this month.

But I'd be rather worried (for his sake) if he can have 3 year old parts floating around without realizing that something screwy has been going on. So the explanations are nothing but smoke up the....

Even if he has been away for most of the month, he has taken my phone calls, he has responded to my emails, he has told me that he would send me some parts, that excuse does not fly with me.

I see things are STILL hopelessly screwed up at John's place of business. He either needs to hire some competent people that will help get his damaged reputation back on track, or get the money that he owes to everyone back to them and get out of business altogether.

I have ordered a pair of Mikuni's for my dad about 6 years ago and we have received nothing until now!!!

I have been in contact with John by e-mail twice, both times it ended up the same way: After asking me if I prefer the filter-housing in chrome or black painted finish, I heard nothing of him anymore nor did I receive the carbs.

In my opinion, this is a clear rip-off. Shit can happen once, but if there are other people with similar experiences:

Don't make business with v-performance, guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just managed to have something shipped. Yesterday!

This was a 3 month process to buy a set of springs.
- Middle of May I sent in a order by email.
- Middle of June I called and spoke to John, who was going to send me a final quote with shipping.
- Middle of July I sent him an email telling him to forget about the order since he hadn't bothered to give me the quote.
- John came back (same day) and apologized, and made up some excuse about a helper. I replied and told him I'd like to do business, but I'd hold him to whatever delivery times he gave me, and while I was not in a hurry, I also would not wait forever.
- 3 days later John sends me the quote, I pay, and he comes back and tells me not all parts will be ready to ship. He offers me partial refund of what cannot ship, or to hold the money until he's ready to ship. Knowing this forum I tell him I'll take the refund and then order later.
- John sends the refund two days later.
- 7 days after that (yesterday) I get a email, and a tracking number.

I say this can be done, but one needs to straight but pushy, and tell him up front that he'll be held to delivery times.

I wouldn't pay him any other way than by Paypal, and have him give you a delivery date. With Paypal you can dispute the payment if he doesn't live up to it, and Paypal will back you up. Just make sure as you send it as a payment for goods (and keep email correspondance on all) and not as a payment to "a friend".

And here you can see the package progress:
http://www.boxoh.com/?t=1Z9AX9380397517093

Man, you are lucky! But you're one out of what, maybe ten who got burned?

I can't believe you are suggesting others will be as lucky as you... Foolish advice. This is exactly how this scam artist survives!

Is it? I didn't tell people to do business with him, just that I believe it's possible to do without losing other things than time.

You let him know up front that if he can give a delivery date, you will place an order, and that you will hold him to it. That's a pretty sound advise if you wish to attempt him in the first place. I'll try again, same terms.

If I was going to attempt to buy something from him for a couple of thousand I'd probably make up a written contract to have him agree to in writing before sending any money. And you can bet that a day after he would miss a delivery I'd dispute the transaction. And I wouldn't give him any 1+ months in the first place between payment and delivery.

I believe that the most this would have cost me would have been 3 emails to Paypal, and his Paypal account would have been locked down. Why do I think that?

Because that's what happens in buyer disputes.

Don't send checks, money in envelopes, or do wire transfers. Paypal or credit cards kids. And always quote the promised delivery date, and have it in writing. Don't do phone promises!

He's a unreliable crook, Chick-Fil-a are assholes, but both of them have good products. (supposedly in John's case, I can vouch for CFA)

For me that's what counts at the end of the day, and the way I go about approaching the vendor is based on the above facts.

VPD is not a manufacturer or engineer. Go to the source he's flogging out peoples stuff.

BS I paid for my springs 3 years ago by paypal and they were no help getting my money, 3 years 340 dollars no springs no answer no nothing the guy is an slime ball criminal that needs to go to jail end of story

Having been a buyer and a seller on ebay for quite some time, then I can say that they will back up buyers, even when the buyer is in the wrong.

I've been burnt by that as a seller.

On him being a crook, I agree. This is probably the reason the man doesn't take credit cards, I could imagine Visa/Mastercard have shut him off for chargebacks.

In any case I got one set, which means that now I can figure out where he was buying them from, and whether they are the same ones as in the Lesjöfors catalog.

I imagine they are.

They are not the same springs -- he has them made. IMHO, you don't want the Lesjöfors progressives. I've taken those off customer cars because they are way too soft, and I've seen several collapsed ones. IPD carried them for a while some years back, but gave up on them as well.

Ok. That answers that question.

IPD has given me two stories on why they stopped selling them. One was that they were too soft, like you say, the other one that they become too pricy for them to import. IPD then pointed me to the skandix website to find some. Was that weakness both in the progressive lowering, and the single rate lowering springs?

Do you know of any alternatives?

If John is having these made himself, and they seem good, then I'll try to manhandle some more out of him in a month or so. What I bought was progressive front, and single rate 175lbs rear for a wagon. If those work fine I'm in the market for a few more sets.

I'll try to make business with anyone that has decent products, whether they're John Parker, Chick-Fil-a or.....

I don't have any experience with the Lesjöfors non-progressive springs, sorry. I've had very good results with the VPD ones back when John was possible for me to deal with, although I know there were quality problems with some of them a couple of years ago.

Right now I don't have any good alternatives. I don't have the $$$ to have multiple sets made up -- and I'm not really a parts dealer anyway -- and I haven't been able to interest anyone who does, and is, into taking it on. We know all about the specs on the VPD ones, and it shouldn't be all that big a deal to duplicate them, but...

I have the VPD progressive springs on a 220 and they feel(subjective) softer than 50 year old stock springs. I have Koni front shocks which are not new and was considering a new pair of Bilsteins . I had no concerns with the shocks before the springs. So single rated springs are probable a better choice.

Progressive both, or progressive front/single rate rear? If single rate rear did you go with the lighter weight ones, or the 175lbs overload ones?

I bought Progressive front, I have a wagon 220

Hi Ryan,

Sorry to hear. Rest assured you are not alone.

I paid USD2675 on 29 November 2007 for a street performance kit, I also paid USD750 on 25 August 2009 for shipping to South Africa.

After 4 years and uncountable international phone calls to John's answering machine I employed an agent through a friend who confronted VPD and got me my stuff.
(it is quite possible that the agent was accompanied by a guy named Frankie who weighs 280 and carries a baseball bat, I am not sure and the agent wouldn't say, but proceedings sped up remarkably after that)

I am still owed a ceramic coated intake manifold which was part of the kit and the USD750 for the shipping, but have written it off as one of those lessons in life that we all face every now and then.

I bought a used manifold from a member here and have not looked back since. I am very happy with the parts that did finally end up in my garage.

Here's my thread

http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1494164/444-544/street_performance_motor_completed.html

Best of luck, USD4500 would leave a bit of a dent in my Volvo budget!
J.J.

It is too bad that there are so many people in this boat. I can only imagine your frustration being in another country, making expensive phone calls and waiting nearly twice as long as I have.

It has left a HUGE hole and hold on the volvo budget/project. Everytime I pass by the 122 I think WTF...

Loved the Frankie comment, I am 6'5 and around 300lbs, if I had money for a plane ticket I would go aggressively negotiate for my parts ;)

As I posted before, he has responded to an email recently, hopefully I can get the parts or at least a refund....POST HASTE!!!!

I don't know where this guy is located but the best advice here is to contact the attorney general of his state, by registered mail, so there is a record. File the police report as suggested. File a small claims writ if that is possible, meaning that you or your representative ie attorney will have to be at the court hearing with all your ducks in a row. Reciepts, emails etc. Also some states have a limit as to how much you can ask for, it used to be $3,000 in Connecticut but I believe it's $5,000 now. If you go the SCC route, find an attorney who will do it for a flat rate not a percentage, which can be 1/3 of the recovered funds. Also ask that the payment be made in a lump sum, not over time.
Further I cannot believe what I read here, that some folks would still like to do business with him. I think the community should just shun this guy so that we never have to read another post like this. He is shameless and immoral besides being dishonest.
If all that fails I have some guys who would be glad to talk this over with him, from the Bronx. These cats always get what they're after. Expensive but discreet and I'll bet he'd never do this again.

http://www.v-performance.com/contact.html

Vintage Performance Developments
527 Buckingham Avenue
Syracuse, New York 13210

NYS Attorney General Office is at 120 Broadway, NYC

Being and ex-Marine, ex-paramedic, and present day nurse, I would go along with the Bronx fellas and pick up the pieces...

Kent
--
Too much iron, too little time

I did read somewhere that he's actually a lawyer and that VDP is a spare time operation. Make of that what you will but he should know how to keep himself out of court. A businessman he's not..................
It's a shame because he seems to know his stuff and there aren't many USA suppliers of Volvo speed equipment for "our" cars and engines.

Man if I'd payed that much money only to wait that long and still not have my parts I'd be on a plane so fast...

That's just total bullshit.

Good luck I ordered springs from this slime ball 2 years the jerk is a pos Ive reported to BBB Attorney general etc. No help, If I was closer Id be knocking on his door with a nice present for him, Dont ever order from this clown out and out lying crook,

I do not generally believe in "lawyering up", but to be quite honest with you, if somebody took $4500 of my hard earned cash and gave me the brush off for 2 1/2 years, I would 1) File a police report with the police department in their city or county and, 2) File a civil suit for the cash lost and, if it kept my car off the road, for money that I perhaps lost as the result of not having the use of my vehicle.

The problem with waiting as long as you have is that if, in the end, he stiffs you, the statute of limitations may have ran out with regard to going after this person.

Absolutely. I would go after John Parker legally. For $1000, it's not worth it. For $4500, it is.

These kind of characters need to be run out of business. They can be employed by others that can keep books, and manage their time, but shouldn't be running their own businesses.

Getting into this transaction I knew that it would be a slow process. At the time I heard good things about his products and it was worth the wait. But 2.5 years is excessive especially without any communication.

I have received some emails from others that are in my same predicament and something serious needs to happen. With this many people having the same complaints I am sure that he is apathetic and indolent to running a professional business with upstanding character.

Being what it is...what other vendors are out there that offer similar products? KG Triming? There prices seem fair and with the shipping I am looking at the same prices for VPD. Thoughts??

As a last ditch, allow him to save face I emailed him asking for parts or a refund.

He replied!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy Moly

¿WHAT did he say in his reply?
You should get substantial INTEREST with your refund as he has had the use of your money!
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Phil Singher at VClassics......
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George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma

I will not deal with him. As a former VCOA chapter person I heard enough, through the forums I heard worse, through seeing his workmanship on a head I confirmed it was not worth the money over a local machine shop, and I will not even sell to him B20 cores or anything else.

Who the heck is this guy? Yeah, I know THE John Parker, but if Kent (that's me) took people's money and did not fulfill a contract, i.e. send parts, I would be guilty of fraud or theft. Hasn't anyone ever signed a complaint agaist this guy?

Kent
--
Too much iron, too little time

There is a very long list of folks that have been screwed by him. The BBB in that area already has him at an 'F' rating. I know one guy here locally was trying to get the New York Attorney General involved but I don't know if he had any luck. Drop a note to speedolips@frontier.com as he was keeping track of other Volvo owners that have been screwed by John Parker.

I waited mounts for front springs. Sent weekly emails never was negative always just inquiring. When my spring arrived I vowed never will I do business with them again. try the Better Business Bureau In his city. Only other option Knock on his door.

Hah,

I've tried doing business with him 2-3 times over the last 8-9 years. I've yet to be successful.

This year, I've been trying to buy suspension parts, and some engine parts. But the emails go unanswered. I've gotten him on the phone, and he was nice enough, but nothing since. Emailing me back the total with shipping proves to be rather difficult.

I'd really like to do business with the man, but seems as if he doesn't want or need business.

At least I haven't paid anything.

Sounds right.
Shows you where you are on his priority list.
(Fortunately I am not on that list!)
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Uh-oh...another victim. There are numerous people in the same position as you. All I can say is good luck.
--
Dale

I have met John a couple times. He seem like a nice guy but I never tried to buy any thing from hin. I drove past his place in Fulton NY and it seen to be in dispair. I think he may live in Syracuse NY.