Don't Buy Banks!!!!!!

[Dkevdog]

It's too bad....

Emm- it's a shame that is has to be like that for Banks. I know a few people there, including their shop manager. I have also spoken with Gale on an occasion or two. I am more interested in seeing to it that we all get good customer service. I've gotten poor service from others (primarily Dodge dealers!! ) but they didn't seem to care one bit. I have at least made an effort to let Banks (my salesman at least) know about how (what seems to be the majority) of people think about their customer service. Argueably, they make some pretty good stuff. But agreed- if they can't support thier customer base with good service, it isn't worth it. My sales guy told me that ironically- even though they advertise like crazy a good majority of their business comes from word of mouth and repeat. But if this is the kind of reputation they are (or have already) gotten, then I'm sure that will quickly decline. This forum carries a great deal of respect and wieght to the people who participate and read it. We have nearly 9000 members now!! And every one of them is a potential customer!!



Come on Banks, maybe it's time to rejoin the party!!





Kev

 

[tobaccogrower]

guys,

this issue isn't about the banks stuff on my truck breaking parts, its about banks claming when i bought the stuff that in no way would it void any warantee. VAN AAKEN,PowerShot,DTT,and DD made no claims their goods would not void my warantee, banks did. thats what the dealer saw. all i ask from banks is a simple call so i can speak to them on their claims. actually all i wanted is for them to send me another copy of the magnussen-moss act i received with the kit. i dont mean to upset any fellow members but all should know that banks is a one way door as far as when the sale is over!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

WELL, for the record, as with others above, *I* have Banks stuff on my truck, I received excellent service from them before, during and AFTER the purchase and installation, and their stuff has performed EXACTLY as advertised. Does my purchase from them entitle me to demand or expect them to DROP whatever they're doing and scramble to answer MY phone calls?



NO!



Does the fact that they advertise in a WIDE variety of printed and internet media DICTATE that they "must" also be obligated to assign a paid rep from their company to respond to various gripes and whines from each and every thread like THIS one?



NO!



Check out the other automotive group advertisers, as well as those advertising in THIS one - how many of THEM dedicate representation to respond to product questions or issues? Precious FEW! Sure, it might be nice if they DID, and we appreciate those who DO - but it's pretty unrealistic to expect or demand the expense that effort requires. They must weigh benefits against liability - and some do it while others do not - their call.



Returning to the case in point - imagine a diner going into a restaurant, ordering a HUGE meal with all the trimmings. He stuffs himself to the gills with all he can stuff into his mouth, THEN on the way home stops at an ice cream parlor for a cone... THEN when he gets a bad case of heartburn, complains to the ICE CREAM PARLOR, blaming THEM for his condition and expecting instant personal action from the owner to explain or correct his stomach problem!



No, it doesn;t seem reasonable to *ME* either!



One poster above HAS provided the PROPER routine proposed *by Banks* for dealing with issues like this thread discusses - has ANY portion of THAT outline been pursued in THIS case - or have we merely been indulging in a gripe session aimed at demeaning an advertiser?



While Banks may make specific reference to warranties and THEIR products, the SAME Magnussen Act consumer protection claimed by Banks in their advertising applies equally to ALL aftermarket suppliers - Van Aaken, DTT, powershot, etc. So again, to single out Banks abnd "demand" support only from THEM, when all the OTHER suppliers stuff is installed and equally covered by Magnussen - and they all also do or WILL share in any potential warranty denial seems biased and unfair!



Are some users here really interested in FIXING the warranty problem with the Dodge dealer - or really MORE interested in damaging Banks?



I think *I* already know the answer to THAT one...

 

[EMDDIESEL]

This response is NOT in relation to this warranty issue:

I never expected Banks to "Drop everything" when i had a problem. I understand they may have other customers to talk to. but they have NEVER, EVER called me back when i called in with a problem. In one instance, i called them 3 times, every time i called it was "He's on another line", "The tech staff is in a meeting", "Can you try back later". That is not acceptable. I dont care what you say, that is no way to run a company. I have a buissness to run too, what good is a tow truck that is sitting dead in the garage to MY buisness while i am waiting for Banks to get there S**t together.

As i mentioned, i call TST, i speak to the owner every time, great guy, always happy to talk to you about the problem. Jannetty Racing, same thing, i ask to talk to Ted and he gets right on the phone. I have called Jannetty well over 10 times and NEVER was i told to try again later, i always had my questions answered right then and there. I have been to Teds shop, i am sure it is nowhere near the size of Banks and they probably make nowhere near as much money, yet they seem to be able to have a staff of qualified people to handle tech questions? Banks cant do that?.

I am not tring to bash Banks, i dont have a personal Vendetta against them, i am stating the facts of my situation wih them. Having to spend all day calling them 5 times while your trying to fix a problem with THIER product is ridiculous. I am not talking about one incident, this has happened without exxageration at LEAST 4 or 5 differnt times i can think of off the top of my head.

I am glad YOU get such great service from them, i dont, as do alot of other people on the TDR. This is not the first thread about the quality of Banks service. Do you see anybody Bashing Jannetty, TST, DTT, DIS, Performance Diesel?, No, why? BECAUSE THEY TAKE CARE OF THERE CUSTOMERS. If and when Banks gets around to taking care of customers, then ill buy and reccomend there products, untill then, i am sticking with companies who care.

 

[Dkevdog]

I don't want to drag this on forever Emm, its obvious you've had some issues. Sadly enough, I wonder if Gale is even aware of the problem. I emailed my contact there this morning and received a near immediate response. This is his response:



Kevin,

Thank you very much. For your very informative letter. I have

heard this before but never received a letter addressing it. I have indeed

forwarded it to Mr. Gale Banks and all of the management group.

Thank

you again, XXXXX



(name ommitted so he doesn't get bombarded!)



I also spoke with him on the phone, and it seems that he had never known about the problems... .....

We'll they certainly should now, and I for one hope they address it immidiately. Until they do, I will have a difficult time reccommending their product. (Although again, I personally have not had any of the response problems some of you have had. ) Hopefully they can be brave enough to step up to the plate and address the complaints on the table. .



Kevin

 

[NVR FNSH]

Maybe I'm missing something here but shouldn't you be taking this issue up with API (third party warranty)? I haven't read Banks 'we won't void your warranty' literature but I'd say there is a pretty solid connection to aftermarket performance parts (the Hi Ram being the most obvious one) and the failure of a transmission output shaft. I think Banks 'claim' is the M-M Act requires that the warranty provider 'prove' that the after market component lead to/caused the failure and you've got about a dozen potential causes listed in your signature - its just that the Dodge dealer happend to note the Banks components. What does your API contract say about performance parts/warranty denial & why is the Dodge dealer the warranty claim adjuster? I think we are all kidding ourselves if we think DC or anybody else for that matter is going to eat a warranty claim like this. Hell, the Cummins ECM Uprate voids your powertrain warranty if I'm not mistaken.



Brian

 

['956Wheel]

Simply put... you wanted H. P. + Torque you got it and it is sad that the truck broke. It is a known fact that these trannys are not the strongest link... hindsight is 20/20, should have beefed it up beyond strength needed.



I do not like hearing about anybody having truck troubles, but the "blame game" is not going to change anything. There must be a reason that Banks is so popular.

 

[illflem]

In my opinion Banks is popular because they offer an excellent product and service. I've never had trouble getting though with questions, in fact I asked a question on their website and had an answer in a timely matter...

 

[Newf Limo]

Banks, shame on you for not returning phone calls. Good customer service requires that you handle the hot calls as well as the sales calls.

Ramhead, remember the thing about "Iam my own warranty department"? Well. . . we need not go any further on that. On the other hand, No, your warranty is not voided. Parts of your warranty are void, i. e. input/output shafts and all the parts between that are directly connected assuming that the failure was related to being "Over Powered". What are the odds that this is the case. Have you ever applied more than 245 hp to the shaft if not, shame on you But with power comes responsibility. A copy of the Magnusen Moss act is available at your local court house law library (open to the public). It sounds like your service writer miss-spoke or is an idiot. Had you brought your truck in because the dash lights wouldn't turn on, the Banks kit or any ov the other mods shouldn't affect it therefore it wouldn't be an issue. If the service writer said that the Dash lights are no longer covered because your Banks kit voided your warranty, then you need to grab him by his ear lobe and stuff the Magnusen Moss act in his face and make him read it out loud!

Now, as far as "those Dodge Dealerships" are concerned. . . those that jump Ramhead about singling out Banks then follow it up with "those dodge dealerships" have crossed the same line. How come when someone gets great service at there dealer they say; Wow, Glenn Thomas Dodge, Crown Dodge, or Moss Bros Dodge. . . But when you have had a bad experience it is those Damn Dodge dealerships? I found this particularly annoying since a few of you who like to make these generalized claims had me scared to death to let them anywhere near my truck. Yet I went to two different dealers and they all but kissed my *$$! Excellent customer service, took care of the problems, and followed up a couple days later. If you have had a problem with the dealer use there name but don't lead people to believe that it is all of them.



IF YOU'RE GONNA' PLAY, YOU GOTTA PAY!

 

['956Wheel]

IF YOU'RE GONNA' PLAY, YOU GOTTA PAY! [/B][/QUOTE]





Well said NEWF, ya hit it square.

 

[Dkevdog]

OK Newf Limo- You want names (specially in so Cal)

I can do that.



For good service, go to HB Dodge and ask for John.



For BAD service, go to McPeek Dodge and ask anyone!!!!



Kev

 

[Spaceace]

D.I.S. - no more Banks

from the DIS site



"6/28/2001)



As of 6/20 we are no longer a warehouse for Banks products.

All orders placed up to yesterday will be shipped out.

We do have some excess stock on Banks product we will be offering at discounted price. Call us for more information"

 

[tobaccogrower]

spaceace:

why arn't you selling banks anymore?

 

[jstyer]

Customer Service

As I stated in my earlier post, I love my Banks product, I just don't love their LOUSY customer service. Someone at Banks must be reading this post since the information I requested in December, before installing the Banks products, arrived in today's mail and it was postmarked July 12th. HMMMM, How convenient------- I'm happy I finally got the info I requested, even though it does not address my truck ETH/DEE as I requested, but at least I finally received something and I'm glad I wasn't holding my breath waiting for it. Also the dealer I purchase my equipment from (as stated in my earlier post) said "that due to lousy service from Banks, he was no longer carrying or selling their product. It sure is a shame since a simple phone call could have prevented all of this, for everyone.

John Styer

 

[Spaceace]

RAMHEAD3437

That was a quote posted on the DIS site.