My First Banks Experience

[cowboysgottacummins]

Okay so I recently ordered the Banks Stinger System less the "monster exhaust" since I already have a 5" turbo back setup.



So far I am disgusted with their customer service. I ordered factory direct, was initially impressed as they contacted me via a comment I left on their website inquiring about what ever happend to the VGT turbo they debuted on extreme 4x4 several years ago. He explained that they were a little unrealistic on the pricepoint that was required to bring that VGT to market and while it eventually worked, no one would pay what it cost to get it to that point.



I ordered the Ram Air Intake (w-scoop) and the economind with Banks IQ stinger calibration. Rather than shipping me all of the products at once, they shipped each piece individually 3-5 days apart and with it taking 5 business days via UPS Ground for each item. Then to boot they charged me $122 in shipping. They gave me a below market price for the product (a few bucks lower), but after you factor in the shipping, it was atleast $60 more than you can buy from a reseller with free shipping.



I contacted my salesman as I had intially been told shipping would be $64 and to inquire why they couldnt ship the items at the same time. I was told the Ram Air was waiting on production. Still no explaination as to why they didnt just wait to ship all together. I also noted that the invoice indicated the programmer was for an 03-05 truck and mine was an 06 so to check that before they shipped it. He assure me it was the right programmer and he would double check before shipped.



Imagine my surprise as I am spending my labor day weekend tearing down the turbo to drill the exhaust manifold and I untimately discover the kit is void of the Turbo gasket required (and allegedly includeded in the kit) to reinstall the turbo, and surprise its hard to find one on Saturday of a holiday weekend. So before I got the last bolt out of the turbo (it was being particularly difficult and after 3 hrs and upon the realization the gasket wasn't included, we abondoned that project and moved forward without the pyrometer.



I initially oberved the label on the box indicating the programmer was for 01-2010 cummins so never checked the second set of instructions which indicated the programmer included was only for 03-05 cummins. Of course this realization came on the last page of the instructions which indicated I should tap fuse #50, I opened my fuse box and counted only 42 fuse slots. I began to investigate more closely and realized the programmer was the wrong one.



I assume that the programmer is the same, that I just need to call tech support and find out which fuse I should tap (directions indicate selecting the wrong fuse will mean your programmer will not function properly). SURPRISE Banks Install Support Services are only open M-F 8-5.



Manage to get my salesman on the phone, and lets just say at this point I was not polite. He proceeds to explain that he has made a mistake and that indeed that programmer won't work on my truck and that I need to uninstall it and send it back and that of course he can't get me anything even in the mail until Tuesday.



I left him with the mandate to spend the next several days consulting with his manager about what is going to be done to try to retain my business and compensate me and my mechanic for completely wasting our time.



At this point I am not even sure I want to go forward. Curious about others experiences with Banks. Recommendations



Don't get me wrong I own my culpability in not more throughly checking for the gasket in advance and checking the fitment of the programmer. I was anxious as we all are when we open new turck goodies. 2010 fitment was on top so I made and assumption. We all know what they say about assumptions.

 

[JMetzger]

I myself have not had any problem with Banks. I have the Stinger on my 02 since 02. I had a problem with the programer & they replaced it under warranty but others on here have problems with talking to Banks. I am lucky that here in Gardnerville, NV there is a Banks dealer. I am would think that in Indy there surely must be a Banks dealer & they may be able to help you. Good luck, there is nothing worse then having a problem & no one to help you.

 

[TFucili]

I don't run a tuner, so I have no "dog in the hunt", but if you plug Banks into the search box on this site you will get mostly negative comments.

 

[HBarlow]

I agree with TFucili above. I've read lots of negatives about Banks the retailer and their products.

I'll cheerfully acknowledge first that I am old, stubborn, and cynical and not a believer in modifying modern trucks because of the complexities and cost of OEM components but I have believed for many years that I would not allow Banks to install their products on my truck if they paid me.

 

[Bob4x4]

Could it be that Banks is too big and doesn't care about loosing a customer here and there?

 

[MChrist]

I have had Banks' products before, and will say that their "hardware" is of good quality. I disconnected their software from my 98. 5 after it had zero effect on mileage, although it made 60+ hp to the rear wheels (verified by dyno at a Cummins shop). All the power came in after 2200 rpm, so you had to really had to romp on it to get the extra power. My driver liked the power, but my clutches didn't!! Two clutches in one summer is not a fun expense.
The power came on like a two stroke dirt bike, which I didn't like.

 

[cowboysgottacummins]

I have researched half a dozen tuners in depth. Read reviews of various products in TDR and other online publications, and consumed hundreds of comments on lots of tuners, and over all there are those who on both sides of every product manufactured. When you extract the To modify or not to modify commentary it appears to come down to balancing risk. What drew me to Banks was their research, published testing methodology, mild/moderate/conservative approach to power gains, and initially customer service.

ALl of my buddies run H&S, and Smarty. Though two of them running H&S seem to keep breaking stuff on their trucks. They are not so much into the conservative approach.

Should hear back from Banks today and how they respond will determine where I go from here.

 

[JMarketos]

Acknowledge #3 and #4- Banks doesn't enjoy a positive reputation on this forum (and perhaps elsewhere ?). I own Banks stuff and have been happy with it, though I have not had to use tech support to any degree (and my first shipment of stuff was correct... )
To OP- Absolutely shame on them for bungling the shipment. But also imho the expectations for service are a bit unreasonable- The install was attempted on a holiday weekend; can't be too upset with the manufacturer for being less than highly accessible over a holiday weekend. But again I'll acknowledge and agree- if Banks was on their game and effective at focusing on taking care of their customers, I don't think the consistently negative undercurrent of forum posts would exist...

 

[Rockranch]

I had a very negative expierience with Banks. Between the salesman flat liying to me, to trying to work with tech support, to customer service. I tried to work with them and after months went by, they wouldn't take a return because I had waited too long! I eventually had to dispute the charges with my CC company. I hate doing that, but it was necessary.



Do yourself a big favor and return all the Banks products now. Refuse to pay the re-stocking fee and, if necessary, dispute the charges with the CC company.

 

[cowboysgottacummins]

Acknowledge #3 and #4- Banks doesn't enjoy a positive reputation on this forum (and perhaps elsewhere ?). I own Banks stuff and have been happy with it, though I have not had to use tech support to any degree (and my first shipment of stuff was correct... )
To OP- Absolutely shame on them for bungling the shipment. But also imho the expectations for service are a bit unreasonable- The install was attempted on a holiday weekend; can't be too upset with the manufacturer for being less than highly accessible over a holiday weekend. But again I'll acknowledge and agree- if Banks was on their game and effective at focusing on taking care of their customers, I don't think the consistently negative undercurrent of forum posts would exist...

Wasn't expecting service on a holiday, but rather that they would have tech support on the hours most do it yourselfers work on their vehicles. If you are targeting the do it yourself crowd it would help to be a available. beyond 9a. m-4pm. M-F.

But assuming I had everything I needed and diving into it before verifying on a holiday weekend, now that for sure is squarely on me.

 

[SierraRam]

Banks has a tendancy to over promise and under deliver and a high price. Not a fan at all.

 

[drag racer]

Sorry to hear of your poor customer service. I have many Banks products, and am very pleased with their quality. I buy through Summit Racing rather than direct whenever possible. The rare times when I have needed to call them directly for something, they have been great - like shipping out a single stud free of charge for the intake horn when I stripped one, etc.

 

[cowboysgottacummins]

Sorry to hear of your poor customer service. I have many Banks products, and am very pleased with their quality. I buy through Summit Racing rather than direct whenever possible. The rare times when I have needed to call them directly for something, they have been great - like shipping out a single stud free of charge for the intake horn when I stripped one, etc.

Ultimately the situation is settled, at least as much as it is going to get settled. They eventually sent me a new programmer and the missing turbo gasket. I sent a scathing email to corporate and my salesman immediately penned an apology accepting his mistakes and hoping to regain my business. But beyond that nothing. Needless to say I am not impressed.



While I am not impressed with their service in my experience the product appears to be solid. Had it on for a few days and it does all that I was looking for with one exception. The BanksIQ is supposed to have a fuel economy tracking function. My unit does not display this function. After calling tech support this function won't be available on their Cummins programmers for a few more months. Another piece of missing information.



Thanks everyone for your input. Looks like I'll pay a lot more attention to the forum consensus on vendors in the future. We all learn one way or another. Some of us prefer to learn the hard way. #@$%!