You would not believe Tom at Banks Saids about TDR Members !

[CrewCabDiesel]

Today I get a call from Tom at Banks trying to sell me a new intercooler. I told him I was considering getting a intercooler for my truck, but was unhappy the way I was treated by Banks customer service. I also stated that I wasn't the only member at TDR that found the service at Banks lacking. TOM's response was "the people at TDR sit around all day thinking up things to complain about Banks products" Now that comment burns my back side. Another stellar quote from Tom was "I am not in customer service, I am in sales". It seems to me that Banks needs some wind taken out of their sales , IS there any other aftermarket intercooler setup for fist gen. Cummins ? I know that Banks makes a good intercooler but in my opinion their customer service/sales SUCKS big time. If you have had a bad experience with Banks also let me know.

Kyle

 

[CumminsAholic]

I didn't get a product til a week after it was supposed to be here. Had to put it on AFTER our trip to Montana. They're nice people on the phone, but yeah in my opinion they're service sucks. I guess they must have too much business to care. It'll catch up to them someday.

 

[CRWilliams]

Ordered a Stinger Plus kit and tach from Banks in May. The day after I ordered it a friend told me he could fit a 4" system under it and I found guages much cheaper that looked like better guages. I called Tony at Banks(who sold me the system) and he put me through to customer service. I asked if I could return the kit, he said no problem, just refuse it when UPS gets here and they will credit me back when they get the kit back. They have had the kit back for over a month, NO MONEY. I have called about 8 times, they keep saying the refund authorization was done on JUNE 21, but it takes 7-10 days for accounting to get it back to me. Check the dates again. Have been speaking with Elma, seems pretty nice on phone but is not doing anything. Last time I spoke with Inez(supposedly a manager) She said it would still be 5 days. Asked what the problem was and she said there was none, I would just have to wait. I think I'm going to see an attorney tomorrow. I too was thinking of ordering the Banks intercooler, not anymore. I've already told most of my friends here. I also picked up a brochure about intercoolers at Freightliner the other day. Says they have like 16,000 different intercoolers, will call them and see if they have one for the Dodge.

 

[drives mopars]

any co w/ ideas that 1 will not spread thw word s/b out of buz

with customer support like that , i hope they

learn a thing or two.



if i tell 5 people about their customer service

and those 5 tell 5 more , soon their sales will



drop.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

HMMmmm - REAL sorry to hear that about Banks - I had good results when I bought my stuff from them, but things DO change over time... Also disappointed if they DO have a low regard for this TDR group - we COULD be a great resource and ASSET to them - IF they re-discover that CUSTOMER SERVICE is every BIT as important as a good product...

 

[Paychk]

If you want another source for intercoolers try these guys I know they have been around a long time (the name at least 20 yrs. )



http://www.spearcointercoolers.com/



I haven't done any business with them though.

 

[C Schomer]

I guess they think that launching products not fully tested then jacking me around forever because they couldn't figure out why it worked so shi!!y(and never admitting any fault even when it was so obvious) isn't a good enough reason to flame them. I think their arogance is all the more reason to let them have it. They can't fool them all, all the time and I didn't just fall off the Iowa hay wagon! This is the only way the 'crapped on' people can thank a company like Banks - PAYBACKS ARE A B1TCH!!!

 

[John Martines]

I had a terrible time with banks and I could have bought the stuff cheaper if I had a computer at the time. I think Banks has thier intercoolers made by a outside source.

 

[F Simkowski (In Memory)]

This post is being moved to the Products/Accessories forum as it's getting away from the 1st Gen. topic.

Lets keep our comments accurate and civil. DON'T read this a censure, just a reminder.

We all work long and hard for the cash outlay to "upgrade" our trucks, and if the product and service is not superior, "disappointed" is an understatement.

There a quite a few excellent suppliers and technicians out there, and sometimes it takes a miss or two to hit on the excellent ones.

I have been there and back again.

Frank S.

 

[Diesel Freak]

Originally posted by CrewCabDiesel

. Another stellar quote from Tom was "I am not in customer service, I am in sales".

Wow..... if he is in sales he should be very concerned with customer service.



-Cliff

 

[Mill Rat]

Blast from the Past

About 10(?) years ago I ordered a muffler and tailpipe from them, and as I remember it was a good product.

The thing that really upset me was what happened later, I kept getting what I perceived to be high pressure sales phone calls from them for other items. I basically told the salesperson each time that I was not ready to be my own warranty station, to which I always got the "Our products won't void Your warranty" speach. I then told them that's not what my service manager has told me, and He is the one I have to do warranty work through, not You.

We have seen the results of "Our products are warranty safe" from the posts of another unfortunate TDR member. Aparently this practice still goes on. Buyer Beware.

I Personally have chosen not to do any more business with Banks, and I might add I am thankful for the other vendors on the TDR that I have dealt with and am 100% satisfied with the experience.

Just my long winded $0. 02 worth

 

[John Berger]

Good to know this stuff

I will play devil's advocate for a moment: It is possible that they have had to deal with some pissy customers who owned a CTD. I run my own business and I will say that the customer is not always right. Sometimes the customers want to get their stuff as cheap as possible and want service like they paid a million bucks. Now having said that, the one thing I would never do is make disparaging remarks to my customer(s) about others who I have sold my services to. I do not have any Banks products and I probably won't be purchasing any in the future. I have not seen to many complaints about Banks products on this website, whereas the praise seems to be here in abundance and that puzzles me as to why that guy would make a statement disparaging TDR members. This is a large fraternity we are part of here. That translates into good business opportunities for erstwhile entrepreneurs. As a photographer there is probably very little that I could offer to the members of this website for their trucks, but if I did come up with something that you all would be willing to buy, I sure wouldn't turn around and cut the group down knowing that my comments would reach this website. Customer No-service seems to be the rule of thumb these days and I don't understand it. I hope I never do.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

This is the 4th or 5th call I have gotten from Tom at Banks and each time he calls he is very much full of himself. I always ask him how much the complete intercooler setup will cost me for my "early 91" Cummins, his prices are always different and ALWAYS high as a kite ! I can buy the same thing locally for up to a couple hundred dollars cheaper depending on Tom's super deal that he is offering for today only! I would think that Banks would have a sales rep that is supposed to deal with the TDR members, and have a little better price for us. After all there is almost 9000 members now, and that is some serious buying power .

Kyle

 

[Archive]

I have purchased a few Banks items. I have been completely satisfied with their products. I did not purchase directly from Banks... I purchased from a local distributor. They are good to deal with.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Do I Smell a Banks Boycot?

Originally posted by CrewCabDiesel

TOM's response was "the people at TDR sit around all day thinking up things to complain about Banks products" Now that comment burns my back side. Another stellar quote from Tom was "I am not in customer service, I am in sales".

Well, here I am, just sitting here with nothing to do. Hmmm, what can I think up to complain about in regard to Banks? Hmmm.



I'll try to keep it civil. This guy is a MORON! He has absolutely no concept of customer service or marketing. How arrogant can he be? He does not understand that sales IS customer service and customer service is marketing. What a simpleton! I wonder if Gale Banks is aware of this type of representation of his company and HIS NAME? I'm a letter writer, and if I were treated like that, I'd be smokin' off a letter to Gale Banks directly. Hey, if they don't need/want us, who needs them? Do you think I'd EVER consider purchasing ANYTHING from them after hearing that? No way! I will ALWAYS pay more for superior service, and I don't do business with people who don't appreciate my business.



Whew! Sorry I blew up.

 

[SLang]

I have a cusion with a Stinger-Plus set-up on his 96. He loves it. The only compliant was it took 8 hours for the upgrade when Banks had it projected as (he siad) 3. I say it was Budwieser that took longer. The system has worked flawlessly for 2 years now but he has 250 HP and $1300 in the system.



Now as far as I'm concerned, Banks has always thrived on the butt-yuppie know-nothing guy. The person that can't do the research or does not have other knowledge to upgrade his vehicle. He and one of his friends road in my truck after I install the TST #11 and otherwise stock truck. He mudured "ya, we have about the same power". The other praised "yours has the same or more power and for $1000 less".



Do your research and leave Banks for butt-yuppies that can't turn a wrench.

 

[JB @ C and L Machine]

I figure I let Banks know am sitting here doing nothing haha there right. . am suppose to be working

 

[Rick Comenzo]

Banks Customer Service

I purchased a 4 gauge dash cluster and gauges for my 93 2 years ago. The packages Banks sent did not have sending units for the oil temp gauge, many phone calls and e-mails later they sent me a replacement gauge. More phone calls to Tom and more e-mails finally fixed the problem, almost a month to set things right. I hope their customer service has improved. Rick.

 

[DennyDay]

Banks

All Banks has is a sales department - -- -No customer service dept. Have not had any customer service since my first dealings with them in 1986!!!!!

They have been eliminated from my list of reputable suppliers since 1987. Over the years you learn not to deal with people like this. I'm getting ready to add BD to the list also.

Denny

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I agree, check out Spearco. I have used there intercoolers in Gas applications. Trally nice stuff. I believe they were just bought by Turbonetics. Try a Google search