Sorry to hear of your loses.

Thanks for posting , And letting us know whats going on.
Best wishes and happy holidays .

 

That, and I'm right!

I gave him every opportunity to do the job right. But after 11 months and it still not being finished, you just have to say enough is enough. I stood by Bill Hahn and his personal losses as best as I could. But there is no excuse for a job which was estimated to be done in 3 1/2 months, should not be able to be finished in eleven. Especially when the project was scaled back.

As I told him many times, my biggest complain was the almost total unwillingness to give me details about what was going on and the status of my car. I too am refraining from going into much detail, because of possible litigation, until I have all of the details organized. But I will say this, I would not wish my experience on my worst enemy.

 

Well Hahn has spoken and seems very nice. Sorry to hear about the hard ship Hahn. God Bless

 

I'll have to say his credibility with me has gone way up. Bill, although I may never purchase anything from you(not because I don't want to, because Im broke) I can certainly appreciate the fact that you did show your face and put to rest some of the rumors. Sorry to hear of your recent losses, and I can only wish you the best in the future. Honesty and Integrity are rare qualities these days, and I'm confident you will turn things around. Good luck.

 

Oh well. Looks like he can charmed anybody regardless of the facts. Such is life.

 

Thanks for coming on letting us know what's been going on and I'm sorry to hear times have been tough. But next time don't make it worse for yourself, this is your bread and butter you can't let it go to the crapper, you have to eat. I do understand though, I’ve been down HARD KNOCKS road many times and had to do the do.

Ok, let’s help get you rolling again. Where is my intake and BOV, where do I send the money? LOL

Seriously, I'm behind you all the way. I do have some issues with the exhaust I just purchased, but we'll deal with them soon. WELCOME BACK. I look forward to seeing you get things cleared up as well as doing more business with you. I did dog you out a bit after not getting a response, but one thing you’ll notice is that I NEVER backed off the FACT that the exhaust sounds GREAT even if I thought it was plastic LOL

 

Note to all: This will be my only post* on the subject unless specific allegations are made against me, or my integrity is further impugned (take care what buttons you push). The frenetic responses Bill is hammering out today speak volumes to what I believe has become the cornerstone of his character-- lashing out at others instead of taking personal responsibility for his missteps.

*Because of the length of this post, I have to break it into two.

By "kiss ass," you no doubt mean it in terms of my choosing to not do business with you again (as in, "you can kiss my ass goodbye," which I did not actually say). You certainly don't mean to infer that I ever asked you to do anything for me as a customer that could be described as "asking you to go above and beyond." If the latter is the case, you should consider professional help. Delusion is often a precursor to even worse things.

While "the record" will come down to your glowing prose versus mine (you made sure to keep your documentation to a minimum... unanswered emails, unanswered PMs, etc., make for a really nice "I never said I would..." storyline), you've managed to put yourself in a no-win situation. You have diluted your brand name (which, sadly, is also your family name; your father's name) with scores more people than just me... and so trying to play me out as the "inconsolable" [sic] one, is both silly, and pointless, but it is unerringly consistent with your mode of operation-- when you get cornered in one of your stories, blame someone else. Misdirection requires a little more sleight of hand than you're capable of.

I have, through our hours-upon-hours of discussion on general industry BS, future product direction, technical issues, order problems, your (in)actions when actions were warranted, your failure to DO what your rhetoric claimed you would do, your stall tactics, etc., you finally (and, sadly, the one seem to express the least shame about) decide to parade your "bad year" (which, honestly, sounded like a heck of a bad year... it's a good thing NOBODY ELSE in the world had a bad year) through here like some badge of courage... attempting to draw on our empathy for your personal situation as a basis to excuse you for your atrocious business practices. Lucky for you, it may actually work... because a LOT of people mistakenly equate "seems like a nice guy" with "HAS integrity and does what's right." Nobody should feel good about your bad year (believe it or not, I don't), but what about my bad year? What about the next guy's bad year? My mom has stage 4 cancer in her liver and intestines. If I make commitments (including, in some cases, taking advance payment) that I can't keep... is it OK with you if I parade her condition in here as my reason for not doing what I said I would do? Maybe I should not have made commitments I couldn't keep. Or, if it was only later that I realized I had over-committed, maybe I should have ponied up a little humility and worked to reset expectations (and maybe returned those advance payments that I shouldn't have held onto for so long). Is anyone here empathetic to my mom's condition? I suspect some are. Does anyone here believe that I get a free pass to lead on, deceive, and, as some have reported here and elsewhere, "rip off," because of it? I hope not.

Unfortunately, however, your business' integrity decline began well before any of the timeline you've shared with us here. You began making commitments you could not keep long before you had a sick parent. And log before your son shipped overseas (I didn't see you parade that one out in this thread so I figured I'd share it to help land the "support our troops" vote). In fact (since you've played the "bad year" card), please feel free to share your story for "bad year 2008" as well.

It was May, 2008 that I first renewed contact with you (it was about 13 years before that when we had last done business... and, in retrospect, most of that was with Bill, Sr. I don't recall him ever making commitments to me that he didn't keep). I contacted you BEFORE I even purchased my LNF-powered car... because I was trying to gauge what kind of support there was in the aftermarket for the platform. It was then that you indicated that you were THE go-to guy for Ecotec motors. It was then that you provided me a rather detailed timetable for "future products" for the HHR SS. I actually bought the car, in part, based on the information you provided about your planned support for the platform.

Note: I am keenly aware that businesses get to change their business plans, and so telling me in May 2008 that you are planning "big things" with the HHR, and that you're going to have everything from bolt-ons to turnkey motors, is subject to change.

However, you NEVER lifted your foot off the gas pedal with that story... ever... you just eventually disappeared from public view. Not such an issue except that you had spent considerable time whipping up so much interest in "big things," only to disappear on everyone waiting for you to follow through with the things you said you were going to do. Again, businesses change plans. But even when you were questioned about what appeared to be changed plans; even when people started to wonder why product schedules (that were ALREADY ANNOUNCED to the public) started slipping by months, then quarters, and now a year and counting... you still put that big snake-oil smile on and told us about "big things to come."

Do you recall our phone conversation where you pre-announced to me the "Hahn Frequent Buyer Program?" You went into excruciating detail (well beyond what I was interested in or comfortable with, since you kept reminding me how top-secret the info was... hey, it's your business plan... not mine). Do you remember when I called to place an order for a downpipe and I asked about this plan? And was told by your wife that there was no such thing? Do you remember when I called you back to ask if the plan was canceled? Do you remember when you went (again) into great detail about how _I_ was some kind of "charter member," and that you were in the process of rolling it out? Do you remember when you committed in this forum, in PMs (to more than just me, as others have indicated they got the same info), and in our phone conversations, that the BSR handheld would include upgrade tunes? Were you simply ignorant of BSR's real plans? Or were you lying? I had occasion to speak with one of the BSR Execs (nameless here, get over it), who seemed to indicate that his company's relationship with yours was essentially on a "PO basis." However, you repeatedly claimed to be "working closely with BSR" to first create the original tune file, and then later, on the "upgrade fllashes." Maybe they're backpedaling from their association with you (for what may be good reason). Maybe you have a deluded view of what that relationship was. Maybe lots of possibilities... but NO MAYBE about your abandonment of "BSR upgrades." Those of us who bought into your big ptch now have $1000 DTC code resetters... not even readers... just resetters. Tools well beyond that level of functionality can be bought at your local auto parts store for $49... and they can be given to your brother-in-law when you're done with them. The BSR box is PERMANENTLY tied to the VIN of the vehicle, with NO WAY to transfer... even if you total your car and buy a replacement, your $1000 BSR box is utterly worthless. These were concerns early adopters who paid you A LOT of money expressed. But you again told us there were "big things" coming, and that we'd soon have upgrade tunes for it. And when it became evident to lots of us that you effectively "took the money and ran," leaving us with a dead-end platform, I called you on it. And in that private conversation, between my cell phone and your office phone, while I was driving home one evening after work, you actually admitted, without ambiguity, that you screwed up. And as "compensation" to me, YOU (let me type that again real slowly so there's no confusion.... Y O U ) offered to sell me an HPT at cost.

A small sidebar-- it was an interesting point that I raised in that conversation, that you must have already known your "relationship" with BSR was either dead or never existed because you had already _started_ your transition to the HPT platform. You acknowledge this as well, stating that, when you saw that the BSR thing wasn't going to work out, you needed an alternative. Now, only you and the flies on the wall know why the BSR relationship fell apart. But you had the foresight to recognize that you needed a new strategic tuning platform, but you kept hawking the BSR's in this very forum. For you, it apparently was better to get rid of that inventory, selling dead-end platforms, than it was to be honest about the long-term prospects for upgrades... the thing you had been pitching so hard at us.

Back to YOU offering to sell the HPT to me... AND, during that same phone call, you told me I would then be part of your "Lifetime Tuning Program" (another one of those "big things" that never got launched??). For the record, and for everyone still reading, I did take you up on purchasing the HPT "at cost." I since learned that either your "cost" is more than 2 HPT dealers I queried pay, or you jacked up the price a few bucks to eek out some scratch on an otherwise "zero dollar" deal. My impression is the latter, though maybe I'm wrong, and you just failed to negotiate as good a price with HPT as others have.

 

I also took you up on the "Lifetime Tuning Program" ... WHEN YOU EMAILED ME that you had a "new and better tune," and that you were sending it to me to try out, I accepted that as well. BTW, it was the most horrendous tune I have ever seen, and in fact, anecdotal trials on a deserted street clearly indicated that it was not only worse than the BSR tune, but it was actually worse than the STOCK GM Tune (and this was pre-Stage kit). After testing the tune, I emailed you and asked if you had accidentally sent the wrong file. You never responded, and I have not heard a peep out of you since until your "go on the offensive defense" post against me in this thread today.

Want more details? Let me know. I will gladly discuss them in PM as anecdotes, or, if you push too hard on the wrong buttons, I'll do the research necessary to provide damning details in solid factual format-- dates, times, and durations of phone calls, date/timestamped emails sent and received, copies of invoices, copies of shipping logs, etc., which will provide substantiation to my anecdotal comments on this board; evidence that "commit" dates YOU made to me were consistently NOT kept... including delivery of the HPT, which actually arrived _3_ weeks later than you committed to. (Let me go ahead and debunk the "they were on backorder" story that you will almost certainly post in response, because it is the claim you made to me at the time. Interestingly, when you made that statement, I was already knee deep in "red flags" about your business ethic, and so I actually contacted HPT seeking to confirm this "backorder." While were unwilling to provide any specifics, they did indicate that their product was not on backorder, and that it was available for immediate shipment to paying customers. They did indicate that some customers are on a prepay-only basis, and so orders are often held for payment. They didn't indicate that you were in that situation, but I was willing to make the logical leap for myself. In concert with the numerous other "warning signs" you've thrown up for the last 18 months, I suspect your "they're on backorder" was code for "I haven't paid them yet." If true, then you were using my payment to make your order... a VERY different reality than the picture you painted... that they were on the way, and I was just paying you so you could ship (which was why I had no qualms about paying you... I pay, you ship... but that's not what happened). And, while we're on the HPT unit... why did it then take 4 calls to you to get the required license key to operate it? What was so hard about providing the license key to someone who has paid for the product. Let me guess... it was HPT's fault? Same as when I bought the BSR handheld from you and it took 4 days to get the key. That was BSR's fault? Same as when I bought IC pipes from you (another 4 week prepay), and you shipped them to the wrong address. That was my fault? Because apparently, I don't know my own address.

Bill, it's more than a little disappointing you came on here with the "fight back" approach. Humility (even the faux variety) would have served you well. I have both my detractors and supporters on this board and elsewhere. I am known here, elsewhere, and in my industry, as someone who (as one exec once put it) "knows how to put a turd on a table." I say what needs to be said, in the interest of transparency, so that we all understand what's really going on. Your business ethics have been put on the table. Instead of being humble, you decided to try and score points by lashing out. But I have NOTHING to either gain or erode here. You do. So for those who find my experience the least bit compelling, you lose. For those who find your "attack mode" off-putting, you lose again. For those who are unsure about all this mess, and who chose to do their own homework, I believe you will also lose... because the preponderance of evidence is too great to be overcome by a shiny banner, or a pithy repartee. It seems, in your mind, the only win opportunity for you is to appeal to peoples' heartstrings over what was clearly a tough set of circumstances for you... and use that to build a tenuous connection back to your business... "feel sad for me so you'll buy my stuff." That's pretty shameful.

BTW, one VERY recent customer, in another thread, indicated that you shipped him the wrong product. Not an accidental pull of the wrong part number from inventory, but a product meant for one car, but sold to him for a different car. And to make it "work," you hacked off a bracket that is 1) required for proper fitment, and 2) in the wrong place on the part you had. So you sawed it off and shipped it... so you could pocket the sale. Your customer is now left with a part he has to go pay someone else to make work. In my experience, that's the mark of either desperation, or deception. Instead of telling the customer you were out of stock, and risk losing a sale (or not), you hacked a part sufficiently that it could pass as the right part. Do you believe that was ethical? (rhetorical question-- I believe you believe it was.). Either that, or it was the customer's fault for having the wrong car to fit your part (???).

Your turn, but I suggest you put down the shovel as you've already dug a deep enough hole for yourself. Your reputation is already shot... and you did it to yourself.

 

First I would like to express my sorrow to Bill and his family for there loss this past year and wish them the best for the coming holidays. I am glad that Bill was able to spend the time he did with his dad in his last days, that is something that will always be special to him.


Second I think most of you might remember that Hahn Racecraft used my HHRSS as there test mule to make the parts that some of you are enjoying. They had my car a couple of different times to make and test these parts. I am very happy with the results and the car is a blast to drive. It now has 18000 trouble free fun miles on it. If and when they are ready and they need my car again to finish making the other parts we all want, I will drop it off in a heartbeat. I know Bill has had a tough year and I am also glad to see him back on here to straighten things out.


Bill, I'am glad to see your back.

 

I certainly need say no more. Your parting accusations of "hacking up parts" and "unethical" would be best served by that customer contacting me, for I would be able to answer all of his questions. His experience is not YOUR axe to grind.

Your own actions, as demonstrated by your behavior on this and several other sites, say more to people than I ever could. If you think I've charmed folks here, well...perhaps you feel alone because, over time, you've anti-charmed many of them. I can't say this with certainty, for it's just an impression I get from reading your posts over time. I wish the best of luck to your current vendors.