Desert Rat still blows [Archive]

etropic

05-10-2007, 06:10 PM

I wish I would have read some of the threads around here before calling up Desert Rat.

I've never had such bad customer service experience from someone who I "thought" was more of a local custom shop (well compared to the dealers at least)...

Give me hassle over the phone for a quote, insisting they can beat my internet price and 4 wheelers... Won't give it to me on the phone so I drive over on lunch from work... I told them my other quotes on the phone and after driving down, they want $400 MORE. I was so mad they made me drive down thinking that they really did have a better deal.

This wasn't the first time I had issues with them. I thought at first it was just a single sales guy, but I don't think that’s the case.

After reading here though, it looks like I'm the lucky one. I didn't actually pay them for bad work... err sorry "service".

Just talking to one of my other jeep buddies (lurking here on the forums somewhere) and come to find out he has a horror story you wouldn't believe! Messing up installs, blaming him, ****ty work overall, and won't stand behind their mistakes! (I'll leave the details for later)...

Looks like they’ve been to small claims a few times already too... (http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/justiceCourts/caseSearchResults.asp?lastName=&FirstName=&bName=Desert+Rat+Truck+Center+&x=84&y=13)

Anyway... Just wanted one more way people might become aware of some issues. (By starting yet another thread)... Feel free to share your experience ;)

BamBam

05-10-2007, 07:35 PM

Looks like Desert Rat truck centers are not a popular shop on this forum. Did a search and came up with many complaints. Here is just one recent thread

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=15483&highlight=desert+rat

We all work to hard for our money just to have a offroad shop treat people like dirt.

Their phoenix stores are not even members of the Better Business Bureau. I wonder why that is? It is not a good sign when a business that size does not even belong to the BBB.

lancetkenyon

05-10-2007, 07:38 PM

Of course they do.........

etropic

05-10-2007, 07:42 PM

Not a member...

One "resolved" claim on file.

Clicky Clicky (http://data.phoenix.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=33004809&language=1)

BRNZY

05-10-2007, 07:52 PM

I actually have been pretty lucky. I have had a couple of dealings with them and have had all good experiences. I do however Rob, have your back. If you do not want me to go there in support of you, you got it!!!

Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales

05-10-2007, 07:55 PM

T.C.'S TOY

05-10-2007, 08:00 PM

westy

05-10-2007, 08:37 PM

Why bother with service or custom work at Desert Rat when there are shops reputable shops such as 4wheelers, DesertFab, Truckwerks, Randy Ellis, etc etc all over town???

BamBam

05-10-2007, 09:59 PM

Here is a real horror story that happened to a close friend of mine named Kyle.

He ordered a new set of beadlocks from them with the guarantee that the beadlocks would be delivered in one week. The sales guy even asked him to pay up front so that he could get the commission and promised the beadlocks in no later than one week.

So my friend Kyle drops off his new set of tires that he also wants them to install on his new beadlocks. 5 days go by and Kyle calls them to check on the progress. They tell him they are not in yet. Kyle asks if they can track them so that he knows when to expect them.

This is when it all gets interesting. from this time on they start giving him the run around with all kinds of excuses and after about 10 days they won't even return his calls. I know this for a fact because I went in personally for other business and talked to the sales guy myself and he told me that he did not know where they were. At that time I asked the manager Jon what the hell was going on and he said he did not know where the beadlocks were nor did he have a tracking number. Kyle tried to get Jon to return calls and did not have much success.

After 3 solid weeks, yes 3 solid weeks the beadlocks finally arrive. When Kyle goes in to pick them up and starts to load them into his truck the wheel weights fall off. So Desert Rat grabs some duct tape and tapes the wheel weights on for him. Kyle was so pissed he just loaded up his tires and wheels and will never go back.

So from my friends perspective DESERT RAT BLOWS

My Green Jeep

05-10-2007, 10:08 PM

Desert Rat, on Bell Road... they SUCK! I got into a BIG argument with them about 1.5 years ago... they said one thing.. did something else then LIED about it!

Customer service :mad: that company does not know what that means.

See Joe at Absolute Offroad for help!

Tom Schenk

05-11-2007, 12:28 AM

Give me hassle over the phone for a quote, insisting they can beat my internet price and 4 wheelers...

Now that's funny considering...

My first and only experience with Desert Rat:

Years ago when I first bought my TJ I go to Desert Rat to get a BB and Rancho 9000's. They say they'll have to order it all and to come back in a week. I pay up front, go back the following Saturday, and wait over 20 minutes for someone to tell me that the guy they sent to pick up the parts is not back yet. So I ask when will he be back. Their response is that technically, he hasn't left yet. I tell them that I will go pick the parts myself since all I don't have all weekend to play grab arse. After some bad words and a phone call to their "wherehouse" they finally give me the address to go pick up my parts:

3530 E. Washington
Phoenix, AZ

Sound familier? ;)

Never returned to Desert Rat and I have never had a problem with their "wherehouse" to this day. :)

etropic

05-11-2007, 07:10 AM

now that IS funny....

etropic

05-11-2007, 07:11 AM

WOW you got jacked with HARD!!!! Thats worst than what a car dealer would do!!!!!! Oh..wait no its not........

By looking at the lawsuits and BBB it looks like they run a decent company as they have been in BIZ for 30years. Look up your favorite companys and you will see more suits than that!

Jason:rolleyes:

Jason... come on now... I know your in sales, so maybe it excludes you from the stealerships parts and service department... but it's pretty straight forward to say that "in general" "on average..." DEALERS SUCK (especially DC dealers)

Lifes A Jeep

05-11-2007, 08:24 AM

WOW you got jacked with HARD!!!! Thats worst than what a car dealer would do!!!!!! Oh..wait no its not........

By looking at the lawsuits and BBB it looks like they run a decent company as they have been in BIZ for 30years. Look up your favorite companys and you will see more suits than that!

Jason:rolleyes:

Hey Jason

Didn't you say in a different thread that you knew the owner's and you were going to talk to them about all these negative reports? I could have sworn I saw that. Any news on that?

BTW...Desert Rat screwed me as well and I will NEVER set foot in any of those stores again.

Lifes A Jeep

05-11-2007, 08:27 AM

Here's a link to the thread I was referencing. Yjunk started this.

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=20622

DirtDaddy

05-11-2007, 11:13 AM

Here's a link to the thread I was referencing. Yjunk started this.

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=20622

i remember that thread without even looking at it, yup.

The one and only dealing with desert rat was when i picked up a used set of tires, and had them mount them since they are very close to my work. Told them dont worry about balancing them since they were temporary. They said, we'll do it anyways just to take care of you. When i picked up my jeep, the tires were not balanced, which was no big deal really, i didnt pay for it, but don't tell that you're gonna take care of me just for the sake of trying to sound like the good guy, then not do it, still no big deal, until............i'm on the sucide 60 doing 75 MPH and my rear tire starts wobbling (at first i thought it was because the tires werent balanced) and making a banging sound with every bump. i pull over, and 4 out of 5 lug nuts were extremely loose, about to fall off completely. the 5th they had cross threaded so it wasnt going anywhere. maybe that was the 1st one they put on, realized they F'd it up, so didnt tighten the rest in case they messed the others up :rolleyes: THANKS DESERT RAT!!! YOU'RE THE GREATEST!!!!!!!

Devil Man

05-11-2007, 12:05 PM

I HAD AN 82 BRONCO ONE TIME AND HAD DESERT RAT PUT A 4'' LIFT ON IT THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND TOWED THE TRAILER 26FT TO ROOSEVELT LAKE AND BY THE TIME I GOT THERE ALMOST LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE NOTHING ON THE LIFT WAS TIGHTNED UP NOT EVEN THE U-BOLTS BAD NEWS.....DESERT RAT SUCKS.....T.C.:mad:

i live a mile away from D.R. & i would rather drive to florida to get parts i would still get a better price after $1000 in gas:eek:

Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales

05-11-2007, 02:06 PM

Hey Jason

Didn't you say in a different thread that you knew the owner's and you were going to talk to them about all these negative reports? I could have sworn I saw that. Any news on that?

BTW...Desert Rat screwed me as well and I will NEVER set foot in any of those stores again.

Yes I had that thought and don't think its my place to run Desert Rat. I don't run Airpark either, But I def. Have a vested interest and work hard to please Jeepers and my customers@Airpark Jeep. We at Airpark have had nothing but a great Business experience with the rat and will continue for years to come..sorry you guys have had a bad taste in your mouth. We also work with 4wheel drice hardware and they are awsome!!! Again Airpark Does spend $30-40K a month with them and wouldn't put up with bad service from any vendor.

Jason

Lifes A Jeep

05-11-2007, 02:30 PM

Yes I had that thought and don't think its my place to run Desert Rat. I don't run Airpark either, But I def. Have a vested interest and woirk hard to please Jeepers and my customers@Airpark Jeep. We at Airpark have had nothing but a great Business experience with the rat and will continue for years to come..sorry you guys have had a bad taste in your mouth. We also work with 4wheel drice hardware and they are awsome!!! Again Airpark Does spend $30-40K a month with them and wouldn't put up with bad service from any vendor.

Jason

Jason

By telling the owner's about all the negativity, your not trying to run their business. Your mearly informing them about an issue that is costing them money! If it was my business, I would want to know that my management team was doing a poor job. And take a look at all the members on this board. They are losing some serious business because the word is out among the jeep community. STAY AWAY FROM DESERT RAT.

Bottom line, the owner's need to know. Just my opinion.

BamBam

05-11-2007, 10:07 PM

DesertRat

05-12-2007, 07:03 AM

I leave for a week and everyone is bashing me again :mad:
I am telling Joe :p

etropic

05-12-2007, 10:10 AM

that's cause your avoiding me !!

Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales

05-13-2007, 07:14 AM

Jason, of course Desert Rat is good to you and Airpark Jeep. That much money spent with them each month makes you a special customer. But it you are just a average joe then they just don't care.

I would not be so quick to defend them, I think you are comparing apples and oranges. The previous posts show just how they treat the individual customer.

Good talking with you today at the dealership...

Your right when you spend big $$$ you would expect perfect service, I have had work done by them in the past as a consumer at the 19th/cactus location and never had a problem. I also called the store manager and delt with him;)

I leave for a week and everyone is bashing me again :mad:
I am telling Joe :p

Hey Mike when are we wheeling?????

Frisbie

05-13-2007, 04:53 PM

Ihave bought parts there because one is fairly close to my home, but I either put them on my self or TxT did the work.Cant say I was treated badly but they never touched my heep.

etropic

05-14-2007, 07:57 PM

I told my wife about this thread and she laughed...

When I first got my new rubi she went and picked up a Hi-Lift jack from Desert Rat. I had forgotten her story until she reminded me... but they had given her all kinds of **** because the only one they had left was on the shelf on display. Apperently they made here "know" that it was a hassle to walk to the back to grab a wrench and take it down.

lostoffroad

05-14-2007, 07:58 PM

never ahd a problem in all my experiences and i have to say that kyle and eric at the tempe d-rat take really good care of me. and i have not spent tons of money there. its all warranty stuff. remember they are not a fab shop at all and the powers that be will not let them. i personally only go to kyle or eric to get parts if a i need them. i hate 4wheelers cause they screwed me over big a couple yrs ago and i know of a couple people who also have got fawked by them. and it was a pretty simple thing they screwed up too. but whatever, just my 2 cents. there are plenty of fab shops across the metro area to take care of everybody.

dstryr99

05-15-2007, 01:40 PM

Are you talking about 4 wheeler supply or 4 wheel parts?

never ahd a problem in all my experiences and i have to say that kyle and eric at the tempe d-rat take really good care of me. and i have not spent tons of money there. its all warranty stuff. remember they are not a fab shop at all and the powers that be will not let them. i personally only go to kyle or eric to get parts if a i need them. i hate 4wheelers cause they screwed me over big a couple yrs ago and i know of a couple people who also have got fawked by them. and it was a pretty simple thing they screwed up too. but whatever, just my 2 cents. there are plenty of fab shops across the metro area to take care of everybody.

06GrnRubi

07-05-2007, 09:17 AM

OK, I wasn't going to say anything bad about Desert Rat, but after this last weekend I thought I would put my 2 cents in.

At last year's Airpark Jamboree, I purchased one of those all-in-the-mic CBs from Desert Rat I then went down there to have them install it. I was a little upset at where they installed it, but since the wife didn't complain I figured it wasn't that big of a deal. I can think of at least 2 other places that would have been better, but the guy at Desert Rat offered to relocate the CB and replace the glove box. I told him that since my wife was OK with it, then we were good.

11869 11870

What really upsets me, is that I have had this intermittent problem with it since having it installed.

The problem you ask? Well, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

The cause? It took a while, but we finally figured it out. When the AC/heater fan is running, there is not enough power to run the CB.

I'm sure that when I take it back and explain the situation, that they will correct it, but why should I have too? Should these people know what they are doing?

Sorry, Desert Rat, but the only time I have dealt with you, this happens, and with all the other negative comments here, you've lost any possibility of future business.

pldamian

07-05-2007, 09:54 AM

MAN Im glad i read this, i was going to have some work done there but now i guess ill do it myself. thanks

AZLugz

07-05-2007, 10:02 AM

A new member to my local wheeling group, a newbie Jeeper with a 91 YJ that knows virtually nothing about mechanics....yet... "lost his clutch" last friday before our Smiley Rock run, he lives close to Desert Ratt so he limped it over there and was told he needed a new master cylinder and new slave cylinder and then would probably need a new clutch. He called me to say he couldn't make the run, but 5 minutes on the phone and some DOT 3 fluid and he was running again and made the run with no trouble....I know they are not a fab shop but they are a 4 wheeling shop and I would assume someone there would know to tell someone to check the fluid level instead of telling them they need lots of pricey parts.

Just my .o2

aklars1

07-05-2007, 08:38 PM

I had them check my pinion angle and tighten my suspension bolts (since he heep was there anyways), I come to find out that all they did was add diff fluid hrmm not too big of a deal but they also tried to screw my brother over on the price of some mastercraft seats. My business is better spent at shops that are loyal to their customers like Truck Werks and 4wheelers. :)

ademster

07-05-2007, 09:45 PM

why was he low on fluid... the master is probably leaking inside the cab may not be a significant leak but the fluid just does not disappear.

but your right... they didn't do their job properly

A new member to my local wheeling group, a newbie Jeeper with a 91 YJ that knows virtually nothing about mechanics....yet... "lost his clutch" last friday before our Smiley Rock run, he lives close to Desert Ratt so he limped it over there and was told he needed a new master cylinder and new slave cylinder and then would probably need a new clutch. He called me to say he couldn't make the run, but 5 minutes on the phone and some DOT 3 fluid and he was running again and made the run with no trouble....I know they are not a fab shop but they are a 4 wheeling shop and I would assume someone there would know to tell someone to check the fluid level instead of telling them they need lots of pricey parts.

Just my .o2

My Green Jeep

07-05-2007, 11:12 PM

Yep... sounds like Desert Rat to me.. :mad:

I hate that company...

AZLugz

07-06-2007, 06:28 AM

why was he low on fluid... the master is probably leaking inside the cab may not be a significant leak but the fluid just does not disappear.

but your right... they didn't do their job properly

Not sure yet, Like I said, he is a newb and just bought it, also knows nothing about mechanics, I spent nine years as a crew chief startingg on dirt cars and up thru Speed Trucks so I'll teach him over time. He is coming by saturday and we will look at it more in depth and see what it will take to put the Rubi rock rails on the Yelacon (Thanks!!!) gave us. We did look it over a little last weekend at the run and nothing is drastic, so I am hoping it just needs a good "bolt check" all the way thru.

ademster

07-06-2007, 08:00 PM

Sounds good..

Adam

Not sure yet, Like I said, he is a newb and just bought it, also knows nothing about mechanics, I spent nine years as a crew chief startingg on dirt cars and up thru Speed Trucks so I'll teach him over time. He is coming by saturday and we will look at it more in depth and see what it will take to put the Rubi rock rails on the Yelacon (Thanks!!!) gave us. We did look it over a little last weekend at the run and nothing is drastic, so I am hoping it just needs a good "bolt check" all the way thru.

zman

07-07-2007, 05:05 PM

Their phoenix stores are not even members of the Better Business Bureau. I wonder why that is? It is not a good sign when a business that size does not even belong to the BBB.

That's not a fair comment, just cause a business in not listed at BBB does not mean the business is dishonest or has troubles. The BBB is a joke. They cannot shut down a business or tell them what to do. What they do do (?) is take businesses money so that they can publish the name on their BBB list, that's about it.

zman

06GrnRubi

07-07-2007, 05:41 PM

That's not a fair comment, just cause a business in not listed at BBB does not mean the business is dishonest or has troubles. The BBB is a joke. They cannot shut down a business or tell them what to do. What they do do (?) is take businesses money so that they can publish the name on their BBB list, that's about it.

zman

True, just because a business is not listed at BBB does not mean the business is dishonest or has troubles, but, I feel better doing business with businesses that do. I recently had a problem with a company out of Utah. Having no luck with dealing with them directly, I contacted the BBB of Utah. Within 2 communications, this issue was resolved in my favor. Why? Because they didn't want the mark of an unresolved complaint on their file.

skatchkins

07-17-2007, 08:43 PM

Not a great story, but another case to document none the less.
Desert Rat - 10701 N 19th Ave

Before getting into 4 wheel drives and my own mechanic work, I drove an inheritted 2WD '76 GMC.
Decided to put a little lift on the body, so I took it to DR.
I paid for the larger tires and the lift that included bumper lift brackets and they said it would be done before the weekend. They knew I had to have my truck for my job Saturday night.
I get a call Thursday from them saying that they haven't finished yet because they needed a plasma torch from the other store to address the bumper lift.
It's now Saturday afternoon- no call back, so I worriedly call them, to find that they are closed. I had to rent a vehicle for my job haul becuase they said they couldn't get my the truck down off the rack, even though no work had been done yet, but because there was a car parked underneath and the garage doors were closed. I went to pick it up on Monday come to find the truck lifted, the bumpers not, and the old tires still on. They now said, they just realized the kit they put on actually didn't include the bumper lifts and they forgot I paid for new tires.
I found out after I stormed out, they also didn't install the steering shaft extension either and and I had to hammer on the steering to get the wheel to turn without a death grip. I ended up going to a fabricator to address the bumpers dragging 3in too low.

Like I said, lame story, but another mark against and another non-repeat loud mouth bitter customer.

GRUNT

07-18-2007, 11:57 AM

Before you all throw stones at me.... I had several good experiences with the Desert Rat guys in Mesa. This has been since the got their new manager a couple years ago. If I had any issues, they had me bring it back in and fixed it, no questions asked. Okay I get it, they should have had it right in the first place but these were very minor things. ALTHOUGH, it recently found out from ARB that what my lockers are doing is from faulty installation.
Through my air lines to my pump FROM the DIFF fluid would build PSI and blow out upon engage/disengage. My rear DIFF breather line would also purge fluid slowly as if air psi was building while running. DR told me it was because the ARB is to big for the D30s and D35s. ARB says it was because the seals arent installed correctly. I am hoping to take it back before fall to have them look at it. I will let you all know how it turns out! :[