My experience with Desert Valley Auto - NOT good

[VintageMusclecar]

My experience with Desert Valley Auto Parts

Just thought I'd share my experience with this company.

On September 26th I agreed to purchase a 1967 Chevelle SS396 project car from them that they had advertised on their website, www.dvap.com

There were 5 photos of the car from various angles, the most important one showing a big block engine in place that was either rebuilt, or had at least been cleaned up and painted.



During my conversation with Billie (the salesman I've dealt with through the entire transaction), I inquired about the engine that was in the car. I was told that they knew nothing about the engine and had never tried to start it, only than it appeared to have been rebuilt. I figured "worst case scenario", even if the engine was nothing more than a spray painted junker, at least there would be some sort of core value to it, or I could use it for parts. It was understood from the beginning that this was NOT a "numbers matching engine" to the car, just an unknown big block.

After discussing the rest of the details of the car, I agreed to the purchase. I put a down-payment on the car via credit card over the phone, and agreed to send the balance overnight via bank check. Part of the balance payment included a fee for their preferred shipper to transport the car to me. I was told that the shipper would have the car to me in 10-14 days, or roughly 10/10. Also, they were to send me the title to the car via overnight mail the same day the car was to be picked up. I would theoretically have the title in-hand before the car was scheduled to arrive here.

So, to briefly re-cap:

1) The car was advertised with a big block engine in place.
2) I paid them up-front to arrange for their shipper to transport the car to me.
3) I was to have the car in 10-14 days, or by roughly 10/10.
4) The title was to be overnighted to me the same day the car was loaded to be shipped to me.

2 weeks passed and I called to inquire about the shipping status on the car. I was then told that their shipper hadn't picked it up yet, and that it was "supposed" to be picked up the following week. The next week rolled around and I called to make sure there were no snafu's. Again, the car had NOT been picked up, and they were unable to tell me when it WOULD be picked up.

I contacted several other transport services, and got an acceptable price and transit quote from one of them. I called Billie to cancel with his transporter since they were apparently unable to commit to a transport time and I would send my own transporter the following week. I was told I would have a refund check issued to me for reimbursement of the transport fees I had already paid them in advance.

At this point, the deal is complete 100%, save for the car, title and shipping reimbursement being in my posession. Everything was paid up 100%.

Billie asked if I had a fax that he could send the sales agreement to, but I don't have access to a fax, so he emailed it to me instead.

Verbatim (vin and prices blanked out):

"This is a purchase order for Desert Valley Auto
This is a purchase of a 1967 chevelle ss. Vin# 138177kXXXXXX. It is not a numbers matching car, as the rear end and engine are not correct. The center console is also not correct. The car is equipped with what appears to be a rebuilt 350 motor and 10 bolt rear end. There are numerous trim pieces inside the car, as all the trim has been removed. The steering wheel is also incorrect. The price for this car is $XXXX.00. A payment of $XXX.00 for shipping will be refunded to the customer as he has arranged the transport himself. No warranties are given as this vehicle is sold as is restorable. This vehicle does come with an Arizona title. Thank you for your purchase
Please reply to this e-mail that you understand and agree to what you are receiving.
Thanks alot Eric, Billie w/Desert Valley Auto "

I knew about the 10-bolt and the console not being correct, as well as the steering wheel, etc... no issue there. Then I saw the part about the "350 motor". Wait a minute...I bought the car with a big block in it. I thought maybe it was just a typo or a mis-communicaion, so I replied with the following:

"Billie;
All appears correct save for the mention of a "350" engine (i.e. a small block), where the picture below of the car which I saved from your website shows the car with a big block engine (of unknown displacement) in place.
I am assuming the engine currently in the car to be delivered to me is the same one as shown in the picture, and the "350" was simply an error in terminology. Please advise at your earliest convenience.
Everything else appears correct."

To which Billie replied:

"Hi Eric,
The photos we have on the website were from the guy we bought it from. He had taken the motor out and installed a 350. That is what I had told you from the beginning. I told you that the motor appeared to be a 350 or a 327. This has been mentioned a couple of times. I can try to contact him to see if he still has the motor, but this car does not have the original motor as I have told you."

No, he did NOT inform me from the beginning that the car had a small block in it instead of the advertised big block! I knew the engine in the car was not the "original" engine, but no one said anything about there being a small block in the car instead of the pictured big block until after I'd already paid for the car!

I believe this is what's referred to as "bait and switch".

For the sake of brevity (I know, it's a little late for that now), I'll wrap this up.

I offered him the following alternatives to make this deal right:

A) They keep this "rebuilt" small block and drop in some sort of a rebuildable passenger car big block core.

B) They keep the small block and just send me a bare early 12 bolt housing with the car.

Neither alternative would've made me "happy", but under the circumstances I figured it would be the best I could do.

No response from them.

I considered calling back and cancelling the entire deal, but decided to wait and see what they would do.

The car arrived Sunday afternoon. It had a small block sitting in it. A quick check of the #'s revealed it as a `78 Camaro 305 2bbl motor, not even a "350" as they'd stated.





I waited for the mail to arrive today. STILL no title and no refund check. They were supposed to be in my hand the day after the car was shipped. The car was loaded up last wednesday, so I should've had the title AND refund check last thursday morning.

So I called Billie.

He said they would be sent out today via overnight, so "supposedly" I'll have them tomorrow morning. I'll report back on this tomorrow. An attorney is already waiting in the wings.

So, there you have it, in a nutshell. No "bashing" in any form, no "opinions" are being stated, just stating the facts of my experience with Desert Valley Auto Parts. I paid for a 1967 Chevelle SS396 project car with an unknown big block in it, and I was supposed to have the car in 10-14 days. Instead, it took me a month to get the car, and that's only after I took shipping arrangements into my own hands. I was supposed to have a title AND a shipping refund before the car arrived, and as of now, I have neither. And the icing on the cake, someone kept the big block and dropped in a 305 Camaro motor.

The shipping delays I can somewhat understand, that was technically out of their hands. However, if they're going to commit to an arrival date, they should do everything in their power to meet that commitment. If not, they should have informed me up-front instead of me having to call them, and I could've made my own arrangements sooner. But advertising the car with a big block, then swapping it out after the deal was already done?...

My mom always told me: "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all."

There's a lot more I would LIKE to say, but in the interest of keeping this down to simple facts, I'll refrain.

Suffice it to say, I'm not amused. In any way, shape or form.

Let the next potential buyer beware.

[musclecarjohn]

Well that sucks in my book!

I'd say that qualifies for a royal "bait & switch".
Let us know how this whole thing turns out...I'd be making that call to your lawyer about now.

[CamarosRus]

To all reading, Eric Jackson is ONE of the Good Guys in the restoration hobby. He is not just another carburetor guy , he is a darn GOOD honest man, and I can attest to his workmanship.
I hate to see any friend get ripped off. I hope anyone here with any past or future dealings with DESERT VALLEY, has the courage to challenge these people, as to what theyve done to ONE of our own......
Eric, please keep us posted with has this continues, to unfold.
Your Seattle friend, Chuck Sharin

[Racefan]

Funny that the previous owner, whom they claim pulled the big block out swapped the air cleaner assembly and filter to them to put on. They also switched the wheels also. Personally, I like the slots better than the Dukes of Hazzard look.

[musclecarjohn]

Yeah I noticed the wheels too but I thought maybe they were just mis-matched from side to side.

I was trying to see what else was different...

[JChlupsa]

What happend to to Cowl Vent panel below the windshielf??

[VintageMusclecar]

Chuck;

Thank you, sincerely. I appreciate the kind words more than you could know. I bust my *** to try to give people the best deal and the best service possible, and I just can't comprehend how some people can do the things they do business-wise.

Screwey thing is, I even told them up-front that if this transaction went smoothly that I was poised to buy 1 or possibly 2 other cars from them in the very near future.

That's obviously not gonna happen now.

re: the wheels...

The original pics I saved from their website showed the mis-matched slots and the 1 hurricane wheel. The slots are 14", and the hurricane is a 15". Go figure. Everything else on the car is a hodge-podge (sp?), the wheels might as well be too.

[VintageMusclecar]

[ QUOTE ]
What happend to to Cowl Vent panel below the windshielf??

[/ QUOTE ]

It was in the back seat, along with a boatload of other parts & misc. garbage. One tiny positive note...there was a small stash of replacement weatherstripping in the trunk.

Yet, somehow I can't get excited about that.

[Stuart Adams]

Where is Desert Valley Autoparts?

[Bill Pritchard]

[ QUOTE ]
Where is Desert Valley Autoparts?

[/ QUOTE ]

North side of Phoenix, just east of I-17 (at Happy Valley Road, I think).