Performance Center, Irvine California. Outright thieves!

I've had an outstanding order with Performance Center of Irvine California since Early September of this year (2008). I placed the order through their website at performancecenter.com. I received an email saying the item was on backorder and would be shipped as soon as possible.

I continued receiving these emails. This week, I started calling/emailing them. I received no responses, even during normal business hours. I became suspicious and checked the BBB's website. Although they had a B rating from the BBB, the customer reviews painted a story of a one-man operation with a fancy website and not much else to show.

After some more researching, I found posts claiming that the business had shut down- and yet continued taking orders AND MONEY- with no intention (or capability, see below) of shipping the items paid for.

I called A'pexi's california HQ and after a short conversation, confirmed that Performance Center was closed for good. On top of that, PC's account with A'pexi had been closed for inactivity and long-overdue debts. A'pexi had been withholding items from PC for several months because he owed them vast amounts of money. as such, even if PC was still in business, he couldn't get the exhaust I ordered unless he ordered it from some other dealer.

I'm not opening a case with the BBB and going to my bank to consider the options.

It seems that I"m pretty good at finding these guys (search the AF archives for Andy'sautosport.com) but for fuck's sake this is becoming an expensive "hobby"

allright, i just got back from my bank and filed a Dispute. I'll hear back from them in a day or two. I'm preparing to open a case with the BBB, and I left a voicemail on Tony Sevasta's mailbox saying that if I hadn't heard from him in 24 hours, I'm filing a police report for theft.

I'd be happy that I'm getting so good at this, but on the other hand...You learn from experience.

What a bunch of losers. I prefer going to my local speed shop even though many times it is cheaper to order on-line.

Apparently you didn't use a credit card or a secure payment service like paypal or you would have been protected. Caveat emptor.

Moving this to Cars in General > Dealer Experiences forum.

i DID use Paypal, Eric. the goatfucking asswipe sent automated emails telling me the item was on backorder. It wasn't until the 30 day period during which my bank would accept a dispute expired that i stopped receiving even that little charade.

What's worse, three months later, the website is STILL up and STILL taking orders! This is illegal, immoral, and criminal. Does anyone near Irvine California wanna take a little job?

Found out after some more researching today that Tony Savasta now plays drums for the AC-DC tribute band "Highway to Hell."

received a letter saying that Tony Savasta has filed chapter 7 bankruptcy and claims he has no assets with which to pay back creditors (me). What'd he do with my $538.23?

legal theft, aided and abetted by the CA attorney general, Paypal, First Financial Bank, Irvine CA police department, and bankruptcy law.