[italy430]

***Class-action lawsuit information included below in thread***

Just like the title says, I will never buy from them again. They seem to run a shady, scam type of business with very poor business practices and HORRIBLE customer service, yet they say they have "devilishly good" service.

I will tell you about my situation with Umnitza and will include photos, videos and a complete email transcript of my conversation with Umnitza. The email attached is a 30 page long Word document which includes the dates and times of emails and is only there to back up my statements in this post. It doesn't include every single email conversation that I have had with Umnitza but the "Gmail conversation" attached is whole and complete in its entirety, I have only removed my last name, email address and mailing address for privacy concerns. I haven't modified Umnitza's emails at all since all their contact information is public. I am not trying to hide anything and will be fully honest about everything. I'm just telling the facts about what happened.

I bought the headlights December 24th, 2008. When I first received them I noticed that there were a number of things wrong with them. I should first say that one of the problems I say in the email is that they shipped both female ends but I found out that they had shipped the proper ends, I just didn’t put them together properly at first. I first noticed that the ballasts were damage with huge dents all over on both sides of both ballasts. These ballasts are made of very strong aluminum it looks like and you would have to smash them with a hammer or screwdriver to make these kind of dents. Pictures included. There were also other parts on it that were broken and the light bulb had fallen out because it was not proper secured and had been scratched from rolling around in the shipping box. I had these replaced and eventually got them in my hands. Umnitza also claims that one package kept getting bounced by USPS because of an “invalid” address, yet previous parts from Umnitza, as well as every other USPS, UPS, FedEx package I’ve had shipped to the address worked perfectly. It’s Ship Happens in Sumas, WA which is a mail handler and since I live in Canada it’s easier to have it shipped to Sumas and go across the border and pick it up. I eventually paid to have it shipped to Canada but I do find it quite strange that all of a sudden it just didn’t work. I still don’t know what happened and in no way was I trying to “blame” Umnitza for USPS bouncing it, which I stated to them many times throughout the email, but Umnitza instead refused to reply to my other concerns and only focuses on the fact that they believe it wasn’t their fault for the shipping. Unprofessional, poor service.

If you start reading on page 21 with the email on Sat, Apr 18, 2009 at 3:22 PM you will get to the meat of the email. You will be able to tell that I had gotten very frustrated with the horrible service and the very unprofessional attitude that Umnitza was using to deal with the situation. They had tried to blame the damage to the lights on shipping and that it wasn’t their fault when the lights were wrapped extremely well with bubble wrap and thick foam pieces surrounding it and with zero damage to even the fragile cardboard box that it was packed in. Being very firm I laid out what exactly was false advertising with the help of a friend who is a legal assistant and requested that I have these returned with a full refund. I was then accused of blackmail by Umnitza because I stated in the email that I would also be posting on the forums about my experience, which by the way I didn’t, this will be my first post regarding this. I then corrected him in the next email with the proper legal definition of blackmail as well as extortion to make sure I covered everything. As you might be able to tell, this is a very unprofessional manner to deal with customers, especially of accusing a customer of blackmail, a serious criminal offence. After my email on Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 4:47 PM I was then told that Matt, the owner of Umnitza, would contact me Friday to discuss this.

On the phone I discussed with Matt that I was very unhappy with the service and that I wanted a refund. Matt remarked that I seemed a lot nicer on the phone than the emails that he must have read before calling me. I told Matt that yes I am, and I’m a reasonable guy but I don’t like to be screwed around with and if I need to I would take legal action. So we talked and we worked out a deal that Umnitza would give me a new headlight assembly, a mistake on my part. So eventually I got the headlight and started putting them in. I’ve run into nothing but problems (what’s new?!) while trying to install them and even took it to my indy shop and my main mechanic I always go to for everything said he wouldn’t touch it and to take it back to where I got it from. Then I noticed that the right xenon light stopped working completely. I was absolutely infuriated. I just sent Matt at Umnitza an email requesting that I have them refunded and that I will be contacting a consumer agency if I don’t have a reply within 2 weeks from September 13, 2009.

I understand that I have made a few mistakes with dealing with a company like this and being able to look over the whole situation there are many things I would change, like I would have demanded a refund from the start. However, I’m sure you will be able to see why I am very frustrated with this and hopefully I’ll be able to resolve this soon without having to deal with lawyers, as it is just more of a headache for me as well as for Umnitza.

I also understand that Umnitza seems to be very well regarded. In fact, one of my friends bought Angel eyes from Umnitza and is very pleased with them. However, I have been able to find more than a few people on the internet, like myself, that have had some bad experiences with Umnitza. I have since ordered OEM xenon replacement headlights from Tischer BMW, which are listed at $1855.86, which is more than THREE times the list price of $609.98 from Umnitza for the headlights I ordered. I have no problem spending the money to buy something good and I will continue to buy OEM as I have had pretty much nothing but problems with the majority of my aftermarket purchases. Nothing beats OEM fit and quality!!

The reason for this post is to gain some support and to inform the public of a problem with Umnitza, similar to filing a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs or BBB.org.

Media, 30 page Gmail conversion in Word format and website receipt for Umnitza purchase:

http://picasaweb.google.com/leslie.j...eat=directlink

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=d...5965eaa7bc68bc

[I335]

I actually took the time to read all that. Ok - it's clear that you're very young and new at this sort of stuff based on what I read so I'll try to be gentle with my take on the situation...

Yeah, I'd have to agree that the damage (especially the dents) is unacceptable and I just can't imagine how a vendor could ship something like that. The other part of this that is disturbing is the vendor saying "don't worry about the dents - that's the way it comes to us...". At that point there should have been a phone call to laugh about that with them because they couldn't have been serious, i.e. handle it in a very friendly "are you kidding me?" tone and get the situation straightened out.

But Jordan, I have to tell ya, if I were the judge in this case I'd have to side with the vendor. Man, you are a vendor's worst freakin' nightmare! What I saw in all that documentation was a lot of the vendor wanting to work with you and a bunch of high-horse arrogance on your side. That was one of the most unprofessional business communications I've ever seen. All that quoting the law and definitions shit really turns people off and really makes you look like the asshole. Bottom line is that the vendor did screw up a bit, but boy did you blow it out of proportion and quickly ruin a business transaction and relationship.

It's good to stand up for yourself, but you'll get a lot further in life if you learn how to interact with other people better. It'll come with age and maturity, but it may be a while before any vendor is willing to sell to you after reading that...

[MuchMoore]

Not the first time there have been complaints about them...and it wont be the last. Check out e46fanatics for more information, you'll see a trend.

[italy430]

Originally Posted by I335

I actually took the time to read all that. Ok - it's clear that you're very young and new at this sort of stuff based on what I read so I'll try to be gentle with my take on the situation...

Yeah, I'd have to agree that the damage (especially the dents) is unacceptable and I just can't imagine how a vendor could ship something like that. The other part of this that is disturbing is the vendor saying "don't worry about the dents - that's the way it comes to us...". At that point there should have been a phone call to laugh about that with them because they couldn't have been serious, i.e. handle it in a very friendly "are you kidding me?" tone and get the situation straightened out.

But Jordan, I have to tell ya, if I were the judge in this case I'd have to side with the vendor. Man, you are a vendor's worst freakin' nightmare! What I saw in all that documentation was a lot of the vendor wanting to work with you and a bunch of high-horse arrogance on your side. That was one of the most unprofessional business communications I've ever seen. All that quoting the law and definitions shit really turns people off and really makes you look like the asshole. Bottom line is that the vendor did screw up a bit, but boy did you blow it out of proportion and quickly ruin a business transaction and relationship.

It's good to stand up for yourself, but you'll get a lot further in life if you learn how to interact with other people better. It'll come with age and maturity, but it may be a while before any vendor is willing to sell to you after reading that...

I agree after having looked over this, that's exactly what I should have done, and I stated that. I should have had it returned from the start.

Just because I was pissed off and didn't tolerate the BS that the vendor was giving me doesn't mean that a judge would side with the vendor. I do agree I could have handled it better but you should also have seen, since you read the documentation, that the vendor was feeding me lines, lying to me, not answering my questions, and basically leading me around a circle. I get pissed off when people do that, it's my pet peeve.... everyone has one.

I have dealt with Turner Motorsports, Tischer BMW as well as other vendors multiple times and have had nothing but outstanding service and products from those two companies. I pay right away and I get my products when they say they will be delivered, it's packaged well, I'm sold the goods as they were advertised and they work perfectly. I have nothing but good things to say about those two companies, and I'm a very happy customer of theirs. So I really don't think the problem is me, if I may be so bold.

As another poster said, Umnitza does not have a clean reputation.

All I want is this to be settled, my money back and move on, that is all.

[I335]

Originally Posted by italy430

All I want is this to be settled, my money back and move on, that is all.

Call them, and simply tell them exactly that...

[Michael Schott]

First of all, I have no direct experience with Umnitza and find some of their advertising copy not to my taste but I think they were dealing with you in good faith and cannot fault any of their responses. I think this is a case of everything that can go wrong going that way which is unfortunate but I don't blame the vendor for not trying to take care of you in an honest way.

Thanks, Mike.

[hhkim]

child please....

[italy430]

Dear italy430,

umnitza has just replied to a thread you have subscribed to entitled - I will NEVER... EVER... buy from Umnitza again - in the Vendor Comments & Supporting Vendor Info presented by Dell forum of Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum.

This thread is located at:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...9&goto=newpost

Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************
All our emails are confidential and proprietary between us and the customer. Even despite this, the email stream only shows how big of an effort was made to meet all your demands: we never wavered from our professionalism in solving your issues.

Often, what ends up being lost in translation is the fact that the products you are/may purchase from either us or other vendors are invariably replicas of OE parts and/or custom built to order parts that take time to assemble. While we make every conceivable effort to ensure they meet the OE parts standards, some customers cannot be pleased.

One thing you need to be aware of is our return policy does not accept parts that have been installed (and used for over 4 months), however, we were of course willing to help you with the product problem you were experiencing.

There will be no refund offered for parts that were installed on your car however if you want to discuss this via phone only, we'll be happy to do so.
***************


There may also be other replies, but you will not receive any more notifications until you visit the forum again.

All the best,
Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum

it seems Umnitza's response somehow got deleted so I posted it back up with my response...

"Often, what ends up being lost in translation is the fact that the products you are/may purchase from either us or other vendors are invariably replicas of OE parts and/or custom built to order parts that take time to assemble." .... I don't believe there is anything lost in the translation whatsoever. You said that perfectly yet, like every response I seem to get from you, it NEVER directly answers my concerns about your company.

I will try and make this as clear and direct as possible so that I, as well as the ppl on this and other forums will be able to see that you really are trying to the best of your ability to assist your customers in their needs and concerns...... Please explain why I was shipped damaged ballasts. I do not need to hear that they aren't OEM parts and that you have other vendors that supply you. You advertised on your site a specific product that was "assumed" to be brand new and in perfect working condition and was advertised as being non-OEM. And "assumed" can be legally used from all the evidence I've documented so far. It is without a doubt that you are responsible for your final product that you provide the customer. I cannot imagine shipping a customer a clearly damaged product even if I had received the product, damaged, from my vendor.

A couple reasons I just ran over re-reading the email that shows that you DID NOT do your best to help (this is not a full representation of the problems or concerns I have with Umnitza):

1) I informed you that I had not received my clear film protectors for my headlights that I ordered at the same time. I sent the email on Jan 21, 2009 and to this date have still not received them. (You can add that to the refund amount.)

2) I asked you to provide me with a receipt showing that the value of the goods I was paying for was $0 for the replacement headlight you shipped so that I wouldn't have to pay Canada Customs twice for the same headlight. You did not provide me with any such receipt.

3) I should also point out that the interior LED lighting "kit" that I ordered and in the first part of the email said I wanted to return is because they didn't have enough bulbs in the "kit", the bulbs that they did have, most did not fit and/or had something wrong with the connectors and the "kit" I'm referring too is actually a small, worn out, clear plastic baggie with the lights just dumped in, rubbing against each other with no protection. Again, very misleading with your advertising. Umnitza, take a look at Bimmian, they know how to put a proper interior LED lighting "kit" together. And I didn't make a fuss about this to Umnitza. Umnitza also claimed this interior LED lighting kit has OEM fit and finish....

4) The turn signal lights that I ordered from Umnitza claim that they have OEM fit and finish. They DO NOT have OEM fit and finish! Again, I did not make a fuss about this. http://www.umnitza.com/depo-front-tu...ked-p-329.html

5) The LED tail lights that I ordered also claim OEM fit and finish, no error messages, complete plug and play, 1 year warranty and no dealer reflash required. Perfect!!... if only it was actually true. They barely have OEM fit and finish, better than the turn signals and headlights tho, I have error messages that even the dealer couldn't put out, obviously not plug and play then, and speaking of the 1 year warranty I have a whole row of LED lights in my left tail light burnt out as well as a row in my left rear turn signal. Please ship me replacement bulbs. If you would like pictures or anything like that I can send you some. http://www.umnitza.com/eagle-eyes-ta...nly-p-323.html

6) Not only has every single product that I've purchased from Umnitza had multiple problems with it, Umnitza has had extremely poor customer service and I'm sure will all the above information I don't need to go into the false advertising on Umnitza's part or the fact that I'm extremely frustrated with this company. I'm sure anyone in my current situation would be as well. And then one of my xenon lights stopped working and after fiddling with it for about 1 hour I couldn't get it to work so I decided that was it and sent and email to Umnitza which they still have not replied to, and posted on the forums.

You state that you have a 4 month return policy and that you don't accept products that have been installed. You forgot to state in that policy what happens when you sell false advertised products. I have more than enough reasons to demand a refund and I will keep pursuing this.

If this whole issue is not resolved by September 28, 2009 I will take further action.

This reply will be posted to the other forum sites as well as emailing a copy of it to Umnitza. If Umnitza would like to contact me by phone they may do so and have my contact information. You may coordinate a time with me to talk on the phone by email.

[italy430]

I'm considering a class-action lawsuit against Umnitza seeing as there are many people short money or product from Umnitza and I continue to find even more stories of it. It'd be more beneficial for everyone doing a class-action rather than trying to have all individual settlements.

If you have been or do know of anyone who has been screwed over by Umnitza, send them this info and get in contact with me, PM me. I'll be meeting with a lawyer in Seattle, WA on Monday to discuss the idea of a class-action lawsuit as well as an individual settlement.

As of now, Umnitza has told me they refuse to continue talking over email and I told Umnitza that I'd be willing to discuss things over the phone only if I recorded the calls. They rejected that. Funny how they don't want to discuss anything where it can be kept on record! Also, people that have contacted Umnitza, have you noticed their little speech at the end of all emails? It says everything in the email is protected under a US law. Interesting that, with all the companies I've dealt with before, I can't remember any one of them stating that in their emails. And especially from a company that deals with selling lights for cars! I could maybe see it from a lawyer or some sort of high class legal company but not Umnitza. Just little signs to watch out for.

[Peter@VMRWheels]

Easiest way to protect yourself is to use a credit card - and charge it back if you don't think the vendor is being cooperative. But allow them a chance to correct the problem before doing a chargeback. Your order will be that much more complicated to deal with if while they are helping you with an issue, you do a chargeback.

[italy430]

Originally Posted by Peter@VMRWheels

Easiest way to protect yourself is to use a credit card - and charge it back if you don't think the vendor is being cooperative. But allow them a chance to correct the problem before doing a chargeback. Your order will be that much more complicated to deal with if while they are helping you with an issue, you do a chargeback.

I PM'd you.

[uberschnell]

Wow. Started to read the docs and stopped.

All I can say is that there are people in this world who live to crush naivete out of people like you.

[NaTuReB0Y]

cliff notes please

[italy430]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

cliff notes please

oh man.. im too tired right now to explain... but here's the general idea..

1) I buy products that are advertised "OEM fit and finish" "no dealer flash required" etc.... all the bullsh!t you wanna hear to make u think the product is good.

2) I get products. they're not as advertised. they're damaged (someone must have take a screwdriver or hammer to the ballast, or it was in an accident - look at the photo gallery) some parts are broken from shipping and being poorly packaged.

3) Get Umnitza to send out some new products. eventually find out that a headlight is broken in a place i didn't see (watch the video)

4) Umnitza finally agrees to send out another light.

5) Package "bounces" and is undeliverable, sent back to Umnitza 3-4 times by USPS. NEVER have had this happen, i ship with USPS and UPS all the time to that address...hmmm...

6) Fit and finish is crap. The lights leak when it rains and condensation forms inside. right xenon HID stops working. can not fix.

All this has taken 9 months.

Interesting fact #1: Umnitza won't talk over email about it now and will only talk on the phone if it's not being recorded.... hmm, doesn't want any record whatsoever of our conversations.

Interesting fact #2: Umnitza's emails at the bottom all have a little thing saying you can't copy or share any part of their email because it's protected by a US electronic law. I've NEVER seen that on any corporate emails that i've received from countless companies i've dealt with. sounds like Umnitza needs to cover their butt, i wonder why?

Interesting fact #3: As soon as I request a refund and tell them I'm not screwing around and will pursue this... they whip out the lawyer card and threaten legal action against me regarding the emails and regarding phone call recording. Let's get real here... even if I did record you, how are they even going to prove that I have recorded them or not?! haha.... GET REAL MATT GRINTSAIG!!

I prob missed a few things.... and just saying that I forgot to mention that my LED tails i ordered which supposedly need "no dealer reflash", well not true, and even the dealer couldn't get the error codes to go out. there are also 2 rows of lights out in the left tail, 1 row of brake lights and 1 row of signal lights.

oh and interior LED lights i ordered were wrong sizes, not enough bulbs, broken bulbs. they were packaged in a small zip-loc baggie with no protection, rubbing against each other. and this is their official LED "kit"!! haha ya right.

and another... the turn signals i ordered with "OEM fit and finish".... not a chance that they are even close to OEM fit and finish.

I prob still forgot something too....