Disappointment in RotTec – 997.1 LED Tail Lights
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 214
From: Colorado
Rep Power: 29
Not trying to flame anyone or get flamed either, just describing an experience.
The reality of the situation is that Ray could have responded with something along the lines of telling me that they can't split but he'll make an exception in this case and take $100 off the light ...so $360 instead of $460 and I probably would have been happy. I was very close to purchasing another set of wheels (really like the RUF replicas) and some carbon parts. I'll be getting those elsewhere now as well. Companies last based upon how they treat their customers in my opinion. Some choose to do it in different ways.
Cheers!
The reality of the situation is that Ray could have responded with something along the lines of telling me that they can't split but he'll make an exception in this case and take $100 off the light ...so $360 instead of $460 and I probably would have been happy. I was very close to purchasing another set of wheels (really like the RUF replicas) and some carbon parts. I'll be getting those elsewhere now as well. Companies last based upon how they treat their customers in my opinion. Some choose to do it in different ways.
Cheers!
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 396
From: New York
Rep Power: 63
In March of 2011 I bought a pair of LED tail lights for my 997.1 from Ray at RotTec Carbon through a group buy. Ray’s presence on the forums and communication was why I chose to do business with them. Over the course of the next few years I also bought the front LED lights, some interior bulbs, and replacement HID bulbs for my 997 all from RotTec.
A few weeks ago, I noticed that some of the LED lights were out on my right rear side. I contacted RotTec on August 8th to see if there was anything that they could do to help me. After a high number of email attempts over the past 2 weeks to get some help they finally got back to me today and told me that I am out of my 1 year warranty and that the best thing that could do for me was to sell me one light at full retail plus shipping ($425 + $35) for $460. Ouch!
I personally think this is very poor customer service and expected better from them. Did I expect them to give me a new light for free…? Absolutely not, but I’m sure the life expectancy of these lights should be more than 2.5 years. Given that I expected them to at least cut me a deal on a replacement light and perhaps want my broken one back to see what went wrong. After a few emails back and forth they stood strong that buying one light at full retail was their only option.
I have posted numerous times on these forums that RotTec has been good on customer service and a quality product. I can now officially say that I was in error. The product did not last and they did not stand behind their product or their customers when push came to shove.
I told them I would get a new pair from somewhere else and that’s what I intend to do. For those considering RotTec I would think again.
I’m now on the look for a new set of LED Tail lights. Anyone have any suggestions or good experiences? Perhaps I'll try the depos this time.
Cheers!
A few weeks ago, I noticed that some of the LED lights were out on my right rear side. I contacted RotTec on August 8th to see if there was anything that they could do to help me. After a high number of email attempts over the past 2 weeks to get some help they finally got back to me today and told me that I am out of my 1 year warranty and that the best thing that could do for me was to sell me one light at full retail plus shipping ($425 + $35) for $460. Ouch!
I personally think this is very poor customer service and expected better from them. Did I expect them to give me a new light for free…? Absolutely not, but I’m sure the life expectancy of these lights should be more than 2.5 years. Given that I expected them to at least cut me a deal on a replacement light and perhaps want my broken one back to see what went wrong. After a few emails back and forth they stood strong that buying one light at full retail was their only option.
I have posted numerous times on these forums that RotTec has been good on customer service and a quality product. I can now officially say that I was in error. The product did not last and they did not stand behind their product or their customers when push came to shove.
I told them I would get a new pair from somewhere else and that’s what I intend to do. For those considering RotTec I would think again.
I’m now on the look for a new set of LED Tail lights. Anyone have any suggestions or good experiences? Perhaps I'll try the depos this time.
Cheers!
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 746
From: toronto
Rep Power: 50
sounds very fair imo, esp with repeat customers.
Not trying to flame anyone or get flamed either, just describing an experience.
The reality of the situation is that Ray could have responded with something along the lines of telling me that they can't split but he'll make an exception in this case and take $100 off the light ...so $360 instead of $460 and I probably would have been happy. I was very close to purchasing another set of wheels (really like the RUF replicas) and some carbon parts. I'll be getting those elsewhere now as well. Companies last based upon how they treat their customers in my opinion. Some choose to do it in different ways.
Cheers!
The reality of the situation is that Ray could have responded with something along the lines of telling me that they can't split but he'll make an exception in this case and take $100 off the light ...so $360 instead of $460 and I probably would have been happy. I was very close to purchasing another set of wheels (really like the RUF replicas) and some carbon parts. I'll be getting those elsewhere now as well. Companies last based upon how they treat their customers in my opinion. Some choose to do it in different ways.
Cheers!
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 214
From: Colorado
Rep Power: 29
In the meantime I ordered a set of these:
http://www.fvd.us/us/en/Porsche-0/99...pc._05-08.html
I'll let everyone know how they are in comparison to the RotTecs.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,260
From: Austin
Rep Power: 770
This has been covered in 100's of posts - try a search and you'll get lots of info plus comparative photos. BTW, Orange Tuning is just another distributor (although in Germany) - there are at least 3 or 4 domestic suppliers of the DEPO/Dectane lights.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,260
From: Austin
Rep Power: 770
Probably less expensive to buy a replacement set - not even sure "baking" would allow opening without other damage, let alone finding the correct LED bulbs/strip to use as a replacement for the defective bulbs.
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 214
From: Colorado
Rep Power: 29
For what its worth, I have found very little on exactly what the FVD ones are through the forums. Lots of searching with very few posts at all about the FVD lights.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,260
From: Austin
Rep Power: 770
I think he was referring to how the FVD ones are different from the Depos and not how the Depos are different from the Rottecs.
For what its worth, I have found very little on exactly what the FVD ones are through the forums. Lots of searching with very few posts at all about the FVD lights.
For what its worth, I have found very little on exactly what the FVD ones are through the forums. Lots of searching with very few posts at all about the FVD lights.
Last edited by jhbrennan; Aug 22, 2013 at 01:10 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,636
From: 5280
Rep Power: 173
Oh - OK misunderstood...but FVD is a distributor just like the other vendors and the products (whether the "ROTTEC" model or the "DEPO/Dectane" model) are made in Taiwan. FVD is an established vendor just seems to have a higher level of customer service than the other vendors. If someone with FVD-sourced lights could check, I'm sure they'd find DEPO info on the light fixture. From the FVD pictures, the lights look just like the DEPO's I purchased from Carlightpros 2 years ago. BTW, never any problems with mine.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 413
From: West TX
Rep Power: 32
Sorry, what I was referring to was, I saw a post where someone was selling a set of Depo/Dectane lights that has a issue with throwing a error code on the dash light.
They said, that they bought a new set of lights from the same manufacture that had the issue resolved. I am assuming that this has to do with a resistor added. I am confused that some dectane/depos include resistors others don't. I have done a search and read up on it just still a little confused
They said, that they bought a new set of lights from the same manufacture that had the issue resolved. I am assuming that this has to do with a resistor added. I am confused that some dectane/depos include resistors others don't. I have done a search and read up on it just still a little confused
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 214
From: Colorado
Rep Power: 29
Izzy - This is my understanding:
Some of the early lights (from both manufacturers) were known to throw errors on the dash. Some cars got the errors and others didn't. The vendors started testing these lights out with customers and initially offered a set to any customer who was getting errors. I never got any errors with No resistors. I believe eventually they just started shipping all orders with these just to be safe (I think).
When my new lights arrive from FVD I will let everyone know if they come with resistors, general impressions on quality vs. the RotTec ones, etc. Customer service is something that will be determined over time, but I can say that they probably can't be any worse than RotTec.
I must admit that there was a small percentage of me that felt that after some of the replies on this thread that RotTec would smarten up and not only save a customer but probably gain some others based upon how they handled this situation...but nothing. Proof is in the pudding!
Some of the early lights (from both manufacturers) were known to throw errors on the dash. Some cars got the errors and others didn't. The vendors started testing these lights out with customers and initially offered a set to any customer who was getting errors. I never got any errors with No resistors. I believe eventually they just started shipping all orders with these just to be safe (I think).
When my new lights arrive from FVD I will let everyone know if they come with resistors, general impressions on quality vs. the RotTec ones, etc. Customer service is something that will be determined over time, but I can say that they probably can't be any worse than RotTec.
I must admit that there was a small percentage of me that felt that after some of the replies on this thread that RotTec would smarten up and not only save a customer but probably gain some others based upon how they handled this situation...but nothing. Proof is in the pudding!
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,260
From: Austin
Rep Power: 770
Izzy - This is my understanding:
Some of the early lights (from both manufacturers) were known to throw errors on the dash. Some cars got the errors and others didn't. The vendors started testing these lights out with customers and initially offered a set to any customer who was getting errors. I never got any errors with No resistors. I believe eventually they just started shipping all orders with these just to be safe (I think).
When my new lights arrive from FVD I will let everyone know if they come with resistors, general impressions on quality vs. the RotTec ones, etc. Customer service is something that will be determined over time, but I can say that they probably can't be any worse than RotTec.
I must admit that there was a small percentage of me that felt that after some of the replies on this thread that RotTec would smarten up and not only save a customer but probably gain some others based upon how they handled this situation...but nothing. Proof is in the pudding!
Some of the early lights (from both manufacturers) were known to throw errors on the dash. Some cars got the errors and others didn't. The vendors started testing these lights out with customers and initially offered a set to any customer who was getting errors. I never got any errors with No resistors. I believe eventually they just started shipping all orders with these just to be safe (I think).
When my new lights arrive from FVD I will let everyone know if they come with resistors, general impressions on quality vs. the RotTec ones, etc. Customer service is something that will be determined over time, but I can say that they probably can't be any worse than RotTec.
I must admit that there was a small percentage of me that felt that after some of the replies on this thread that RotTec would smarten up and not only save a customer but probably gain some others based upon how they handled this situation...but nothing. Proof is in the pudding!
1) Two types of lights -
"ROTTEC" type uses existing wire harness when installed and there is no separate resistor "box" - Shane at Del Rey Customs offers these lights and has provided a separate resistor package.
"DEPO/Dectane" type has its own wiring harness and includes a separate resistor box (which you can see in the second photo on the FVD link).
2) As far as I know both types are made in China (don't know if PRC or ROC) but distributed by many - ROTTEC, FVD, CarLightPros, Del Rey Customs, Orange Tuning, Dectane, and eBay vendors to name some. Customer service varies greatly.
The two lights do have a different look - some like one over the other. Maybe I've been lucky but I've had the DEPO lights installed with the supplied resistor box since May 2011 and haven't had any problems. I would hope after 2+ years the QC on these lights (both types) would have improved.
Registered User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 116
From: Los Angeles
Rep Power: 21
My Rottec ones have been fine.
I just bought the front led lights from eBay and they are great.
For $350 if they fail in a year or two I'll just buy another set.
Get the rear ones from eBay for about what Ray wants to charge you for one.
I just bought the front led lights from eBay and they are great.
For $350 if they fail in a year or two I'll just buy another set.
Get the rear ones from eBay for about what Ray wants to charge you for one.