Quality 4WD accessories. Not ARB.

You have rights as a consumer and are protected under the trade practices act. It wouldn't hurt to get some good advice and maybe involve a consumer advocate.

It also costs bugger all ($30 i think) to take the matter to Small Claims Tribunal.

The more people that put up with this sort of crap the more businesses do it.

Negative publicity in these forums costs thousands of dollars in advertising to overcome too. I think they forget that at times.

Dave

Hi Stagman,
Had a roof rack fitted by ARB Taren Point.... Sterling Job, I checked, but wouldn't hesitate to stick rockets up them if I was less than satisfactory. You have given them a chance and now I agree Small Claims Tribunal or what ever avenue provides arecompense to the satisfaction you deserve. And as stated this forum and the ensuing comments will cost them plenty. Forumites, back this man so that we can all rest assured that we too will be given the service for which we pay and to which we are entitled too.
Shane

Just out of intrest Stagman what type of car do you drive & in your opinion how did ARB mount the bar so incorrectly that it cracked the chassis? (Did it not fit correctly so was forced on) Where was the trip to that contributed to the damage?
As for your tow bar what was the the ball weight on your trip? Although the tow bar may be rated to as much as 2500kg, the maximum allowable ball weight may only be 200kg or less. Any more on rough roads could account for a bent tow hitch.
If you haven't abused the bars in any way (no sign of a collision) I'd be getting a second opinion from an engineering workshop & if they believe there was a defect in the product or poor fitment then go back to ARB. If you feel strongly enough small claims is a good avenue.
Cheers Craig........

Hi stagman
We pay a lot of hard erned $$$$ on ARB products and expect HIGH quality in return.
I havent had any problems with ARB products but if i did i would like to think that they would replace the product plus damage done to 4x4 due to fulty parts.
We must get some sort of warrenty for our money or else we are paying BIG money for cheap crap.
I would take it up with the small claims tribunal.
Good luck and i will be talking to ARB about this when they fit my new bar/tow bar next week.
Cheers Ken

stagman
is this place in Richmond ARB or an ARB outlet?
if so is it them that you are iss off with or the product?
I have never had any problems with the Product only with the people!!!

Richard

Try TJM.

Stagman,

I had problems with ARB Richmond also and vowed to never buy antoher ARB product.Being a good customer buying almost all my 4x4 gear there and them knowing me and what driving I do and where I go quite well by this stage they recommended some side steps for my truck.
Basically what happened is the body moved and sills hit the steps. ARB didn't want to know me. Their so called engineers reckened that the gaps were all within spec etc. after they refitted them. I found the gaps to be smaller than when I fitted the steps initially. Their wonderful engineers even forgot to do up one of the bracketsafter the refit!! I took this to the top but they were not interested saying the steps aren't sliders and I bought the wrong product for the application. Well then why did the sales guy at Richmond recommend them if they were not suitable after knowing where I go and what driving I do. He didn't have the guts to say he recommended the wrong thing.
I didn't follow it up with consumer affairs. I did get a refund for the steps but they didn't pay for the dents to the sill on my truck.

Leroy

I don't think that you can bag ARB accross the board. It all depends on the individual branch and the person you are dealing with.

I was disgusted with my treatment with the local TJM store, but I wouldn't go as far as condemning the whole organisation.

I think what's important is not so much the mistakes that are made, but the manner in which they are rectified.

Paul

Stagman

How does the Lada go with the bullbar, xd9000winch/heavy duty tow bar? ;-)

Seriously though, I don't think we can make a judgement without all the facts, like what vehicle, where you went, would the chassis have cracked no matter what was fitted. Which way did the tow bar bend - inwards or downwards? etc For instance, if you hit head on into the ground with your bar, the chassis could crack, and the trailer would keep coming and bend the tow bar.

It may be that ARB products won't protect you from the laws of physics, and expecting them to, and then bagging them here is unreasonable.

We just don't know on the basis of the information before us.

Stagman,

Take it up with ARB Head Office. It's not nessecary the product but the workmanship and customer service. I am sure if their Head Office found out about the problems I am sure they would help. If not then try the small claims court etc, but ensure that you prepare your claim and show proof etc. It would be good to get a second opinion etc from an independant retailer / fitter of these products when making your claim.

Good luck.

Karl

Stagman ,

I agree with what Pauls said . ARB's own outlet at at Moorebank ( Sydney ) is staffed by the biggest bunch of uninterested , boored , ignorant dropkicks I have ever seen in a retail outlet . I would sack the guy who recruited them .

In contrast to this , I can recommend the guys at Traction 4 who are ARB northside at Artarmon . Their product knowlege never ceases to amaze me .

I think I should be a good judge after spending over $20,000 between these two stores , and after having to write to the MD of ARB in Melb. to complain about the work done on my car at Moorebank .

One little whinge about ARB products - they never tell you about the problems you will get with an installation eg

1 ) I had a bull bar put on 100 TD , but they never advised me that to do this they would have to remove the front tow hook .

2 ) I had the spare wheel removed and the rear tank swapped for a 170 litre ARB long range tank . They did not tell me at the time of purchase that they use the sender from the old tank in the new one and that because they are a different shape , my fuel guage is then a waste of time . When mine reads a quarter full it should have 42.5 litres in it - what it actually has is 26.5 a big discrepancy if you are making a decision based on the reading .

Cheers ,

Willie .

G'day,

Just for the record, I've spent about $30K at ARB on two Trucks and and few years in Osbourne Park & Miland WA, Albury NSW, Canberra, Townsville, Rocky and the 3 Major's in Brisbane QLD.
I've had a couple of problems along the way with some of thier stuff (it happens when you buy that much ####, the lady will get over it one day!!), but never had any trouble with ARB replacing thier stuff and the other bits that broke as a result. I've never had to go to Head Office and hope I never will.
I'm sure if you get a hold of the ARB Head Office they will help. If not move to WA or QLD, the weathers better anyway!!!

Regards,

Jason

Our local ARB dealer here in Townsville seems quite helpful and knows his stuff though fails to have a lot of gear in the shop. It's always "we can get it in for you, just pay a deposit now and we will let you know etc."
In contrast the Opposite lock shop stuffed up the installation of my cargo barrier big time and would not come to the party on fixing the problem. I have heard there is a new manager there now. I don't go back there anymore.
I always found TJM have the bits but are almost always more expensive. I guess it depends on what you want as to where you go.
Dealer fitted gear is again usually more expensive than after market stuff but at least you have better chance of some action when something is not right.

My two cents, but I've been happy with Duncans 4WD in Oakleigh. Only one slight issue where they extended diff breathers but then decided that the front didn't need doing but charged me the same anyway. Advice and wortk so far has been fine.