America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

[Todd L.]

Hey guys,

I am looking for some help/advice. I sent my upper and lower control arms with cross shafts out to Mike Mermelstein at America's finest Corvettes to have them restored and correct ball joints riveted in. I sent them on his UPS account (per his suggestion) on November 17th, 2021. I was told this would take about 3 weeks to complete. After 6 weeks I called and was told they were almost finished. This has now been going on for over 4 months, and the last time I was able to get him to answer a call a few weeks ago, he said they were shipping that day. I have called repeatedly for days now and there is no answer, and the voice mail is full.....

At this point I just want my original parts back, does anyone know him personally, that could stop by his shop, or know how I can get my original parts back? This is quite frustrating to trust someone that has so many ads in the Driveline and treats customers in this manner. He told me he was a NCRS judge and would do a great job restoring my parts, so I fully trusted him. I have since talked with a couple other NCRS members that have had the same issues. Please help...

Todd

[Arland D.]

Re: America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

Todd,

I have been able to communicate with Mike via emails when the phone calls don't work.

[Todd L.]

Re: America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

I have tried emails and sending text messages to his cell phone, no response....

[Don H.]

Re: America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

Todd,
I don't know him, but know many who have dealt with him, including me. He gets spread too thin. He is not a flake, or a dead beat. He will not steal your parts, or cheat you, but he does sometimes fail to meet the time frames he sets. He will get in touch with you. You will get your parts.
good luck

[Tim S.]

Re: America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

Sadly, I've had a similar experience. Perhaps it's time for Vinnie Peters to shake the rope for the OP (after qualifying the circumstance).

Great parts.......but poor customer service

[Todd L.]

Re: America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

Thanks Don, I sure hope you are right...

[Robert P.]

Re: America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

I too had issues waiting on new parts that i had payed for but where never shipped , it took calling in my credit card company to get him in gear .
My last transaction with him about 9 months ago was trouble free. I would agree with Don in that he will come thru for you
Bob Peckham

[Philip A.]

Re: America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

Do you have a tracking number and can confirm he received your parts? I had a similar non-Corvette experience, lip service of next week, next day, etc. Only to discover UPS had damaged the shipping label and my package was never delivered. The recipient (vendor) never checked actual receipt of my item. The item was at UPS in an undeliverable pile. Ultimately, it was found, routed, and received.

Posting this experience as a PSA.

[Todd L.]

Re: America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

Yes, I have the tracking number, and early on Mike called and said he had my parts and would sandblast them. The next time I called he said they were very pitted and he would have to do some grinding on them, which would cost me more. The next time I got a response he said they were at the paint shop, then he was assembling, then he was shipping the next day....On and on. Then, a couple weeks later I got him to answer to tell me that they should be back from the paint shop any time (which I was told they were back over a month before that). The next call I was told the upper control arm wasn't flat where the ball joint rivets in, so he was going to replace them with one of his stamped arms (at a core cost), so it sounds like he is keeping my originals, and selling me his aftermarket ones. I have talked to another NCRS member that got the same exact story from him several months ago. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but if I treated my customers in this manner, I would be out of business....

[Joe L.]

Re: America's Finest Corvettes- Has my parts, won't respond

Yes, I have the tracking number, and early on Mike called and said he had my parts and would sandblast them. The next time I called he said they were very pitted and he would have to do some grinding on them, which would cost me more. The next time I got a response he said they were at the paint shop, then he was assembling, then he was shipping the next day....On and on. Then, a couple weeks later I got him to answer to tell me that they should be back from the paint shop any time (which I was told they were back over a month before that). The next call I was told the upper control arm wasn't flat where the ball joint rivets in, so he was going to replace them with one of his stamped arms (at a core cost), so it sounds like he is keeping my originals, and selling me his aftermarket ones. I have talked to another NCRS member that got the same exact story from him several months ago. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but if I treated my customers in this manner, I would be out of business....

Todd------


If the control arms suffer from extensive pitting due to corrosion, you have not lost anything if you never get them back. In that case, I'd look for another set of control arms.