93 FireHawk 968

At first I thought I was the only one to be taken advantage of by Windward Performance but their deceit is far reaching. I was lucky to have paid with a credit card and was refunded the money from AMEX. Ironically, Windward sent me the item, a quick release steering system, nearly 2 months after they had sworn it had been shipped. When I returned it, they would not accept it and the US Post Office placed it in an unclaimed freight area. Their BB Bureau rating is below average but they continue to screw people left and right. I did send a letter to PCA but had no response. Hopefully, someone will wakeup and refuse to allow them to advertise in Pano.

Carrera GT

It is frustrating -- to say the least -- seeing the same "less than true" advertising in all the various enthusiast magazines I read.

I don't think there's any option for a regular magazine to refuse advertising business. I do think Pano could find it in their code of ethics to invite an advertiser to shape up or ship out.

I don't think it's fair to letter bomb some worker with the volume of email and regular mail that a "Rennlist action" can generate. I do think a petition would be a pretty powerful tool, but it would have to come from people that had trouble with the given company.

I don't agree with the caveat emptor angle -- the buyer must beware, but when an ad appears in a "trusted" publication, like a sponsor on Rennlist, the onus is on the publication to be involved and to jealously guard their own reputation by refusing to promote sub-standard products and services.

My two.

john d 81SC

Carrera GT,

ANY publication can refuse advertising at the publication's discretion - even more so with a niche pub like PANO, especially since, as a special interest pub , it is funded by members' dues (unlike EXCELLENCE, a paid circulation publication). With the history of documented rip-off's that Windward apparently has, it's amazing their advertising has lasted this long! As a volunteer in our local PCA, I've learned long ago that "no good deed goes unpunished". Without knowing specifically to whose attention at PANO the Windward sitiuation should be brought, it should be communicated to the ad folks that there definitely is a problem, and that PANO's acceptance of Windward's advertising gives an undeserved cachet or imprimatur to an undeserving vendor.

ebaker

If you've been defrauded see if you can get your local district attorney to help you. I had a similar problem on some computer parts I purchased that never arrived. I was able to get my local district attorney to send them a letter. It said they would request the seller's local district attorney to take action if the matter was not resolved. I finally got the refund.

Carrera GT

I'm sure we're saying the same thing. I'm not suggesting legal issues in terms of what a publication can or cannot do, I'm saying that there's a snowflake's chance in hell of getting any publisher to turn away revenue of years of half and full page ads. And again, I think we agree that Pano should be held to a higher standard -- for all intents and purposes, it's the voice of the Porsche community in a formal sense (the real voice is right here, Rennlist!) and I think their editorial staff should take a moment and realise it's a far cry from letting someone advertise Lloyd's mats to advertisements from more than one company that just keeps hurting one Porsche owner after the next.

I've bought items large and small from numerous companies that specialise in the various enthusiast pursuits I enjoy and I have short list of companies I use time and again. I also have a longer list of companies that I wouldn't use again if I was on fire and they were willing to try to **** on me one more time ... :|

Geo

Actually, I think Pano is being portrayed inaccurately.

Pano is essentially the newsletter for a private club. Yes, a very fancy newsletter, but that is what it is.

dgz924s

And the problem is the fact it is a "private membership club" and private clubs can and do "discriminate" within it's membership and no statute is written to control the actions or lack of action in regards to the club by laws and how the club runs it's organization therefore the club can exclude or include as it wishes. So PCA does have the power to restrict it's membership and sponsors/advertisers. Dal

Robert Henriksen

That's fantastic! Amazingly long-overdue, but still good it's finally getting done.

Mark in Baltimore

Best news I've heard all day.

Dan in Florida

I was in touch with National several months ago on this subject. The wheels of the organization may seem to move slowly, but I've recently been advised that action is imminent.

dgz924s

Yes sir! And on a personal note my news is just as GOOD!

Susan Shire said I am a new ROOKIE!!!! Dal

GWB133

I registered on Rennlist to see if Windward got a mention . I paid out US$2800 in December ´03 for a 944 Turbo Upgrade . After months of being stalled I requested money back and I am getting no responses .

macnewma

I am pissed off and I have never even dealt with Windward!!!

Why doesn't everyone get together, setup a website, and document the fraud? With the repository of documents and anecdotes, each person could then file individual criminal complaints with their local DA and Windward's local DA.

You could then file a simultaneus civil suit either jointly or separately and use each other's experiences as testimony. Forget the BBB. I would use the BBB if they were late with delivery or botched something. Anything beyond that should be handled using the law. They are criminals through and through.

I would be willing to help out even though I haven't been screwed by them. Maybe we can get some of the Renn lawyers to pitch in. There must be some lawyers that own Porsches.

Max

Mike Buck

Did everyone notice that there are no Windward ads in either the latest Excellence or Panorama

Chaos

HAS NOBODY GONE CRIMINAL OR PRESSED CHARGES ON THESES GUYS YET !!!