Attempt to make things right

[HiImBrian]

I would have posted sooner but was was a victim of the ban stick. So let me get this straight, you were with jake this whole time and had no idea he was screwing all these people out of their money? Hell, all you had to do was google search Jake Vogel and you could find a ton of people that he screwed over.

You seem like a pretty nice guy, but then so did Jake right before he took everyones money. I can promise you will see absolutely no business from me nor will you see any good comments about Vogel Performance coming from my direction until Jake is completely out of the picture. Hell the guy just IMed me a few weeks ago just to let me know I left my lug nut key in his garage and he threw it away. Something tells me Jake has not changed one bit and as long as you are working with him your business has some major problems.

If you didn't know Jake was stealing money before whos to say you wont realize he's doing it again?

[nchittendon]

Yeah, it's taken me 3 months to find out about all of this. I never really searched because I didn't know I had reason to suspect anything.

I understand that most all of you won't be stopping by for business. I also understand the effect that will have on my business. It's an eye-soar I have to deal with now.

I had no reason to not trust Jake before, and was unaware of any reason to keep an eye on him. Since all of this has come to light, there are plenty of things in place to protect myself and my money. I have made my attorney aware of the situation and steps have been taken in our business contract and what-not.

All that I ask, is for everyone to give ME a fair chance. I'm not asking you to give Jake any slack at all. I'm not asking you to stop by and be chums and buy parts because I ask you to trust me. I am just asking that if someone were to ask about us, tell them what you know. "This Neil guy seems all right.....don't know him personally though. And Jake still works there, so I wouldn't get too close to that place cause he's there." I might be expecting too much.......I don't know. I just know the cards are stacked against me and I'm going to try to heal things over. That's all I can do at this point.

[DSM_421]

So you still really haven't clarified... does Jake still work there or not?

Because if he does, well honestly I don't wish you any luck what so ever if that is the case.

[blageo23]

Im one of those people that base my opinion on first impression. One local shop rubbed me the wrong way and never went back, another was great from the minute I bought something from them and I buy 90% of my parts from them because of that. So just make good impression on your new customers and Im sure that you will end up alright. But like you said the cards are against you.

[HiImBrian]

If this were your shop and your shop alone I'd think about doing business with you. But as long as Jake has the slightest bit of say I'm sorry but my opinion stands. If I buy parts or service from you I am befitting Jake as well considering he is part of the company. Also, you said yourself you don't have much experience with dsms so my guess is you would have jake do work involving them...that's the last thing I want.

[DSM_421]

Yea I'm sure Jake does quality work on customer cars too... "roll eyes"

[nchittendon]

At this point, I think Jake will still be a part of the endeavor. I don't know the Jake that you all know. And yes, he did hide this from me, but I can sort of understand why in a messed up kinda way.

However, the more I read through the posts in this thread and the other one, I am feeling that I may change the name of the shop. It'll be kind of a bitch because everything is set up already, but it may be worth the hassle.

Yeah, I would have posted sooner but Kracka banned me! lol


*dick* haha

[crazy_skier]

I havent taken a fixed opinion on either side of this, yes jake fucked up but I know many people who have fucked up before and finally straightened things out. With that said and what I know if the situation I would say go through the hassle and change the name... it may take more time to get things rolling but I feel it would benefit you better for your initial launch and give you a step up for a fighting chance

good luck on the endeavors and if i'm in the neighborhood i'll stop by to meet you personally like I have with the guys at the other shops

[DSM_421]

Honestly, if others decide to go down on your dyno day I will be making the trip my self and letting every customer know about the situation.

I believe in forgiving people, but I honestly don't think Jake has changed at all which is truely sad, to others and my self he used to seem like a really good guy.

Just wait until you meet the real Jake, everybody else thought they knew the real Jake and look what came out of it.

So that being said who is gonna be showing up at their dyno day?

[HiImBrian]

well Neil, I see it this way. If Jake is still part of the shop then changing the name is just a way to trick people into thinking they aren't doing business with Jake when they really are (which a lot of people including myself would not like to do). If Jake is going to be part of your business then I think the name should stay what it is so people know who they are working with.

Honestly, if you are actually going through with this whole thing and keeping Jake on board, I have no doubt you are one of the nicest people alive. But still the though of helping Jake in any way at all disgusts me.

I'm not just angry because it took jake 5 months to send me a set of injectors. I'm more angry that after a year or so of knowing jake and becoming actually good friends with him I was just left in the dirt all of a sudden. Hell I used to call him any time of the day with simple little questions like what order to plug in my spark plug wires and he'd know right away (or on his second guess lol). It just sucks when your friendship turns out to be worth a couple hundo.