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AVOID ManTrans in Florida

3K views 13 replies 13 participants last post by  SilverFoxbody 
#1 ·
Good Day All:

As is often quoted, “Enter at your own risk”. Do NOT send your transmission to ManTrans (www.ManTrans.net or www.ManTrans.com) in Tallahassee, Florida.

After speaking with Cindy Allen of ManTrans, I sent them a 65K mile ZF 5-speed transmission for a rebuild just to make sure it was new before installing. My American Express card was billed immediately. The transmission was delivered to their facility May 28, 2019 for what was supposed to be a 2-3 week rebuild. As you can guess, it’s now mid-October 2019 and no transmission.

The ongoing saga:
• We need one bearing to finish the rebuild (July 2, 2019)
• The transmission is completed and needs to be run on the dyno (August 8, 2019)
• I’m not sure what’s going on with it. I’ll call you back (July – October 2019)
• Transmission is finished and ready to go on the dyno today (September 9, 2019)
• Owner Darrell Moore (darrell@mantrans.com) tells me they need a bearing and a synchro (September 23, 2019)
• Owner hung up on me after I asked them to ship the transmission back to me. Long, excuse filled e-mail from owner in response to my e-mail. Taking synchro from core they have in house (September 26, 2019)
• October 1, 2019 e-mail inquiry to the owner with response: “Builder out today, I’m getting with him now to confirm”. Of course, no response three days later.
• October 7, 2019 owner says transmission shipping 10/8 or 10/9/19 after dyno run. They will send me the video of the dyno.
• October 9, 2019 “Builder out with death in family. If it doesn’t ship today. I guarantee it will tomorrow”
• October 15, 2019 phoned and left a message as well as e-mail. No bill of lading so obviously transmission isn’t done and hasn’t shipped.

I’ve contacted American Express to dispute the charge, but since it’s past 60 days, they’ve no guarantee. I’m writing off the ZF transmission costs as part of my ongoing adult education.

Call this my mistake for at least not checking the Better Business Bureau. I don’t usually put much stock in the BBB, but I’ve never seen a “F” rating.

https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/tallahassee/profile/transmission/man-trans-llc-0403-160444139

Many of us have had similar issues with other vendors. This is my experience with ManTrans. You may want to avoid them.

God knows in what condition the ZF will be returned, if it comes back at all.

Feff
 
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#3 ·
Dang that sucks. I just spent the past few minutes reading reviews from customers and responses from the owner. He seems like a real piece of work.
 
#4 ·
I bought my very first transmission from them on ebay in 2009 to put in my crown vic . It was a rebuilt tr3650. I blew the third gear syncro doing stupid burnouts with the car and sens it locally to get it rebuilted and took full responsability of it. I know other crown vic guys who bought trans from him without any problem.. latest trans was bought off him and installed by me last may in a marauder..lets see how long ti last .
just my 0.02$
 
#8 ·
I'm really sorry this happened. I had a similar experience with a tranny shop in Florida also. But lucky for me the owner made it right.

Just remember if you have a mail order engine or transmission and you send it back for repair work because it was something on their end, which they will never own up to, goes to the back, way back, even further back of the line. They already got your money. They will take their sweet time with your product.

That's why I deal locally only. Lucky for me I have real talent here.

This is an expensive learning lesson.
 
#11 ·
I hope you get your transmission back. He has some bad reviews on google too.

BBB is a scam. If they call you about joining, and you don't they will give you a bad rating.
 
#12 ·
avoid FLorida for anything unless it is absolutely the best anyone has to say, that is my advice. The good shops are far inbetween from this area of the country.
Imagine yourselves in a nice sunny area where you can work on your car 24/7 365 and make money hand over fist using cheap labor peoples, migrants, and vacation-ers.
 
#14 ·
Yep, Ive had my share of scams and lost money to many places, but I will chalk up electronics and transmission items from there have been the worst. Great to visit though :)
 
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