Howell Automotive is horrible to deal with. I highly recommend avoiding them at all costs. I've had bad dealings with them before but I decided to throw a little business their way and ordered my lifters and rockers from them. I ordered them on the 9th and still haven't seen or heard anything from them. (Today's the 20th) I just talked to some hillbilly redneck SOB and he has no idea where they are. He pretty much told me that they'll get there when they get there. I have ordered parts from maperformance, summit, jegs, etc. and always recieved my parts within a few days without every paying extra for shipping.

Just thought I'd vent my frustrations with that joke of a company. Maybe its just me but I should not have to pay for incompetence.

They also charge around $900 dollars for a set of 0014 crane cams that you can buy for $400 from summit.(Just a note)

Agreed, every time I have ordered anything, it takes about 3-4 times longer than anyone else.

Holy shit. What a bad company. I ordered a 160 degrees thermostat with them and higher psi cap. I called after almost a week just to check on the status of my order and spoke to Todd. He told me my stuff was going to ship that day and that my tracking numbers would be emailed. I called the next morning cause I still hadn't received my tracking numbers and Todd told me the numbers would be sent later that day. After-noon came by and still no numbers so I called and got some other dickhead. He told me a whole different story. Apparently my order had not shipped cause they didn't have the thermostat. I asked the guy when they would be expecting the thermostats to come in and he told me to wait for the tracking numbers. I paused cause he didn't answer my question so I asked him the same question and his response was the same. I told him that I had read on-line that their company was known for making people wait months for their stuff and that I wanted to cancel my order. He said that it was bullshit and that it was their competitor posting negative comments to screw with their sales. LMAO. I told him to tell me his competitors website so that I could see if it was the same site where I had read all the negative comments and he said it was bullshit and to just wait for my tracking numbers. I told him to cancel my order and he hung up on me. I called my credit card company and filed a complaint and a payment dispute so that I can get my money back. I had read about all the bad comments before ordering but couldn't find a 160 degree thermostat anywhere else and decided to give them a chance. Bad choice. Don't make this same mistake guys. Avoid these assholes at all costs.

After filing a claim with my card company these scumbags decided to send me a tracking number. I'm pretty sure it's not what I had originally ordered. I called Howell and asked Gary what exactly he had shipped if he had claimed a few minutes earlier that they didn't have my thermostat in stock. He pretended to deny everything. I reminded him that I told him to cancel my order and he said that once you order you cannot cancel. I asked him if he was going to come to my house and make me take the merchandise and he said no but that it is against the law to break a contract. I told him that it was their fault for not giving me straight consistent answers and hung up. I then checked my email again and saw that they emailed me claiming that I filed a claim with my credit card company "after" they sent me tracking numbers and said that they would be filing charges with the state police against me. LMAO. They claim that I was trying to get merchandise without paying by calling my credit card company. These guys don't even deserve to have a business license.

I ordered an engine kit from them on march 28 and just got the parts within the last week. Never do business with them.

What a horrible experience this was. Not only am I 4 weeks behind on my build because of these pricks, but would have been out WAYYY more had I not put my foot down about this matter.

In all honesty, I'm a very reasonable guy. I understand delays, I'm patient, I know things happen. But when I'm lied to upfront, ignored and then insulted over the phone, I draw the friggin line.

To give an overview of the situation:
-I ordered some parts at the very beginning of May (gasket kits, water pump and UDP).
-Was told the stuff was instock, would ship the next business day.
-No where on the product or order page did it state that things were on backorder or out of stock or that any items were of "Special Order".
-When I inquire on the 20th of May, I get told that things are now in backorder and it could be weeks before my order ships.
-I disagree, need these parts asap and want to cancel. I send 2 e-mails over the course of 2 days with no response.
-I call their office and get almost no words out as I'm cutoff everytime I try to talk.
-I followed the terms at the bottom of their page, but I guess when they state: "Orders must be canceled prior to shipping." they mean prior to having the parts shipped TO THEM by the distributor, not shipping to us (the customer). That makes REAL sense, especailly when they try to pull a fast one and say that I need to re-read the terms and get my facts straight!
-Here I am at the end of the month, left with no parts, anger and 4 weeks of waiting down the drain.
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This was the conversation between me and www.howellautomotive.com:

I phone the first time, tell the fellow that I want to cancel my order.

HA: Why do you want to cancel, whats wrong with your order?

ME: Well its on backord-(er)– I get cut off!

HA: Sir, everything is going to be shipped out soon. We have all your parts right here.

ME: What parts do you have?

HA: Well we have your gaskets here and the pulley is still at the machine shop.

ME: Well that isn’t all of my or-(der)—I get cut off again!.

HA: Well our machine shop guy is seeing the doctor, they are on backorder -- you agreed to the order terms on our website, your gaskets will be sent out now, or you can wait till it all arrives.

ME: That makes no sense. I need ALL of the parts in my order at one time, otherwise I would have created 2 seperate orde-(rs)-- I GET CUT OFF!

HA: You agreed to the terms, your order will be there when it gets there. Thanks. – HANGS UP ON ME!

The terms from their website: Cancellation Policy: If you wish to cancel an order, you must call 1 (304) 788-5420; no other form of cancellation is accepted. Orders must be canceled prior to shipping. No cancellation or returns on Special Order Items. No cancellation or returns on custom items or custom work. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery, unless otherwise stated -- Ok allow for 4-6 weeks, but I was told NEXT BUSINESS DAY and no where on the website did it say things were out of stock, back ordered or that there was going to be a delay...

I call him back again, the second time he answers “Howell Automotive, pls hold” and HANGS UP ON ME LO!L!O!L

So I call back a third time:

HA answers

ME: Yes, I don’t think you understand what I’m telling you, I want to cancel my or-(der)—cuts me off AGAIN!

HA: LOOK HERE, you bought the stuff, you agreed to the terms on our website, you have two options, we send you your gaskets now and the pulley later or you WAIT (he yells! OHNOES, intimidating me into hanging up the phone and waiting for my order like a good little monkey.. -- WRONG, try again bud.)

ME: No, I don’t want half an order now and half an order later. Your website didn’t say any of your products were on backorder when I purchased them, nor did it say they were specialty products. Before I purchased them, I was told they were in stock and they usually ship in 24 hours which was obviously a li—HE CUTS ME OFF!!

HA: You have-- I cut him off, I need to get my side in.

ME: I already have other parts lined up and coming, I cant wait and I bought on the premonition that things were going to be sent soon no-(t)-- cut off again.. not suprised at this point.

HA: You have no choice. You have two options, either take the gaskets now and wait for the pulley or you wait until we are ready to ship out the order all together. You have no choice.

ME: No you have two options, cancel the order on your own grace, or the creditors will cancel it for you. They already have the details and are waiting for ano-(ther)--CUT OFF.

HA: What kind of fuckin person are you? -- who says that to a customer?

ME: Ok well thanks so much, talk to you soon. – hang up.


And thats my first and last experience with Howell. BUYER beware as these pricks are fucked. What a mess. Sorry for the long read, but I had to foreworn any other buyers looking at howell as an option.

Oh and just to add, look what showed up in the inbox of my girlfriend, the one who so kindly purchased my items on her credit card:

Order Status: Fraud

Order Notes:

Notified Canadian Law Enforcement that this is credit card fraud so the card can be deactivated and other businesses notified not to ship anything.

Un-freakin-believeable.

Good game howell, good game.

I would agree Howell sucks!

I order a wally 255 HP and a set of engine mounts. 3 weeks later when I called them, Glen, the donkey that answered the phone told me my parts were on back order, then tore me up and down. I decided to cancel my order. i was told I cant cancel my order due to the fact that my parts have shipped. well if they are on BO, how can they be shipped?

None the less, I got my fuel pump a few days later, wrong pump. This hack ass didn't ship the right one. I am guessing in all of his arrogance, and all holier then thou attitude, he shipped me the wrong one on purpose.

As for my mounts, they still haven't arrived. I was refunded my money for the mounts, but none the less it took some time.

And for the pump, I was told I ordered the wrong one, and there is no return on electrical components. I printed my order form, it has a different part number then what arrived.

What do I know, but in my book they are horrible!

Tom

98 RS 5spd.

This company is a joke.....

Customer Service is terrible. I called them to check on the status of my order and they suck. Rude, short, and unwilling to help. Told me they dont have any AF/X pulleys at this time. Couldn't give me any timeframe when they would get some, nor offer to give me a call back. It was obvious they just wanted to get rid of my call asap.

I dislike them with a passion and if I dont have my engine kit within 8 weeks as listed on their site then I am going to drive to W. Virginia mad.

Hahaa wow I live right down the road from Howells...everyone hates him around here...what a prick foreal..my friend did fiberglass for him for awhile and now this is what he rocks on his bumper

Sounds like everyone has the same experience with Howell. I ordered my built motor from them and it was a total nightmare. Was told by the sales man retard Todd that it would take no more than 12 weeks to get the motor, and I could have it in as soon as 6 weeks. Took them 10 months to get it to me and I really only got them to respond once I threatened to contact my credit card company and the BBB. He also did not initially send me all the parts that I agreed to over the phone with "toad" during my initial order. He said he felt bad and he would make it up to me by offering me $200 off on my next order. When I responded with "why the fuck would I ever order from you again..if you really felt bad you would make right on this and send me what I was promiesed" he did eventually send me a set of stainless steel valves as promised.

I was also not treated with any bit of respect on the phone with them, was cut off dozens of times and had to call back, and was lead on over and over again by schmucko todd. I will never order from them again.

1999 Eclipse GS
Built motor
Hahn 16G Turbo w/ FMIC
Hahn Stage 5 Portfueler (270's & 500's)
Zeitronix Zt-2 wideband w/ 3.5bar MAP
3" SS Turbo Back
CM Stage 4 Clutch and Fidanza Flywheel
Baer Big Brake Kit

I tried buying a AF/x under drive pulley from them. I went with them because they were the only ones who had a under drive pulley for the 420a motor. At first they seemed like a legit company judging by their site etc. $152.95 later and all I'm left with is regret, anger, disappointment, and no under drive pulley. I tried calling them after a week of placing my order and I'm told that they are still machining them in shop and it will be a few more weeks. When right on their site it says " usually ships in 24 hours ". A month goes by and I call again and tell them my order number, and get hung up on. I keep calling. I told him I want to cancel and he hangs up on me again.

Anyways to make a long story short, a year and 5 months goes by. Still no pulley, still no refund, several emails later Howell calls me a lair and says my order number does not exist in their system. Stay away at all costs guys!

-RedBarren
1995 Eclipse RS

They suck, they sent me the wrong fuel pump. I swear they did it on purpose and then would not return or exchange it for me.

98 RS 5spd.

I made the mistake of ordering a new crankshaft from them 3 weeks ago...

Obviously I don't have it. I emailed them about a week ago, no response (surprise). I called today and some lady was short with me. I gave her my name and order number, she placed me on hold for about 30 seconds, came back and said, "We're trying to get through to them, their phones must be down or something".

Them being....? Didn't I order the crankshaft from you? Realistically she put me on hold, probably sniffed her pits, then came back with a poor excuse.