I've owned a BLUE faced riocar since 2001 and it looked great on the two previous cars i installed it on. Last August i switched to a '00 Audi A4 with RED Everything. I paid 19.50 for a RED lens SIX MONTHS AGO and have not heard from "Steve" in 5 Mo. I am now re-placing the order through Filener. BOO YEAH!!!

If only he cut raised ones for the AnoFace plates... One with little fish all the way around would be sweet!

Well, giving a bit of SLACK because you're a NEW poster, but as I understand it, "Steve" has LUNG-CANCER. Doesn't excuse the SIX-MONTH wait, I agree. But it DOES go a ways towards explaining why he probably hasn't had LENSES as his top PRIORITY.

Just out of curiosity, why the CAPS?

Well webroach what did you expect, after all, he is a "big stupid jerk".


Just playing Ben, welcome aboard.

I know Steve is having a really bad time. However, I really wish he had just stopped taking orders a long, long time ago.

I had assumed that he had stopped taking orders after he popped up here to say he was very ill and in trouble. That was a couple of months after I ordered some lenses about this time last year.

I am surprised to find he was still accepting orders, and people's money, six months ago (which was about a couple of months after he stopped shipping orders).

Worryingly, looking at http://www.darkstormdesigns.com/Empeg/order.htm it appears that his website is probably still accepting orders and taking people's money (whether or not he is around to be in control of the process).

I think maybe we need a big notice somewhere warning people not to place orders on Steve's site.

I AM NOT HAVING A GO AT STEVE. I AM NOT PISSED AT HIM FOR NEVER SHIPPING MY LENSES.

Sorry, thought I had to add that after our past "discussions" on this issue

I know Steve is having a really bad time. However, I really wish he had just stopped taking orders a long, long time ago.

I agree completely.

it appears that his website is probably still accepting orders and taking people's money

That IS disturbing.

That IS disturbing.

Yeah, especially as if Steve really doesn't return to continue, PayPal will get all the money from the orders...

DaveC, just email filener. Granted, it's not for the new facia, but he made me some sweet Subaru custom lenses. I sent him the image files, and he made it happen.

I think people are more upset that they have never gotten a courtesy email than they are about the fact they lost money.

I think you're probably right. I myself can't say, as I never ordered from Darkstorm. I CAN say, though, that I am THRILLED with Filener! Bruce emailed me within a matter of hours to say my order was ready to ship.

As an ex-smoker (quit after 15 years), I feel for the guy; I really do. But still, a few emails (even a mass email to everyone at once) really could have saved him a lot of animosity.

I just hope he's doing as well as is possible.

does anyone know if there is a way to get their money back? I am one of 3 people from my office that ordered from him over 6 months ago. I alone sent him about $100 for a bunch of lenses. I emailed him about it a few months ago, but have not heard back. Has anyone gotten their money back in the past 6 months?

Do you guys think it should be brought up to Paypal? I don't wanna cause the guy anymore trouble than he's dealing with already, but some people did loose a reasonable amount of money in all of this. I know it sounds like an insensative thing to do... just a thought. He put himself in a bad position the way he handled things.

does anyone know if there is a way to get their money back?

No-one knows if he's still even alive.

does anyone know if there is a way to get their money back?

Did you use a credit card to send the money via PayPal? Maybe your credit card company can get it back?

I'm pretty sure there is a time limit on credit card charge backs. I wouldn't want to try it myself, it is likely to piss PayPal off and despite everything I don't want to cause Steve any more problems that he already has.

That's more my fault than Bruce's. I promised to send him a scan of the fascia but I moved recently and things are in disarray. Guilt overwhelmed me last night and I forwarded the scans across though. I'll follow-up with Bruce tonight if he's around.

You're worried about pissing off PayPal? Or are you worried about what they might do to Steve?

Credit cards are VERY sensitive to issues like this and almost ALWAYS help you out and give your money back. The second people start feeling unsure about ordering online, they will be set to lose a lot of money. Even back in 1997, CitiBank refunded me the complete cost of a computer when the company that I bought it from went under while my computer was in for repairs.

You're worried about pissing off PayPal? Or are you worried about what they might do to Steve?

Both.

Credit cards are VERY sensitive to issues like this and almost ALWAYS help you out and give your money back.

Yes, but the result of my complaining to my credit card company would be them raising a charge back against PayPal. No doubt such a move would not please PayPal and I would fear for the impact it would have on my and Steve's accounts.

Anyway, I am not trying to get my money back. I would just like it if no one else got caught into sinking money into Steve's PayPal blackhole.

Any time you get a chargeback from your credit card company the card company gets the money from the seller. I know, it happened to me. It's then up to the seller to pursue it with the card company, this is most definitely not easy.

I went ahead and ordered a set of 5 lenses from Filener, since I decided not to sell my empeg. I've been meaning to experiment with these for quite some time, to see which one will work the best in the daytime when I have the top down on my convertible.

Anyway, guess I was just really writing to say thanks for reminding me to do that.

I'll report back on what I find, if you guys are interested in such things.

I found that the smoked lens from these people work great in direct sunlight.

Well, I'll find that out tomorrow: Just received my lenses from Filener today, and the smoke looks great installed!

The quality and service was everything I had heard it was.