Advanced Acrylics - What's Going On?

[emvanburen]

I ordered frag racks. They have gone silent on me.

 

[Robmbush]

Did you ever get the frag racks?

 

[Robmbush]

I'm falling into this same trap with these guys. Ordered a large 84" sump and ATO from Advanced Acrylics "John Hoang" on Oct 6 and he quoted 5 weeks. For the last 4 weeks or so he has been saying it will be done in another week, then another business day, then another week, then Dec 2 needs another week which was a Tuesday it would ship by Friday that week. Now he's become unresponsive to my texts and not returning calls. Communication was great until after the money was sent then it became very difficult to get a response. Still giving the benefit of the doubt that he will build the stuff but preparing for legal if its a take the money and run type of thing. Paid in full with venmo as he requested before I saw this thread about past issues with John taking money and not delivering. Also I have some of his past hybrid pvc products and they are good so I never thought they would be running a take the money and run type of deal. I'll update if this gets resolved or I end up needing to go the legal route. I would strongly advise that you not pay this guy up front and use a method that gives protection. Venmo is garbage for this!

 

[mmorrison55]

So glad I found this thread. I was close to ordering a pvc sump from them. I had no idea… it’s a shame for sure.

Post # 12 is a huge red flag for me if in fact the owner of AA responded that way.

 

[Jamie814]

I've ordered a LOT of custom sumps and tanks from John over the years for installs. Great craftsmanship and prices, but poor customer service after payment is sent. Most took a LOT longer to get than what is quoted.
I think he takes on more than he should.

 

[Robmbush]

I've ordered a LOT of custom sumps and tanks from John over the years for installs. Great craftsmanship and prices, but poor customer service after payment is sent. Most took a LOT longer to get than what is quoted.
I think he takes on more than he should.

Honestly I wouldn't care if he just told me it would be a month and I eventually get my stuff. He committed to shipping it out last Friday after 4 previous statements missed and now almost a week past that being non responsive is beyond poor customer service. Like I said, the products I have are great but they are probably more that 5 years old. Never have dealt with him directly but anyone that does should be warned.

 

[Robmbush]

I've ordered a LOT of custom sumps and tanks from John over the years for installs. Great craftsmanship and prices, but poor customer service after payment is sent. Most took a LOT longer to get than what is quoted.
I think he takes on more than he should.

Is there a process for getting him to actually get things done? For about 4 weeks he would just tell me he needs another business day or another week, which is fine. Last week he committed to ship Friday the 5th and now he's non responsive. Want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's doing to deliver but this is frustrating with $3k out the door and having paid via venmo there is no way to just reverse the charge and walk. I've reached out to a lawyer I work with and will pursue this out of principle if he doesn't come through but that's not really the path I want to take.

 

[Arkayology]

I ordered a small frag tank from AA in October and it arrived promptly and without any issues. I'm not sure what is going on over there with Jon.

 

[Robmbush]

I ordered a small frag tank from AA in October and it arrived promptly and without any issues. I'm not sure what is going on over there with Jon.

Maybe it's a complexity thing? Mine is a large sump and an ATO. Around $3k in money paid to John on Oct 6. Did you pay via venmo? We trustingly did and it isn't protected under any purchase protection although I can pursue fraud via FTC and other means but am still hoping for the best result of just getting my stuff....

 

[TheWB]

Is there a process for getting him to actually get things done? For about 4 weeks he would just tell me he needs another business day or another week, which is fine. Last week he committed to ship Friday the 5th and now he's non responsive. Want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's doing to deliver but this is frustrating with $3k out the door and having paid via venmo there is no way to just reverse the charge and walk. I've reached out to a lawyer I work with and will pursue this out of principle if he doesn't come through but that's not really the path I want to take.

I had to really stay on him constantly. One day I called his cell like 30 times in a row until I finally got a text back asking if he could call me the next day. I told him no and finally got him on the phone. Had to threaten to reverse credit card charges on my deposit. I did eventually, after more drama and delays, get my tank 2 and a half months after it was supposed to be ready and he did a really great job building it but overall that guy just cannot be trusted. It's too bad because the work is top notch. I'll never buy anything else from him ever again.

 

[Arkayology]

Maybe it's a complexity thing? Mine is a large sump and an ATO. Around $3k in money paid to John on Oct 6. Did you pay via venmo? We trustingly did and it isn't protected under any purchase protection although I can pursue fraud via FTC and other means but am still hoping for the best result of just getting my stuff....

I paid using my cc via the Shopify store (Shopify is its own bag of horrible issues IMO). He did offer me a discount paying via Venmo, but I didn't want to use Venmo because of the lack of protections for buyers. I didn't have any reason not to trust him though - I do that for all online vendors.

It could be a complexity thing. It's only a small frag tank that was not a custom order, so maybe that's part of it?

 

[Robmbush]

I started a new thread on this since the initial posting is quite old. Wanted to make sure others don't fall into the same trap with these guys. ESPECIALLY DON'T PAY WITH VENMO!!!

 

[Davileet]

I started a new thread on this since the initial posting is quite old. Wanted to make sure others don't fall into the same trap with these guys. ESPECIALLY DON'T PAY WITH VENMO!!!

Did you ever get your tank or money back?

 

[Robmbush]

Did you ever get your tank or money back?

I did get my stuff but it took months not the 5 weeks quoted. End result was good but the process was not.

 

[Davileet]

Was considering making a sizable purchase with them. Bit weary now after seeing the forums.

 

[Robmbush]

Totally understandable. If you do go through with it pay in a way that can be reversed and expect it to take much longer than quoted. John does good work but he is not good at projecting how long it will take to deliver or with communication. If I had to do it again I probably would but would make changes on payment method for my own sanity. Here's the sump, still working on plumbing but it has been leak tested successfully

 

[Davileet]

That’s a nice looking sump. I will temper my expectations on timeline and won’t pay with anything but PayPal and a good credit card.

 

[lakai]

Don't pay this guy up front. I gave this guy full payment and chased him for 6 months for a pvc sump. I finally got my money back wen I threatened to sue. I ended up going through a LFS to get the same pvc sump and got it in a week. Work is great but bad first experience.

 

[Davileet]

Don't pay this guy up front. I gave this guy full payment and chased him for 6 months for a pvc sump. I finally got my money back wen I threatened to sue. I ended up going through a LFS to get the same pvc sump and got it in a week. Work is great but bad first experience.

Did you go through your LFS to get the sump from Advanced Acrylic or elsewhere?

 

[lakai]

Did you go through your LFS to get the sump from Advanced Acrylic or elsewhere?

I first went directly, paid in full , he never delivered, took months to get my money back. I then went to a LFS who ordered from AA and I got the sump within a week.