Fake Flowmaster
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
Originally Posted by RangerPilot
Look at the front of the muffler, it should say INLET on the front. If the word is right side up, the Flowmaster and serial number should be on the bottom of the muffler. If the word INLET is upside down, it should be on top. Dunno why any muffler shop would install it upside down though, the name and serial number are there to prove it's a Flowmaster, and it'd look stupid to have INLET upside down. 
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
True, but any decent muffler shop would install it with the INLET facing the correct way and right side up, namely to show that the muffler is indeed a Flowmaster.
There's companies out there that have no other purpose than faking popular products like the muffler. The muffler shop charges you for a Flowmaster, you pay more for it as opposed to a generic muffler, but they pay less out to the muffler manufacturer and pocket the additional money. Rips both you and Flowmaster off. It's like replacing a perscription with the generic counterpart, but not telling you about it.
Might try getting the BBB involved as well. Definetly a bad business practice.
Originally Posted by Wr3ckin_Cr3w
its crazy how much my muffler looks like a flowmaster. the only thing missing is the logo and serial number. never seen anything fake like it before
Might try getting the BBB involved as well. Definetly a bad business practice.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Just came back from there and the last time i will ever go there. Owner spent 30 minutes just trying to reassure me that they dont do this on purpose and that the muffler was indeed not a flowmaster but what they said was a "flowsound" muffler.
Owner was scared of losing his flowmaster contract and the guy who installed it sounded scared *****less after I reported them to flowmaster. I have a feeling the guy might who put on my flowmaster might get fired but then again, hes the only one who installs flowmasters, according to them.
What I dont understand is why would he have a stock of "flowsound" mufflers in the first place? they look just like flowmaster but arent. Well after they saw the fake one, the guy opened a new box of flowmasters and installed them on. Im done with this exhaust stuff for now. I dont have time with finals comming up to deal with this bs.
Owner was scared of losing his flowmaster contract and the guy who installed it sounded scared *****less after I reported them to flowmaster. I have a feeling the guy might who put on my flowmaster might get fired but then again, hes the only one who installs flowmasters, according to them.
What I dont understand is why would he have a stock of "flowsound" mufflers in the first place? they look just like flowmaster but arent. Well after they saw the fake one, the guy opened a new box of flowmasters and installed them on. Im done with this exhaust stuff for now. I dont have time with finals comming up to deal with this bs.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Ranger, I looked at the BBB report on them a couple of nights ago. They had two complaints about the work but one was resolved and the other one wasnt. The lady at the front said the FlowSound mufflers were for people who couldnt afford Flowmasters but they dont know who makes them. Owner said hes gonna get rid of them. The tech ripped me off because he would have to have opened a brand new box of flowmasters and he obviously didnt.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
yeah they did. they didnt give me a refund on anything though. dont care i just wanted a real flowmaster and i was getting out of there. it sounds better. not really that loud but i guess ill have to wait for that break in period?
i wanna add that the flowmaster reps were really helpful in this. their sending me a flowmaster shirt too
i wanna add that the flowmaster reps were really helpful in this. their sending me a flowmaster shirt too
Last edited by Wr3ckin_Cr3w; Apr 26, 2007 at 04:33 PM.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
There is no break-in period with basic baffled mufflers. It is fully welded metal, so there is nothing to move or distort to change the sound. Typically the only muffler that will experience this, is a glasspack, since the fibers melt over time with heat.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
I didn't see INLET on mine at all, whether right side up or upside down. So I'm thinking mine isn't a true flowmaster. I did ask for a Flowmaster through Midas but I'm not too mad about it, mine still sounds decent and looks good. I paid like, $100 for mine too because my buddy works there so I got his discount. So I'm not too mad.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
I'm with you 100% Scottie. Buddy or not. I wanted a Flowmaster, he said it was a Flowmaster, I expect a Flowmaster. Munky, you look on top of the muffler to see if you got the real deal?
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland,Ohio
I agree with scottie,I would whoop somebodies ***!
And Cr3w,flad tos ee you finally got real flowmasters on your truck.But they still should have given you some type of refund.If the jagoff of a tech would have just done it right the first time,nobody would have had to go through all that stuff.
And if the owner felt such a need to spend 30 minutes explaining that it is not company policy to rip people off,then it is probally company policy to rip people off.
And Cr3w,flad tos ee you finally got real flowmasters on your truck.But they still should have given you some type of refund.If the jagoff of a tech would have just done it right the first time,nobody would have had to go through all that stuff.
And if the owner felt such a need to spend 30 minutes explaining that it is not company policy to rip people off,then it is probally company policy to rip people off.
Last edited by buckeyesteeler7; Apr 27, 2007 at 09:28 AM. Reason: Had to add something