Sidewinder Powersports

Sidewinder Sprockets is in the business of selling motorycle sprockets and chain.
Summary of what I learned about Sidewinder Sprockets (SS) /​Krause Racing (KR) from my experience with them:
* They market their chain as being «Made in America» but it is actually made in Spain by iRis.
* They will sell you a front sprocket (For $ 69.99) that they claim is custom laser cut in their factories that is in fact an off-​the-​shelf stamped steel sprocket that typically sells anywhere else for about $ 20.
* The rear sprockets they sell are much thinner than standard since they don’t taper the teeth, which can render them unusable.
* They have a Better Business Bureau rating of «F».
* I am not alone in being taken by this company.
I will do my best to address all of the bullet points mentioned above with photographic evidence in my Unilocal photo gallery.
I have also posted this review in expanded form with more detail on many other web sites that you can find by Googling «Warning: Sidewinder Sprockets Review»
Timeline of events
08÷20÷12 — Placed phone order (630−513−1000) with Andy Stacy, Sidewinder Sales Rep.
09÷24÷12 — Received package containing all items except 18 tooth front sprocket.
09÷25÷12 — Called Andy and asked about status of 18 tooth front sprocket. Andy said it was still at the factory being manufactured and would ship in 3 weeks.
10÷11÷12 — Received incorrect 16 tooth sprocket.
10÷15÷12 — Spoke on the phone and told Andy that incorrect sprocket was received. Andy advised that he would get back to me after he spoke to factory.
10÷22÷12 — Called Andy again one week later after not hearing from him. Andy told me that he would send correct sprocket within one month.
10÷27÷12 — Looked closer at other items and realized that chain is not «Made in USA» as described.
10÷29÷12 — Left voicemail telling Andy I wanted to return items. No reply.
11÷02÷12 — Left voicemail telling Andy I wanted to return items. No reply.
11÷05÷12 — Called Andy from a different phone number, he picked up on 2^nd ring. Told Andy I wanted to return entire order he said to ship items it to his attention and he would send refund.
11÷08÷12 — Confirmation of delivery of returned items in original packaging and unused condition.
11÷23÷12 — Called credit card company to open dispute in case there is an expiration date for filing disputes. Credit card company said to call vendor and see if dispute could be resolved.
11÷26÷12 — Left voicemail asking Andy when I can expect refund to my credit card (2 weeks after returned items were delivered). No reply.
12÷03÷12 — Left voicemail asking Andy when I can expect refund to my credit card (3 weeks after returned items were delivered). No reply.
12÷8÷12 — Received email from Andy Stacy that he refunded my money.
12÷12÷12 — Confirmation that I received refund to my credit card.
The front sprocket I received was 16 tooth common stamped steel instead of the laser-​cut 18 tooth I ordered.
I immediately called the sales rep, Andy Stacy, about the mistake.
Andy told me that this was a sprocket to tide me over until they could send the correct one and then later in the conversation said it was a mistake from the factory, which made me question what was the truth.
I Googled SS and realized that I wasn’t alone in receiving products that were very different than expected. Many others posted their experiences:
* One person ordered a 51 tooth sprocket and SS sent him a 52 tooth sprocket but ground off the «52» stamp and restamped it 51.
* One savvy customer was able to trace the «custom» sprocket he ordered to Esjot, a reputable German company, but found that he paid $ 87 for a $ 27.95 sprocket.
* Another said that after multiple calls about discrepancies in his order, the products he received were off-​the-​shelf items that he payed more than twice the average retail price.
* SS typically ignore your calls when you realize that the product isn’t living up to all their hype.
Notice the pattern and similarity to my story.
I decided to take a closer look at the other items in my order.
Lo-​and-​behold, the chain they sent me is not made in USA as they claimed but is an iRis chain made in Spain.