UPDATE on SALEEN Warranty and MJ Acquisitions
03-09-2009, 12:33 PM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 283
UPDATE on SALEEN Warranty and MJ Acquisitions
We just received this today from Jeff Clark, Brand Manager at MJ Acquisitions.
That's what we have.
Today, all certified Saleen and Racecraft dealers were sent a letter from MJ Acquisitions, Inc., the new caretakers of the Saleen brand.
And like most stories these days, there is often good news and bad news -- and this story is no different.
The Good News
MJ Acquisitions, consisting of an experienced and energetic staff who are very familiar with the Saleen brand, will continue to provide service parts, performance parts, accessories and letters of authentication to support Saleen and Racecraft vehicle owners well into the future.
The Bad News
Those Saleen and Racecraft owners needing dealer-provided in-warranty repairs of Saleen components are likely to incur an unforeseen out-of-pocket cost that my not be reimbursed, due to unfortunate circumstances with the financial condition of the brand's former owners, Saleen, Inc.
Bad News Backgrounder
After announcing it was seeking a buyer last Fall due to the recent and current economic conditions, Saleen, Inc. -- a company majority-owned by Hancock Park Associates -- was on a direct path to cease all operations for public business as of February 01, 2009. After a brief period of negotiations, MJ Acquisitions stepped-in as a bailout action and purchased certain assets of Saleen, Inc. on January 30, 2009. This transaction was an effort to keep the brand from becoming completely extinct.
The now-former owner of the brand, Saleen, Inc., has just announced it has ceased all operations. Saleen, Inc. is responsible for warranties existing before February 2, 2009, and thus regrettably it has been announced that they are now unable to honor any warranties on any of its parts, services, and vehicles including cars, trucks, and aftermarket parts prior to this date. All inquiries regarding these and other financial claims for Saleen, Inc. should go to Jaimee L. Witten of Bodman LLP at (313) 392-1045.
Furthermore, it has been stated that Saleen, Inc. is responsible for parts and labor costs on all vehicles with a remaining Saleen, Inc.-backed factory warranty – those currently in the hands of owners, as well as those that may remain on showroom floors.
MJ Acquisitions, the “new Saleen,” will continue to sell parts to the certified dealers, at a discount, to allow dealers to service their existing inventory and customer vehicles. It will, however, be the dealer's responsibility to contact the representative of Saleen, Inc. at the number above to obtain any reimbursement for parts and labor costs associated with the repair of a Saleen or Racecraft vehicle manufactured by Saleen, Inc.
It was further emphasized in the letter to dealers:
"MJ Acquisitions, Inc. is not responsible or obligated to cover warranties and/or any financial liabilities of Saleen, Inc."
It was also expressed that the team at MJ Acquisitions does apologize for the hardship this places on its valued customers, and they understand that this will impact all parties, as it would with any automotive manufacturer closing its doors.
A Little More Good News
Parts purchased from MJ Acquisitions, on or after February 2, 2009, will have a 12 month/12,000 mile limited warranty against manufacturer defects.
MJ Acquisitions, Inc., as the new caretakers of the Saleen brand, has a dedicated staff of “Saleen-bred” professionals who are knowledgeable about Saleen, Racecraft, and Mustang products, and are eager to help.
And the balance of your Ford-covered components and their related warranty remains intact.
How to reach MJ Acquisitions and Saleen Speedlab
To order parts or authentication letters, call Speedlab at 1-800-888-8945, option 2
Many parts, accessories, and apparel are available on the Speedlab eBay store at: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/SALEEN-SPEEDLAB
For technical assistance, call 1-800-888-8945, option 4
An Optimistic Future
The team at MJ Acquistions asked that the Saleen Clubs help spread the word that the existing Saleen, Racecraft and Speedlab product line will continue to be supported, and new product development is already underway. Market testing is being done on future vehicles, and news on future plans and products will be forthcoming.
And like most stories these days, there is often good news and bad news -- and this story is no different.
The Good News
MJ Acquisitions, consisting of an experienced and energetic staff who are very familiar with the Saleen brand, will continue to provide service parts, performance parts, accessories and letters of authentication to support Saleen and Racecraft vehicle owners well into the future.
The Bad News
Those Saleen and Racecraft owners needing dealer-provided in-warranty repairs of Saleen components are likely to incur an unforeseen out-of-pocket cost that my not be reimbursed, due to unfortunate circumstances with the financial condition of the brand's former owners, Saleen, Inc.
Bad News Backgrounder
After announcing it was seeking a buyer last Fall due to the recent and current economic conditions, Saleen, Inc. -- a company majority-owned by Hancock Park Associates -- was on a direct path to cease all operations for public business as of February 01, 2009. After a brief period of negotiations, MJ Acquisitions stepped-in as a bailout action and purchased certain assets of Saleen, Inc. on January 30, 2009. This transaction was an effort to keep the brand from becoming completely extinct.
The now-former owner of the brand, Saleen, Inc., has just announced it has ceased all operations. Saleen, Inc. is responsible for warranties existing before February 2, 2009, and thus regrettably it has been announced that they are now unable to honor any warranties on any of its parts, services, and vehicles including cars, trucks, and aftermarket parts prior to this date. All inquiries regarding these and other financial claims for Saleen, Inc. should go to Jaimee L. Witten of Bodman LLP at (313) 392-1045.
Furthermore, it has been stated that Saleen, Inc. is responsible for parts and labor costs on all vehicles with a remaining Saleen, Inc.-backed factory warranty – those currently in the hands of owners, as well as those that may remain on showroom floors.
MJ Acquisitions, the “new Saleen,” will continue to sell parts to the certified dealers, at a discount, to allow dealers to service their existing inventory and customer vehicles. It will, however, be the dealer's responsibility to contact the representative of Saleen, Inc. at the number above to obtain any reimbursement for parts and labor costs associated with the repair of a Saleen or Racecraft vehicle manufactured by Saleen, Inc.
It was further emphasized in the letter to dealers:
"MJ Acquisitions, Inc. is not responsible or obligated to cover warranties and/or any financial liabilities of Saleen, Inc."
It was also expressed that the team at MJ Acquisitions does apologize for the hardship this places on its valued customers, and they understand that this will impact all parties, as it would with any automotive manufacturer closing its doors.
A Little More Good News
Parts purchased from MJ Acquisitions, on or after February 2, 2009, will have a 12 month/12,000 mile limited warranty against manufacturer defects.
MJ Acquisitions, Inc., as the new caretakers of the Saleen brand, has a dedicated staff of “Saleen-bred” professionals who are knowledgeable about Saleen, Racecraft, and Mustang products, and are eager to help.
And the balance of your Ford-covered components and their related warranty remains intact.
How to reach MJ Acquisitions and Saleen Speedlab
To order parts or authentication letters, call Speedlab at 1-800-888-8945, option 2
Many parts, accessories, and apparel are available on the Speedlab eBay store at: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/SALEEN-SPEEDLAB
For technical assistance, call 1-800-888-8945, option 4
An Optimistic Future
The team at MJ Acquistions asked that the Saleen Clubs help spread the word that the existing Saleen, Racecraft and Speedlab product line will continue to be supported, and new product development is already underway. Market testing is being done on future vehicles, and news on future plans and products will be forthcoming.
03-09-2009, 04:25 PM
#3
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Turbonium
Posts: 294
Good work Jim, hope to see more!
As for Dotbomb... yes time for the 550 upgrade.
03-09-2009, 09:59 PM
#7
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 695
Thanks, Dave...
As indicated in another thread on this forum, over at SOEC we've been discussing this since Friday at a new domain we established: http://saleenwarranty.org
.
03-10-2009, 07:32 AM
#8
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 283
Just for the record, Saleen Owners, your Ford Warranty is still in effect. The cars are still protected to some degree. Don't forget that.
It definetly is a bummer, but in these economic times, a car company closing is not out of the question - we see billion dollar bailouts to the larger ones, but smaller company's take the blow all on their own.
Let's don't lose site of this thread's discussion. As a club we will continue to "spread the information" we receive about warranty and other contact information, to not only our members, but to all the owners we can contact by using forums and any methods we have.
It definetly is a bummer, but in these economic times, a car company closing is not out of the question - we see billion dollar bailouts to the larger ones, but smaller company's take the blow all on their own.
Let's don't lose site of this thread's discussion. As a club we will continue to "spread the information" we receive about warranty and other contact information, to not only our members, but to all the owners we can contact by using forums and any methods we have.
03-10-2009, 11:34 AM
#9
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 124
I think the main thing here is that new owners are feeling betrayed. Buying a "Saleen" is not like buying a GM or a Ford - Saleen owners feel a little (and rightly so) as if they are partly owners of the brand.
What has got me most angry about this is the way it was done. We can't blame "Saleen" for this, because by the time the anouncement was made, there was no "Saleen Inc." I have some very serious questions for Hancock Park about how this was handled, and unfortunately, the only way we are going to get any answers, or any possibility of relief for those of us with warranties, is by resorting to lawyers.
I am getting legal advice on this matter now. If you are interested or have information to provide, please email me at saleenwarranty@christann.com. My goal here is not to stir up trouble, it is to get some sort of concessions for those of us with warranties, and to try in at least some small way to reverse the samage this has done to the Saleen brand.
Chris.
What has got me most angry about this is the way it was done. We can't blame "Saleen" for this, because by the time the anouncement was made, there was no "Saleen Inc." I have some very serious questions for Hancock Park about how this was handled, and unfortunately, the only way we are going to get any answers, or any possibility of relief for those of us with warranties, is by resorting to lawyers.
I am getting legal advice on this matter now. If you are interested or have information to provide, please email me at saleenwarranty@christann.com. My goal here is not to stir up trouble, it is to get some sort of concessions for those of us with warranties, and to try in at least some small way to reverse the samage this has done to the Saleen brand.
Chris.
Last edited by ctann; 03-10-2009 at 11:35 AM. Reason: correct typo
03-10-2009, 12:12 PM
#10
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SC
Posts: 425
Just for the record, Saleen Owners, your Ford Warranty is still in effect. The cars are still protected to some degree. Don't forget that.
It definetly is a bummer, but in these economic times, a car company closing is not out of the question - we see billion dollar bailouts to the larger ones, but smaller company's take the blow all on their own.
Let's don't lose site of this thread's discussion. As a club we will continue to "spread the information" we receive about warranty and other contact information, to not only our members, but to all the owners we can contact by using forums and any methods we have.
It definetly is a bummer, but in these economic times, a car company closing is not out of the question - we see billion dollar bailouts to the larger ones, but smaller company's take the blow all on their own.
Let's don't lose site of this thread's discussion. As a club we will continue to "spread the information" we receive about warranty and other contact information, to not only our members, but to all the owners we can contact by using forums and any methods we have.
Saleens warranty supplement states that is a Ford part fails due to a Saleen part problem, SALEEN covers it.
Ford dealers will have a heyday with this, esp with guys who have S/C'ed vehicles.