QUOTE | original post by FlyinHawaii Alright...where should I start?
Smokeingit fucking rules!
There, now that I've cleared that up, I'll tell you why:
About ten weeks ago I purchased an X2:Lite. I had never installed a chip before, so I looked to the forums for somebody who could perform the install for me. Now remember, I live in Hawaii, so finding a modder that was relatively close was difficult. After searching around for a while, I settled on KazuyaWaruasobi, in California. Now this was not a random decision; rather, my decision was based on a review of his forum postings, the competence and experience that he claims on his "Modchip Installers" post HERE, and numerous personal message exchanges that I had with him, in which he confirmed that he was a very competent installer, with a lot of experience and excellent skills.
I had told Kazuya that I wanted my X2:Lite installed using the Pin Header, and I also wanted three external switches installed so that I could take full advantage of all of the functions of the chip. I sent him this page as an example of what I wanted. He responded that the install would be "no problem," and that he could do the install even better than the example that I sent him. He also said that he would get the install done and shipped back to me very quickly.
I sent him my X-Box ($60 shipping, both ways), my X2:Lite ($50), and $60 as payment for the chip and switch installation. Thats a total of $170 that I shelled out for the task.
Over a month later he finally shipped my X-Box back to me. I had asked him, numerous times, if everything was going alright, and he gave me different reasons why it was taking so long (he lost his drill, he was extremely busy, etc.), but he never mentioned any problems with the installation. When I got my X-Box in the mail I was relieved...until I plugged it in and discovered that it didn't work! I immediately contacted KazuyaWaruasobi and told him that my Box wasn't working and that I was very upset. He responded, "oh really, that's funny because it was working when I sent it to you. Something must have happened in the shipping process."
At about the same time that this was all happening I started seeing posts like this one on the Forums, from people who had used Kazuya for installs and were similarly disappointed/screwed.
I asked Kazuya for a refund, explaining to him again how much it cost me for everything, and he offered to refund me $20, saying that the d0 probably came undone in the shipping and that he shouldn't have to pay for a mistake that wasn't his. After a few e-mails he hesitantly agreed to send me a $50 refund (out of the $170 that it cost me).
I contacted Smokeingit to see if he could repair my X-Box, as I learned through the forums that he had already fixed some of the other X-Box's that were damaged by Kazuya. I told him about the situation with Kazuya and my X-Box and he offered to fix it for me for FREE (he usually charges $20 for a install). So I packed up my X-Box again and shipped it to Smokingit, spending another $60 for shipping both ways. This is what he found:
Due to an improper installation by Kazuya, the X2:Lite was completely fried and unusable. Not only that, but Kazuya had not used the Pin Header that I sent him and had requested him to install. Instead, he tried to install it using the wire adapter...without even asking me (This was very upsetting because I specifically asked Kazuya to install the chip with the Pin Header adapter, and I paid him for that service).
I thought that I was totally screwed. After I had shelled out a total of $230 dollars to have my X-Box modded, all I ended up with was what I originally started with; My X-Box and no modchip. Thanks Kazuya!
Then Smokeingit contacted me with a solution. He offered to get a cheap mod, set it up and install it for me, and hook it up to an external switch so that I could still access X-Box Live. And his charge for this...Zero! Nothing! Absolutely free! Keep in mind that this was the work that I had paid Kazuya to do.
Smokeingit had my X-Box for 2 days, then mailed it back to me in full working order. Even though he had offered to fix my X-Box for free, I still paid him his normal $20 fee. He turned around and used that money to purchase a cheap mod and install it for me!
Bottom line: Kazuya cost me $160, and all I got for this, after he had my box for over a month, was a broken X-Box. Smokeingit cost me $20, for this I got a chip, set up and installed, and my X-Box sent back to me in 2 days! Not to mention, Smokingit threw in Timesplitters 2 as a bonus!
If you live in California (or anywhere else) and are looking for a competent modder, save yourself some money and some stress and go to Smokeingit. I don't have any experience with other modders in the area (besides Kazuya), but if you are in a similar situation like I was, wanting an install and not knowing who to trust with your goods, then I am telling you that I am fully confident with Smokingit's abilities. I am also confident in saying that KazuyaWaruasobi is not experienced enough to perform the tasks that he advertises. As a forum member and contributor I have enjoyed some of Kazuya's posts, but just because he is a frequent forum contributor does not mean that he is a competent modder. BEWARE!
Thanks for the hookup Smokeingit! |
this is another heads up to you guys who might consider going to kazuya. he broke three of mone which smokingit fixed, and also flying hawaii's. please dont turn this into a flame war, this needs to stay open for everyone to see.
the original post can be found here SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM
reference 1 is HERE
reference 2 had to have been deleted by the mods cause its no longer in scambusters. im sure his fanclub is going to come marching in here, but please people, dont send your stuff to kazuya. |