Our 2001 Subaru engine suddenly conked out - the piston went through it and ruined it. It was difficult for the repair shop to find a replacement engine. Another mechanic told us that it would be difficult to find one. I decided to find one on the web, and was thrilled to find, after putting in the VIN and all other information, a reasonably priced low-mileage engine from Engine and Transmission World in Wisconsin. The repairman thought it was a great deal, and told me to go ahead and get it, particularly since the shipping was free. I was worried someone else might get it, and did not do the research I should have. I paid $1745 for the engine with a credit card.
I e-mailed the company four days later to find out when it would ship, and was told I'd be notified "when it ships." I became somewhat disconcerted by not getting any sort of receipt. The company claimed that they sent one, to check the spam folder. I did, and did not find a receipt. I googled Engine and Transmission World, and found all the complaints. I decided to cancel the order, so we would not be stuck with having to ship back a defective engine. I received an e-mail stating "your paranoia is overwhelming" for cancelling the order, and was told that I just lost $4o0 because "we deal with customers like you all the time and win." This suggests to me that the company is in business by pocketing the "restocking fee" when customers begin to wonder where their engine is.
I called the Wisconsin Consumer Complaints department and was told that they receive numerous complaints about this company. I was advised to contact my own state's consumer protection agency, and I did. I also left a complaint on the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Complaints website.
I received 75% of the purchase price back on the credit card. The company claimed that they prepared the engine for shipment, and thus are entitled to the restocking fee. I researched the company in the Wisconsin Corporations website. Their agent for service of process (the person contacted when they are sued) is a New York law firm, C T Corporation, registered in Delaware, which advertises that it helps businesses "counter lawsuits in a timely manner."
I wish I had researched this company before ordering - I was just worried that the engine would be sold before I could get it. Rereading the documents, I noticed that the parts E a TW advertises are "OEM replacement parts." The company has logos of all the major automakers on its website, however. They claim to have been "in business for many years, " but they have been registered under this name only since March 2010. Beware!

Engineandtransmissionworld.com 2100 E College Ave, Cudahy, WI 53110. (888) 344-8044. We placed our order with them on Sep 29th, but due to having the engine shipped to a different state than the billing address, Dale Jones said they couldn’t process it without me faxing my VISA and drivers license to them. After I did, they processed the $1, 290.00 on Oct 4th. Oct 7th I called them to get a shipping number and they said they couldn't’t find my engine and the shipper had lost it. But the email I have with the tracking number on it (received Oct 25th) says the shipper (R&L Carriers) didn’t even pick up the engine till Oct 22nd! I called them to verify this and they told me they picked it up from a Mathew Stuart in IL. 62254. When it arrived on Oct 27th, a month after I placed my order, it was laying on its side with a broken pallet. The shipping tag didn’t have my invoice # on it and said it was a 93 GMC.

It says on their site they provide a free CARfax with each purchase but they won’t let us see the entire thing. When we looked up the engine serial #T0627AAC, the manual from GMC tells us the “T” means it’s a ’96 and is NOT compatible with ours. They sent us a '96, we ordered a '99. The '99 is metric with small bolt holes. The '96 is SAE with large bolt holes. We shouldn't have to buy all new hardware to make this fit what we already have. IF we bought new SAE hardware, the bolt holes are still too big and would have too much play. IF it was a close enough fit, the ‘99 Starter doesn't match the ’96 flywheel. So there's a new starter and flywheel we have to buy.

The engine they advertised had about 33, XXX miles, but interestingly enough, the last time that VIN number (1GNDT13W8X2154007) was sold was Oct 7th (The same day I asked them for a shipping number). They can’t advertise an exact mileage if they don’t have possession of it yet (false advertising).

When we attempt to tell them this they interrupt us and say our mechanic (who is a certified mechanic and my father-in-law) doesn't know what he's doing and is trying to rip us off. We have asked them for a full refund since this is NOT what we ordered, but they refuse saying “the shipping to you is non-refundable, you pay the return shipping and there’s a 25% restocking fee”. When we try to talk to them they yell at us and hang up. Dale Jones and Allen have stated they will no longer be doing business with us because we are seeking legal help, they will charge us the 25% restocking fee and we “had better return the engine”.

We oiled the engine, put on a pressure gauge and spun it. Our test PROVED the engine was no good. Here's what we got: valve 1:210. 2:ZERO. 3:180. 4:165. 5:155. 6:110. They are suppose to be within 25 of each other.

I have contacted my attorney. I have contacted the local police of Cudahy, WI. I have also spoken with Erin Morgan with the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Wisconsin (414-297-4522) is aware that Engineandtransmissionworld.com has changed their name many times, to include: “Midwest City Auto salvage” & “SW engines Inc.” and is investigating them. They have also been a fulltime member of “uneedapart.com” since 2002. I reported them to the BBB on Nov 3rd 2010 (they have business ID 1000001307). I reported them to the FBI on Nov. 7th 2010. I reported them to "Internet Crime Complaint Center" at www.ic3.gov on Nov 7th 2010. I reported them to the FTC ftccomplaintassistant.gov Consumer Response Center, 1-877-FTC-HELP on Nov 7th reference number is: 28205533, OMB number: 3084-0047. I have reported them to NBC channels 4 and 15 on Nov 10th. I have reported them to ABC channel 12. I have contacted the city hall of Cudahy, WI. on Nov 10th. I have contacted the city of Cudahy, WI. on Nov 10th. I have contacted Fox news channel 6 on Nov 10th. I have contacted 20/20 on ABC, Nov 10th. I have contacted 60 minutes on CBS, Nov 10th. I will not rest till they cannot rip off anyone else again.

Thank you for your time in this matter that has gotten out of hand.

These people are con artists. I ordered an 02 Dodge Ram Engine with 30, 000 miles and was promised it would be delivered within a week. After 2 months, I STILL had no engine. It wasn't until I disputed the credit card charge and consulted with an attorney that they finally sent an engine, that my mechanic said has been blown and has at LEAST 120, 000 miles on it. Dale and his staff will constantly lie, telling you that the engine is on it's way, that they will have a tracking number any day, etc. etc. etc. to get you to hold on until it is too late to dispute your credit card charges. I am STILL fighting with them over the $2600 on a POS engine. Do NOT do business with this company. You will regret it. Buyer beware.