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.
Thanks, for the plug, Charlie!
I actually wrote that and gave it to MJ to review before posting it at SOEC on Friday -- here's the thread and the ensuing discussion:
Saleen Warranties Dissolve As Former Owner Ceases Operations - The Saleen Forums at soec.org
It's nice that Jeff thought so much of my writing to share it and help get the word out -- this is an important team effort to inform owners where we can get support!
Charlie thanks for taking the time to keep us saleen owners informed , and jim very nice article you seem very excited , next stop watergate and the washington post. As for the warranty for me, charlie and most of my friends we were out of warranty years ago. Jim i don't know if you are still in warranty hopefully you didn't get hurt, but to those that are still in warranty good luck with this bad times for all.
Don't worry Chris, Jim dosen't actually own a Saleen so I'm sure he wasn't hurt by all of this unfortunate warranty info!
I feel for all of you who own a newer Saleen vehicle that is still under warranty.
What a crappy thing for a company to do!!!
Sure Jim & his buddy Dave were not hurt by all this unfortunate info, as neither one of them own a Saleen, but they did hurt other people.
How you might ask?
By editing and deleting posts at "that other site", and by speading the word around the Internet that "it was business as usual" and there was no rush to take your car in for service claims before Saleen Inc. filed for BK they have caused people, in their words, to be "out of luck".
I wonder if Jim and Dave are going to cover the repair costs for the unfourtunate who listened to their crap, and had the misfourtune of believing it.
As Rodney Dangerfield would say, "I don't get no respect."
With a crowd like these guys, no wonder -- including you, Charlie -- don't post here often.
For others who care, watch the story as it continues to unfold at Saleen Warranties Dissolve As Former Owner Ceases Operations - The Saleen Forums at soec.org
On the agenda trail again, eh, Mike?
While the "Ask Saleen" section was taken offline, all posts remain and were placed in their appropriate sections -- with the exception of your "agenda" post, which posed the unanswerable question which, as I said before, you'd have to have rocks in your head to expect an answer.
No posts were edited.
Everyone was recommended to go through proper channels.
Saleen Inc./Hancock Park Associates changed the game in the 4th quarter -- everyone else has been simply an innocent bystander.
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.
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