JAudette - Cibie Bi-Iode's

Since we are outing deadbeat sellers or vendors. Here we go.

He has had my original set that came off my 67 SWT for 4 years now. Unbelievable amount of back and forth's trying to get these back.

He did send the completed reflectors back at one point, but all the parts to make them work were missing. I told him "how am I suppose to use these missing parts and disassembled?" + I don't know how they go back together.

At the time I bought H4's from him (that was smart) so I could drive the car. Not knowing, I may never see these lights again.

Latest BS responses from him:

1.15.25 "created a Fedex label"

2.8.25 "ready to ship"

2.11.25 "shipping in a few days"

AS of today, no lights and I have not contacted him because I believe a word he says.

I would have been better of just leaving them on my car with defective reflectors, at least I'd have my original parts on the car.

The last pic I have dated 5.20.21 of my 67911SWT before the Cibie's went off Audette for restoration. Don't know what to say about this other than accountability.

I'm afraid I am in the same boat. I paid John in full for a restored set of Bi-odes back in April of 2024. Still waiting on delivery of those.

I also bought a restored set of tail lights and hood mount lights. Both of these ended up being damaged and poorly restored. Sent them back for a refund in June of 2024. Got half of my money back, but still waiting on the other half.

It's too bad as I thought John was one of the guys who could be trusted.

I talked to John one time about some tail light housings.He responded with a S.A. answer..never called again.

David

I also had a bad experience with John Audette. I had posted a WTB ad on the ES Registry for a pair of early Bosch headlight lenses and assemblies. John contacted me, offering to make a set of headlights for me. He said that he needed between 6-8 weeks. I paid him $1507, which included shipping. After nearly 13 weeks and not hearing anything from him other than his unilateral canceling of another purchase I had made from him (see below), I tried contacting him. I sent him emails, texts and a PM through the ESR Registry complaining about the canceling of my other purchase and asking for the status of my headlights. No response. Fortunately, I had paid him using PayPal. I filed a claim and eventually got all of my money back. He was a jerk in the way he handled my PP claim by dragging it out to the very end by not responding to PP's request for his side of the story. He later told me that he wanted to let the PP process run it course. My other transaction with John involved the purchase of a set of head lamps that he had in stock. I told him that he could hold on to them until he finished the headlights. I did this to save his shipping costs. Big mistake. When he canceled that purchase, he said that the good news was that I could now purchase them directly from the vendor of these head lamps for less than I had paid him, which turned out to be a lie. He never told me why he unilaterally canceled that purchase.

Recently, John posted on the ESR complaining about tariffs, etc., noting that he has 30 open orders. I seriously doubt that any of those 30 open orders will ever be filled and I strongly recommend that the people involved request a refund of any money paid.

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Originally Posted by prs356

I also had a bad experience with John Audette. I had posted a WTB ad on the ES Registry for a pair of early Bosch headlight lenses and assemblies. John contacted me, offering to make a set of headlights for me. He said that he needed between 6-8 weeks. I paid him $1507, which included shipping. After nearly 13 weeks and not hearing anything from him other than his unilateral canceling of another purchase I had made from him (see below), I tried contacting him. I sent him emails, texts and a PM through the ESR Registry complaining about the canceling of my other purchase and asking for the status of my headlights. No response. Fortunately, I had paid him using PayPal. I filed a claim and eventually got all of my money back. He was a jerk in the way he handled my PP claim by dragging it out to the very end by not responding to PP's request for his side of the story. He later told me that he wanted to let the PP process run it course. My other transaction with John involved the purchase of a set of head lamps that he had in stock. I told him that he could hold on to them until he finished the headlights. I did this to save his shipping costs. Big mistake. When he canceled that purchase, he said that the good news was that I could now purchase them directly from the vendor of these head lamps for less than I had paid him, which turned out to be a lie. He never told me why he unilaterally canceled that purchase.

Recently, John posted on the ESR complaining about tariffs, etc., noting that he has 30 open orders. I seriously doubt that any of those 30 open orders will ever be filled and I strongly recommend that the people involved request a refund of any money paid.

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I also got a S.A. answer back when I sent a question to him about a year ago about some tail light bulbs. Never contacted him again...

John

I hate to say anything negative about John A. and that is not my intention here. I do think it fair to share my experience with a set of Cibie 190’s I purchased a couple years ago. They arrived with incorrect hardware and were not possible to install. They were sent back and eventually returned to me. They came back in worse shape with wiring that had to be redone and a total reconstruction to make them work on my 1970 911.

These issues with John Audette are painful for me to read. I met John some twenty years ago when purchasing a set of Fuchs from him. At that time, and for several years afterward, my impression of John was of an intelligent, honest, and enthusiastic supporter of all things Porsche. I'll bet many ESR followers felt the same way.

Over the last few years, that reliability appears to have changed based on reports from current customers and his frequent, sometimes confusing emails. Sadly, I worry about John's health.

John, if you're reading this, please know that I'm simply concerned about your health and if the continued operation of your business is now impractical. I also want to appeal to John's Porsche friends, some of which live near him in Central Oregon and will probably read this, to give John whatever counsel and assistance is needed to help him resolve any unfinished business.

I understand if the moderators choose to delete this post. I'm simply trying to help a guy that's been good to the hobby but now appears to be struggling.

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Originally Posted by swcarroll

These issues with John Audette are painful for me to read. I met John some twenty years ago when purchasing a set of Fuchs from him. At that time, and for several years afterward, my impression of John was of an intelligent, honest, and enthusiastic supporter of all things Porsche. I'll bet many ESR followers felt the same way.

Over the last few years, that reliability appears to have changed based on reports from current customers and his frequent, sometimes confusing emails. Sadly, I worry about John's health.

John, if you're reading this, please know that I'm simply concerned about your health and if the continued operation of your business is now impractical. I also want to appeal to John's Porsche friends, some of which live near him in Central Oregon and will probably read this, to give John whatever counsel and assistance is needed to help him resolve any unfinished business.

I understand if the moderators choose to delete this post. I'm simply trying to help a guy that's been good to the hobby but now appears to be struggling.

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Well said and I agree on all points.

After all the emails he still has no clue what going on. Health or not I've conned and ripped off.

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Originally Posted by juche_namja

After all the emails he still has no clue what going on. Health or not I've conned and ripped off.

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Preserved here, pre-edit, for your viewing enjoyment.

I guess it's my turn for an online trial. This will be my only response.

I'm working hard (8-9 hours a day 7 days a week) to fill open orders and making progress. I'm dedicated to filling them all before I'm forced to close or I die.

John

I thought I would take a moment to explain why I think I get in these difficult spots from time to time (pretty boring though).

The important number is not the total amount of open orders, it's the number of open projects. I'm been doing restorations for a number of professional shops for a number of years. They're always great about scheduling and give me plenty of lead time. I schedule things out and usually things flow smoothly - unless there is a serious unplanned disruption - such as an health issue. My wife and I have had far too many of those over the past 2-3 years, some pretty serious, which causes me to get behind. As a one-man business there's no slack time to be filled as I work 8-9 hours a day, 7 days a week, no vacations. And then when a shop that I've been doing restorations for for years nears its deadline it becomes a challenge to deliver on time.

That's not an excuse, it's a reason. The buck stops with me and of course it's my fault. I'm still learning how to live at an older age, especially becoming aware of my new limitations, and I'm not adapting very quickly or very well. There are many instances when my reach exceeds my grasp. Many of the shops I work with have been using me for restorations for many years and I find it hard to say no as they don't have many other options. Not too many folks are restoring 55+/- year-old parts for Porsches. You may recall that I did hold off restorations services for a while in order to catch up a bit, reopened them and went right back to the cycle.

Another problem I create is by over-promising. I like to think that comes from being overly optimistic by nature. I'm trying to stop that.

I hope that helps. My apologies to all who have been inconvenienced by my short-comings. And now I will shut up.

Best,
John