July 2022 by Justin Q.
STAY AWAY!!! Rare and Unique stole thousands of dollars from me! Kip turned a bolt-off, bolt-on original invoice of 87.5 hrs and turned it into 192 HRS!!! Kip took off parts that I did not want him touching. For example, my original speedometer in KM. During my time in the service, I was stationed overseas, where they drove in KM, so I wanted to keep it. The needle bounced when driving, which was due, as I suspected, from the cable and not my original speedometer as I told Kip. Nor did I want him doing anything on the interior decor. He charged me multiple times to take off and put on a steering wheel that I did not want. He charged me $285 for a beat up spray painted black steering wheel, that I did not want, nor was it a match for my interior, like the one I had in place. He changed out my headlights with custom ones incorrect to the vehicle. All I asked Kip to do was to connect the loose wire on one of my brand-new halogen bulbs. He removed all the turn signals and tail lights that were new. He would change back all of the stuff he did that I specifically stated I did not want to be done, at double labor charges. He said the parts that he supplied (like the $1,400 ??? steering box) " did not feel right to him", so he would change the part out with another one of Kips supplied parts, and then he charged double labor on his supposedly broken new and professionally rebuilt parts he supplied. He charged labor to assemble pre-assembled parts, multiple times. He changed shipping and parts costs after they were already installed. He had me pay cash for my beam, torsion bars, tie rods, which was including shipping from Cali, even though Kip purchased it locally from his brother. He broke my new rag top and lost the guides for it to fit. He told me that he was being nice enough not to charge me labor to fix my ragtop that he broke, even though I did not want him touching it to begin with. He still has many of my parts, and a brand new expensive VW mechanical book he was to sell for me in his shop. He held my bus hostage until I paid many thousands more than was agreed. First for $7,000 on a C.C. Then when I went to pick it up he wanted an additional $1,000, which he directed office manager Shannon to collect. I left without my bus. The next attempt to get my bus back, he finally released my bus hostage in his shop for an additional $500. He did all of this with knowledge from the beginning that I have been dealing with serious health problems. His office manager Shannon was also well aware of my disabilities, and I believe that they took advantage of me so horribly because of it. Same with the mechanic Chris. The three of them are all in on it together. It is my opinion after speaking to multiple VW mechanics and shop owners, that he did not think I would be able to pay and he would then put a mechanics lean on my prized bus. Those mechanics and shop owners looked over all the paperwork (that Kip thought I lost) and my bus and feel it should have taken between 60-80 hrs labor. When I asked him for all the paperwork (that he thought I lost), he informed me that he would for $500 down and $95 an hr to make the photocopies. To make matters worse, I believe he sabotaged my bus. The new engine leaks and sputters, the #1 rocker was backed way off, believe it to be firing 180* as well, rebuilt Wright gearbox he installed leaks bad (he told me to take it up with them), spacers missing from the alternator, new distributor he installed broke, so did the new starter he installed, the gas gauge he changed out that is inoperable, and I've had to have it towed 3x because of it breaking down. I even had to have a friend who is a mechanic come help me on the side of the road with my little children. Rare and Unique should not be able to operate and do this to any person again, disabled or not.
