Jay B.
CJ Pony Parts Violates Section 5 of the FTC
STATEMENT of FACT CJ Pony Parts is in Violation of FTC Section 5 (Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices) I am writing this detailed review to document what I believe constitutes clear violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. Deceptive practices include misrepresentations (express or implied) of material facts, as well as omissions of key information that would mislead a reasonable consumer and influence their purchase decision. While I could provide numerous examples from my orders, I will focus on two specific cases to demonstrate a pattern of misleading advertising and non-disclosure. Misrepresentation of Kit Contents and Pricing (Door Panel Kit – Stock # DPK3B) I ordered the Interior Door Black Kit for 1973-1979 Ford F-100 (Stock # DPK3B) advertised at $333. This was presented as a complete kit with all necessary components for both driver and passenger door panels. However: My order confirmation and invoice show Stock # DPS28 at only $169 (for what appears to be individual door panels or a partial component). The order lists nine separate line items with different stock numbers—none matching DPK3B or totaling $333. I did not order these individual items; I purchased one kit. This discrepancy misrepresents what was delivered and paid for. When I contacted customer service, the response was essentially, "This is just how we send out kits—we don't ship everything together." This does not excuse the failure to disclose that the "kit" would be broken into separate shipments, partial fulfillments, or different stock numbers on the invoice. A reasonable consumer expects a "kit" advertised under one stock number and price to arrive as a cohesive unit with matching documentation—especially for restoration projects where accurate records affect resale value and reputation. Failure to Disclose Backorder Status and Separate Shipping for Kit Components (Sun Visor Kit Example) In a recent order for a sun visor kit (advertised and sold as a complete kit), the main visors shipped promptly via one carrier (e.g., FedEx Ground), but the included hardware (screws, washers, etc.) was on backorder and shipped separately later via another carrier (e.g., USPS). CJ Pony Parts did not disclose this backorder or split-shipping arrangement before I placed the order—or even at checkout. I only learned of it after the fact, causing significant delays in my restoration project. Time is money in these projects, and piecemeal arrivals make it unrealistic to match hardware correctly without extensive sorting across multiple boxes from different vendors. Why This Violates FTCSection 5 Section 5 prohibits deceptive acts or practices, including: Misrepresentations of material facts (e.g., implying a complete, unified kit via stock number and pricing). Omissions of material information (e.g., failing to disclose backorders, split shipments, or that "kits" may not ship as one unit or under the advertised stock number). These omissions create a misleading impression about product availability, completeness, and delivery—facts material to a restoration buyer's decision. Had these details been disclosed upfront, I would not have purchased from CJ Pony Parts. The FTC evaluates claims from the perspective of a reasonable consumer and holds companies accountable for what ads do not say when it misleads. This pattern appears systematic: advertising "kits" to boost sales appeal and conversions, while relying on post-purchase explanations to justify incomplete or delayed fulfillment. Customer service attitudes ("this is just how we do it") do not cure the deception. These practices have caused me: Financial loss (project delays = lost time/opportunity). Added stress and effort sorting mismatched shipments. Potential harm to my reputation when selling restored vehicles (invoices won't match advertised kit prices/contents).