Trouble with vendors?

[ga.spyder]

I may be nit picking, but for the second time I have been shipped an order incomplete.First time IAP, this time Vicks.I ordered over the internet,got a confirmation showing all parts,and receipt.The order arrives minus 1 part!They bill for what you receive+ shipping.Now I have to find the missing item somewhere else an pay shipping again.If they are out they shouldnt send a confirmation,or at least give the option of cancelling the order.No note saying when the parts arrive they will ship free...nothing.I guess I wont make any orders over the net ,and call them in so I know I will get all of it.Worse ,since the missing part is a heater hose I cant re hook my heater now...and its getting cold!
Bitchfest over,
Craig

[mbouse]

Craig,

is it the 90° hose? i can ship you one out tomorrow and you can replace it next time you getta chance

and, i doubt that you will pay the second shipping charge, if you paid the full shipping this time.

I have heard Csaba specifically state that they are working on the inventory status...which they cannot seem to get right.


let me know if you want this part

[mdrburchette]

I've never ordered from either of them via their website, but have you called them about it? I know IAP won't even order anything...you have to wait for a stock order before even placing an order for an item not in stock.

[ga.spyder]

Thanks anyway Mike,it isnt the 90 deg. hose it is the smaller one.I havent called them ,and I am sure they will contact me when the part comes in(they did last time).I was just upset that you get a shipping confimation then it arrives minus 1 part.I have ordered a lot from Vicks,and I met Csaba at FFO and he is a good guy.I am just a little frusrated after contorting myself into positions a large 50 year old man has no business being in,to change the control valve!! The local Napa had a listing on that hose(miracle),so I should get it tomorrow.

[ventura ace]

Craig,
From the Mirafiori site, parts substitution recommendations:

Heater Hoses, DOHC 124 - Long hose, #4148536, can use Gates 28468 - Short hose, #4425221, can use Gates 28466

I haven't checked it out, but it might be worth a look-see at your local autoparts store.

Alvon

[htchevyii]

In my experience (and I have ordered alot of parts), if IAP backorders a part they ship the rest of the order and the backordered part when it arrives ( sometimes a long time), with no additional shipping charge. Vicks ships the rest of the order, but you also have to pay shipping again for the b.o. part (although they are ususlly cheaper). I usually can't find one place that has everything when placing a large order, but feel lucky to be able to get so many parts for a make the haven't sold in the US for so many years.

[ga.spyder]

Looking back over my original post,I apologize if it sounded as if I was bashing our vendors.I did not intend it to sound that way.One of the best thing about our cars is the availability and low cost of replacement parts.I do appreciate that there are vendors that carry our parts. I hope they flourish and are always there.I have used Vicks 90% of the time and they have been very helpful! I was a little frustrated at getting all the parts for a (small) project except 1,and not being able to complete. I was curious if others have had the same issue.I do feel that they need to communicate to the consumer that something is out of stock before shipping an incomplete order.
Thanks for the part number on the hose ,Ace. The Napa warehouse doesnt stock that hose anymore...go figure!! I am sure I can find it using the Gates number from one of the locals.
Craig

[Blast]

Hello Ga.spyder

I ordered from AIP, and had worse luck than you. I recieved the heater valve, and waited months for their gaskets to arrive. Also the donut for the driveshaft, when tightened, contorted. They sent a block of rubber, with the correct part number, which was susposed to be the hollow donut looking axle stop. I still have the last two parts, which cost me over fifty bucks, cause it was so long between getting them and trying to use them. I don't like AIP

[RJ80]

I've been waiting over three months for rear Ferodo pads for my Spider from IAP. Got a notice weeks ago saying they were expected to be in stock and shipped on a date that was about two weeks before I received the notice! Still haven't gotten them, but also haven't tried calling yet.

Couple that with the fact that Vicks is often cheaper on most parts, and I think I'm done with IAP.

[mbouse]

but also haven't tried calling yet.

i'll be first on the wagon that offers common sense locally obtained substitutions for wear parts, and will freely give anyone alternative sources that afford identical product at less cost because of elimination of one or two middle men. our front line vendors are not always the best economical choice for some items.



but, i cannot stop expressing the fact that nearly ALL of our vendors are JUST LIKE US, Italian car lovers. Most love our hobby so much that they have found a way to make a living at it. Most of them are doing barely that; some have a full time other job....selling parts does not always put bread on their tables.

if you gotta problem with one of our vendors, your first stop should be the telephone from your desk to theirs.... not from your computer to a bashing forum post. don't tell me about your dissatisfaction until AFTER you have given the vendor the opportunity to make things right for you. Just like you, he is human.

[So Cal Mark]

most vendors are backed into a corner over low prices. So they can only afford to place and receive orders by container; that way they get quantity pricing and shipping. So when they run out of an item, it may be months before another container is arriving. Ordering parts any other way results in ridiculous shipping fees from Europe. In some cases, the parts mfg only does one or two production runs a year since the parts are relatively low demand. If you don't order at the right time and miss the production run, it may be 6 mos or longer before the parts are available and then it has to coincide with your container shipping timeline.
The problem is that some vendors won't tell you the truth since they want to hang onto your money to guarantee they sell the parts they've commited to. While the web has made sourcing parts easier and cheaper, in some respects it's made the situation more difficult for vendors since price is the most important factor.

[mbouse]

i do not recall either Vick or IAP ever charging my credit card for items ordered. they charge my card for items shipped...when shipped. they do not hold my money, i do.

nothing prevents calling for stock status during the uncertain economic times.

i wish all my vendors had 6x my estimated annual usage of all the parts i wanna buy...on the shelf at all times. that ain't likely to happen until we again become the economic giant of the globe. Keep buying those tools from HF, and you are guarunteed that will NEVER HAPPEN.

[mdrburchette]

i wish all my vendors had 6x my estimated annual usage of all the parts i wanna buy...on the shelf at all times. that ain't likely to happen until we again become the economic giant of the globe. Keep buying those tools from HF, and you are guarunteed that will NEVER HAPPEN.

Mike, too bad it ain't going to happen even if we stop shopping at HF. It's a nice thought, but many of our known US name brand items are now made overseas. We can blame NAFTA, the Union, the government, ourselves or any number of entities, but it's going to take big change to turn things around. If we all bought Made in USA items we'd all be naked.

[So Cal Mark]

a larger problem for Fiat vendors than HF is buying replacement parts at Autozone or Rock or whatever discounter is in your neighborhood. By siphoning off a portion of the profits from Fiat suppliers they force prices higher for the parts you can only find at a vendor. At some point it won't be feasible for anyone to exist selling Fiat parts

[bobcity]

Anyone have any experience with Bayless?
I just placed an order by emailing them and asking for a quote. They had a couple of parts no one else had. There website is pretty bad, and no phone support at all, so it's a bit of a crap shoot to try.
I'm waiting to see how long it takes to ship.
Bob