buying from an american accessories website

[W111BOB]

There are a few internet sites that we all checkout and buy parts and accessories from -
but I thought it was worthwhile making everyone aware of some facts - through my own experience of one of the biggest ones.... (for legal reasons I have left out all company names)

When you place an order with a well known American renowned and reputable muscle car parts site - all international deals are in fact with a totally different company altogether (a mailing company) - so your contract to purchase is with them and not who you thought you were buying from.

I found this out the hard way - I placed an order several weeks ago - for an item that turns out to be out of stock (despite my receiving an email reminder that it was now "in-stock")

- I queried it - I was told that they couldn't help - as my order was, in fact, with a different mailing company .... they - in turn pointed me straight back to the the well known Muscle car parts and accessories provider. so I was then stuck

Several emails later with the well known muscle car parts provider customer service department - no dice - in effect ...."your contract to supply is not with us".

As you can imagine I was (and still am) a little annoyed, confused and angry about all of this! and still was being passed back, by the mailing company, to the well known muscle car parts provider - every time

I suggested that a discount on any further purchase might be a nice goodwill gesture from them ... I was then told in no uncertain terms that there will never be ANY discount offered to any international purchaser...ever!

So - just a word of warning here - check who you are actually buying from, ensure that they give a sh*t about customer service and hope for the best that you actually receive the goods in a timely manner!

I have bought from them before with no issues BTW

Rant over!

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[GR11M]

I buy and send to Stackry but it too has its pros and cons. I get to apply forum discount codes and save on delivery but it does take longer and returns are more awkward as AM aren't helpful when you order interanlly and ship out the country. And as I found out it's also harder to apply blame to package damage when it's been through so many different hands.

 

[Alfa Male]

I’ve used a number of US sites direct but in recent times and for bigger purchases I’ve used Nemesis based in Bromsgrove.
The costs after taxes etc are broadly comparible so there isn’t a huge saving buying direct from the states. Plus Nemesis take on the risk/ warranty if the item gets damaged in transit etc.
I find it easier to deal with a supplier this side of the pond l!

 

[SteveS]

I’ve used a number of US sites direct but in recent times and for bigger purchases I’ve used Nemesis based in Bromsgrove.
The costs after taxes etc are broadly comparible so there isn’t a huge saving buying direct from the states. Plus Nemesis take on the risk/ warranty if the item gets damaged in transit etc.
I find it easier to deal with a supplier this side of the pond l!

When over in Orlando earlier in the year I ordered from a well-known US-based accessories and parts supplier potentially alluded to previously in this post and they immediately cancelled the order. I also ordered from Cervinis and the part made it to Florida then the postal service sent it back (no fault of Cervinis). CJ Pony; no problem at all.
Regarding using UK based suppliers I'd agree there is a much enhanced peace of mind however in purchasing a spoiler and some scoops I literally saved many hundreds ordering from the US. I struggle to believe some of the markups aren't overblown.

 

[Lowrider Lincoln]

Bob... Name and Shame them... You've paid for an item that you have not received yet. You placed an order with who you thought you were doing business with. They took your money without telling you it was out of stock. Now they are unwilling to help you. Don't cover for them. They deserve to be publicly criticsized. Being polite on their behalf is not working for you. Print the names of the supplier and the secondary company, they couldn't treat you any worse if they tried. Bad publicity for them is probably the only thing that will change thier poor customer services.
Best regards mate.

 

[slickster]

Bob I agree with lowrider don't let them get away with it Name and Shame them

 

[W111BOB]

Name and Shame?

I AM reluctant to do this right now as this may well turn legal - its actually not the money or the product - but the principle here

It is also AMusing to see that as soon as this thread went up - I received an email from their Manager - looking to find a way out of it... but not actually offering the product yet... and clearly the Manager has no idea of why there is a problem!

I AM AMazed that their customer service cant even read emails...

Nemesis

I’ve used a number of US sites direct but in recent times and for bigger purchases I’ve used Nemesis based in Bromsgrove.
The costs after taxes etc are broadly comparible so there isn’t a huge saving buying direct from the states. Plus Nemesis take on the risk/ warranty if the item gets damaged in transit etc.
I find it easier to deal with a supplier this side of the pond l!

AMazingly I talked to Guy at Nemesis yesterday (a really nice bloke) - and I just put in an order for the next project with him - at roughly the same cost - so Alfa Male - I agree with you!

 

[Lowrider Lincoln]

Hi Bob, we get the cryptic clues...but not publishing for legal reasons !!! You are not in breach of contract - you have paid for an item and they have not supplied within a reasonable timeframe.
I've been ordering parts from the US for nearly 30 years, before the internet existed. It was a gamble back then, trying to order obsolete parts from companies in Hemmings or Exchange & Mart. I've received wrong parts, crap cheap Mexican copies, items not fit for purpose. Sometimes good services too. But I have learned that it is nearly always better to deal with a UK based company if available. Sometimes if you need an import part there is no UK alternative. I could have ordered my exhaust direct from the US supplier and saved £40 over using a UK importer. But I wanted the reassurances if anything was wrong.
Hopefully you will get a quick resolution now that the manager is involved.

 

[W111BOB]

Chris - as I am trained in contract law - I know exactly what might prejudice a case!

But - I totally agree with you - UK purchasing from now on (unless desperate! )

especially as I just received an email from Guy at Nemesis - thanking me for my order, yesterday!

 

[hinch]

guy's a good lad he'll special import anything you specifically want if he doesn't stock it too.

 

[Guy@NemesisUK]

Hi Guy's,

Sorry been a bit dormant on here lately as there has been a hell of a lot going on. At Nemesis UK we are always trying to keep our prices fair. If you feel a price is over inflated please let us know and we will look into it and be transparent with you. Our margins are not massive and no way like retail clothing where it is sold over 3 times its cost price. We are lucky to get -20% from US suppliers even when going direct. Then they then have there retail and MAP pricing and discounts usually go from Retail and MAP pricing can be a lower value that you see listed on online. To then offer a club discount on top, the margins slowly get chipped away and can be less than a 10% margin once supplied.

As a legitimate company we do not and cannot fiddle import invoices for duty & tax as these need to be provided directly from the supplier to the shipping agent and specific shipping forms completed over a certain value. Some US companies don't understand this and don't want to cooperate either so can be a right game. Should there be no duty or VAT things would be far more easier for everyone to understand.

We also have a dealer account with American Muscle with our own representative who is very good. It has been another game altogether to get to this stage with AM but we should be able to usually beat any pricing AM offers at their £GBP rate including international shipping. We can also supply parts that are not listed as eligible to ship internationally. So feel free to give us a shout next time and will let you know what we can do!

 

[W111BOB]

Name and Shame?

I AM reluctant to do this right now as this may well turn legal - its actually not the money or the product - but the principle here

It is also AMusing to see that as soon as this thread went up - I received an email from their Manager - looking to find a way out of it... but not actually offering the product yet... and clearly the Manager has no idea of why there is a problem!

I AM AMazed that their customer service cant even read emails...

Nemesis



AMazingly I talked to Guy at Nemesis yesterday (a really nice bloke) - and I just put in an order for the next project with him - at roughly the same cost - so Alfa Male - I agree with you!

Just as an update - nothing....

No response from the American supplier - not a bloody whisper

The "distribution company"- i-parcel have, however, responded - telling me to talk directly to the American supplier again!

the perfect catch 22 - both are disclaiming responsibility

- so it WILL be going legal now

As has previously been mentioned - buying from British suppliers from now on!

 

[kapiteinlangzaam]

If you paid on CC, surely its just a case of contacting them?

 

[W111BOB]

If you paid on CC, surely its just a case of contacting them?

I agree - BUT its not about getting my money back .... its about them just taking my money , knowing full well that they had no goods to deliver!

If I offered to sell an item, took the money and didnt give the item to the buyer - it would be called "theft"!!

(the worse bit about this is that they now fully admit that.... although you think you are buying from the advertised vendor - in fact you are not you are actually buying from a company called i-Parcel. (a totally different and unrelated company) - BTW this is the case for ALL International sales (not USA or Canada))

when it comes to a dispute resolution - they (very cleverly) both point at each other - and the customer loses every time!

I HAVE actually just had an email form their Customer Services Manager telling me he is as high up the food chain as I can escalate to - so a quick look in Linkedin - and I responded to the founder and current CEO of the Holding company

Personally I think this whole set up stinks for International orders - and as already stated - Nemesis will be my first choice from now on

 

[hinch]

ship to stackry or get guy@nemesis to sort you out in future.

i've ordered a few bits through stackry and never had any issues as its classed as internal US

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