local guy VS online , long rant

[NewfieMJ]

I try to buy local when I can , but seriously , the customer service can really suck sometimes .

 

Local jeep supplier incident #1(2008)

 

Ordered a set of black steels for my Orvis when I bought it . I had 33's on stock wheels wth stock arms and it would rub the muds hard . Took a week but when they showed up , I was there , anxious to get my wheels installed . As I waited I could see my wheels , but he came out with a set of chrome wheels .

"Eww , those are mine , mine are the black ones "

he replied "oh , but there for someone else"

I said "But I'm here , and they are paid for ."

He replied " Sorry , that's all I can do unless you want to wait another 2-3 weeks for the next order" :mad: .

I ended up taking them just to solve the rubbing issue , man , I hated those wheels , and wasn't too fond of this dealer either . They didn't stay on for long .

 

incident #2 , same company(2008)

 

Ordered a set of RE control arms . 2 weeks of waiting so , again , anxious to get them . I knew when they were coming so I arrived the afternoon of the shipment date . Sure enough , there's my parts , 20' away .

"Sorry dude , never got unpacked yet . Gonna have to come back tomorrow"

 

OK fine . It's accross town but what's is a day anyways . I go back the next day , again in the afternoon .

"Sorry dude , never got unpacked yet ." :mad: It's Friday afternoon and I'm looking forward to doing this on the weekend . "What about tomorrow then" I asked , trying to keep cool. "I'll be here but I'm working on my own jeep , you'll have to wait till Monday" It was at this point where you decide to either spend some quality time in jail , or walk away , of course , I walked .

Well , guess what happened to that company ? That's right , they closed the doors less than a year later . During a booming economy too . Hey , that's what happens when your too lazy to unpack your customer's orders that come in once or twice a month only , and , you put your own needs ahead of your customers . :nuts:

 

Incident #3 . (April,2011) . Different owner , new name , guess who ? None other than the counter guy from the other place who was responsible for screwing me around twice before . I knew this going in . No problem , things might be different now that he's got his own thing .

Another dealer told me he makes brake lines and to go there . So I do , even though I have avoided this place like the plague . First trip in , no stock on the fittings . "

I'll get 'em and have your lines this afternoon ." He said

So , I wait till this morning , just because ya know how things go sometimes and now , it's an even longer trip to town . I arrive about 11am , same as the day before .

"The fittings just came in" as they sit on the counter . Not sure I believed him or not .

"No prob , I can wait" , it takes literally 5 mins per line . He makes them , no problem . Then , when the price came out , I swallowed pretty hard , 'thinking' damn , $120+ for 2 front lines :eek:. He says " let me check to make sure that's right" phew I thought , so here's my "in" , I jokingly commented "good , cause ouch , that's a little high" .

At that same time I had laid a $100 and a $50 on the counter to pay anyways cause I did order them and really should have asked how much . That's when he replies

"Why , where can you get them cheaper and how much ?"

Iron Rock immediately came to mind . I think it was $60 for the 2 ZJ front's , maybe $70 tops , and that's what I told the guy too . $99 for all 3 .

Now I didn't expect a price match . What he could have said was I can't touch that , how bout I knock off $5 , even , sorry man , that's the best I can do . Here's what he says instead

"Well you should go order them online then" :huh???:

Let's pause for some info . He has no recollection of past dealings . There's no animosity what so ever . So WTF !! How did this conversation turn into this all of a sudden . Fine , I'll play along.

"Where the hell did that come from"I said"I came here to buy brakelines , I'm not even quabbling the price , just say it's a little expensive and your gonna send me away just like that ? I already got a short fuse for you buddy" I said , as I swiped my $150 back off the counter . "this is the 3rd and final time you get a chance to screw me over with your piss poor attitude . Just remember , this is the customer service that closed down the other shop . Enjoy your new MJ brake lines, and probably what will be your last year in buisness unless you miraculasly change your attitude toward cash paying customers" And I left , he mumbled something . Whatever he said , I didn't hear it , or need to , I already had enough dis-like for the guy , more would have been alot of trouble .

When I came home , I ordered from IRO . I'll have them early next week and with delivery , and a rear line , I still saved a few $$$ :thumbsup: . I was thanked very much for my repeat buisness and Kristen even said she would do her best to get them out that day , and , she did . Iron Rock Off-road rocks . :thumbsup:

 

There are few local choices , but the others are good , very good infact . Bear from Bear trax is just an idiot . Let me quote him " I'm sick and tired of doing everything for everyone " Spoken to a customer on the phone while I was in the shop . Now , let me ask you , is this the place where you would want to spend your money ? Customer service means alot to me , I didn't go into a shop with a handful of cash and expect to be treated rudely .

 

I've spent easily $20000 in parts for jeeps in the past 3-4 years . This guy gave me 3 out of 4 issues I have had . I have only dealt with him 4 times . 4 issues over 4 yrs isn't a bad record when you have ordered so much , and the other guy's issue , was resolved easily .

 

Yeah I let loose pretty quick on the guy . Who would have known , third time is a charm , lol .

 

Rant over , thanks for reading

[sinkrun]

Sounds very familiar thats the knid crap I get around here thats why 85% of what I buy now is on line.

[mvusse]

I like buying local for multiple reasons. I like seeing the part to make sure it's right if possible, prefer to dealing with people in person instead of over the phone and hate having to wait for the parts to arrive.

 

Luckily in my small town backwoods, besides chains like Autozone and Advance I also have a small NAPA with the same people who worked there when I moved here, 18 years ago. I also have two small specialty shops close by. Dover Brake, which specialize in semi truck brakes and suspension, but have always had the little parts I needed in stock, like center bolts, or they make them to order while I wait, like U bolts. The other is JW Cookson for custom drive shafts (not cheap, but do great quality work to my specs) as well as Spicer u joints (5-760x always in stock for ~$25) and little parts like a baffle for a D30 diff ($0.75, I was out the door with it less than a minute after I walked in!)

[mnkyboy]

The only thing I buy local is stuff from local parts houses. I avoid the offroad shops because the mark ups are high and they usually have to order stuff anyway so why not order it myself and save some cash.

 

FWIW 2wd chevy truck brake lines are longer then the IRO lines and in stock at most parts houses,IIRC I paid about $22 for mine.

[Incommando]

I've always heard about the YJ front lines and Dakota rear lines...

 

What years of Chebby should I look for and do the work on the MJ as well as the ZJ?

 

Thanks

[mnkyboy]

NAPA# 38620,38621.

IIRC 96ish chevy 2wd truck and they are a little over 25" long

 

Only issue I noticed is some calipers have the hose on the side and some are on the back edge. Mine are on the side and they worked fine but my old calipers were on the back edge and I'm not sure how well they would have worked.

 

In the rear I have an extention on my OEM hose number for the extention is #36744

[Sir Sam]

Yah. Its stuff like this that makes life a little more stressful. It happens to all of us and we all need to vent at some point. All I can say is I try to make life as easy and possible, and avoid situations that make me groan like what happened to you. Still, it always happens.

 

Golden rule man, if we all followed it life would be a little bit better for everyone.

[Dirteatr717]

I'm at about 7" of lift in the rear and the Dakota rear is just long enough for daily driving but I'll have to remount the top line for trail use... Yj brakelines up front fit perfect!

[mnkyboy]

Wish I could remember the part # for my rear line,IIRC it crossed to a dakota but it went in as an extention. At full droop I still have a ton of hose length left.

 

It came in RROs soa kit.

[NewfieMJ]

As said , I ordered my lines from IRO on Friday . They showed up on Monday . That's friggin great IRO :thumbsup: amazing service considering the distance the parts traveled .

 

Latest thing , I ordered a upper control arm bushing from NAPA . Went to go get it ( had 1 new one at home) got charged $31.50....................................for one ? No thank-you , sorry I ordered it in . For one thing , I paid only $18 for the last from a different supplier but local , and that was too much .

How could I buy that ? I can get 2 shipped for cheaper , again from IRO . I swear , the only automotive things I will buy locally anymore will be propted by a convienance basis only . They should put a new sign up at the boarder . "Welcome to :Canadaflag: , now bend over" :headpop:

[mnkyboy]

You have to be careful with NAPA.there's two different types of NAPA stores,corporate and independent and sometimes you can't tell the difference.

 

The corporate stores usually have much better prices then the independent stores so its good to call a couple stores for prices.

 

A while back I called one and got quoted $80 (can't remember for what) I went and called another one and got the same part for around $30.

[NewfieMJ]

Yeah , we only have one private Napa here in Edmonton . This one was corperate . Still , no excuse why I paid $7.95 this morning per bushing cmpared to $29.95 . That's 1/4 what Napa wanted .

 

Your right though , ya gotta becareful .

[xjrev10]

Its a shame that the service can be so bad locally. Online parts ordering is probably going to take over the mom and pop auto stores in the near future, unless it already has.

 

I go the local parts store (happens to be a Parts City based store) for common consumables like brake parts, hoses, air fresheners, oil, filters, tune up parts etc. Parts pertaining to offroad use are always ordered. I really like Quadratec's service. You pay for the parts but you get great service. Call them for price matching too :thumbsup:

[Sir Sam]

Its a shame that the service can be so bad locally. Online parts ordering is probably going to take over the mom and pop auto stores in the near future, unless it already has.

 

It already has. Mostly because it seems like the Mom and Pop places I go into the guys working there always act like they are doing you a favor by even talking to you.