Stoddard Maxilites?

TeeJayHoward · 10-11-2021, 09:20 PM

Ordered a set of wheels off Stoddard because I thought I could save a few bucks vs. our host. The experience... Well, let's just call it a little different. Four days after ordering:

The order is listed as "closed".
The wheels are listed as "shipped", but no tracking information is available.
My credit card has not yet been charged.
No shipping costs, taxes, etc were listed.

ARE the wheels actually on their way? Are they being drop-shipped from overseas, or is this out of a state-side warehouse? Has anyone ordered something like this from Stoddard before, and is this experience normal?

I figured I'd ask around before giving them a call. Maybe it's nothing and this is the norm. Chill out. etc. I'm not in a HUGE hurry for these wheels, but I would like to know if I'm expecting them tomorrow, next week, or next month.

pwd72s · 10-11-2021, 09:23 PM

When I last ordered from Stoddard, Chuck was running the show, and Pelican was yet to be. I had zero problems back then.

In other words, sorry..can't help you.

2.7RS · 10-12-2021, 10:11 AM

Maxilites are in back order.

At least the sizes I wanted with no ETA.

Checked several retailers which no one actually stocks anything.

So no luck.......

wondering where they are actually made... Asia or Eastern Europe...

Jeff Higgins · 10-12-2021, 10:27 AM

I have had an order pending for almost four months. The item I am waiting for is known as a "Speedi-Sleeve", which is meant to press over a shaft (in this case the forward end of the left camshaft where the MFI drive pulley is mounted). My son's '68 has been leaking from that seal, and it appears the shaft itself may be pitted.

Anyway, ordered four months ago. No indication on the web site that they were out of stock, on backorder, or whatever. I would have ordered from our host, but when I looked, they say it comes from Stoddard anyway. Figured I would skip a step. Our host typically indicates how many, or even if there are any in stock. Not the case with Stoddard, apparently...

I waited patiently for two months and finally called. The guy told me that they do not use their website to control, nor to indicate, inventory. He told me they didn't have any but, never fear, it would be on its way in three weeks. Five weeks after that conversation I still don't have it.

TeeJayHoward · 08:40 AM

So, update. They had 3 of the 4 wheels in stock. They had to order the fourth. OK, no biggie.

Well today I got an email stating that the fourth wheel just landed. However, the price for everything has now increased. If I want him to ship these out, I'll need to pay the new, higher price per wheel. No, not just for the one that was out of stock. I have to pay the new price for EACH wheel. Even the ones they already had. (Said wheels are still available on their web site for the original price.) Between this, not knowing what the shipping price will be, and the general lack of communication, I can certainly say that I am NOT a fan of Stoddard.

Never should have stepped away from our host...

A930Rocket · 10-19-2021, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeeJayHoward

So, update. They had 3 of the 4 wheels in stock. They had to order the fourth. OK, no biggie.

Well today I got an email stating that the fourth wheel just landed. However, the price for everything has now increased. If I want him to ship these out, I'll need to pay the new, higher price per wheel. No, not just for the one that was out of stock. I have to pay the new price for EACH wheel. Even the ones they already had. (Said wheels are still available on their web site for the original price.) Between this, not knowing what the shipping price will be, and the general lack of communication, I can certainly say that I am NOT a fan of Stoddard.

Never should have stepped away from our host...

Tell him you’ll buy the three wheels at the original cost. Then order the fourth wheel at the higher cost.

javadog · 10-20-2021, 02:32 AM

Tell them they need to honor the original deal and beg your forgiveness for putting you through a lousy customer experience or you will spend the rest of your life exposing to the world what a ****ty business model they have now.

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Tell him you’ll buy the three wheels at the original cost. Then order the fourth wheel at the higher cost.

They'll probably void the order since it can't (or they won't) ship per the original order. I've had other retailers pull that nonsense before.

Sooner or later · 10-20-2021, 05:06 AM

Seems like sorry customer service. What is the cost difference?

2.7RS · 10-20-2021, 09:22 AM

Fuch off!!!

TeeJayHoward · 10-20-2021, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Seems like sorry customer service. What is the cost difference?

$14 per wheel, so $28 total.

If you look on their web site right now, the wheels are $200. If you try to order at that price, you'll need to pay $214 per wheel. Plus tax and shipping. Which,BTW - $141 in shipping costs. Ouch. At that price, it's worth paying more per wheel from a place with free shipping.

tdw28210 · tdw28210's Garage

I thought a fellow Pelican was selling these too. "Fixer" maybe? I have a set of the 9's and 11's. Pretty good for the price. I did swap them out for a set of 8' and 10' genuine Minilites. Like the outlaw vibe they create a little better.

TeeJayHoward · 11:51 AM

UPS just sent me tracking numbers for the wheels. Included with the tracking number is a shipping weight.

52lbs per wheel. Fifty. Freakin'. Two. Pounds. Do these come in plywood crates on a pallet each?

matthewb0051 · matthewb0051's Garage

I was looking at an MFI pump from Stoddard about 10 years ago. Website offered it for sale even though it had been NLA for years. I called to inquire... It was for sale for when they began production again. I got a call about 12 months later, being produced do you want one?.