I'm about to throw a certain parts vendor under the bus

[deathpunk dan]

If you run an ebay store and standalone website specializing in porsche parts, your ebay seller profile shows 100% positive feedback, and you frequent p-car enthusiast forums to spread the word about specials you are offering, you should probably NOT do the following:

-agree via email to sell a customer a product you are listing on ebay for the buy it now price but waive shipping.

-take full and immediate payment for the item, but not send a 'payment received' email for 4 days after the fact, despite agreeing to ship said item immediately as the customer needs it to drive his car.

-provide zero other information for an additional 6 days (making it 10 days since item was purchased and paid for in full), sending only an email saying 'you should have received your order' but without date/method/tracking info for shipment.

-apologize for 'delay' and say 'shipper said it was sent out' but still not provide any shipping details even though customer has now repeatedly asked for specifics. make vague offer to 'track' shipment 'if it does not arrive soon'

We are now approaching 2 weeks and still no product in my hand. Who does he think he's fooling with the vague shipping info? I've been working for mail order/e commerce companies for the last 5 years and have done it all, from working in the shipping dept to my current position as web marketing mgr for an 8 figure catalog company.

If I don't get specifics on my order by the end of the day, you will all know the name of this company and his ebay seller ID, so that you might exercise caution before dealing with this outfit and having a similarly frustrating experience.

I hate being jerked around.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Why didn't you just buy from Pelican?

Spped of shipping and customer service is second to none in my experience the last 3 months.

[deathpunk dan]

Shame on me. I was suckered in by the price.

Lesson learned.

Dps?

[MOMO3.2]

Dan:

Your experience is yet another example why Pelican Parts is such a great resource. Every time one orders from Pelican, an email is immediately sent confirming the order. A delivery schedule is sent and updated if there are any changes. Then, a follow-up email comes to confirm that everything arrived on time. Pelican's prices are always competitive and the service is impeccable!

Finally, by virtue of this BBS, my Porsche ownership experience has been enhanced immeasurably. I have also been able to DIY nearly every repair and all maintenance on my 911 as the direct result of help from this BBS. Those savings add up to a bundle indeed.

So, based on logic, ethics, and plain good karma, I will not consider buying from anyone other than Pelican Parts.

I am sorry for your frustrating experience with this vendor. Your post should serve as a reminder to everyone that uses this site how fortunate we are to have Wayne and Pelican Parts!

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Mike

[dad911]

If you paid by credit card or Paypal, dispute the charges ASAP. Then buy elsewhere. (PP if possible)

[azasadny]

Originally Posted by MOMO3.2

Dan:

Your experience is yet another example why Pelican Parts is such a great resource. Every time one orders from Pelican, an email is immediately sent confirming the order. A delivery schedule is sent and updated if there are any changes. Then, a follow-up email comes to confirm that everything arrived on time. Pelican's prices are always competitive and the service is impeccable!

Finally, by virtue of this BBS, my Porsche ownership experience has been enhanced immeasurably. I have also been able to DIY nearly every repair and all maintenance on my 911 as the direct result of help from this BBS. Those savings add up to a bundle indeed.

So, based on logic, ethics, and plain good karma, I will not consider buying from anyone other than Pelican Parts.

I am sorry for your frustrating experience with this vendor. Your post should serve as a reminder to everyone that uses this site how fortunate we are to have Wayne and Pelican Parts!

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Mike

+1 here!

[Fidalgo911S]

Originally Posted by MOMO3.2

Dan:

Your experience is yet another example why Pelican Parts is such a great resource. Every time one orders from Pelican, an email is immediately sent confirming the order. A delivery schedule is sent and updated if there are any changes. Then, a follow-up email comes to confirm that everything arrived on time. Pelican's prices are always competitive and the service is impeccable!

Finally, by virtue of this BBS, my Porsche ownership experience has been enhanced immeasurably. I have also been able to DIY nearly every repair and all maintenance on my 911 as the direct result of help from this BBS. Those savings add up to a bundle indeed.

So, based on logic, ethics, and plain good karma, I will not consider buying from anyone other than Pelican Parts.

I am sorry for your frustrating experience with this vendor. Your post should serve as a reminder to everyone that uses this site how fortunate we are to have Wayne and Pelican Parts!

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Mike

+1. I couldn't agree more. I tried another company once to save a few bucks and the whole deal went south. They sent the wrong thing - completely. I couldn't get anyone on the phone to return it after I waited two-weeks for it to arrive. And this was for just one item. I lost $30 to save a few. Never again.

[pitargue]

Originally Posted by dad911

If you paid by credit card or Paypal, dispute the charges ASAP. Then buy elsewhere. (PP if possible)

Paypal is useless. They required me to get a police report to dispute a claim.

No more Ebay/Paypal for me.

Service and parts from Pelican are worth the extra pennies then getting questionable parts from an unknown vendor or individual. Besides, it supports this web site which is priceless.

[84porsche9113.2]

Originally Posted by pitargue

Paypal is useless. They required me to get a police report to dispute a claim.

Does anyone know if paypal just started doing this (requiring a police report)??

From my past experience, my understanding is that when a dispute is initated by a buyer, seller must provide proof of delivery information (i.e., delivery confirmation# or tracking #), and if they are not able to -- you would usually win your claim.

Furthermore paypal does have buyer and seller protection. And certain requirements for sellers to use signature confirmation over a certain amount if they want to be covered.

In this case because it seems seller has not shipped or does not seem to have any tracking or delivery information, it would be a pretty good case for the buyer.

But I am just wondering if they have recently changed their procedures....

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by pitargue

No more Ebay/Paypal for me.

You've finally seen the light. PP and eBay represent the worst in our society. Not that they don't represent some better, they do, but how do you know? Feedback is out of whack anyway.

I was afraid the "seller" was going to be Pelican. They used to eBay stuff all the time. I don't know if they do that anymore, but I'm sure their service would have been better at their worst moment.

[pitargue]

Originally Posted by 84porsche9113.2

Does anyone know if paypal just started doing this (requiring a police report)?? .

This was my first ever dispute, and I was quite surprised by this. I don't know if it was just started, but I get the impression that this policy has been in place for a while now.

[jbrand540]

I had to dispute a purchase made on ebay and payed for by paypall a year or so ago. As I remember paypal's policy was you file the complaint and they research the issue over 2 or 3 weeks at the end of which they will make a resolution based on the information gathered.

With mine, they asked for a record of all correspondence which I sent them, after a week of waiting they closed the issue as resolved and sent me a tracking #. My item then arrived as expected, promptly I might add. I believe they said if they were unable to get a hold of the seller they would provide an automatic refund after the 3 weeks or so.

Perhaps they have changed their policy on this to cover there butts against law suits from sellers and buyers of decisions they had made from their investigations.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by MOMO3.2

Dan:

Your experience is yet another example why Pelican Parts is such a great resource. Every time one orders from Pelican, an email is immediately sent confirming the order. A delivery schedule is sent and updated if there are any changes. Then, a follow-up email comes to confirm that everything arrived on time. Pelican's prices are always competitive and the service is impeccable!

Finally, by virtue of this BBS, my Porsche ownership experience has been enhanced immeasurably. I have also been able to DIY nearly every repair and all maintenance on my 911 as the direct result of help from this BBS. Those savings add up to a bundle indeed.

So, based on logic, ethics, and plain good karma, I will not consider buying from anyone other than Pelican Parts.

I am sorry for your frustrating experience with this vendor. Your post should serve as a reminder to everyone that uses this site how fortunate we are to have Wayne and Pelican Parts!

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Mike

+2

Pelican is great - I've never had a problem with one of their orders - even the "drop ship" stuff not coming from their own warehouse. I think the only weird thing I ever had happen was they sent me a 930 oil filter instead of a 944 flywheel inspection cover. No biggie - they offered to exchange it no questions asked. Kind of funny actually. I tried using it as an excuse to tell my wife it meant I was "destined" to own a 930 and I should just go out and get one since I have the filter already (she didn't buy the logic, unfortunately).

Echo all the "ebay sucks" comments. It's good as an electronic version of the "for sale" bulletin board at the checkout stand in the grocery store or at the coffee shop, but little else.



Is this a new part or a "performance part"? I've noticed that lots of "performance parts" vendors list stuff they don't stock and then panic to try to source it if someone actually orders it - a very crappy business model. Worse still, some operate hand-to-mouth, using the revenue from today's orders to pay for the parts (wholesale) to fill last week's orders. An even worse business model. I know two or three "performance parts" places that had to operate that way due to financial trouble - one is still in business, one has gone under after an uproar and many threats.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

1. Even if Pelican is more expensive, I've asked them to match other advertised rates when placing large orders and they have.

2. the knowledge gained on the boards is priceless, but if you want to try to put a number to any given job, just call a local shop, ask for an estimate, then do the job yourself based on all the info on the Tech Forum.

3. Can you put on price on the community and the friends you make here? no.

4. Customer service is awesome. Won't go into gory details, but the CS team is the best I've ever dealt with.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Why didn't you just buy from Pelican?

Spped of shipping and customer service is second to none in my experience the last 3 months.

First thing that came to my mind as well!

[Joeaksa]

Wayne,

If a part is 10% more expensive on Pelican, I pay the money. Figure its worth it to support the BBS, which is invaluable to the Porsche community. If its a lot higher at PP then I email and ask if there is anyway that PP can get closer to the other companies price.

So far I have not purchased any Porsche parts at any other supplier due to this policy of price matching and do not believe that this will change anytime soon.

Besides, you need a new Ferarri I believe?

[deathpunk dan]

Well
The guy made it right and agreed to overnight a second shipment, and provided tracking info. So, resolution done...this was an ebay purchase. Having said that, its pp from here on out unless it is something pp does not sell.

Off to work on the car.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

FWIW I always contact Pelican for new parts!!!

Their Customer Service is outstanding! Heck, they even helped me out when it was ME who did the pooch!!!