Pelican Parts lost in the mail

[dannichols1474]

I am doing a engine rebuild on my 75 Carrera (see "CIS to ITB EFI conversion" thread) and my build is coming along pretty well. Monday I ordered some valve adjuster locking nuts (order ending X-926) - small order, default ship with USPS. The parts shipped Tuesday night from South San Francisco, I live in Milpitas 50 miles away, so order would usually arrive Wednesday.

So parts go from SF to San Jose, but then go to King City, CA, then back to San Jose and now (Friday) the parts are in Baltimore, MD! Clearly, the shipping label must be messed up. On one level this is funny, but I need the parts. So I call PP and talk with a customer service rep that tells me PP has no visibility on shipments with USPS and that I must wait 14 days before PP can create a replacement order. I point out I'm doing an engine rebuild and I have bought thousands of dollars in parts from PP in the last 90 days and can you help me out? Nope - must wait 14 days - am I talking to an AI bot?

But I am not willing to wait - I need the parts. I place another order and select ground which means FedEx shipping and pay the additional freight (order ending X-861).

Moral of the story is that I won't let PP ship parts to me via USPS again - USPS is low cost, but if it goes wrong, you're stuck.

[GH85Carrera]

There is a simple universal rule of any on-line buying.

The less you care about when and a item shows up, it will be there overnight. The more you really need it, the more it will be delayed.

True of Amazon, Pelican or any other on-line ordering.

[Jonny042]

I really hate to say it, especially because this forum (which Pelican supports, obviously) is such a fantastic resource, and I am very thankful for it, but their packing and shipping is absolutely abysmal.

I still give them a chance occasionally, if it makes sense to do so (ie/ price/availability etc. or to use my PCA discount) but more often than not there is some issue with fulfillment, which invariably requires that I spend an inordinate amount of time chasing down the order or dealing with some screw up. It's happened enough times that I have a few key contacts at Pelican who I rely on to lend a hand when things go sideways. I hate to bug them (Hi glen ) but sometimes it's the only way.

[EC900]

Lots of businesses are relying on logistical fulfillment centers to ship stuff out, then shippers bean count the $ and bulk drop or handoff parcels to various carriers.
Takes a lot money to ship on the cheap.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

There is a simple universal rule of any on-line buying.

The less you care about when and a item shows up, it will be there overnight. The more you really need it, the more it will be delayed.

True of Amazon, Pelican or any other on-line ordering.

This.

The last time Fedex Ground shipped something ... never mind. I think they rebranded it Fedex Home Delivery.

[yelcab1]

The only serious problem I ever had with PP was their shipping. I found a solution to keep my sanity ... always pay for 2 day shipping, and sometimes overnight. I get much less heart burn now.

Free shipping ... you get what you pay for.

I just ordered 2 connectors ($14) and PP wanted to drop them in the US mail. I said, no effing way. I will pay the $40 overnight charge. Thank you. Got them the next morning.

[Jonny042]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

The only serious problem I ever had with PP was their shipping. I found a solution to keep my sanity ... always pay for 2 day shipping, and sometimes overnight. I get much less heart burn now.

Free shipping ... you get what you pay for.

I just ordered 2 connectors ($14) and PP wanted to drop them in the US mail. I said, no effing way. I will pay the $40 overnight charge. Thank you. Got them the next morning.

I've been doing this too, and it's absolutely worth the extra few bucks to keep things on track.

[dannichols1474]

Thank you for the advice about expedited shipping.

I received the back up PP order this morning (2 day turn from Carson, CA to Milpitas, CA via FedEx):


As for the original PP order, it went from Baltimore, MD to Washington, DC, then left our nation's capital headed for parts unknown.

I've written off this order, but it is rather amusing to watch it bounce around in the USPS network.

[pmax]

Similar routing here for Fedex but does look like it's arriving today or tomorrow.

[Funracer]

Destination Florida:



Purchased 11 days ago. Apparently its been stuck in Claude, TX for the last five days.
FedEx may take the blame here.

[kltarga72]

I had a UPS parcel sit for nine days in Texas after it was picked up in Ft. Worth. I was told by the company that I ordered the part from there's a shortage of CDL drivers.

[Funracer]

Originally Posted by Funracer

Destination Florida:



Purchased 11 days ago. Apparently its been stuck in Claude, TX for the last five days.
FedEx may take the blame here.

Got it today 13 days after shipped.

[nickelplated5s]

One reason I buy local when I can. Support etc. On the other hand my irrigation company uses UPS ground. Saves me a 45 minute drive and it's overnight in my state for ground pricing. On the other hand I feel the pain.

[yelcab1]

The other problem I sometimes have is I call the order in at noon, or half past noon, and it does not get shipped until the next day even though the salesperson stated that there is still time to ship it that afternoon. Not a huge problem, just wrong expectation set.

[dannichols1474]

My original PP order finally made it to me yesterday after 9 days and 6000 miles to make the 50 mile trip from South San Francisco, CA to Milpitas, CA.

When the package arrived it was not damaged, the shipping label was intact and the ship to address was correct. It was just my turn to have a wayward shipment, I guess.

And as so many have pointed out in this thread, what happened with my USPS shipment has happened with other carriers as well - FedEx, UPS, etc.

[ADDvanced]

Dude I don't know WTF is goign on over there lately. I ordered this:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=911-423-147-01-OEM

For some reason I got an EMPTY bag with a barcode on it. I called and complained, they shipped out another package, this time it was the right barcode and bag with a part in it, but it was a wheel stud.

I called and complained, and I'm hoping to receive the part I paid for, eventually.