Vendors burning forum members.

[Pearl zed]

Is there a quality standard for sponsorship and promotion of vendors on this forum? I have been lied to and mislead about availability and shipping time 2 out of four of my last orders..by weeks. And they happily take my money first before the lies start about delivery..

[FairladyZ40th]

Originally Posted by Pearl zed

Is there a quality standard for sponsorship and promotion of vendors on this forum? I have been lied to and mislead about availability and shipping time 2 out of four of my last orders..by weeks. And they happily take my money first before the lies start about delivery..

I believe there is a way to have this brought to attention but yes first I'd report them to admin here. I would also call them out or post about your experience and simply let everyone know that those vendors are unreliable. Thirdly, if your purchase was through PayPal or something similar then I'd also report them to Paypal. I'm not 1000% sure on all of it but that's where I'd start. Give this thread some time for others to pitch in some advice I'm sure you'll be able to resolve your issue brother.

[birdman71]

Originally Posted by Pearl zed

Is there a quality standard for sponsorship and promotion of vendors on this forum? I have been lied to and mislead about availability and shipping time 2 out of four of my last orders..by weeks. And they happily take my money first before the lies start about delivery..

There are a couple factors that come into play with vendors.

-What parts you ordered
-Company you ordered from

The parts you order plays a factor because if you order a set of coilovers you can get them in the mail in like 2 weeks. That is because they are usually already produced in a factory and in stock with vendors selling them. If you order an FRP or Carbon Fiber body kit piece you have order time, production time, shipping time to vendor, and shipping time to you. Most vendors do not have a production company in the US for these body kit pieces. Shipping can take a while when ordering production pieces.
I waited close to 4 months for my Carbon Fiber SS hood and Carbon Fiber RS1 fenders from Fly1 Motorsports. I know people who have waited 6-8 months for Authentic Amuse, Fujimura, and Varis parts in Dry Carbon fiber from Japan.

The company you order from is important because of the fact you don't want to order something from a company that will just take your money and run. Usually on this forum we do a good job on staying up to date on "Bad Vendors". GTM, Evo-r, Aerojacket etc. There are plenty of threads. Just use the search function.


Just make sure you do a good amount of research before purchasing anything using only Paypal Goods and Services from an Aftermarket Vendor. If you are purchasing from an Aftermarket Company, like ordering KW v3's from the KW retail site, you have less to worry about but still mistakes happen.
If you are still unsure of whether or not to order from the company at hand, post something to the forums. People here will tell you.

[FairladyZ40th]

Originally Posted by birdman71

There are a couple factors that come into play with vendors.



-What parts you ordered

-Company you ordered from



The parts you order plays a factor because if you order a set of coilovers you can get them in the mail in like 2 weeks. That is because they are usually already produced in a factory and in stock with vendors selling them. If you order an FRP or Carbon Fiber body kit piece you have order time, production time, shipping time to vendor, and shipping time to you. Most vendors do not have a production company in the US for these body kit pieces. Shipping can take a while when ordering production pieces.

I waited close to 4 months for my Carbon Fiber SS hood and Carbon Fiber RS1 fenders from Fly1 Motorsports. I know people who have waited 6-8 months for Authentic Amuse, Fujimura, and Varis parts in Dry Carbon fiber from Japan.



The company you order from is important because of the fact you don't want to order something from a company that will just take your money and run. Usually on this forum we do a good job on staying up to date on "Bad Vendors". GTM, Evo-r, Aerojacket etc. There are plenty of threads. Just use the search function.





Just make sure you do a good amount of research before purchasing anything using only Paypal Goods and Services from an Aftermarket Vendor. If you are purchasing from an Aftermarket Company, like ordering KW v3's from the KW retail site, you have less to worry about but still mistakes happen.

If you are still unsure of whether or not to order from the company at hand, post something to the forums. People here will tell you.

Your formality and professionalism... I just love that $hizzz

[Pearl zed]

Thanks for your advice. I guess I got used to the good customer service and communication from the larger outfits like Amazon. I will call or email from now on to confirm availability and lead time before giving them my credit card info.

[BC416]

I go by the rule that if I plan on purchasing from a company, they need to have a phone number I can reach them at and someone that actually answers when I call. I've ordered parts directly from F.I. and ConceptZ. Both times I called, I reached a real person first shot who answered every question I had very professionally prior to my purchase.

[Nixin]

I believe that this thread needs to be posted as a sticky/permanent thread. This way all members can see/read first hand the experience some have had with certain vendors, be it negative or positive. As far as I am concerned, if a vendor posts and advertises on this forum, they need to have integrity and be held accountable for their shortcomings.

[birdman71]

Originally Posted by FairladyZ40th

Your formality and professionalism... I just love that $hizzz

You know it

Originally Posted by Pearl zed

Thanks for your advice. I guess I got used to the good customer service and communication from the larger outfits like Amazon. I will call or email from now on to confirm availability and lead time before giving them my credit card info.

No problem, And you're right about a company like amazon having good customer service and communication; that's due to them having complete service departments just for a certain type of call. Vendors like these are like a 5-10 man crew if that.
Although like BC416 said, Vendors ,for example, Concept Z Performance, Fast Intentions and Z1 Motorsports, Bulletproof Automotive and Fly1 Motorsports at least have great communication and rep a smaller group of employees.

Hell another example is Lohit @ Fly1 Motorsports; he is great with communication. I prefer to buy it from him if it's something that he carries even if it is a tad more expensive; knowing the customer service, communication and quality will all be top notch.

[chrismau808]

To me the wait time on body parts is ridiculous. I mean its understandable if it's coming from Japan or somewhere over seas, but even then theres a point. But if you are ordering body parts from a company in the US it shouldn't take months. Like i said in my thread if customers were only putting down deposits, guaranteed the parts wouldn't take months, they'd have that **** made real quick. Especially if you are a company that makes maybe like 10 parts (that are copies of someone elses design and charge almost as much as the authentic parts) I dont understand why they can't stock some ****. I'd gladly pay extra for it to be in stock, but to charge more and still have you waiting for several months and they are in the US...that's ridiculous.
The worst part about it is when they lie to get the sale then are just fine having you wait and stop or slow with communication after you pay.
I just don't understand when it became normal for "businesses" to order me parts with my money, like wtf are you in business for, what do you actually carry, carry some parts so I can buy them. Again I can understand if parts are special order from overseas but then why not spend more money and order extras for stock? I mean you are a vendor on a 370z forum, why not carry some 370z parts!? Oh so weird the concept right?
It's just too bad extreme dimensions or carbon creations don't copy more stuff for the z cause their parts are always readily available. If they did it would make all these other businesses step their game up and hurry the f up.

[/Angelo350Z/]

I paid for a set of pads from a forum vendor on Wednesday night, about 30 hours ago and they still haven't shipped. I suppose it's normal, but I'll be upset if they don't ship by Friday night, or within 48 hours of purchase. another forum vendor, Concept Z, has been excellent from my experience though. Z1 was great in my 350Z days, but I recently purchased brake parts from them, and their customer service has seen better days.

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by Pearl zed

Thanks for your advice. I guess I got used to the good customer service and communication from the larger outfits like Amazon. I will call or email from now on to confirm availability and lead time before giving them my credit card info.

yah, most speed shops do not have live inventory info online.. and some of their live inventory info is based on the manufacture's inventory info located at another location which can really throw off ur arrival time.

another reason why i try to find the same item on amazon and ebay stores first even if it costs a little more.

[chrismau808]

Also, is it possible on the vendor classifieds, maybe even just for exterior parts to have a sub section that a vendor can list what 370z parts they actually have in stock and they have to regularly update it? how dope would that be? how empty would that sub section be...lol?

[Chuck33079]

Originally Posted by birdman71

You know it







No problem, And you're right about a company like amazon having good customer service and communication; that's due to them having complete service departments just for a certain type of call. Vendors like these are like a 5-10 man crew if that.

Although like BC416 said, Vendors ,for example, Concept Z Performance, Fast Intentions and Z1 Motorsports, Bulletproof Automotive and Fly1 Motorsports at least have great communication and rep a smaller group of employees.



Hell another example is Lohit @ Fly1 Motorsports; he is great with communication. I prefer to buy it from him if it's something that he carries even if it is a tad more expensive; knowing the customer service, communication and quality will all be top notch.

Exactly. I will happily pay a little more if the service and communication is good, and I'll come back for more parts later.

[birdman71]

Originally Posted by chrismau808

To me the wait time on body parts is ridiculous. I mean its understandable if it's coming from Japan or somewhere over seas, but even then theres a point. But if you are ordering body parts from a company in the US it shouldn't take months. Like i said in my thread if customers were only putting down deposits, guaranteed the parts wouldn't take months, they'd have that **** made real quick. Especially if you are a company that makes maybe like 10 parts (that are copies of someone elses design and charge almost as much as the authentic parts) I dont understand why they can't stock some ****. I'd gladly pay extra for it to be in stock, but to charge more and still have you waiting for several months and they are in the US...that's ridiculous.
The worst part about it is when they lie to get the sale then are just fine having you wait and stop or slow with communication after you pay.
I just don't understand when it became normal for "businesses" to order me parts with my money, like wtf are you in business for, what do you actually carry, carry some parts so I can buy them. Again I can understand if parts are special order from overseas but then why not spend more money and order extras for stock? I mean you are a vendor on a 370z forum, why not carry some 370z parts!? Oh so weird the concept right?
It's just too bad extreme dimensions or carbon creations don't copy more stuff for the z cause their parts are always readily available. If they did it would make all these other businesses step their game up and hurry the f up.

Originally Posted by chrismau808

Also, is it possible on the vendor classifieds, maybe even just for exterior parts to have a sub section that a vendor can list what 370z parts they actually have in stock and they have to regularly update it? how dope would that be? how empty would that sub section be...lol?

I do agree that it is a bit of BS to have to wait months to get body kit parts, but it's not all because of the fact they don't keep the product stocked. Process is as follows: Order the production of the part. Part orders are grouped into batches. A batch contains "x" amount of orders. Once all of those orders are done with production and ready to be shipped then the batch with all "x" amount of parts is shipped to the Vendor, after inspection by the vendor it is shipped to the buyer. So if your order is #1 out of, say, 100 parts in that batch you have to wait a little while before it is even shipped to the vendor, which yes is a strain on everything, but its just how the business runs.
Otherwise parts would be double the price for replicas and authentic kits with fixing the shipping delay and pay shipping and customs costs for individual parts. Most if not all body kit pieces for our 370z's are made overseas. It just depends on which country, not all are Japan.

As for vendors having all of these body kit parts in stock, they are rare to find in stock due to the fact that the parts are made when ordered, authentic nor replica
Even ordering body kit pieces from a company, they are made when ordered since they are authentic pieces at that point.

I differentiate "Vendor" and "Company" because as stated in a previous post and earlier in this one; A Vendor is a certified retailor selling many different brands of products. A company is a brand that sells its brand (only authentic)

An example of each:
Vendor purchase: I bought a Varis Arising II body kit from bulletproof automotive
Company purchase: I bought a Varis Arising II body kit from Varis Japan


Just a slight difference, but still is different. Plus replica prices are a HELLLLL of a lot cheaper than Authentic pieces. At least 50% difference if not more depending on the part.
An entire authentic FRP Amuse kit with no paint costs roughly $6500 shipped. brand new.
An entire replica FRP Amuse kit with no paint costs roughly $2750 shipped.

Yeah it is not cool that aftermarket vendors don't always have the best business ethics and practices, but that is why you are part of a great community like this 370z forum. There are plenty of people that will help you pick the correct company for a bit more rather than get ripped off for a little less. I believe that if it seemed to be too good to be true than it usually is. Sometimes you get lucky, but more often than not it goes wrong.

Make sure you use the correct companies and only order from them.

[chrismau808]

Originally Posted by birdman71

No problem, And you're right about a company like amazon having good customer service and communication; that's due to them having complete service departments just for a certain type of call. Vendors like these are like a 5-10 man crew if that.
:

I don't know how to quote multiple post, but by your explanation to me, amazon would be a vendor. But I understand what you are saying, i just disagree...somewhat. To me vendor and company is same same...but different lol. I'm sure if you asked the owner of one of these 5-10 man crew what he does, he will more then likely say something like...i have/run my own company, and not like...i am a vendor. So to me they are same same. But I do understand the point you were making and the difference between them.

Also, I'm only speaking about the experiences with some companies that i've dealt with, couple bad apples, most have been great. And I guess i'm referring to the companies that make their ****(or say they do) and not the ones that sell another companies products.

But again to me its understandable if parts are coming overseas...to a point. But with the US based companies, like 1 for me is Aerojacket, they only make what like 6-10 products? And it seems like i'm the last guy from this forum to order from them, they can't be too busy to make my part or to even respond, why should it be acceptable to wait months for a product they told me would be done real quick if i ordered frp. So imo why are the US based companies that make their own parts not making/stocking the parts they sell, it shouldn't be made to order every time, they are not a restaurant. I mean hell some of them are releasing new products available for order when there are people still waiting on old product that's been paid for. To me that's shady. Take orders for **** when you are several months behind on orders you already have. Make my ****.

I just noticed this subject makes me say **** a lot. By **** I mean parts, and by parts I mean something you won't receive for several months after you order. Again i'm only speaking about the couple rotten apples i'm dealing with and not all the other companies that I haven't dealt with.

Now I need to go and try to decide if i want to wait for a carbon Fujimura or Ings front lip, cause i'm sure no one has them in stock. Guess ill check the vendor classifieds.