Not sure if this is appropriate here, but I just had the worst buying experience from East Coast Chevy in Pennsylvania. They charged me $20. to ship a 2 lb box to Maryland. When I questioned this they told me that's what UPS charges. I checked online and it was $10.72. I asked again and they told me to shop somewhere else. In addition to this problem, I had ordered an original service envelope. It came with smeared ink. They promised me a replacement that after 3 weeks I didn't get. It's a $2. item. When I asked about that they said it's only $2., like I should forget about it. They promised again. We'll see, but they certainly will get their wish that I deal with another vendor. To make matters worse, they were rude the whole time, more or less acting like I was wasting their time.
I used them for most all of tri five purchases, but it's been almost 20 years. Always got good stuff and good prices. As for walking away, they are who I went to when I quit using Eckler's.
When I was building my wifes 56(Her grandmother bought it new in 56)I use to drive up to there shop for parts(60 miles). The guy behind the counter took phone calls and orders at the counter,(A bit grumpy to say the least)I would keep talking trying to break the ice with question after question,He finally asked if I wanted a tour(probably to get me out of his hair) He took me and the wife back to the shop to meet one of the fabricators(Don C, RIP) found out I worked with his cousin) Showed me alot about tri fives!! Excellent metal man!! Not defending the counter guy but maybe a little overwhelmed with orders, No excuse for over charging shipping cost! A bunch of great guys in the shop. Pete
Not defending them or what you were charged to ship your part but realistically, companies of all types have been padding shipping costs for years. They are certainly not the first outfit to use this tactic to pad the bill. I guess somebody gotta get paid to pull the order and pack it.
I wasn't smearing them for just $12. If you read my post it was more to it than that. Besides if it were $12. or $200. there's something to be said for treating a customer as a customer and not a piece of crap. The attitude that it's just $12. makes it sound petty, but keep in mind that's all it was to them too.
My take on this is't about $12.00; it's about all the potential sales that some counter-person has lost this company. He may have been a little overworked and stressed out, but that's still not acceptable, especially to tell a customer to, "shop somewhere else". This is where I'd be writing a letter to the president of the company. When I'm out driving, and someone in a "company truck" is driving erratically, cuts me off, is speeding through traffic, etc, etc, etc, I just write down the company phone number on the truck, then call the company later to speak to someone in charge. That person, driving that truck, is representing that company, and not doing a very good job of it.. It's bad for business, and if involved in an accident, is grounds for a lawsuit. So, call the company and talk to someone in charge about the counter-person. If you get the run-around from someone or disrespected, then write a letter to their president. It's always worked for me. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
Their catalog says their minimum shipping charge is $9.00 and that they always ship the least expensive way. It doesn't say when the catalog was last updated. Did you check the shipping cost before you ordered? That has changed my mind a lot of times. I recently looked at an OT item that was $11 and the shipping was $25. Didn't need it that much. I'd still make some noise with the vendor.
If you look on E-bay there will be eleventeen people drop shipping the same item with the prices all over the place. When you add the shipping it's a wash.
I'd take a different approach. I'd call 'em up, order about a 1000.00 dollars worth of their shit, and when it came to CC time, I'd ask to speak to the head guy, mention the size of my order and tell him I was going to follow his counter mans advice and take my business elsewhere. Funny how losing money has a profound way of altering attitudes.
OP pays $20...he looks online and rate is $10.72. Is the rate online the only cost necessary in making up the shipping amount? Boxes, tape, packaging materials and time cost something. What about the 3.25% he loses from the credit card company on the sale? If he is making a few bucks on the part, but loses money on the shipping, how long would he stay in business? Not defending this company at all...just wanted to expand on the shipping end of it.....also not saying he should have charged $20...but you get the idea.
A lot of the mentioned extra cost items should be built into the price of the item. If a guy walks in off the street, for example, there might still be credit card charges, and it certainly takes time. There was shipping charge info in their current catalog. It states the $9. minimum, and it also says that they charge 115% of the UPS rate to cover their miscellaneous extra charges and to cover box costs. So, I still feel it just wasn't right.
Yeah it wasn’t right but now you and others know to shop elsewhere and it is gonna cost this business a lot more than 12.00$ . So just let it be. And 5window if you want 12.00 for nothing East Coast Chevy is probably hiring?
I have to agree with you about the bad attitude. I know if I'm talking to a vendor on the phone about a purchase and they've already got an attitude while I ask a couple questions, we won't be doing business. On the other hand, the shipping cost part of it I just can't get that excited about. When I order parts online the shipping cost generally pops up before I finalize the order. If it seems outlandish I just don't go through with the purchase.
I closed my business 15 years ago, I sold Classic Chevy part, a Danchuk, Cars, etc. dealer I closed because I have a conscious. East Coast Chevy was like that then as they are now. Black Panther the cost of doing business is factored into the price you charge. I still look for the least expensive shipping cost for the person buying the part, I package stuff better than anyone on the planet. I closed up because people would come to my space with a price list from competitors and hagle with me over a 10% difference. Danchuk charged me a certain price the have a sale and sell the item for my lowest price, when I questioned the practice they said if I buy more I get a bigger discount. I wound up having $10,000. in inventory and people complaining about the price. I never, never sold an item for the retail price in their catalog. I wound up selling stuff for 10% above my cost just to get rid of it. I'm at peace now not dealing with Mfgs or buyers. I give stuff away rather than deal with the public. I believe in "karma" also, so don't mention to me about the tape and credit card charge as an excuse for a bad businessman. The cost of a swap space, gas, tolls, food(gotta eat) was more than I took in. So maybe I'm a bad businessman but nobody ever complained or said I screwed them, including the guy that broke a 57 Chev. grille bar installing it and said it was broke when he opened the box, I replaced it free of charge but would never sell him a part again. Pat
The actual amount is $11.28 Minus associated costs of course. 68 cents tax, 69 cents for a stamped envelope. Another 69 cents for a return stamped envelope (so you can write him a nice thank you note). Subtract $2.67 for gas to get to the PO and back home. Minus $1 to park and a $5.58 handling fee. You owe him 3 cents.
We all know “ shipping & handling “ , sucks for the vendor , and sucks for the consumer. “OL55” - Don C. RIP, great guy . Donny JR a gentlemen just like his Dad. As soon as this came up , I already knew the parts guy involved. I call and add parts to my list, only until I really need something do I have them shipped. Ken - only parts person at “OL55” to deal with .
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