Ducati Depot and Metroduc

[MARRAHM]

If you buy parts from this place, I'd suggest that you make sure you buy them only through the ebay store where you can get buyer protection.  I purchased through the metroduc site and had a less than optimal experience as parts were stripped off of what I bought before shipping despite a picture showing what was to be included and clear requests before the order.  Wasn't a big purchase so its not worth fighting about since the shop took down the picture when I asked for the missing parts and is already selling the stripped parts separately.  Just wanted to give folks a heads up that if you're going to deal with them at all (which I cannot recommend), my $.02 is to do it only through channels that provide you buyer protection.

good luck,
Mike

And for what its worth, PayPal has no viable protection against such sellers.  It will not review a claim of this type at all or otherwise help resolve a claim if you get a partial shipment of something.  I understand ebay and other systems are somewhat better, but I don't have firsthand knowledge.   As always, buyer beware, especially in the world of used bike parts...

[vossy]

thanks for heads up

[TAftonomos]

That sucks man.  

Never bought anything from them, but did ask if they would price match gotham on a frame before.

Dude totally blew up on email at me.  Needless to say, I didn't buy anything from him/them

[Monstermash]

If you buy parts from this place, I'd suggest that you make sure you buy them only through the ebay store where you can get buyer protection.  I purchased through the metroduc site and had a less than optimal experience as parts were stripped off of what I bought before shipping despite a picture showing what was to be included and clear requests before the order.  Wasn't a big purchase so its not worth fighting about since the shop took down the picture when I asked for the missing parts and is already selling the stripped parts separately.  Just wanted to give folks a heads up that if you're going to deal with them at all (which I cannot recommend), my $.02 is to do it only through channels that provide you buyer protection.

good luck,
Mike

And for what its worth, PayPal has no viable protection against such sellers.  It will not review a claim of this type at all or otherwise help resolve a claim if you get a partial shipment of something.  I understand ebay and other systems are somewhat better, but I don't have firsthand knowledge.   As always, buyer beware, especially in the world of used bike parts...

 Hmmm.... I find this interesting because I have done tons of busniness with Tom (Metroduc) and NEVER had a problem. In fact he has exceeded my expectations on many occasions.
 Although I've never purchased anything from him via Ebay, I've always noticed on his auctions he is very clear regarding what is included in the sale. Additionally if you buy something from his site and are not sure if eveything pictured is included, it's always a good idea to contact the seller BEFORE sending a payment. This goes with any seller thats selling used parts IMO.

 Just curious, when you state that you gave "clear requests before the order" did you receive a response indicating that the parts in question were included and then were not when you received the order? If so, did you call him and try to work it out? I would be shocked if Tom wasn't willing to help you out.

[He Man]

Dude totally blew up on email at me.  Needless to say, I didn't buy anything from him/them

thats pretty gay. I could see if u try to throw an offer that was stupid low, but price match someone else just means you want to do buisness with a certain person.

[MARRAHM]

Monstermash,
Glad you've had a better experience.  I don't want to hash through it all, but the bottom line is i asked for and was given a price for a part "with all hardware" and confirmed all hardware when i placed the order and before payment.  after i received the part w/ critical hardware removed and asked them to send it over thinking it was a mistake, the web picture was removed because it "slipped through" their system and they refused to send the rest of the hardware that was shown in the pic. I tried to work it out with them, but they won't send the stripped parts or pay for both shipping costs on a return so i'm keeping what they sent and will find the hardware somewhere else if i need it rather than waste more money or run the risk they'll keep the parts and not return my money.   In the end, I'm out $35 or so, which isn't much but I thought it was worth a heads up to the group based on how they handled themselves.  
mike

[riffraff]

Monstermash,
I don't want to hash through it all...In the end, they took me for $35 or so
mike

I think if you are going to publicly trash someone's business, "hashing through it all" should be required...

[Monstermash]

I think if you are going to publicly trash someone's business, "hashing through it all" should be required...

 Agreed.

 I spoke with Tom AKA-Metroduc today and asked him about this. The way it was explained to me was that MARRAHM was looking at a pic on Ebay which had the sidestand he purchased with the switch included. He then purchased the item from Metroduc via his website for $50 less which did not include the switch.
 To an end, Tom offered to refund the purchase price AND his original shipping. MARRAHM then demanded Tom also refund his cost of shipping the item back and when Tom refused MARRAHM then started to threaten calling the BBB etc.

 So here is the problem. MARRAHM took what he saw from the ebay auction and just assumed because they were both HM sidestands from the same seller that buying it from the Metroduc website would be the same as buying it via the Ebay auction even though it was $50 less expensive. He never bothered to ask if the sidestand came with the switch when he purchased it. Metroduc has three HM sidestands in stock so when MARRAHM did the checkout on the website, Tom shipped what he purchased.

So basically, MARRAHM purchased something without bothering to confirm that it was indeed the same part offered in the auction even though it was $50 less expensive. For the record, Metroduc offers the sidestand with or without the switch on the website. Again, without the switch it is $50 less expensive.

[He Man]

sidestand switch isnt "hardware" in this case. its a whole other item.

bolts, return spring and  plate to connect to the engine is "hardware"....



theres always 3 sides of the story....

[MARRAHM]

MM,

Thanks for weighing in, but that's not an accurate statement of the facts.  According to Tom's emails to me -- he gave me a MetroDuc price that was $50 plus s/h, or $15 whole dollars off the price of the DucatiDepot ebay listing at the time, which was  $65 (and showed the stand with all the hardware -- including the switch).  $15.  Not $50.  And he didn't have to pay the ebay commission, so the difference was even less than that.  And when I purchased it, I specifically listed what "all the hardware" meant as shown in his listing just to make sure there should be no confusion:

"For HM stand with all associated bolts, mounting plate, springs and switch. I don't need the bolts that go into the engine block though. Thanks again tom."

Only after I received it did the company tell me the picture "slipped through" and wasn't right and they would not send me the switch or the switch mounting bolt despite my order.

 So back to my original post -- if you do business with either of these companies, do it in a way that gets you buyer protection.  Paypal and email threads won't do you any good.  And no, I didn't "threaten calling the BBB". But when the company refused to offer any explanation as to why the switch wasn't in the order given the picture, the price and me confirming at purchase that it was, I suggested we take it up at the BBB, thinking a third party would bring a useful perspective.  Wasn't worth the time, so I didn't do anything but challenge through Paypal, which was a waste of time as I mentioned. 

btw, I thought rifraf had a good point regarding the company and its reputation so I amended my post accordingly, I'd think the reverse should apply as well.
mike

[riffraff]

Only after I received it did the company tell me the picture "slipped through" and wasn't right and they would not send me the switch or the switch mounting bolt despite my order.

mike

When you look for the stand, make sure you get it with ALL hardware, bracket, bolts, springs, etc. since none of the stock monster stuff is compatible.  Except the switch, if you still have it.  The stock switch works just fine on the HM stand along with the weird little bolt that holds the switch on.  it mounts from the back on the HM stand, but that's it. 

good luck,
mike

So, for all this whining, in a wholly separate thread, you tell others who may be interested in this mod not to worry about getting this same switch/bolt when they purchase a HM sidestand, as the original Monster parts are compatible with the HM stand?? Wow....

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=40043.msg725259#msg725259

[atomic410]

I just bought a bunch of stuff from metroduc and have bought a bunch of stuff from them in the past.  I got it all in 2 days and Tom communicated great.  I wouldn't hesitate to buy stuff from him again.  too bad about your bad experience with a kickstand my experince with rotors calipers tanks levers etc have all been great

[accrocker]

I agree...I have purchased multiple items from Tom, including an ECU and have received nothing but fantastic service. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to do business with him again.

[Düb Lüv]

regardless what the item is. i always ask what's included and check the box at the bottom that sends a copy of the message to your email. never assume.

if you don't ask, you could just be buying a picture of what they're selling. family guy