Dealing with internet vendors

[akmnstr]

I took some time off over the 4th to work on our bikes and had to order several parts over the net.  I had a real mixed bag of experiences.  Here are 3:

Calcycleworks;  I ordered chains, sprockets and I thought I was ordering a set of feeler gauges.   Instead of feeler gauges I ordered metric thread gauges.  Turns out I really need a set of thread gauges for one of my projects.  Did they read my mind or had they been hanging out in my shop looking over my shoulder?  As usual excellent service and tootsie rolls in the last order.  I highly recommend this outfit. 

Race Tech;  I ordered oil seals, dust seals, and bushings for our SV650 off their web site.   Turns out for our year SV, Suzuki used two different forks.  Their web site only gives partial info on the issue, ordering the correct parts is not a clickable option and, of course, I ended up with the wrong parts.  I lost much time as a result of getting the wrong parts and dealing with customer service was a huge pain.  The totality of the interaction with Race Tech was too lengthy to describe here.  I ended up writing a letter after a negative phone conversation, but in the end I got the parts I needed although I had to pay for their shipping and additional cost of the correct parts.  When the bad parts were returned, Race Tech refunded my money that was paid for the correct parts, they did not charge a restocking fee, and they covered the shipping.  Their products are excellent and in the end they made good.  I was on the verge of saying never again but in the end I was satisfied and I will buy from them again. 

Desmo Times;  I purchased a sprocket from Snyder.  It turns out it was not correct for my bike.  It was my mistake.  I ordered the wrong part. I never took it out of packaging and returned it in new condition.  Snyder clearly states his policy on returned sprockets, a 50% restocking fee.  And that is what he kept.  So he did nothing wrong.  Again, it was my mistake.  But I can choose to buy from whomever I wish and I choose to never buy from anyone that charges a 50% restocking fee again. 

[Mhanis]

50% is crazy!! 15% is about normal.............


Mark

[Radar]

50%?!  That's too much. But, I'm a cheap bastard...

[speedknot]

Cheap or not, 50% is a bit over the top.  If you don't want to accept returns, then so state.

Chris at CA is great to deal with as well as Jeff at Monster Parts.   

[akmnstr]

I have purchased from Chris many times over the years and never a problem.  He has also given me excellent advice.  Desmo Times doesn't seem to care about customers.  Minimum orders and huge restocking fees.  Seems that Snyder just doesn't want to be bothered.  My favorite vendor of all time is no longer in business and I at times feel lost because I can no longer go to them.  BCM always had what I needed, they gave me great advice, and when I once had a problem with one of the techs the owner, Bruce Meyer, got on the phone.   Another time I was having problems tuning my FCR carbs (which I purchased from someone else) and Bruce worked with me for months to fix the problem.  He gave me his personal cell phone no when he went on vacation so we could continue working on the issue. 

[Howie]

Ca Cycleworks just might have read your mind.  I'm not a believer in internet shopping, but our DMF sponsors are like your neighborhood customer oriented store , except they are so far away you have to use the internet.

[the_Journeyman]

I have had excellent experiences with CA Cycleworks, ordering from them multiple times with no problems and fairly quick shipping.  I was even e-mailed with alternatives when I ordered something that was backordered and I didn't catch it as I was placing the order.

Also, someone mentioned Monsterparts, and I ordered only once from here, but it was a good experience with fast shipping.  He must have put my order in the box the second I submitted it.

I'll buy from both again.

JM