Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 17:19:48 -0800
Reply-To: "H.D. Bryant" <dbryant@WESTWORLD.COM>
Sender: "For Corvette Enthusiasts:1953-1997+" <VETTES@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
From: "H.D. Bryant" <dbryant@WESTWORLD.COM>
Subject: Good Mail Orders and one REALLY Bad Experience with Mail Order HouseI'm a relatively new owner of a '77 late coupe (52nd Birthday, last July 4th). I went through the usual motions of finding the Vette FAQ, lashing up with VetteNet, etc. and watched the mail. I am not independently wealthy, but I have ordered a few things from various suppliers, e.g.,
VB &P (very good suspension parts, sway bars, etc. Installed the "Grand Touring" package and heavy duty rear cover, very happy with all);
Corvette Central: Air conditioner hose and drier/accumulator;
Mid America: Car cover, "smart strut" kit, posters, special sale items;
Ecklers: Chrome stuff I couldn't find elsewhere and a nifty rubber bumper for the front license nose area;
Pacifica Motoring Accessories: Carpet set, weatherstriping, console, sport mirror, and maybe interior door panels (pending). I've had good luck with all of the above, with particularly helpful responses from Mid America, Corvette Central, and Pacifica. Ecklers was nice, but everything had "gone up" in the short time that had lapsed between the time I had received the catalog and placed my order and I ended up spending about 8-10% more than the listed price, by the time you added postage, etc. However, one of my itenms received from ecklers was damaged in transit and they were very cordial and responsive handling the return pick up and re=shipment.
Now for the horror story. I sent away for catalogs from most of the vendors listed in the FAQ this last July. One of the vendors sending me a catalog was "Dr. Rebuild". I was working on a list of parts for my next project and decided to try the "Doc" out. I called the "Toll Free" number and got a male order taker who was obviously having a bad day. I asked if certain parts were in stock and the individual told me to call back on their (203) 366-1332 number, since the toll free number was just for placing orders, not giving out availability information. I said, "O.K., then I'd like to order two tail lights, Part Number #2660319, @ $35.40". The order taker responded that that item now sold for 125.00 (or so). I responded that I had just gotten their catalog and there must have been some mistake. The person, now very loud and rude, asked me the volume number on my catalog and I asked where to find that information, was told in the top left corner, responded that the number was volume 21, and was told that this catalog was over four years old and that I was wasting the order taker's time. I looked on the back of the catalog, told the person that the catalog was postmarked July 16, 1996 from Bridgeport CN, and the person tole me to "have a nice day and hung up on me!"
I tried calling the company back on the "paid" line, the number was busy for a while, and finally rung through. Guess what, the same person anwswerd the phone. I said "Didn't I just talk to you on the Toll Free Order Line?" The answerer said yes, but I was wasting his time and his toll free number. I asked him if I could talk to the Owner or Manage, and he said he was the owner. I asked him his name and he responded "Jeff" or "Jess", I couldn't tell which for sure. When I asked him how to spell his name, he responded with: "Have a nice day..." and hung up again.
Needless to say, I'm FAXing my order to Corvette Central, whose prices were certainly within a couple of pennies of this jerk"s, as soon as I sign off the net.
Believe me, this was the first and absolutely the LAST time I'll call Dr. Rebuild and I hope any of you doing business with that firm catches "Jeff" or "Jess" in a better mood than I did. You know, the funny thing about this is this was just the first item on my list and Santa left me some green stuff to spend on my toy! Guess who doesn't get to find out how much was in my stocking!
If you have a question or problem with the VETTES list, please Email:
Bob Kaneshige <khaav@asuvm.inre.asu.edu> .
May you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday...Date: Sat, 28 Dec 1996 09:24:50 -0800
Reply-To: "Jeff Barnett." <stingray67@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: "For Corvette Enthusiasts:1953-1997+" <VETTES@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
From: "Jeff Barnett" <stingray67@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: THE WORST MAIL ORDER CO. BY FAR!!!
O.K. folks, I just got off the phone with the most disgusting, nasty, rude and arrogant people I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with.. the DR. REBUILD CO. I could not imagine how anyone could be as bitter and nasty as these people, and still remain in business.
They were condescending, and pretty much hung up on me when I asked a question about a part. No free advise here folks. And I think there the only ones in the Corvette industry that still only sells a catalog, no freebies here. I was about to spend about $400+ bucks with them, and they said "if I wanted any questions answered I had to call back on there toll line", they would not even tell me if the part was available!!!!! without paying!!!.
I'm not the type to gang up and slam people.. (ah maybe sometimes) but I think all 500+ of use should, call their 800# and ask for a catalog, just to tie up there line.. (kinda like what folks did with the O.J. video). I cannot believe that a company like this can be in business in the 1990's Heres the # 800-866-9362 All I can say is H.D. Bryant was not joking when he said these guys were A-holes, but I had to see for myself.
Jeff Barnett
http://home.earthlink.net/~stingray67
So. Ca. '67 Tripower "Skunk" Roadster
'67 # 1,874------------Corvette # 165,913If you have a question or problem with the VETTES list, please Email:
Bob Kaneshige <khaav@asuvm.inre.asu.edu> .
May you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday...Date: Sat, 28 Dec 1996 20:43:27 -0500
Reply-To: Bob Griffiths <rgrif@FRED.NET>
Sender: "For Corvette Enthusiasts:1953-1997+" <VETTES@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
From: Bob Griffiths <rgrif@FRED.NET>
Subject: Re: THE WORST MAIL ORDER CO. BY FAR!!!
Comments: To: Scott A Ewine <sae@techassist.com>
>All I can say is H.D. Bryant was not joking when he said these guys were A->holes, but I had to see for myself.=== AS A LIFELONG RETAIL "MERCHANT" 30 + years=== I REPLY ===
Dr. Rebuild...:
We all have bad days...but as a retailer I better not ever ever take my bad day out on the customer...(I have I admit, but on so damn few I'll bet its less the 2-3)... Hell my job as a retailer is to TAKE YOUR MONEY.... I'm good at it, but I want to see you again so I can pick your pocket again and again and again... I'm not going to do that unless I'm fair, my prices are high enough so I can stay in business yet low enough satisfy the customer... Piss a customer off by being rude etc is just nuts...bad business, stupid crazy..insane..etc!
I've used Dr. Rebuild on many occasions over the years with little or no trouble or hassle. BUT I have noticed that the last 2 years at Carlisle they have shown up with 10 items on a table and will take your order and ship later...(for the previous 10 years they showed up with 10000 parts and a huge tent....cash & carry)
So maybe its time that they just go out of business.... happens all the time!
Bob
Bob Griffiths72 4 sp Roadster (Red)
79 L82 Coupe (White)
76 4 sp l-48 Coupe (Blue)
68 Chevelle SS 396 (bondo & Bare metal)If you have a question or problem with the VETTES list, please Email:
Bob Kaneshige <khaav@asuvm.inre.asu.edu> .
May you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday...NOTE: Bob Griffiths had ordered from us several times. He was just disappointed that we no longer brought "10,000 parts" to Carlisle. Remember this was 1996, and in 1999 he was still ordering. Apparently he did not have a problem with anyone being rude to him. And he never lied to us either.