I have a great buyer/seller relationship with my parts vendors but had a bad expperience with Rik's this morn. I've spent well into the four digits with Rik's and yesterday I had received another order I placed for a brake booster check-valve and a body lift kit.

The check-valve was the incorrect color though functionally I'm sure it's fine. The lift kit was a bunch of straps with hooks but no instructions.

I called and spoke to Rik and told him the check valve won't fit my needs and that I needed the instructions for the lift kit (though I have a general idea, I'm not 100% sure where to latch the hooks, and there's 20 items that have to disconnected/disassembled before the body can separated from the frame).

He stated that he sells 300 lift kits a year. I stated that's great, but this is my first Corvette and first lift-kit and I'll need instructions before I start to remove a 30 year fiberglass body off a frame.

He was no help so I said I'd like to return both items. He said fine, "there will be a 15% restocking fee". I stated I'd rather not pay that (about $13) and he gave me the option of a store credit. "No I want my credit card fully credited...I'm disatisfied with the two parts".

He said "no",..I said "take your 15% and close my account",..he said "fine".

Nice guy.

Zip,..I'm all yours.

 

Wow..Another after market dealer making friends.....Amazing...Don't these guys now we support them...Jesus!!

 

wow, two minutes ago I didn't know who/what Rik's is... now I know not to buy from them....

 

I have had nothing but good experiences with Riks. I too have purchased a lot of parts from them. And most of the time they are cheaper than Zip or any of the other vendors. I just purchased two turn signal switches for a 68. I got them last night and they look great.

I am sorry that you had a bad experience with them.

wayne h.

 

I also have had nothing but positive experiences with Riks.
I'm sure every vendor has someone who has had a bad experience.

 

Just to add, I just ordered the Lift-Kit from Zip for about $12 less and in their catalog it specifically states "instructions included". So I'm not the first guy who thought including instructions with a lift kit is a good idea.

Good that we have choices,..I'll choose one of Rik's competitors.

 

Hey man I'm with you. Anyone who forgets that the customer is king loses my business. I am about to start another project and will pass by Riks if I see them in Bloomington. What is the purpose of the restocking fee anyway? I'm sure they gouged you on postage both ways on top of this. But a restocking fee? One thing vendors need to remember that each sale begets another sale. Pork someone and not only do you lose that sale but many more.

 

Just to add: MidAmerica sent me items that I didn't need (It was unclear from their website was was included in their SS brake line kit and what wasn't). Although I could have asked before placing the order and ordering more than I needed THEY sent me a return label and took care of the shipping as well as refunded my money without any problems. Now that's how you make customers happy and keep them....

 

[snip]He stated that he sells 300 lift kits a year. I stated that's great, but this is my first Corvette and first lift-kit and I'll need instructions before I start to remove a 30 year fiberglass body off a frame.



Most people who work at these stores never turned a wrench on a vette. Do a search on past posts in this forum and you will get most of your answers to your questions. Was a forum member who posted pics of his A frame support for the lift-kit along with his body dolly he fabricated from metal. I have done a few body lifts and after looking at his pics I now use his way on mounting the straps to the body. His way is very good and a picture truely does equal a 1000 words. You will get a lot more usefull information on this forum to your questions then 95% of the vendors will give you IMO, houstonvett

 

No business from me.If the guy sees this thread he will bend over backwards to make it right and apologize with every excuss in the book,sorry Rik,you wont be seeing any of my money.Speaking about shipping charges I ordered a part from Paragon and because I wanted it as soon as possible I had to pay an extra $5 hands on fee.I asked the sales women what this was and she tells me that someone will go put there hands on the part right away,huh.Just another shipping ream job.There are too many places selling Corvette parts to put up with someone that doesnt want my money,they all pretty much get there parts from the same suppliers

 

I dunno...I can see an extra fee if you need your stuff now, and are therefore "jumping the line" in front of other orders.

 

I bought a Complete Carpet set, and paint and glue, and other little things. I thought the carpet set would have some kind of instructions, But no. Even though its something as simple as carpet, i figuire youd get instructions I mean even Mcdonald toys have instructions...

Even though my carpet will be put in fine, its just striking that there were none......(lease they have decent prices)

I liked there items though, I also got Two pairs of rear carpets just incase i had the rear speakers, that was cool, But they had my carpet peices(the smaller loose ones) rolled up i dont get why they could of laid them flat in this huge box i got. That made me mad but hey ill just have to make sure i clamp them when i glue them..

 

I have also ordered a lot from RIK's without any trouble, as far as the restocking fee, have you made any purchases from bestbuy?, this seems to a more common practice.

 

 

I have a small computer business. My invoices state there is a restocking fee of 15%. If the item comes back in the original unopened box, they get a full refund. If the item was opened then there is a restocking fee. Why? First of all, I will have to sell it at a discounted price and chances are it will be sold for less than I paid for it. Another reason for a restocking fee in my case is that I am not going to sell someone a power supply; they try it and it doesn't cure their problem, then they want to try a motherboard, next a cpu, etc until they find out what the problem is.
I think a restocking fee is a way to try and curb some of the abuse that occurs. To give an example: A customer was telling me his brother was building a wooden deck for his home. Went to Home Depot and bought a quality saw. Cut is lumber, built his deck, and returned the saw for a full refund. Home Depot with their lenient return policy has kept him as a customer, but who needs customers like that.

I was only responding to the restocking fee in general. I think the original post was a little different. Riks should have waived the restocking, although he did offer a full store credit. The purchaser didn't get what he bargained for.

 

mandm1200,..I respect that and in your business, it makes sense.

But in the "parts catalog" world we live in, we've no clue about the quality of a part, who the manufacturer is, what the part looks like, and if it should fit (a biggie), etc. Often, we're not even shown a photo of what we're ordering in the catalog.

I think we, the consumer, should be offered a full refund on unused parts within a reasonable time-frame if the part doesn't fit our needs, and most vendors have no problem with that. These 'customer friendly' vendors understand the hobby better than Rik who arbitrarily levies a 15% "restocking fee". There's another Rick in the Camaro world (Rick's First Generation) and he's the finest vendor in the business and understands the hobby better than anybody. Refunds?...absolutely no big deal whatsever.

After all, if a part is to be returned, we're paying for the shipping, both ways,..so who would simply order parts on bad faith?

Rik has plenty of competition and he won't see another dime from me.

 

WFIW, I have dealt with Rik for many, many years and never had any problem at all. He has always been good to deal with. I hate you had any problems. I'm not sticking up for him, but in reality, how many times have we all read about a vendor not having 100% satisfaction from every transaction. Do what you wish, but I will continue to deal with him.
Hey, I got nailed by General Motors on a warranty issue and I still drive GM. It can't be a perfect world for everyone. I understand your need to express your situation. There are a ton of vendors to choose from.
Maybe someone can post the positives about vendors too, that way, we will know WHO to buy from.
Not flaming, just expressing my opinion.