A good lesson for all. To always ask for shipping charges? Those hidden fees 
Consumer Alert: tld-corvette.com
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: Denton, Texas
Consumer Alert: tld-corvette.com
I've just had my 1st and last experience with this company (http://tld-corvette.com). Of course I only have myself to blame as when I ordered a shift lens bezel on-line, it did not give me a shipping amount.
I get an email a few hours later informing me of my total which included an $11.25 charge to ship this 1 oz item. OMG, I hit the roof and called to cancel. Atleast their service was quick, it had already been shipped with a tracking number to confim.
Live and learn.
I get an email a few hours later informing me of my total which included an $11.25 charge to ship this 1 oz item. OMG, I hit the roof and called to cancel. Atleast their service was quick, it had already been shipped with a tracking number to confim.
Live and learn.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,150
Likes: 1
From: Carlsbad, CA CA
That's how some of these companpies make money. They charge less for the actual product you are buying in order to beat their competitor's prices but they rape you on S&H in order to make their profit back.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Originally Posted by 4cRanch
I've just had my 1st and last experience with this company (http://tld-corvette.com). Of course I only have myself to blame as when I ordered a shift lens bezel on-line, it did not give me a shipping amount.
I get an email a few hours later informing me of my total which included an $11.25 charge to ship this 1 oz item. OMG, I hit the roof and called to cancel. Atleast their service was quick, it had already been shipped with a tracking number to confim.
Live and learn.
I get an email a few hours later informing me of my total which included an $11.25 charge to ship this 1 oz item. OMG, I hit the roof and called to cancel. Atleast their service was quick, it had already been shipped with a tracking number to confim.
Live and learn.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 377
Likes: 1
From: Redmond Wa
My experience with The Last Detail has also been very good. I always expect to pay $8.00 to $10.00 as a 'minimum' s&h charge. It's always expensive when you are purchasing one very small and light piece. I try to consolidate my purchases to optimize the shipping and handling charges.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,236
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
I've used The Last Detail many times and have always received excellent service. You don't say whether they charged you the actual shipping amount or whether the $11.25 was more than actual shipping. I know that seems like a lot to ship a small part, but depending on how far it has to go UPS can be expensive. That's why I much prefer USPS Priority Mail (plus Priority is a lot faster) but most of the parts places won't use ship with USPS. If they did charge more than actual shipping that's not right.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 42,935
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From: Sydney, Australia
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17, '22
Originally Posted by BlackbirdZ07
I've used The Last Detail many times and have always received excellent service. You don't say whether they charged you the actual shipping amount or whether the $11.25 was more than actual shipping. I know that seems like a lot to ship a small part, but depending on how far it has to go UPS can be expensive. That's why I much prefer USPS Priority Mail (plus Priority is a lot faster) but most of the parts places won't use ship with USPS. If they did charge more than actual shipping that's not right.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,727
Likes: 711
From: Bergen County, NJ
All the Corvette parts suppliers charge alot for shipping.
Actually, The Last Detail is one of the better ones.
The usual is about twice the normal UPS ground price.
If you have the time, go to UPS website & figure out the charges .
And these suppliers also get discounts and bulk rates.
If you are new to Corvette ownership, get used to it.
Actually, The Last Detail is one of the better ones.
The usual is about twice the normal UPS ground price.
If you have the time, go to UPS website & figure out the charges .
And these suppliers also get discounts and bulk rates.
If you are new to Corvette ownership, get used to it.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,249
Likes: 3
From: Grovetown Georgia
I've used TLD many times, in my experience they normally have the best prices and customer service out there. I'm sure it'll be the same with most Corvette catalogs. NAPA has been the only company I've dealt with with a reasonably low shipping charge, but then they're in New York where the mail leaves from to get here.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
The Last Detail is hands down the best out there for quality and prices.
As for shipping charges, none of them charge you actual shipping costs. They need to make some money somewhere, that's where the handling comes in.
Take a look at Summit which provides free shipping, but hits you with a handling charge.
Those that would actually charge the actual shipping cost are charging you more for the part.
Another example of shipping rape is ebay.
I bought a service manual off ebay, the shipping charge was $12, when I received it, the stamped postage was only $3.60.
But in any case it's nice to know up front what the shipping charges will be.
As for shipping charges, none of them charge you actual shipping costs. They need to make some money somewhere, that's where the handling comes in.
Take a look at Summit which provides free shipping, but hits you with a handling charge.
Those that would actually charge the actual shipping cost are charging you more for the part.
Another example of shipping rape is ebay.
I bought a service manual off ebay, the shipping charge was $12, when I received it, the stamped postage was only $3.60.
But in any case it's nice to know up front what the shipping charges will be.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 7,836
Likes: 1
From: Global Warming My Butt
Another very happy TLD customer here too...
Easily the best parts vendor out there for aftermarket parts.
You want to get ripped off on shipping?? Buy something off gmpartsdirect.com and see how much they charge in shipping!
I ordered a window marker from Jegs one day for drag racing/autocrossing...the marker was $3 and the shipping was $7.
That got canceled real fast....
Easily the best parts vendor out there for aftermarket parts.
You want to get ripped off on shipping?? Buy something off gmpartsdirect.com and see how much they charge in shipping!
I ordered a window marker from Jegs one day for drag racing/autocrossing...the marker was $3 and the shipping was $7.
That got canceled real fast....
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 4
From: Middle River MD
Originally Posted by zelement
That's how some of these companpies make money. They charge less for the actual product you are buying in order to beat their competitor's prices but they rape you on S&H in order to make their profit back.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 89,144
Likes: 3
From: Life's tough, wear a helmet.
Originally Posted by HeeHaw89
I'm sure they know exactly what the charges are, but they don't want to lose the sale so they never tell you what it is up front...
I've got nothing but good things to say about TLD. In fact I'm building a list of items I need from them so I can do some work over the winter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,556
Likes: 0
From: Jenison MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
I have had good luck with them. Pay less for the part, more for the shipping = the same price from somewhere else but they ship it fast.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: Denton, Texas
TLD saga
This has been a great thread and I think we can all agree that TLD's service is excellent. After 10 years of other muscle cars ('70 442, '70 Chevelle SS), I purchased my 4th Vette recently. With my other cars, shipping had never been an issue and I realize that some retailers are less on the part and make up the profit through shipping.
What irritated me, and like I said earlier, I have to take the blame, is that they didn't indicate shipping cost throughout the on-line checkout. I suppose I thought that with such a trivial piece, shipping would not be an issue.
When I called, the guy told me that the amount was what UPS charged them. Unfortunately for him, I had checked UPS' site with a commercial account and found that the shipping markup was around 53% on this shipment. The response was "I don't know about that."
All in all, not that big of a deal. TLD is definitely great for service and from what I've been told, their parts are just as good. My opinion is that their online site is shady when it comes to the checkout area. They've lost 1 customer and I'm certain I won't send them into bankruptcy.
What irritated me, and like I said earlier, I have to take the blame, is that they didn't indicate shipping cost throughout the on-line checkout. I suppose I thought that with such a trivial piece, shipping would not be an issue.
When I called, the guy told me that the amount was what UPS charged them. Unfortunately for him, I had checked UPS' site with a commercial account and found that the shipping markup was around 53% on this shipment. The response was "I don't know about that."
All in all, not that big of a deal. TLD is definitely great for service and from what I've been told, their parts are just as good. My opinion is that their online site is shady when it comes to the checkout area. They've lost 1 customer and I'm certain I won't send them into bankruptcy.
