I ordered the Eckler seatbelt kit on May 2nd with a promised delivery by May 5th.

However, I called today, on May 6th, when it did not arrive (and I was given no notice why) and asked a CSR where my order was. "Sorry, we are closing the Florida center and transferring all inventory to the Kansas location. We expect to...maybe...ship in a month or 2."

Since my car is in the shop with the back out to install the new belts, I asked for another person to find out if there was any way I DON'T have to keep my car in the shop for 2 months waiting to find out IF Ecklers ships. Transferred to 2 other people that stated they were "not the right person" and they have no idea why I was transferred to their extension. Then I was hung up on.

Called back and got with another CSR that stated "Yea, we don't know when shipping will resume." Also found out they cannot place an "expedite" on any order and are virtually in the dark on the moving process progress. I asked why the website still promised 1-3 day delivery and was told "they are working on it."

So, FYI. If you are thinking of ordering from Ecklers in the next 3 months, think carefully as they will be heavily backlogged & will take a very long time to get your parts. Think about it...they cannot ship for 2 months, are still taking orders, then hope to catch up when? I am not sure Ecklers thought this through since they withheld the SHIPPING DELAYED information from customers.

Does anyone know who manufactures the setbelts for Ecklers?

Thanks.

 

UPDATE: I decided to cancel the order since it would not arrive for months from now.

When I called to cancel the order it seemed to take a lot of "may I place you on hold" moments. The CSR did not ask why I was cancelling but offered up that it was probably due to shipping delays with the move. I confirmed to her this was the very reason. She stated that a credit back to my credit card would take 7 days.

Strangely, now I got an email from Ecklers with a RMA number to confirm the return of the part I never received. It states:

Corvette 3-Point Shoulder Harness & Seat Belt Kit, Retractable, Retrofit, Medium Blue, 1965-1967
Item #: EK-25-155824-1
Unit Price: $$259.99
QTY: 1
Click on the Link(s) below to open and print your Return Shipping Label(s).You will need software which is capable of opening PDF files (Portable Document Format).

Step 3. Attach your shipping label to your box (be sure to remove or cover all other shipping labels)

Step 4: Take your package to a FedEx location with a QR code scanner and show this code from your smartphone.

FedEx will then print a label for you. Replacement products, if applicable, will be shipped once the original item shows “in transit” to us by the carrier.

Step 5: Track your package to ensure it was received by Eckler's.

Step 6: Store credit refunds will be issued within 24 hours of carrier accepting the package. Refunds to original method of payment will be issued within 7-10 business days of carrier accepting the package.

I responded yesterday by email that I cannot return an item I never received. No response yet as of today.

 

WAIT!!! What is this???? Ecklers just emailed me they shipped the seatbelt kit today at 1:52PM...when they stated numerous times they could not even get access to it AND after I had cancelled the order yesterday at about 2pm. Geez.....

OK...according to the Tracking Report Ecklers only created a shipping label. This still means they have NOT shipped the part.

Next I called and finally got to Fontaine (long wait times). She told me they "tried" to cancel the order yesterday but that it looks like it "might" have not gotten to the shipment department. I asked her to look into this problem ON THEIR PART. After a very long period where it seemed I had been hung up on she basically said "Sorry, that's where it is at."

Ecklers believes that if they create a shipping label, then they get to keep your money no matter how long they need to actually ship the part. The incredible lack of intercompany communcations here is such a poor business model & process.

I have already had my credit card charged in full, Ecklers suddenly created a shipping label after the cancellation, (5 people stated that Ecklers cannot ship for 1-2 months) and then Ecklers expects to keep my monies because they created a paper label, regardless that they have not shipped the part to ME, so I can return it to THEM, under their RMA procedures just to get my money back? Unbelievable.

Called credit card and placed a "Dispute" on the charge.

 

Oh...and I have sent copies of everything since Monday to both support@ecklers.com & service@ecklers.net with zero response for days. I asked Fontaine for the email of a living, breathing human being to email with and she said this is all they have.

 

Dispute the charge and be done.

 

Today is May 12th, I canceled the Order on May 8th, 4 days ago. Today the seatbelts were delivered. After 5 Ecklers people told me specifically that the warehouse was being moved and I would have to wait 1-2 months for delivery. Since I cancelled the order May 8, I ordered the seatbelts elsewhere and have already had them delivered and installed.

Starting the RMA return process to send them back to Ecklers and get my payment they took upfront returned to me. Never had any response from Ecklers service or support...not very good Customer Service IMHO.

BTW - RETURN POLICIES YOU SHOULD KNOW -

Ecklers: "Returns must be initialized within 30 days from purchase date."

Top Flight: "We accept returns on most products if returned in unused, original condition in original packaging. Returns more than 90 days old from date of invoice will not be accepted for any reason. Qualified returns will receive a full refund on items returned within 30 days from invoice date. Qualified returns older than 30 days but less than 91 days, will be assessed a 25% restocking fee."

ZIP: "Parts and accessories bought from Zip Corvette may be returned within one (1) year without a restocking fee."

KEEN: Nothing on their website that could be found.

 

Talk about sketchy!!! Thank you for this thread, based on reading your experience alone, this is enough for me to steer far away from ever ordering anything from Ecklers! The good ol' day's are long gone, it's very depressing! Good luck with the return, you'll probably send them back, and then they'll claim they were "damaged" or were "installed" by you and deduct 75%....make sure you take pictures, while at wherever you ship them from, and tape the box shut right before you hand the box over!!!👍

 

Thank you '78CorvetteS.A. My intent was not to bash Ecklers but to highlight the very strong lack of customer service, and bad internal notification system, Ecklers seems to have. When 5 people tell you they cannot get your part for months, and they do NOT list this problem on their website, this is a dishonest approach to serving customers. To ship AFTER cancellation is another failure on their part (again after being told the part was not available multiple times).

Still today, zero response from Ecklers. Received seatbelts Sunday, shipped back Monday. Now in route FEDEX 274378395652. Let's see if they finally refund my money. UPDATE: Fedex showing tracking delivery to Ecklers on 5.16.24.

However, I did ship back a door seal yesterday to Top Flight that I ordered but found was already included in the door panels purchased from them. It was AFTER their 90-day rule, but TF approved the return anyway and gave me a RMA number. Extremely nice of them!!

 

Per Fedex today:
Hi. Your package was delivered Thu, 05/16/2024 at 8:42am.



TRACKING NUMBER 274378395652
FROM TEMPE, AZ, US
TO Lenexa, KS, US
SHIP DATE Mon 5/13/2024 12:00 AM
PACKAGING TYPE Package
ORIGIN TEMPE, AZ, US
DESTINATION Lenexa, KS, US
SPECIAL HANDLING Print Return Label Package Returns Program
NUMBER OF PIECES 1
TOTAL SHIPMENT WEIGHT 7.90 LB
SERVICE TYPE FedEx Ground

Let's see how long it takes to get my refund.

 

Partial credit issued but Ecklers is still charging me $24.95 shipping on the Order I CANCELLED BEFORE they suddenly found the part in their warehouse that I had been assured was shut down for the move.

Here is what their website says: "An order that has already shipped cannot be canceled. Please contact us to set up a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) once your order has been received.”

They have been treating this as a "Return" of a part that had NOT been shipped at the point of cancellation. Ecklers assured me that they could NOT ship and didn't have access to the part.

Called Ecklers today and talked to a Service Rep, he said "Sorry but..." so I asked my call be moved to a Supervisor. "George" said he would refund the shipping BUT I needed to get the CC block released first. Now working on that.

 

Found out that I could NOT reverse the CC dispute. It did show 100% recharged by Ecklers to my CC. What!?! They have ALL MY MONEY EVEN WITH THE PART RETURNED.

Printed a refund invoice from the Ecklers website showing they owe me back 100% of the monies charged. As of today no credit card chargeback noted.

Just sent them an email:
"Your website now shows that a refund in full is due me but my credit card shows zero credit back from Ecklers. I have paid the $306.00 to Chase and am wondering why the credit back is taking so long."

To date every email sent to support@ecklers.com & service@ecklers.net have had ZERO response in any way.

BTW: I did dispute the CC charge. Chase put a stop on it then, without telling me, recharged the CC for the monies to Ecklers....so Ecklers kept my money as of 5.2.24.

 

And this is why I use ZIP. I live close enough (about an hour or so drive) if I want it now I just drive down there. And being so close I usually get my package the next day or at the latest two days after I order. It seems the other traditional Corvette vendors have really gotten bad the past few years. I used to use Willcox a lot and it stinks they are out of business.

 

I had a problem with ZIP in the past but they have gotten better. I too am bummed about Willcox...always treated me great.

 

Update:
Kara M. (Ecklers support)
Jun 5, 2024, 6:48 AM EDT

Hello Scott,

Thank you for contacting us.

I see that we have spoken with you about this in the past. Since you filed a chargeback against us, we cannot asssit you until you have emailed over proof that you dropped the chargeback. If the bank completed the investigation, you cannot drop the claim and we cannot assist you.

If they have not completed the investigation on their end, you can drop the chargeback. Last we spoke, you were going to email in proof that you dropped it. I do not see that it has been dropped, or that you have emailed proof that it was.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance and have a great day!
Sincerely,
Kara M.
Customer Service Representative

 

My response:
Kara,

Thank you for your reply. It is almost impossible to get a living person at Chase to get an answer.

Attached is my CC statement activity. It shows the original $309.00 charge on 5.3.24, then $309.00 credit (from the Hold) on 5.3.24, then a NEW $309.00 charge on 5.3.24 labeled “REBILL ECKLERS”…showing you have been given the monies in your favor.

I am now supposed to pay the $309.00 in the current CC statement since I have been charged $309.00 AFTER Chase’s HOLD was released.

Ecklers now has my $309.00 recorded as a sale on its books and has been provided funds from Chase as a consequence.

If you issue the $309.00 credit back against my original CC it will make me whole.

That is all I am asking for…

Scott

 

BANNED!!!!!!! Wow...they screwed up and now banned me.... I canceled my order BEFORE they shipped and blocked the payment (for nondelivery) since I should NEVER have been charged up front in the first place. Remember they charged me right away then told me it would take them months to ship. BTW I sent the last email to 10 different email addresses I found online since I have had ZERO email response since 5.4.24.

Kara M. (Ecklers support)

Jun 5, 2024, 1:23 PM EDT


Hello Scott,

Thank you for contacting us.

I am going to put in a ticket to have our finance team check into this. We cannot have customers filing chargeback claims against us if a situation did not go the way that they wanted, which is why the block was put on the account. We understand that it can be frustrating if an order cannot be cancelled, causing you to have to go through the return process, but filing a fraudulent charge claim against us is the reason that your account is now locked, and why Chase recharged you the fee after finishing the investigation. A simple return of the item would have had you fully refunded right away.

Our team will have to ensure the charge has been completed with Chase, and then they will be able to push out the refund for you. We will not be able to accept any orders in the future from you, unfortunately. Our team will reach out with an update within 48 hours. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Kara M.
Customer Service Representative

 

Additional Ecklers Email received today:

Thank you for visiting Ecklers.com
Order # 728-51983758 Ordered On: May 2 2024 8:46PM

Thank you for contacting us, we're on it!

A request has been submitted to address a billing issue with your order. You can expect this to be resolved on or before Monday, June 10 by end of day.

You can expect to receive an email with updates or a phone call if additional info is needed to resolve.

We appreciate your patience as we work to complete your request!

Need additional assistance? Contact us!

 

So sorry for your aggravation

 

FINALLY ON THE LAST DAY PROMISED....

Thank you for visiting Ecklers.com Order # 84857360 - Ordered On: May 02, 2024
Dear Scott Morrison,

The account listed below has been credited in the amount of $306.00 on Jun 10, 2024; it may take 3-5 business days to appear in your account. If you have any questions regarding your credit, please contact us.

Credit Method:

Credit Amount: $306.00

At Eckler's we appreciate your business.

Check Your Order Status

Need additional assistance? Contact us!

Sincerely,

Customer Service
Ecklers.com

Glad to get the refund and not a credit since I have been banned for asking.....

 

Credit of $306.00 now shown on CC statement.

From Cancellation before shipment (when Ecklers stated they could NOT ship) to now...only a month and then getting Banned. Nice work Ecklers. You can see how they treat people when their own company has very poor customer service.

https://uk.trustpilot.com/reviews/662584ab19150565e557b963
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