NOT EXACTLY GOOD SERVICE WHAT?

[Johnraka]

As the title says, this is the second time I have bought stuff from http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/

Don't get me wrong, the prices are good and the stuff is good, it's just the bl**dy service that is appalling!

The last time I ordered stuff I had to chase them (can never get them on the phone, always goes straight to answer), they never respond to emails either.

This time I ordered (on Tuesday morning) 1 water pump and 1 cambelt, by late Tuesday they had called to say they didn't have the pump, then after I actually managed to get hold of them (they picked the phone up as I was leaving yet another message) they said that they had found one.
I presumed that it would be sent UPS Tuesday night (That is what I paid nearly ten quid for!) - nope...
Wednesday?
Nope...
Thursday then?
Nope...

In fact I called today and sent 2 emails, I finally got a call to say that "for whatever reason UPS didn't take the parcel last night" (Excuse me but isn't it the responsibility of somebody in the business to make sure it gets collected?).
Anyway, they have now posted this 'First Class' (don't make me laugh...) and I might get it tomorrow (Saturday), betting is that I don't and that I will have to cancel Chris's visit on Sunday which means it will now be another week that my Betsy is restricted to short local runs.
Thank you vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk, I somehow doubt I will ever use you again...

[Mitch1965]

Not good at all, i doubt i'll be using them after reading this..

[Mantasport]

Strange that as i ordered a pair of wings from them for my mk1 Carlton estate (£25 each for genuine Vaux ones  )

Anyway i had a phone call the next day saying they were concerned that they might get damaged in transit (as the old wings aren't boxed or even wrapped like modern ones)
But if i wasn't in a major hurry for them the boss was coming up my way in a couple of weeks and could bring them with him.

Sure enough a couple of weeks later i got an e-mail to check i'd be around at the weekend and one of the bosses turned up in his merc estate with my wings in the boot.

I've got to say not many companies would do that.

Admitedly i never tried ringing them or e-mailing them so can't comment on that side of there service.
Just thought i'd mention it as another perspective.

[Whippit]

They can be hard to get hold of and collecting large items from them is a game (They leave them in a stillage outside a barn in the middle of nowhere) But if you are willing to put up with the quirks of what seems to be a one man garden shed operation there are hard to find bargains to be had.
If quick delivery is what you need (and I have known worse than them, Been waiting over a week for a Lambda from another company) then go elsewhere

[melinx]

I bought a set of hydraulic lifters from them, the price was excellent and they arrived within three days

[Winky]

I've never had any problem with them TBH. Ok, its only mainly smaller service items I get including ball joints but they email me if something has gone out of stock & I always seem to be able to get them on the phone if I need to. Only issue I had was when I received two O/S ball joints instead of 1 O/S & 1 N/S. They stuck another in the post with some cash in for me to post the other one back.

[Jimmy]

i bought a full standard exhaust from them a while ago, from the 'cat' all the way to the tailpipe, the whole lot with delivery was £64 and got it in 4-5 days, strange you had problems, but i will be abit more cautious when buying from them again then. so has the pump arrived then, will we see you at chris's tomoz then??

[Johnraka]

I appreciate the 'Good' comments that have been made so far but what concerns me is that if I hadn't kept badgering them my stuff would probably still be sitting on a bench somewhere, added to that I have now had to cancel Chris's visit which means my car is off the road for yet another week. 
If they are advertising that they can get goods delivered overseas within 3 days why can't they manage the same in the UK.

Had this been the first time this had happened then fair enough but sadly it happened the last time I ordered stuff from them.

Like I say, great prices, great quality gear but if I am paying for delivery the least I can expect is to get it before I grow a beard...

Rant over...

[Winky]

In fact I called today and sent 2 emails, I finally got a call to say that "for whatever reason UPS didn't take the parcel last night" (Excuse me but isn't it the responsibility of somebody in the business to make sure it gets collected?).

I'm guessing you don't deal with couriers in your line of work. I do most days & they will collect up to 5.30 when I officially finish. On the odd occasion they haven't called I've phoned them at 5.45 to be told the driver 'wasn't in the area' so what do I do, tell them to come now & I'll wait (like a mug in my own time when I know they're not going to) or tell them to make sure they turn up tomorrow & don't charge me?

Just a little insite into the wonderful world of dealing with couriers. BTW - UPS are always known as Useless Piece of Sh!t in courier acronyms.

[Land-Barge]

I take it you didn't use their standard delivery John?  Most next day delivery services are a con, I've always used the standard delivery with them, takes a few days to arrive but never had any complaints, perhaps you were just unlucky?

[Johnraka]

Standard is all they offered mate, if I have been unlucky with them then I have been unlucky twice.

I used to be self employed, was for about 5 years, my customers were my bread and butter, if I didn't arrive on time or supply the parts promised when I promised them then my reputation would have been shot.
It takes a long time to build a good reputation and only seconds to lose it - ask Gerald Ratner...
90% of my client base came about as a consequence of recommendation, recommendation based on my ability and willingness to look after those who put money in my pocket - my customers.

I know I am ranting again but if you are running a business, any business you have to remember who keeps your business going, those who buy from you and those who work for you.
It seems like these guys are getting a bit lost along the way, perhaps they need a TV crew and Ruth Badger to go in and sort them out...

[Johnraka]

Well, this just keeps getting better and better, goods arrived to day at my work address despite them 'posting' it on Friday to my home address.

OK, I was here but it would have been all the same if I had been home for the week (my holiday starts tomorrow which is just as well).
I open the box, cambelt fine, water pump?
Impeller blade broken - once again can't get these guys on the phone, now I have to go through the expense of sending it back and the hassle of waiting for yet another one, what a waste of time!!!

Now I am thoroughly p*ssed off!

[Jimmy]

i bought a full standard exhaust from them a while ago, from the 'cat' all the way to the tailpipe, the whole lot with delivery was £64 and got it in 4-5 days, strange you had problems, but i will be abit more cautious when buying from them again then. so has the pump arrived then, will we see you at chris's tomoz then??

Sorry i was completely being an idiot there, coz it wasnt Vx-car-parts, it was Buypartsby, now they are very good for parts

[U.D. - Omega DTM Rep]

I've tried to buy off of VCP before and always got the run-around from them. Stuff they advertise on their website never seems to be in stock and they always seem to struggle to find replacements after you've placed your order!

When I've been lucky and parts have turned up, something has always been wrong (like boxed wrong parts) resulting in even more phone calls and emails. I personally would never use VCP again or even recommend VCP to anyone.

JM2PW!

[Johnraka]

Re: The broken water pump, they finally came back to me and offered a full refund, I asked what I was to do with the faulty pump - dump it they said, not worth sending back.
So at least i have a pump that Chris can probably fit a new impeller to.

guess some good came out of it but i won't be using them again.

Let's see how long it takes to credit my card eh?

[Jimmy]

well good luck with that one then.... 

[Johnraka]

well good luck with that one then.... 

Guess what?

Still waiting... just sent them another sh*togram...