Any up-to-date info about PACOL?

[kmanche]

I placed an order with this company a few months back, and at one point, they were barely responsive. Now, I get no response at all. I don't want to think that they scammed me, but there is no other conclusion that I can think of given the circumstances. There seems to be no one at the company that is accountable for ensuring on-line orders are fulfilled. I am awaiting important parts and they seem to be the only ones who advertise that they can get them ('78 FJ40 rear quarter panels WITH the top rail), so I don't have many alternatives for the parts (unless someone else knows of another vendor).

Does anybody have any secret phone numbers or email addresses, or any other way to contact them that might work. What I've tried so far:
Phone 770-249-2405 (no answer, they have never returned a call after I leave a voicemail)
Phone 561-207-8628 (no answer, they have never returned a call after I leave a voicemail)
Phone 561-207-7250 (no answer, they have never returned a call after I leave a voicemail)
email address parts@pacolonline.com (no response)
Facebook message (someone names Patty responds periodically, but not lately)

I don't know what else to do. Any ideas? Anybody live near their shop and might know a different/better way to contact them? Are they still in business?

Does anybody know of anyone at the company other than Alexandra and Patty that might could help me? Neither of them are being responsive.

Are there any employees of that company that are members of this forum

 

[Michael B]

kmanche,
I too have parts on order with them. I have never spoken with Patty, but I'm all too familiar with Alexandra. The phone numbers you have are all still working numbers. She doesn't answer the phone often. I have one additional number to share 678-910-8674. It is supposed to be her mobile number. Understand that apparently all numbers are forwarded to the mobile number through a VOIP connection. So when she does answer the phone you are not going to be able to understand half of what she says. Personally I'm beginning to think it is intentional. I have had parts on order with them since May. To be delivered in July. I have never had any contact with her unless I initiated it. She has plenty of excuses for why my parts aren't here yet. The best way to get her to answer the phone is to call about midday. She does not answer the phone later in the day. There is another vendor that has started hawking the same parts that Pacol sells (Auto Parts Zarate in Columbia SA) but I'm not sure he is going to be any batter just yet. In short I would cancel my order with Pacol if I had a good alternative source for the parts I need.

Did you pay her any money by mail perchance? If you did, you can contact the Post Master General and pursue a mail fraud claim against her, which is a Federal offense.

 

[ROSSJOHN75]

Guys I finally won my 10-11 month battle with them after ordering 2 rear quarters....they are almost impossible to get in touch with once they have your money. It took me right at 11 months to get my fenders.....after they let me know the fenders were ready I waited and waited and waited, one excuse after another when finally in a fit of rage I called and said "you either send me a tracking number or I will be there at your warehouse Tuesday morning and I will either leave with my money or those damn fenders!" That afternoon I received a tracking number....from an email I had not seen before. Good Luck men.....Alexandra is nice but I went through 2 deaths, 1 move, 1 4-week trip to South America and 1 forklift accident with her before I finally got her to ship my stuff. I will not be ordering another damn thing from these people.....EVER!

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

When will people stop ordering from them?

 

[David70FJ40]

Tried to order a front floor pan for my 40 earlier this year. The delays she spoke of were enough to put me off and I never received any of the promised phone calls when the floor was ready. Finally decided something didn't smell right and moved on the other greener pastures. Actually the hot rod shop that did the body work with parts supplied by RealSteelCruiserParts.com also constructed a front floor pan that was more than what I expected. The hot rod shop saved me $800 for the pan and months of rage and moaning waiting on parts that would probably never appear.

BTW I agree about the terrible phone connections. That and the terrible accent makes any conversation tough.

 

[Michael B]

Too bad Real Steel doesn't make 45 parts and apparently they aren't interested in starting.

 

[kmanche]

Too bad Real Steel doesn't make 45 parts and apparently they aren't interested in starting.

I ordered most of my panels from Real Steel, and they were very good, prompt, and accurate. I only ordered the rear quarter panels from PACOL because I couldn't find them anywhere else. I couldn't even find them used.

 

[kmanche]

BTW I agree about the terrible phone connections. That and the terrible accent makes any conversation tough.

I haven't spoken to her enough to know that she has a bad phone connection or tough accent. She won't answer the phone.

 

[kmanche]

When will people stop ordering from them?

Yes, I made the mistake of ordering and trusting that they would meet their obligations. It's too bad that no one else seems to manufacture the part that I need. Never again will I order from PACOL.

 

[kmanche]

kmanche,
I too have parts on order with them. I have never spoken with Patty, but I'm all too familiar with Alexandra. The phone numbers you have are all still working numbers. She doesn't answer the phone often. I have one additional number to share 678-910-8674. It is supposed to be her mobile number. ........ Personally I'm beginning to think it is intentional. I have had parts on order with them since May. To be delivered in July. I have never had any contact with her unless I initiated it. She has plenty of excuses for why my parts aren't here yet. ...... There is another vendor that has started hawking the same parts that Pacol sells (Auto Parts Zarate in Columbia SA) but I'm not sure he is going to be any batter just yet. In short I would cancel my order with Pacol if I had a good alternative source for the parts I need. ........

Did you pay her any money by mail perchance? If you did, you can contact the Post Master General and pursue a mail fraud claim against her, which is a Federal offense.

Thanks. I'll try to call that number you provided tomorrow. I will check with Auto Parts Zarete to see if they are able to provide the parts. Unfortunately, I paid through Paypal, so I have to figure something else out regarding the refund.

 

[Michael B]

Two items:
1) You have some protection under PayPal. Contact them and file a claim. It is only slightly arduous. But should get you your money back. I have had success with them before in this area.

2) Dealing with Zarate directly is worse than going through Pacol and you will find it very difficult to get your money back from a South American business.

 

[kmanche]

Guys I finally won my 10-11 month battle with them after ordering 2 rear quarters....they are almost impossible to get in touch with once they have your money. It took me right at 11 months to get my fenders.....after they let me know the fenders were ready I waited and waited and waited, one excuse after another when finally in a fit of rage I called and said "you either send me a tracking number or I will be there at your warehouse Tuesday morning and I will either leave with my money or those damn fenders!" That afternoon I received a tracking number....from an email I had not seen before. Good Luck men.....Alexandra is nice but I went through 2 deaths, 1 move, 1 4-week trip to South America and 1 forklift accident with her before I finally got her to ship my stuff. I will not be ordering another damn thing from these people.....EVER!

WOW. it's amazing that they continue with the same tactics over and over again. I don't understand it.
Your story scares me. My order is not as "mature" as your order was. My body shop mechanic is getting impatient, and I'm afraid he is going to ask me to come pick up the pieces of my FJ40.

 

[Michael B]

What parts do you need from Pacol?

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

Have you looked here? This is where Pacol gets their parts.

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, 43 & 45 Series | Product Categories | Troa

 

[kmanche]

What parts do you need from Pacol?

I need rear quarter panels for an FJ40 '78. They need to have the top rail attached. Do you have any ideas?

 

[kmanche]

Have you looked here? This is where Pacol gets their parts.

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, 43 & 45 Series | Product Categories | Troa

Thanks for the suggestion! This might work. I'll check with them tomorrow. According to their downloadable catalog, they do provide what I need.
Thanks again
Kevin

 

[Michael B]

But no 45 parts.

 

[kmanche]

While browsing forums that mention PACOL, in several posts, there are positive comments about the "guys in the shop" and their abilities and capabilities at their business in Florida. Assuming that those comments are accurate, it confuses me that they would be so competent to their local customers, but completely incompetent with on-line customers. According to Patty (the person who claims to administer the facebook page), they manufacture some parts in florida. But that doen't seem right. Does anyone have access to a number at their "shop" in florida? I'd like to call them directly. Maybe it will increase my chance to speak to someone other than Alexandra.

 

[Michael B]

I think it is all a front.

 

[kmanche]

I think it is all a front.

That theory makes as much sense as any other... It's certainly a strange situation.

I'd like to encourage other members of this forum to provide feedback on the PACOL facebook page to give potential future customers a more accurate image of what they are about. I suggest that anyone who has had dealings with them to please post a review, with details of what others should watch out for. I'll do it as soon as I've concluded my dealings with them.