cruiser addiction
- Thread starter rfellows
- Start date
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GA Architect
SILVER Star
Click here: > City Racer LLC <
Thanks GA for the referral. I'll jump in and share some general thoughts on internet shopping, hopefully not to be construed as encouragement to buy from me.
These days it's easy to price shop on the internet, and it's human nature to focus on the price. However, there are other considerations when buying specialized auto parts, particularly ones that are large, fragile and not cheap. The often overlooked aspect is packing.
I can't count how many times people have told me they ordered a radiator from some generic source and had to return it 2 or more times because it got damaged in transit. Chances are the vendor has no idea that what's inside the box cannot be shipped as is.
Now getting to the dash pad. To properly ship a dash pad, it needs to be bubble wrapped and double boxed. It requires ordering special boxes in advance, which adds weight, and takes time to prepare properly. Anybody who tries to do it on the cheap is taking a gamble on a high priced item. When my dash pad is shipped, it is 53" x 8" x 8" and weighs 7 lbs, which gets magnified by a carrier's volumetric weight. Plug it in online and see how much it costs to ship it. When you price shop, always recognize there is no such thing as free shipping. UPS and USPS do not work for free. Is the item really cheaper, or will you receive an indented dash pad as it states in the 365 dash pad listing?
These days it's easy to price shop on the internet, and it's human nature to focus on the price. However, there are other considerations when buying specialized auto parts, particularly ones that are large, fragile and not cheap. The often overlooked aspect is packing.
I can't count how many times people have told me they ordered a radiator from some generic source and had to return it 2 or more times because it got damaged in transit. Chances are the vendor has no idea that what's inside the box cannot be shipped as is.
Now getting to the dash pad. To properly ship a dash pad, it needs to be bubble wrapped and double boxed. It requires ordering special boxes in advance, which adds weight, and takes time to prepare properly. Anybody who tries to do it on the cheap is taking a gamble on a high priced item. When my dash pad is shipped, it is 53" x 8" x 8" and weighs 7 lbs, which gets magnified by a carrier's volumetric weight. Plug it in online and see how much it costs to ship it. When you price shop, always recognize there is no such thing as free shipping. UPS and USPS do not work for free. Is the item really cheaper, or will you receive an indented dash pad as it states in the 365 dash pad listing?
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Well said!
Be sure and talk to supplier about packaging of your parts. And, when parts show up, check package for potential problems. If bent, holes in package, etc., do not accept them from deliver truck. Send them back.
GA Architect
SILVER Star
I once ordered a drive shaft. I received an empty box with a large jagged hole in the end of it.
..........Sorry brother, I couldn't help it. Thanks for the laugh though.
Michael B
SILVER Star
In my experience quality has become paramount to me. It does not matter what venue of life you are referring to. In the automotive hobby I am not a newcomer, although I'm relatively new to Cruiserdom. When I find someone like Roger aka Cityracer, who sells a quality part with quality shipping and quality/consistent customer service, I stick with them and support them. It is truly cheaper in the long run! I would much rather order the part once and perform the task at hand once and be done with it, than continually work and rework a project. I built my Crusier to drive and enjoy not to continually wrench and tinker with.
Hahaha! No problem! We had a few laughs, too, over that one!
That was the dangedest thing. That driveshaft was heavy and it somehow punched thru and slid out of the end of the box and was loose in the freight truck, I assume. I always wonder where it ended up. CDan replaced it, of course, because he's CDan. I assume he made a claim with UPS.
Roger is a real decent person to deal with and he is always looking to find things we all need for our classic older rigs. He is an asset to the Cruiser community and mud as well.
GA Architect
SILVER Star
Saving money?....Heck, I had to make a decision between cruser parts or puppy food.....Just before I picked up an OEM front bumper, OEM weatherstripping, and some OEM oil filters; I made a deposit at the local animal shelter. The right call, eh?
Just kidding......
The old say'n: "You get what you paid for."
