So, let's say you order a large amount of parts...

[214Chevy]

Originally Posted by ModernMuseum

Thanks, man. Yes, yes it does-especially since it's one of the major and most advertised vendors here and over at pro-touring.

First, it would have to be Jesus Christ for me to give anybody $20k in total on any business venture that isn't complete. Second, I would never give the total amount down...ever! I don't care how well respected a business is. That's just the nature of the business. Now 25%-30% is ok. 50% at most in an extreme case after sitting down with a dealer/vendor on a conference call or something after assuring me all parts are available. Now me personally, I don't even see an LS (plus parts) and T56 even being a 2-3 month out order. You can go all the way to the moon and find that stuff. IMO, by giving the 25%-30% down would make or should make the vendor work more diligent and be more eager to get your parts in so he can get the rest of his money.

[Stuart Adams]

When buying parts from so called buying groups, smoozers, middle man , vendors, etc., we all need to be very careful. The economy is tight and we as customers need to be sure the money we are putting down for our parts are NOT paying for the previous guys parts. IMO.

[OOCustoms]

Well in my experience in ordering parts Ive been lucky to have no real issues. Only big order I made once, years ago for about 5k was for one off parts and the order was filled quickly from my recollection. Tho by the time I got to installing parts I found the control arms were for the wrong year frame.......oops.

I believe I paid up front then but I know, knowing what I know now that I would definitely take caution on placing an order that big and paying in a lump sum.

Take my dads roofing business. He gets 10% down, 25% when material is delivered and remainder when the job is complete.

All in all do your best to contact and be diplomatic with the vendor as these things get ugly on forums from what Ive seen. And mods arent to forgiving on name calling due to liability.

[ModernMuseum]

Thanks for the replies, gents. I assume that this stuff can be procured/work executed at most in two months.

Originally Posted by 130fe

Have you been in contact with the vendor you bought the parts from? What are they telling you?

Yes, weekly to twice per week. The initial order was placed in September 2010. 60% was paid in Sept. and the rest was paid in October. Everything was supposed to be here "before Christmas." The vendor pretty much has said "Yes, this is coming, yes, this is shipped and it'll be there by the end of this week or it'll be there next week." Then, it never shows. More expediting, same story, a few more parts trickle in (rinse, repeat for a few months) but I can't install the engine/tranny because a few key components aren't in. In a sitcom, it would be almost comical because the Vendor doesn't even know what I have/haven't received, so I'll have to call and say, "Yes, the kit came, but only about 25% of the stuff in the kit was there." Essentially, all the work that I thought I could get done over the winter during the cool months can't/didn't get done.

Originally Posted by 509Chevelle

First, it would have to be Jesus Christ for me to give anybody $20k in total on any business venture that isn't complete. Second, I would never give the total amount down...ever! I don't care how well respected a business is. That's just the nature of the business. Now 25%-30% is ok. 50% at most in an extreme case after sitting down with a dealer/vendor on a conference call or something after assuring me all parts are available. Now me personally, I don't even see an LS (plus parts) and T56 even being a 2-3 month out order. You can go all the way to the moon and find that stuff. IMO, by giving the 25%-30% down would make or should make the vendor work more diligent and be more eager to get your parts in so he can get the rest of his money.

Yes, agree and a valuable and hard lesson was learned. There's no incentive for them to deliver if you don't withhold partial payments. However, I've heard from other people on totally different forums that sometimes middle men vendors won't place orders until fully paid. That's actually how we do it in the engineering/construction business. We withhold the final payment until all documentation is received.

Originally Posted by Stuart Adams

When buying parts from so called buying groups, smoozers, middle man , vendors, etc., we all need to be very careful. The economy is tight and we as customers need to be sure the money we are putting down for our parts are NOT paying for the previous guys parts. IMO.

Very true. That thought has crossed my mind, along with:
1) Vendor is very busy and *ahem* doesn't have time to expedite/deliver parts/track the order
2) Vendor doesn't have the money to order parts because they're behind on bills
3) Parts are back-ordered (very unlikely for some of the parts missing)

I'm a pretty docile guy, but I just want my parts so I can finish my project. I also would really like to prevent this thing from happening to someone else so they're not left with their pants around their ankles for six months waiting on an ECU/wiring harness/flywheel/clutch stuff/ac compressor/water pump that could seemingly easily be ordered from someone else.

Who knows, maybe Christian holidays are good milestones to have things done, because Easter is just around the corner, so maybe I'll have the parts by then. Whenever I clicked my heels and set out for LS-land, I had no idea this was going to be part of the bargain.

And yeah, OOCustoms, I don't like to be a whistle blower, but you can ctrl-f here and there and find out who it is pretty easily. You may be surprised, but then again you may not.

[dhutton]

Everytime I read one of these stories I get to thinking that someone is having cashflow problems. I can't think of any other REASONABLE explanation.

Just my two cents,
Don

[Ketzer]

This sucks for MM. I understand how you are in this spot. I'm waiting on some one-off wheels that were supposed to be 60-70 days out, that was in early Dec.

I don't guess I'm familiar enough with the selling practices of some of these parts businesses. You guys talk about paying percentages for parts and paying the balance after you receive them? I wouldn't ship a toilet seat unless it was paid in full on the front end. I'm suprised that you are saying some will do that? We aren't talking about building a car where you do some work, get paid a little, do some more work, etc. Who could send parts out on a percentage and hope to get the rest? I don't get where you are saying MM shouldn't have paid in full up front? That isn't really an option, is it?

Jeff-

[XcYZ]

This seems to be a trend.

I would be pissed. I fully understand asking for a % down on a large order, but asking to be paid in full and not getting parts for 6 months is ridiculous. And they don't even know what parts you have or haven't recieved?

Who is this vendor? I think that company needs to explain what's going on and bring this to resolution.

[scherp69]

Originally Posted by ModernMuseum

And yeah, OOCustoms, I don't like to be a whistle blower, but you can ctrl-f here and there and find out who it is pretty easily. You may be surprised, but then again you may not.

Originally Posted by XcYZ

This seems to be a trend.

I would be pissed. I fully understand asking for a % down on a large order, but asking to be paid in full and not getting parts for 6 months is ridiculous. And they don't even know what parts you have or haven't recieved?

Who is this vendor? I think that company needs to explain what's going on and bring this to resolution.

I think he told us who the vendor is, if I'm reading between the lines correctly.

[Ron in SoCal]

^ Jeff, I think the suggestion is to put down a good sized deposit (30-50%) and then pay the balance when the parts are ready to ship. On MM's order that might've proven difficult, given the drop ship from multiple vendors + accretive work prior in shipping the motor. I still think that could've worked had the deal been set prior to full payment. And in any case, no matter what was put down, MMs been six months worth of patient!

MM - this kinda stuff is happeneing more frequently these days. Most of us on the board do not know if it's one or more vendors (tough to even discuss on PT) but I think we all need to be careful who we place orders w and what the down/delivery terms are. I do hope you get your stuff ASAP...

[Ron in SoCal]

Originally Posted by XcYZ

This seems to be a trend.

I would be pissed. I fully understand asking for a % down on a large order, but asking to be paid in full and not getting parts for 6 months is ridiculous. And they don't even know what parts you have or haven't recieved?

Who is this vendor? I think that company needs to explain what's going on and bring this to resolution.

Bravo Scott!