[wheelspin]

I needed a few items for my second gen TA that our host didn't have in stock, so I ordered the items from Classic Industries. Four working days later I received my $400 worth of parts with a $42.50 s & h charge for six pounds shipped UPS ground :mad: .

Classic is located 25 miles from me in Huntington Beach, and responded to my complaint with "gas has gone up" :rolleyes: .

Les

[Karch]

...so have returns (as in get your money back if you can afford to wait).

[BVR421]

screw them I would call and demand to talk to the owner. let him know he is getting a lot of free advertising on that deal. still if you asked for overnight or something like that?
fair warning to the rest of us I guess. maybe this post needs a few bumps to the top so a lot of people can see it, just like the flopper post (8-)

[Ken K]

I went there in person once looking for some stuff. I wanted a GTO 6.5 emblem. They came out of the back with an emblem and when I looked it over, it looked like it was in worse shape than the original emblem that came off the car. I refused to buy it. They went in back and brang out the whole box of emblems. Not one single emblem in that box looked as good as the original emblem.

[4348rd]

that sucks

[takid455]

s&h at classic is high, I wound up adding a few parts to my list just to hit the $1000 mark to get free shipping. that seems the way to go. customer help has been satisfactory , at least the people I have dealt with. the only items the I have complaints about are the rep[ro console lids and the 4spd shift tunnel (its actually a camaro part), both they agreed to refund my money back.

[Peter Serio]

UPS seems to be gouging all the people now, years ago they used to be very reasonable in prices.

I remember when I first signed on with them back in the 1980s it was $3 a week service charge to have their driver stop each day M-F to see of you needed any packages picked up for shipment!

Pete

[Jerry H.]

Agree with Pete, I have been having people ship me bumpers via the Post Office. The claim it is a lot cheaper and easier.

As for as the S&H being high, remember that someone has to be paid to 'handle' and pack your order. Although with a big company that should be figured into the price of the items, sometimes they price the items cheaper than the competition, then add on ridiculous 'handling' charges. Be sure to compare before you order.

[BVR421]

Originally Posted by Jerry H.

sometimes they price the items cheaper than the competition, then add on ridiculous 'handling' charges.

thats the Ebay way!!!

[Ron]

Don't get confused about the shipping and handling charge. They are two different and distinct prices. The ups charge may have been a fair number but the handling charged may have been huge.

In my company we pass the direct cost of freight to the customer. We do not add a profit or charge a handling fee. Other companies doing similar work as our company do charge a handling fee to cover the cost of the box, packing material, and labor.

[77TA406]

I've bought from Classic and have never had a problem. The customer service has always been good. I have always arranged my own method of shipping...purchasing from them does not mean you are obligated to use their shipping method.
Chris

[vidguy]

We dont "pass higher costs" onto customers as a matter of routine. I have always observed with interest how some businesses, and some industries in general, openly offer this as a "rule" of business. That could be the kind of thing that might be best left unsaid.

We are flexible in our pricing and billing with every client every day if need be.
Pricing is one of the 3 things that brings and retains clients. At least in my mind and experience..

1) Pricing flexibility (not always cheapest, just flexible)
2) Always saying YES to fixing a problem with the service at least ONE TIME before compromising or declining.
3) Friendliness and clarity of the communication you have with the client

Any other problem can be overcome if those 3 things are addressed.

I have to admit that it's become my nature to approach companies that follow the "pass the costs on" rule (or at least those that tell me that's the reason for high, higher, or percieved unreasonable charges) with a bit of caution. It could be that they also "Pass the responsibilty" on for breakdowns in service and quality, etc..

my .02 cents..

Let me just add that we feel it's our responsibility to find ways to do business in a way that we can keep whatever costs we have as low as possible without compromising our service, not the customers responsibility to pay for our inability to do so.

[71lemanz]

Wheelspin.

I have bought many parts from Classic for the 67 bird. They definitely have high shipping charges. That is why I drive the 58 miles to get the parts I need from them. At 20 mpg, that is about $18.00. I usually wait until I have a substantial order. I bought a "Desert Cooler" radiator from them that leaked after about three months later, they replaced it no questions asked. That "Desert Cooler" leaked another month later. They replaced it. I upgraded to an aluminum radiator and they even applied the the 20% discount to the aluminum radiator (that's about $118 off a $560 bill). I have nothing but positive things to say about their customer service. But, yeah their shipping is high, probably more than having PY or Ames ship to me in CA. I wouldn't rule them out a parts source, just call them and ***** about that response you got. "Gas has gone up". Sounds like one of there phone people is a smart ass. There is a lot of those in So. Cal.

[Ron H]

Vidguy, do you work for Classic?

[Brian Baker]

Go to the UPS website, using their zip code and yours, and punch in the weight and dimensions of the box. It will give you a fairly accurate quote on shipping. Then you can determine how much they gigged you for "handling charges".

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Jerry H.

Agree with Pete, I have been having people ship me bumpers via the Post Office. The claim it is a lot cheaper and easier.

As for as the S&H being high, remember that someone has to be paid to 'handle' and pack your order. Although with a big company that should be figured into the price of the items, sometimes they price the items cheaper than the competition, then add on ridiculous 'handling' charges. Be sure to compare before you order.

UPS HAS gotten Greedy & they don't seem to KNOW or CARE that they have THREE very serious competitors out there that are "eating their LUNCH"

I found that out of the Big Three (UPS,Fedex Ground & DHL),Fedex Ground is the MOST reasonable.

I've used USPS Priority Mail & Parcel Post with GREAT SUCCESS on a lot of items.
USPS pricing is SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER on MOST smaller,lighter items.
I've mailed door panels,consoles & even a set of T/A Snowflakes to Alaska!
(cost of shipping the wheels to Alaska was less than 1/2 of the UPS quote & they got them there in TWO DAYS!)

They will sell you a FLAT RATE BOX for 8.50 that will go ANYWHERE in the US for that price.
Weight is NOT an issue. If it fits in the box (carb,starter or Radio),that's the price.

Check their website for the Online Calculator.


Priority Mail is generally TWO DAYS anywhere in the US & because they DON'T ship a lot of heavy items,I've had almost NO damaged shipments.
(most of UPS's damaged packages are from heavy items getting dropped on the lighter/more fragile ones)

They DO tend to get expensive on larger heavier items,& have found Grayhound/bus to be an option for those items.


NO,I DON'T work for the Post Office,But I'm pretty happy with their PRICING & SERVICE!