Beware of 440 Source/Parts for sale

[gasoline_24]

I now have a set of billet steel main caps from 440 Source.  I tried to return them within 45 days and was told that they would return them but want a 25% restocking fee.  This was to take care of all of their time for packaging and unpackaging this part as well as running my credit card to charge me and credit me.  This seems to be a lot of work.  I told them that this seemed like theft and that I would rather sell them to somebody on this site for 25% less than to give them money for nothing.  I did point out that I would be posting this message and this had no effect on their position.  I would point out that they did offer to give me store credit for the full amount.  I don't need any further parts as I ordered them all during the initial order.  This also ruins their argument that their restocking fee is for time.  It is more like a we have your money and will not give it back unless we get to keep 25% of it.  In my world that is called theft.  You should not sell your parts on the internet if you are not willing to allow them to be returned.

Anyway if anyone wants to buy a set of billet main caps part number 200-1039 for $105.00 plus shipping, PM me and they are yours.  This is subject to a 25% restocking fee of course. 

[Brickster]

I had great success with 440 source and thier parts. Kim was very helpful, I didn't need to return anything. I think their part are very affordable and can't have as much profit margin as people think. I don't think it's too much to ask for people to make something for thier time. That is unless you're saying it is 440 source's problem why the parts need to be returned, then that would be a diferent situation. Just me two cents

[Ghoste]

As much as I hate to stick my nose in this, their website does seem to be pretty explicit about their return policies and fees.  I agree that 25% is a lot more than some places charge but there are also a lot of places with a no return at all policy even if it's the vendors fault.
Was the order screwed up from their end somehow?

[TylerCharger69]

Hmmmm.   I could see and understand the complaint IF the parts were defective or the wrong ones were sent.  Most places DO HAVE a restocking fee.  I have friends who have ordered from there (440 source) and the transactions were very successful and the parts were perfect.  You figure...there's employees running back and fourth in a warehouse for these mail orders, who are more than likely getting paid by the hour.  Not to mention, when an item is returned...not only does it have to be restocked, it also has to be logged back in the computer database, PLUS, needs to be checked for damage whether or not it was claimed to have any.  No...I don't agree with the fee being a percentage....
For instance...the main caps....well...let's say you were to order  something way more expensive, but has the same weight and/or size, then of course the restocking fee goes up, which I think is wrong.   It should be a flat rate, depending on size.  If the part was damaged....then yes....you'r right....it's highway robbery...but if it's just the decision that you decide not to use it and send it back...well...then  it HAS cost someone their time.

[Banana Wama]

The restocking fee is a percentage because when they ran the credit card they pay a transaction fee to a credit company based on a percentage of the total invoice.  Everyone has a different fee rate depending on thier contract.  Then when you return it they pay the same transaction fee again to credit you back.  Companys are not able to accept and run credit cards for free, they pay for that service as a percentage on every transaction, charge or return.  That's why most companys will refund in the form of check to avoid paying the fee to credit you back via the card.  

However, I agree that is too much!

[TylerCharger69]

that is correct!!!  More reasons as to why the restocking fees

[rustafarian]

Credit card companies charge 2% fee max,  AmEx is 4% -  whether you're charging the card or crediting it back.
Some dealerships try to pass that on to the customer,  we just limit you to $5000.00,  unless you're buying something worth less than $5K,  becuase you can drive out of here and then dispute the charge when buyers remorse hits.
25% restock fee seems high,  the norm is 15%

[RD]

i couldnt imagine where i work asking for a 25% restocking fee... all of our business would go to advanced, autozone, or napa.  i understand 440 source is on a smaller scale than O'Reilly's, but they are making good enough profit off of their items already so that they should be able to absorb some returned items to ensure good customer service.  25% covers way more than one yahoo putting a part in a box, if not, which guy (according to the price above) makes $25 an hour to package a box?  that is assuming it took him one full hour to package that item in a box and prepare to ship it.  I call BS.

[Aero426]

That 25% is extremely high and indicative of a company that really doesn't want your repeat business.     I understand having a posted policy, which can be selectively enforced in a situation where they need to protect themselves.  On a normal return, that's crazy.   There was some negative talk on Moparts recently about 440 source having to do with some problem parts.  

[Ghoste]

And that's a more serious thing (no offense to gasoline 24) because there have been some quality questions come up in this site as well.  Sometimes the cheapest isn't the best place to spend your money.

[gasoline_24]

I appreciate everyone's comments.  I would point out that there were no problems with these parts.  I did steer clear of some of there parts based upon recommendations from several board members as well as my head porter and engine builder.  I could live with a 5% to 15% restocking fee, but 25% is too high.  I will not ship these back to them and let them turn these parts for a significantly higher profit than another part.  If anyone on here wants them they are yours for 25% off.  You won't find a better deal than this.

[TylerCharger69]

That's true....that percentage is on the high side...Like I was saying.....if you spend 5,000 dollars on an item....you have to pay 25 percent restocking fee???  THAT is ridiculous

[dstryr]

Every company has overhead and needs to cover a break-even gross profit $$ amount every month they are in business.  Profit margins on small stuff can't be too high or you'll get a reputation for being too expensive.  On the flip side, margins on big-ticket items can't be too low or you'll sell a bunch but not cover overhead.  When 440Source sells their 'stuff', they cover expenses and put some $$ in the bank. 

Who can say they make enough money and should cover restocking anything you want to return?  They are going to keep some of the sale price to cover overhead, maybe even keep part of the profit.  That's fair as long as they held up their end of the deal and shipped good parts.  In many wholesale industries a break-even Gross Profit can be in the 15%-20% range.  What's left? 

I'm not defending 440Source but just pointing out the Wal-Mart mentality shouldn't be applied to all businesses. 

What does irk me about 440Source,and Kim specifically, is that well after the head gasket overhang issue came up he pretty much said the ROL gaskets 'fit without overhang on every head they tested it on' and left me with dead silence as if me catching a nail on it while it sat in front of me was the first time he heard of it.  That was and still is BS.  The upside, the rotating assembly was balanced perfectly and all the journals on the crank were perfect.

Oh, yeah, and the heads don't flow 280 OOTB, but that's been beaten to death already.

[dkn1997]

I see no point in arguing the merits of the restocking fee.  It's clearly stated.  It's up to anyone buying to take into account the terms that the vendor has listed. 

These internet postings about bad dealings with vendors where the vendor has done nothing wrong are becoming an epidemic.  I'm all for ratting out the skells in this hobby who screw people on purpose every day, but to see this post about a business that's actually run like a business.  We expect people to be up front about things and yet we still find fault when they are.

[RD]

just because they are up front doesnt meant we cannot claim their policy is skewed away from what we would consider appropriate customer service.

i work at o'reillys. we are very upfront in regards to our return policy (read the back of our invoices, listen to what we tell the customer when they buy a warranty item, read the signs on the door and the windows).  we make 440source look rudimentary when it comes to establishing our rules regarding returns and warranty items.  But, we will do whatever we need to do to keep that customer coming back, even if it means biting the bullet one time in order to get more money in the future.

its not about being upfront, its about providing the best customer service.  you can have every single autopart stocked to man and still not sell a thing.  its the customer service you provide (ask autozone why we outsell them each year).

[Chatt69chgr]

I think RD has hit the nail on the head.  Any successful business must cultivate the customer at all costs.  Otherwise, they will not remain in business for long.  This is particularly true this day and age.

[TylerCharger69]

   but unfortunately...in this day and age...it's all about the all mighty dollar

[dstryr]

Now that's the pot calling the kettle black!  It's OK for a buyer to look out for his almighty dollar but not the seller?  

[Silver R/T]

sorry that you feel like you got ripped off but you have to read their regulations very carefully.

[RD]

Now that's the pot calling the kettle black!  It's OK for a buyer to look out for his almighty dollar but not the seller?  

um.. i take it you are not in retail.

[dstryr]

Customers will either absorb the restock charge individually or ALL of the customers will pay a higher price, in aggregate, to cover the overhead of lost sales, restocking, etc. associated with a no-hassle policy.  It also means that more people will take less time to figure out what they really need and just expect to be able to get their money back later.  440Source isn't Wal-Mart(or O'Reilly's?) where they take stuff back new or used. 

I had full P&L responsibility as manager for a $12million annual sales wholesale location for 5 years before family matters drew me to where I am today.  I didn't take phone calls saying that sales were up, add a guy or sales were down so lose 2.  I made those decisions.  My point is that I can assure you that we seldomly hit customers with a restock charge unless OUR vendors slapped one on us but dealing with returns was definitely an overhead issue and in one way or another our selling prices reflected the overhead of returns and the negative sales & GP #s associated with them. 

The policy isn't right or wrong.  It is a choice of practice and matter of business philosophy.  Not buying from one source because of a policy means that you'll ultimately pay a higher price elsewhere to get that easy return service.  Believe me, a good company won't roll over for every customer. 

[AKcharger]

I read the fine print...I'm happy with 440 source...well except for those valve spring retainers

[RD]

i am not promoting nor condoning a premise of "laying down for every customer" as some are blatant crooks.

i believe your experiences with retail (whatever venue you were in) may be a little bit different than the average retail customer.  i speak retail, not wholesale.  wholesale customers are a totally different breed of cattle as they are attempting to procure items to maintain their businesses and money-making ventures.

the average joe who walks into a store or orders something online is not to be considered a subject matter expert or has ordered the same repetitive item over and over like a wholesale customer would have purchased.

due to this, retail customers need to be considered to (1) make mistakes in purchasing and (2) given the opportunity to have a guarantee with the purchase of products either through a warranty/guarantee system or knowing that if they purchased something new and dont need it, they can return it without feeling like they are being charged double (or in this case 25%).

you HAVE to do this in a retail environment as it is a lifeline to maintaining profitability.  this is something wholesalers, though may have to address, dont have to bank on as (in a high probability of cases) the retail customer will inevitably order the wrong stuff the first time a helluvalot more than a wholesale customer who is in most cases in tune with the product they are either selling, servicing, or promoting.

you are forgetting that seller's need to think for the ignorant customers out there too, as there are a lot, but at the same time, not promoting disparity of equality due to ignorant customers.  i.e. a great return policy guarantees return visits by both smart and ignorant customers alike.

[dstryr]

Customers are DUMB???   My wholesale customers buy and bring stuff back.  After work they go see you.  They really aren't a different breed of cattle.  Returns inflate overhead expenses and there are varying ways to deal with them.  This has pretty much come full circle so I'm done. 

[RD]

must be nice to live in a glass house i guess.