The '69 Charger Tail light lenses and chrome bezels from Classic industries...

[Daytona R/T SE]

I recently ordered and received a pair of 1969 Charger Tail light lenses and a pair of the chrome tail light bezels from Classic Industries.

When I received them, I opened the boxes and noticed that they had provided little "C" clips to install the bezels onto the lenses.

Cool.

Let's see...

10 posts on each bezel...

Two bezels in a pair...

Hmmm...

Only 10 clips in the little baggie.

I search all the packing material, and the boxes.

Nope, only 10 clips.

Setting this project aside,

I go into the house and send Classic Industries a short, polite e-mail :



"Today I received my 1969 Dodge Charger Tail light lenses and bezels.

Order Number: ********

The bezels are supposed to come with the clips needed for installation.

20 are required.

I got 10."

The next day I received this reply:



Hello Sir,


Thank you for your email. We have submitted a request with our purchaser to verify this with the vendor. The will contact our vendor to see if the vendor should be sending these with 10 or 20. When we hear back from them we will let you know how we are able to proceed. If the vendor calls for 20 they will have to send us the missing 10 clips for you.



We strive to offer great service, so if we can be instrumental in helping you with

anything else, please don't hesitate to let us know. Thank you for choosing

Classic Industries.



Have a great day!

Jessica Hernandez
Customer Service
Info@classicindustries.com
714.847.6887

800.854.1280


Hmmm...

Apparently they think I'm trying to rip them off for 10 clips.

There must be a nationwide clip fraud ring that I'm not aware of.


OK.

Whatever.

So, several days go by and I send them this short little note:


"It's been one week since I've heard from you.

Have you found anything out yet ?"

No response...

This clip fraud ring thing must be a bigger problem than I anticipated.  


So...

Today, I've got some time and I decide to test fit the bezels onto the lenses, confident that the clip fraud ring caper will soon be solved and that my missing clips would be arriving shortly.

Most likely accompanied by a pleasant little note of apology from the lovely Miss/Mrs./Ms. Hernandez.

Carefully, I lay out one bezel and it's corresponding lens on a big fluffy blue terry cloth towel to avoid possible scratching from the course texture of my wooden workbench top.

Carefully aligning all ten pegs of the bezels with their corresponding holes in the lens, I notice that some of them aren't exactly lining up...close, but just a little off.

Diligently, I line up all the pegs and get them started into their intended destinations.

Working slowly, I begin moving the bezel closer to the lens, a little bit at a time going around the bezel, being sure to keep everything even, and make sure that nothing is binding up.

SNAP !

Something hits the floor.

What the F%&$ was that ?  

One of the mounting holes on the lens broke.

Wait...

Two more are broken also.

So...

Here I sit.

One busted lens.

One chrome bezel with rough edges, waviness in the metal that leaves huge gaps between the bezel and lens.

I've just spent $631.98

Plus $43.95 for Shipping and "Handling"

And $3.95 for "Insurance"


And, I've got the lovely Miss/Mrs./Ms. Hernandez that for some mysterious reason hasn't responded to me since 2/06/2015

I hope she's OK...

That is, if the perpetrators of the clip fraud ring didn't get her.  

[Daytona R/T SE]

 

[Ghoste]

That's just not acceptable.  If a reproduction part can't be held to an oem tolerance then there isn't much sense in repopping it. 

[Mopar Nut]

I would send them back and buy directly from BE&A, he would install the chrome before they leave his shop.

[Daytona R/T SE]

I would send them back and buy directly from BE&A, he would install the chrome before they leave his shop.

I tried that.

I checked with Mike before ordering.

He didn't have any in stock.

[Daytona R/T SE]

That's just not acceptable.  If a reproduction part can't be held to an oem tolerance then there isn't much sense in repopping it. 

Exactly.

[Mopar Nut]

I would send them back and buy directly from BE&A, he would install the chrome before they leave his shop.

I tried that.

I checked with Mike first.

He didn't have any in stock.

That's bad business, I feel for you.

I was close to pulling the trigger on those too from CI.

[dodgepaul1969]

That would be very frustrating indeed. They aren't cheap, "nationwide clip fraud ring" LOL.
I had a lil better experience with classic a couple weeks ago. One of the dash bezels they sent had the black paint already coming off above the glove box door. I sent in pics and was mailed a shipping label to return it, then they'd send me another. The next day I got a phone call  saying there was no need to return the "damaged" one, they'd send me a new one that day. Saves me the hassle of a special trip to town. the new one showed up in a couple days and all is fine. I guess the gentleman I was working with, Doug I believe was his name, must be better at following up.
I'd send them back as well, poor quality is poor quality. ask them if they can send them assembled and see what they can do for you.  Good luck!

[Daytona R/T SE]

That would be very frustrating indeed. They aren't cheap, "nationwide clip fraud ring" LOL.
I had a lil better experience with classic a couple weeks ago. One of the dash bezels they sent had the black paint already coming off above the glove box door. I sent in pics and was mailed a shipping label to return it, then they'd send me another. The next day I got a phone call  saying there was no need to return the "damaged" one, they'd send me a new one that day. Saves me the hassle of a special trip to town. the new one showed up in a couple days and all is fine. I guess the gentleman I was working with, Doug I believe was his name, must be better at following up.
I'd send them back as well, poor quality is poor quality. ask them if they can send them assembled and see what they can do for you.  Good luck!

I'm going to email them, but at this point...

I'm not very confident I'll even get a response. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

On the up side...

Since I last heard from Miss/Mrs./Ms. Hernandez...

I've received about a half dozen happy little e-mails from Classic Industries encouraging me to purchase more of their fine products !

   

[Daytona R/T SE]

I just sent this to Miss/Mrs./Ms. Hernandez:





I still haven't heard back from you on the clips, but at this point it doesn't really matter.

Because :


Today, I had some time and I decided to test fit the bezels onto the lenses.

Carefully, I lay out one bezel and it's corresponding lens on a big fluffy blue terry cloth towel to avoid possible scratching from the course texture of my wooden workbench top.

Carefully aligning all ten pegs of the bezels with their corresponding holes in the lens, I notice that some of them aren't exactly lining up...close, but just a little off.

Diligently, I line up all the pegs and get them started into their intended destinations.

Working slowly, I began moving the bezel closer to the lens, a little bit at a time going around the bezel, being sure to keep everything even, and make sure that nothing is binding up.

SNAP ! 

Something hits the floor.

What was that ?  

One of the mounting holes on the lens broke.

Wait...

Two more are broken also.

So...

Here I sit.

One busted lens.

One chrome bezel with rough edges, waviness in the metal that leaves huge gaps between the bezel and lens.

The other bezel looks worse than the first one, so I'm not even going to attempt to do anything with it.

VERY poor quality.


I've just spent $631.98

Plus $43.95 for Shipping and "Handling"

And $3.95 for "Insurance"

The parts you sold me are incomplete and defective.

You've been paid.

I've got junk.

I'm not pleased.

Not pleased at all.

[stripedelete]

Don't email.  Call and then follow-up via email with a recap conversation.

Sorry for your luck.  I hope you get it resolved quickly.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Don't email.  Call and then follow-up via email with a recap conversation.

Sorry for your luck.  I hope you get it resolved quickly.

Thanks,

That would be the best way to handle this.

But, I'm not going to call.

I hate talking on the phone.

Besides, I already did my part...

I paid them.

[TexasStroker]

Man that sucks...I was also in the market for the trim...I kind of like it without it, and I guess that is a good thing for the time being.

That said, one thing I can say about Classic is they have pretty good people working there that will look out for you...I know you don't want to do it, but I would call.  You could have gotten a bad batch, or a bad run etc...You won't be the only person that has the parts break.  If you are the first, you'll probably need to run it by them (this thread would probably work), but for all you know they've had 3-5 call in ahead of you...At that point, the resolution becomes even quicker.  I think you would ask for someone in Resolutions (or something like that).

I prefer e-mail too, especially with my late schedule, but sometimes a call just gets stuff done quicker.  I'd imagine they'll offer up a refund, or let you know of a solution and offer to send that out etc.

Hopefully they get it sorted out and you get good trim and lenses.  If it counts for anything I'm currently having hell finding anyone that actually repops a dashpad that can mount AND fit 

Keep us posted!

[Hard Charger]

maybe the clips suck too and they are low on inventory?

[Daytona R/T SE]

Man that sucks...I was also in the market for the trim...I kind of like it without it, and I guess that is a good thing for the time being.

That said, one thing I can say about Classic is they have pretty good people working there that will look out for you...I know you don't want to do it, but I would call.  You could have gotten a bad batch, or a bad run etc...You won't be the only person that has the parts break.  If you are the first, you'll probably need to run it by them (this thread would probably work), but for all you know they've had 3-5 call in ahead of you...At that point, the resolution becomes even quicker.  I think you would ask for someone in Resolutions (or something like that).

I prefer e-mail too, especially with my late schedule, but sometimes a call just gets stuff done quicker.  I'd imagine they'll offer up a refund, or let you know of a solution and offer to send that out etc.

Hopefully they get it sorted out and you get good trim and lenses.  If it counts for anything I'm currently having hell finding anyone that actually repops a dashpad that can mount AND fit  

Keep us posted!

Again, Good advise to call, but it simply isn't going to happen.

Between the fact that I work in a loud shop all day long where phone calls are nearly impossible, and the fact that I've already had to count to ten a few times and edit my post here to keep from going over the top with a full blown rant...

Well, let's just say I've inherited my Mother's Irish temper...something I have to work constantly to contain.

[Mopar Nut]

Did you send them the pictures?

[tan top]

     crikey   sorry to see this   ,  could use  sikaflex / pu sealer / windshield  adhesive to stick them on , not ideal  but ....     I done this to my originals

That's just not acceptable.  If a reproduction part can't be held to an oem tolerance then there isn't much sense in repopping it.  

Exactly.

yeah  , said it time & time again , if your going to repop a part least get it right  , & to think manufacturing processes & materials  are in some cases 100% better than when these cars were knew.   there are soo many   repop parts are crap , or not quite accurate in finish & fit  or  both . some might say well look how it was for parts in the  & 80s & early 90s  , mopar guys were crying out for new stuff , I for one would never have dreamed of all the new stuff you can buy now when I got my charger some  26 years ago  , but whats the point making the repop parts if they don't  fit  , & don't  have the finish & quality of even a original part   ,

we are , expected to pay good money for this stuff ...   wonder if the  ford & GM mob have the same trouble  

sorry for the mini hijack     , got a bit carried away ,

[Ghoste]

This is one of the reasons I don't like CI or YO.  They are just a giant middleman who spend way more money on marketing and order takers than they ever will on actually reproducing a part or ensuring quality control.  Lure them in with a low price and make it up with shipping.  Summit is much the same.

[Daytona R/T SE]

This is one of the reasons I don't like CI or YO.  They are just a giant middleman who spend way more money on marketing and order takers than they ever will on actually reproducing a part or ensuring quality control.  Lure them in with a low price and make it up with shipping.  Summit is much the same.

Shit like this takes ALL of the fun out of this hobby.

[Charger-Bodie]

Www.megapartsusa.com

[moparnation74]

This is one of the reasons I don't like CI or YO.  They are just a giant middleman who spend way more money on marketing and order takers than they ever will on actually reproducing a part or ensuring quality control.  Lure them in with a low price and make it up with shipping.  Summit is much the same.

Shit like this takes ALL of the fun out of this hobby.

I have an original used set.  The exterior chrome you can see is show quality.  The top/bottom edge where you cannot see has minor pitting. If you want I can send you some pics.  Send that repop junk back!  Pm me if int.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Www.megapartsusa.com

Good guys to deal with.

I tried them right after I checked with Mike @ BE&A...

They were out too.

Besides...

I think all of these lenses and bezels are made at the same place in China...

Different sellers, same product.

[Charger-Bodie]

Www.megapartsusa.com

Good guys to deal with.

I tried them right after I checked with Mike @ BE&A...

Megaparts were out too.

Besides...

I think all of these lenses and bezels are made at the same place in China...

I think your right ,but it would be nice to have someone you can trust with your money.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Www.megapartsusa.com

Good guys to deal with.

I tried them right after I checked with Mike @ BE&A...

Megaparts were out too.

Besides...

I think all of these lenses and bezels are made at the same place in China...

I think your right ,but it would be nice to have someone you can trust with your money.

It sure would.

Especially so much of it.