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A while back I stumbled across a part that I wanted to add to my bench. Problem was the mfg. had discontinued it (and not replacing it with a new version due to cost and low sales). So I start hunting around the web for sites that may have NOS (new old stock), including ebay. Tons of sites still have the part listed, but all state "out of stock".
I found a site that listed the part, but with no inventory status. Small enough site that I thought they may have NOS. So I ordered it on 11/9 thinking that if the order processes, they may have it and will ship (in hindsight, should have called - late night search/order at the time). So late last week I thought, hmmm, nothing in the mail, let's see what the status is. Order was still listed as "processing", so I knew that they didn't have it and have probably tried to place an order with the mfg.
I call. Closed. Wait until the next day and call again for and update. Guy put me on hold and checks. About 5 min later he comes back and says they have received a bunch of stuff from this vendor and it's probably in there. I told him I know it's been discontinued for a while and highly doubt it. I then ask if my card was charged as they had not yet shipped anything. Yep. Charged the instant I clicked order. He said he'd credit me back and would not charge the 10% restocking fee. Gee, thanks for that. Are you kidding me? You charge me for an item you don't have hoping your "process" would fulfill the order and then you just leave it hanging for >3 weeks in "processing" and you're going to waive the restocking fee. Wow! What excellent customer service. Based on my conversation with the rep (owner?), it's a relatively small site/shop (in comparison some of the well known larger sites), so to just leave the order in limbo was a bit of a scratcher. The "refund" took 4 days to process and notify me.
I took a risk on trying to order something I knew was discontinued and most larger sites no longer had in stock (was actually trying to find a small vendor that my have had one still sitting on the shelf), so my bad to some degree. But the vendor was only too happy to immediately take my money and forget about the fulfillment/notification part as well, so less than decent customer service for follow through (especially since the part was NOT listed as "out of stock" or special order or some other description to let me know it might take a while to get if available - static inventory site, another small shop indicator). Lesson learned and rant off.
I found a site that listed the part, but with no inventory status. Small enough site that I thought they may have NOS. So I ordered it on 11/9 thinking that if the order processes, they may have it and will ship (in hindsight, should have called - late night search/order at the time). So late last week I thought, hmmm, nothing in the mail, let's see what the status is. Order was still listed as "processing", so I knew that they didn't have it and have probably tried to place an order with the mfg.
I call. Closed. Wait until the next day and call again for and update. Guy put me on hold and checks. About 5 min later he comes back and says they have received a bunch of stuff from this vendor and it's probably in there. I told him I know it's been discontinued for a while and highly doubt it. I then ask if my card was charged as they had not yet shipped anything. Yep. Charged the instant I clicked order. He said he'd credit me back and would not charge the 10% restocking fee. Gee, thanks for that. Are you kidding me? You charge me for an item you don't have hoping your "process" would fulfill the order and then you just leave it hanging for >3 weeks in "processing" and you're going to waive the restocking fee. Wow! What excellent customer service. Based on my conversation with the rep (owner?), it's a relatively small site/shop (in comparison some of the well known larger sites), so to just leave the order in limbo was a bit of a scratcher. The "refund" took 4 days to process and notify me.
I took a risk on trying to order something I knew was discontinued and most larger sites no longer had in stock (was actually trying to find a small vendor that my have had one still sitting on the shelf), so my bad to some degree. But the vendor was only too happy to immediately take my money and forget about the fulfillment/notification part as well, so less than decent customer service for follow through (especially since the part was NOT listed as "out of stock" or special order or some other description to let me know it might take a while to get if available - static inventory site, another small shop indicator). Lesson learned and rant off.
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