Columbia Parts - Don't ask questions unless you want your head bitten off

[Chargerjase]

I am looking for some floor pans for my 73 Charger. I did my usual homework and realized that AMD are the best, however they only make half floor pans and I only really need drivers front (quarter). Also, shipping to my part of the world, size is an issue. Anyway I found some on ebay that looked like Sherman ones which are also good and the right size that I was after. I wanted to check the brand and steel gauge so emailed the seller. Here is what I wrote;

Dear columbiaparts,

Hi there,
Can you tell me which company manufactures this floor pan and what gauge steel it is?
Thanks

I didn't think there was anything wrong with the question and was worded politely. I got a reply this morning and it reads;

Dear jkcoffey,

you are not going to know who it is. you probably wont be happy with the quality if you dont normally tend to call to ask questions before buying

Wow, what a w*#@$r. That was a question. If Columbia parts run their business like that, I will shop elsewhere.

 

[coronet340]

Just move on.
Thanks for the heads up

 

[coloradodave]

I checked out their site: columbiapartsco.com They obviously want people to call instead of ordering or asking questions online (their reasoning seems a little weak to me). It also seems like their whole site is dedicated to badmouthing the competition, which breaks one of the cardinal rules of business; namely, sell yourself on the merits of your products and service. Instead they want to control how their potential customers MUST contact/order from them. Like was said above, just move on. Another 'ugly American' trying to figure out why their business is going downhill.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Never had any luck with them, bought small stuff on ebag from them and the fit was generic an was only able to use part of a kit. Same thing asked a question and got back some sort of non sense about year correctness there advertised year range was 66-74 blah blah they had it all wrong. will not buy from them again. avoid I like Vans, although he is a prick in his responses at least the product is good.

 

[Chargerjase]

Just move on.
Thanks for the heads up

Yeah, you are right about moving on. I have a thick skin and don't offend easily, but at the end of the day, I am the customer.

 

[Funship32]

Wow...you weren't kidding. That guy was a jerk. Fortunately I didn't ask any questions when I bought off of ebay but I agree with you- shoddy treatement for a simple question and as a result I'd too would spend your money elsewhere. Have you thought about giving these guys a call? I've never dealt with them but they may have what you need: http://www.c2cfabrication.com/

 

[Chargerjase]

Wow...you weren't kidding. That guy was a jerk. Fortunately I didn't ask any questions when I bought off of ebay but I agree with you- shoddy treatement for a simple question and as a result I'd too would spend your money elsewhere. Have you thought about giving these guys a call? I've never dealt with them but they may have what you need: http://www.c2cfabrication.com/

Thanks funship, I will do that

 

[Don selleck]

I am looking for some floor pans for my 73 Charger. I did my usual homework and realized that AMD are the best, however they only make half floor pans and I only really need drivers front (quarter). Also, shipping to my part of the world, size is an issue. Anyway I found some on ebay that looked like Sherman ones which are also good and the right size that I was after. I wanted to check the brand and steel gauge so emailed the seller. Here is what I wrote;

Dear columbiaparts,

Hi there,
Can you tell me which company manufactures this floor pan and what gauge steel it is?
Thanks

I didn't think there was anything wrong with the question and was worded politely. I got a reply this morning and it reads;

Dear jkcoffey,

you are not going to know who it is. you probably wont be happy with the quality if you dont normally tend to call to ask questions before buying

Wow, what a w*#@$r. That was a question. If Columbia parts run their business like that, I will shop elsewhere.

Sounds like his wife probably divorced him took all his stuff, probably plays with his wanker too much and drives a ford. F__k em theres plenty of other decent people that are in this industry, if this would have been 15 years ago I would have sent him a a coulpe questions a day for the next week or two, but I'm much nicer now.

 

[stuka1166]

I bought a radiator weatherstrip for my 68' RR from Columbia advertised on ebay...It no where near fit. I contacted them via ebay that I wanted to return it...He was upset I contacted him through ebay and called me. When I told him it didn't fit...the holes were 1.5-2" off ... He told me it's because I don't know how to restore cars...Granted, I don't, but was working with a fellow who does...And it plain ol' didn't line up...It's only 10 holes !!!

I returned it, NEVER to do business again !!!

 

[ECS]

It also seems like their whole site is dedicated to badmouthing the competition, which breaks one of the cardinal rules of business; namely, sell yourself on the merits of your products and service.

There is nothing wrong with educating & pointing out the advantages they have over their Competition. You can't always assume that a target audience will automatically understand the benefits that separate one Company from another.

One of the greatest marketing campaigns has been the Pepsi taste challenge. It has been ongoing since 1975. It would have been difficult for Pepsi to offer the beverage challenge without contrasting their features against the Competition. Even when you "sell yourself on the merits of your products and service", who do you think those "merits" are being contrasted against? Choice is made on the superiority a Product has over its Competition.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

I had a similar experience with some headlight adjusters, the kit they sent me was generic and most of the parts didn't work, when I asked where they got it they got all shitty, so I basically told them good bye and never again. and will not even view their **** on ebay.

Vans is the same way but at least Van is willing to let you send it back without a bunch of BS comments, he will give you **** if you question the product as a matter of fact he treats you like your a 2 year old, pissed me off the one time so I let him have it with an explanation of my mopar dedication and he relented now he ships dam near over night to me lol its great!

 

[ECS]

I had a similar experience with some headlight adjusters, the kit they sent me was generic and most of the parts didn't work, when I asked where they got it they got all shitty, so I basically told them good bye and never again. and will not even view their **** on ebay.

Vans is the same way but at least Van is willing to let you send it back without a bunch of BS comments, he will give you **** if you question the product as a matter of fact he treats you like your a 2 year old, pissed me off the one time so I let him have it with an explanation of my mopar dedication and he relented now he ships dam near over night to me lol its great!

Educating a Customer and letting them know the differences that you provide over the Competition is one of the best practices a Company can do to help eliminate these types of nightmares. It's not negative advertising if the message is factual and helps the Customer to make a qualified decision.

 

[GetX'd]

I don't buy from people that treat me poorly as a customer. I was in sales for 35 years and know the customer isn't really always right - but you do your best to be polite and educate them on other possible solutions. This bozo is lucky anyone is communicating with him in any fashion. Phone, email, pony express. You do business how you can get it done and in whichever way it's convenient for the customer. I won't be calling them anytime soon.....

 

[coloradodave]

Sorry, ECS, I don't agree. Did you check out their site before writing in response to my post? If you spend all your time telling potential customers how lousy the competition's products are, THAT is NOT educating them. You educate them by showing them the ADVANTAGES of your product. Once the customer has positive points to compare, they can make their own decisions without your help...
We can agree to disagree since in over 30 years in the retail/service business the above philosophy served my company very well.

 

[mmissile]

You are correct in your evaluation, and for posting this info.

 

[ECS]

Sorry, ECS, I don't agree. Did you check out their site before writing in response to my post? If you spend all your time telling potential customers how lousy the competition's products are, THAT is NOT educating them. You educate them by showing them the ADVANTAGES of your product. Once the customer has positive points to compare, they can make their own decisions without your help...
We can agree to disagree since in over 30 years in the retail/service business the above philosophy served my company very well.

I was referring to your mention of the "cardinal rule in business". If a Company does nothing but "criticize" their Competition without showing their particular advantages, then I agree. It is impossible to show the "advantages of your product" without stepping on the toes of those you compete with. Showing "your advantages" is just another way of saying you're better than those who offer an inferior product or service. I have spent the better part of 20 years contrasting the superior qualities that my 3 Companies products/services exhibit over the Competition. Here is one example: http://www.ecsvin.com/

Listen to any Commercial (Radio, Television or Print) and see how many Companies break your "cardinal rule". Whether it is Cable TV Service, Phone Packages, Insurance Companies, etc......they ALL exploit the weaknesses of their Competition while providing the facts regarding their competitive edge. Without comparing the superiority of your products or services, you're gambling against yourself to be just another face in the crowd and hoping that the uneducated consumer will magically recognize what separates you from the pretenders.

 

[Chargerjase]

The point of the thread really is don't spend your hard earned money on vendors that are rude, unreliable or not knowledgeable about their product. There are good vendors out there so use them. Columbia can kiss my ***.

 

[Bruzilla]

Okay, I just have to say this... when the heck did so many car guys get so frigging hormonal? Seems like more and more I'm seeing posts that don't gripe about quality of vendors but customer service. Worse, it's not about not getting the parts right, it's about attitude.

I guess we've forgotten the days of going into that corner auto parts store where there was crap stacked everywhere, most of it under an inch of dust, and a couple of guys of indeterminate age, likely between 50 and 300 years old, sitting behind a wall of parts lists, catalogs, and price guides, and that was all the "customer service" you got. You waited for them to recognize you were there, you told them what you needed, you waited while they slowly thumbed through one book to get a part number, then a second one to get a price, then they told you what the price they wanted was. You never saw the price, you just had to pay what they said the price was, and then they would tell you "I have to order it in, so be back in two weeks."

Seems like nowadays if the vendor doesn't treat us like we're princes folks get upset.

 

[satman72]

Well, now we live in the age of the internet, so we don't have to put up with crappy service like we did years ago. See, I don't have to go to my local parts store and put up with their bull anymore. I can go online and pull up a crapload of sites wanting to sell me what I want/need. If you want to act like an *** when I ask a simple question, I'm only a keystroke away from going somewhere else to spend my money. It has nothing to do with being "hormonal" as you put it.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Bahaha hormonal! hysterical :rolling: