Let me start by saying I am not bashing TAs quality or commitment to Buick performance. I am saying to use caution with what you are told on the phone lines because apparently Mike does not empower his employees. Please read my story. I ordered motor mounts over a year ago and just got to install them because of delays in getting my car back from the painter. When they didnt fit because I was required to cut extra tabs off of them (no instructions, and they were made in India), I called and received a RGA # to ship them back for a refund of purchase price minus 10% ($49-10%). When a credit finally appeared on my credit card, it was for only $24.50. I called and was told that this was because they were over a year old (actually TAs policy is after 90 days). I was also told that Jan, who had just started working there, should not have ever given me a RGA #. Arguing got me no where. TA would not budge. Apparently, times at TA are bad since $20 extra dollars is making a big difference in their bottom line. I could see them not wanting the part back if it was an out of date part that couldnt be sold again. But its not its freakin motor mounts that if they fit to begin with I would have never sent them back. In addition, Jan (who was represents TA) gave me a verbal commitment whether right or wrong. In a separate subject, before the above incident, I order rocker arm studs and was sent rear end studs (took 7 days to receive). I called and was told to ship them back and they would send out the correct parts (they billed me for the next order and would be credited the first order amount when it was returned). I told them that I was in a hurry for the studs and asked to send as quickly as possible. This time I received them in 8 days!! Another example of great customer support from TA. I know everyone thinks TA is great because Mike spends money to develop parts for the Buick. Well that is only part of being a good company. Customer Service is also important and TA fails miserably in that aspect!!! Ray Nemtz Hubbard, OH
I've never dealt with T/A, but from what I am able to see from various posts on this site, some people get the royal treatment and others seem to have big problems. Like any other vendor, they seem to be consistently inconsistent. Again, just my observations. No first hand experience. The only thing I've done with T/A is get a price on a 455 dip stick and tube. USED. Price was $100.00. ....and my decimal point is in the correct place. As I said, some people swear by T/A because price is not an issue, they are not in a rush, and T/A fits their needs.
TA is a business, and no business is perfect. Any time I've had a problem, they have come through. Write a letter to Mike and explain what happened. The most you're out is a stamp
I say..."Talk to Mike" He has always been most reasonable and helpful with me (and I am a nobody!) I am sure he will understand your delemia and want to get you what you need. Eric
Not having clear and concise instructions is a bad thing. Sounds like maybe a revision to the instructions may be in order. o No: But, frankly I'm surprised they took them back at all after a year. That policy seems very generous too me. :TU:
i had very good luck with the parts i ordered from TA. poston, imho is the worst at customer service,no invoices, parts in unlabeled boxes, etc.
When you aren't satisfied with your customer service, ask to speak to the manager. Some of my transactions have been faster and smoother than others, but I cannot say that I was ever treated badly by TA. They are like the rest of us, they make mistakes. One of the worst things to do is get on the internet and bash a business until you have exhausted your last resort to work the issue out. If they still suck, then I'm all for telling about it. May I suggest you delete this post until you've talked to Mike?
Why should he delete his post? IMHO he got hosed.......I'm glad he spoke up......TA had their chance to make it right and they blew it. If they just got some bad publicity then so be it......maybe the next time they should try a little harder to be fair. Nailhead has spoken. :Brow: (made in India??? :error: )
I ordered a 494 kit several years back which I never got around to building. As time/money permitted, I collected parts to build the motor. Along the way I decided to check the rod fit on the crank. To my amazement the bearings were wrong. They were Clevite CB 663V. I called Mike and explained what had happened and he didn't know what those bearings fit and how I got them with that kit. But since I had ordered them a few years earlier I was S.O.L.! He was nice about it but I'm stuck with bearings I can't use.
Read the rest of the post I wrote. Do you take the cashier's answer or do you ask for the manager when you have a problem at any local store? I said to talk to the manager and then post away if he still isn't satisfied. Just remember that when the shoe ends up on the other foot (and I am confident it WILL happen, if you are human.)
I made an order last night with TA. No problems yet! And I've made numerous purchases with them in the last couple years. Plus, they have a girl answering the phone with a HOT voice..:grin:
how its done Maybe you missed this rant I wrote in response to another customer service story. All you really need to remember is that YOU are wrong and life will get easier... The New Way To Do Business We do not keep anything in stock, and we don't know when we'll get it. If you pester us for a date or time frame we'll tell you something but never hold us to it. Infact, don't even call here asking when you'll get your stuff. We have your money now, in fact we charged your credit card .03 seconds after you ordered it. We DO NOT want to hear from you unless you want to spend more money right now. If you ever call here asking about your stuff, we'll put you on hold for hours. You don't know it but you are on mute speakerphone. We drink coffee and eat donuts and laugh at you while you curse us and or listen to our advertisement recordings over and over again. We make sure the advertisement mentions our huge inventory, superior customer service, knowledgeable staff, quality products and same day shipping just to piss you off even more. When we hear you getting really steamed or when we just get bored of you we hang up on you. If you are stupid enough to call back again after we just sent you a crystal clear message we will give you additude just so you will get it through your thick head that we don't want to hear from you. If we send it to you six months after we said we would you had better not complain. You are lucky we remembered to send you anything at all after this long. If you received it damaged you'll have to take that up with the shipper because we are not responsible nor do we have the time to deal with such things. When it left here it was perfect. We're not sure, you may have damaged it yourself and now expect us to pay for it. Don't ever tell us we sent you the wrong part, we sent you exactly what you ordered. You ordered the wrong part, it's your problem. Don't give us any grief or question us in any way. You are a lowlife "customer" and we are far superior to you in every conceivable way. We don't know you or care about you or your business. We'll do fine without you. Our "good" customers spend thousands upon thousands of dollars with us and never complain. We treat them like the slime that they are, send them cheap, misrepresented, incorrect and broken parts 16 months after we promised them and they never ask questions. They just call us, kiss our asses and order more. This is the way it is "a$$hole" and if you don't like it you can call someone else or do without! by the way I have to admit, I love paying for boxes that advertise a company. How much do ya think YO charges us for those stupid ass boxes?
I agree with Adam. You should have talked to Mike or Sheri before getting on here. If you bought something from a store a year ago... they are not going to take it back. They might give you in store credit. TA like any other place has a return policy for a reason. If you couldn't get to it in that time line, consider yourself S.O.L. or be happy with what deal they did give you. I don't think TA was out of line. If you had trouble with shipping in the past... talk to management. Now if you felt there should be instructions or couldn't figure out how to put them on.... Call Mike!!! Or, ask someone on this board. Maybe someone else had gone through what you have and can give you pointers. This would go for all of the parts places you deal with big or small. Nailheadina67... Ray had his chance to make things right too. The blame doesn't all fall on TA. Ray had 90 days to return the part if it was wrong and he blew it. I'm sure he has his reasons why it took him a year. TA has their reason why they are not going to give him full price after the 90 day return policy has expired. Ray... consider this a learning lesson. Find out what the return policy is and if it is the right part you need before it expires. That's my 2 cents
Most companies wont even give you a second thought after 90 days. If you have an order with someone check it out the day it arrives not monthes later!! I agree with Danie'
I'm a businessman myself. How long ago he purchased it has nothing to do with it....and neither does the cashier who may or may not be at fault. The fact is the owner of T/A owns the business, and it's HIS responsibility to make sure the business is run the way HE wants it to be run. If the return policy is not liberal, then fine, just remember that the next time you need a part. That's the way HE runs his business. I have been in business for over 20 years now. Whether I sold a customer a $40 battery for his lawnmower (for which I even get no warranty) or a new engine on a lawn tractor that cost $600.......if I don't stand behind what I sell I will lose customers. It's the same way in any business, I don't care what it is. Sometimes you have to eat things in order to stay in business. I have found that when you are fair, they come back and those are the ones who end up spending the most money. The fact is THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. Even if you are certain he is wrong, if you want his business then he's right.......plain and simple. He should have been offered store credit at the very least, especially considering the part was new and not used. If it was modified or broken as a fault of his own, then that's completely different. But still, he should have been offered something to keep him happy.....maybe 20% off his next purchase. If T/A wants to risk losing a customer over a $20 part made in India then that's their problem. I'm sure there is an alternate way for him to fix his Buick, even if it means finding a used part from a place that wants him to come back. :bglasses:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :TU: I have found that Virginia at the front counter really knows her stuff! Also, I agree that any problems should be brought up directly with Mike T. That man has always had the time to answer any tech questions I had in the past. He has also taken the time on his own accord to call me a few times and inquire on how my engine buildup was progressing. Quality People at TA in my opinion. Hats off to ya!
Give me a break, a yr to return something and you expect a company to jump through hoops for you!Maybe you and nailhead can learn something from this,TA is a business and no one would should expect anything after the terms that they have.90 days should be more than enough to realize you had a problem. Nailhead you should start a company so i can by a product and when i finish restoring my car in five yrs and realize i dont need it then you can refund all my money,i'm sure you'll last long in the business world! Best of luck to you! :Smarty:
