When buying from FCP Groton

[precopster]

A tech question with FCP has turned into a three month wait over a very simple matter.

However I will stick with them because in the majority of dealings they are spot on, and I have made at least a dozen orders which have arrived promptly, and well packed.

Just bear in mind that like other phone driven ordering sites, the people on the phones are on a learning curve and can't always be seasoned pros. (seasoned pros want better money than phone sales can offer and at a later stage in their lives are seeking a job where deep vein thrombosis is unlikely )

[EstVolvo]

To: FCP Groton
I used this email: [email protected] to ask: "How do I get to Nick Bauer?"
No answer.
No names, for now. The guy I was dealing with tried his best. He was probably doing more than FCP would ask him to do. He tried to find me the best solution and I'm very thankful for that. Things went south after the order was out of our hands.

[jtp]

Historically they've done a great job, fast shipping and good service. Techs know what they're talking about.

The last two orders I put in there had no initials in the packing box, and the packing is what they screwed up this time. Maybe they need to add some staff since they've added imports and are probably doing a ton more business.

If I have another experience like this I'll probably avoid them, only because I usually have a small window of time between having enough money to pay for parts and enough time to do the work, so getting it right the first time is really important to me and I've never had a problem with ipd. But if they remedy this problem as fast as the knowledgable and polite tech I talked to today said they would (Dragan), and I don't have another order as majorly screwed up as this one I will continue to split my business between fcp and ipd.

If this experience becomes like what the OP said ipd will be getting my business.

[Volvoagain]

I typically recieve orders within 24 hours...always exact, never a back order.
Pricing can be high on some items, but they always offer the MVS discount....and i'm lazy
Even warranted a heater core that crapped out.....almost a year later....

[Alecw81]

I've had nothing but good experiences with FCP.

[jblackburn]

I too have always had good experiences with FCP - they've always gotten all of my orders right out and to me within a few days.

I've had trouble with other parts places; IPD took almost 2 weeks to ship one of my orders and Tasca Parts was pretty slow as well, and then I had to go through hell and high water to return a damaged part.

[egads]

FCP have always been solid getting the right parts well packed to me in Australia. Cost is good, turnaround is good and supporting the forums that help me out scores them points too.

[sven]

Ive been using FCP since 2001. I might order once or twice a year from them and never ever had an issue with them. But my only gripe is the quality of aftermarket parts...it seems to be getting worse and worse. Not their fault, I guess but it seems to be a trend even with other online retailers. I think its the whole aftermarket industry as a whole.

Ive been using tasca since last year for major items like radiator, engine mounts, timing belt kits, etc. Yes it takes a little longer (maybe a week) but for the quality and not much more $ than aftermarket, its worth it.

[jtp]

FCP followed up with their mistake on my order quickly, responsibly, and didn't make me jump through any unnecessary hoops. Every organization will make mistakes, I think it shows the real character of the business when a mistake has to be rectified.

Two thumbs up guys!!!

[ojdorson]

Well, I spoke too soon, clearly... or I forgot to knock on wood or something.

While looking for the radiator on FCP's site, I saw that they only had the Nissens replacement for $205. I would've preferred the Behr part and since FCP always says, "If it's not on our site, or if you need the original OEM part, call us!" I called them and spoke to someone. I explained to them that I have a '96 850 R (turbo) and that I would prefer the Behr radiator to the Nissens. The guy I spoke to assured me that they had the correct Behr part and gave me a part number to type into the search box on the website. Typing up the part number did give me a Behr radiator for and when I read "You will need clamp kit part number 6842411K x 2 to re-install the transmission and oil cooling lines to go to this radiator." I was reassured that it would have both oil and transmission cooling. I added it to my order and everything arrived very quickly.

Unfortunately, it's not the right radiator - it does not have fittings for oil cooling. I immediately called them and let them know this, and made sure they knew that I had a turbo 850 and that it required the oil cooling fittings. They insisted several times that it was the correct part and asked me to send them pictures. I did and the response was "this is indeed the correct part for your car" and they refused to do anything about it. I've had to buy another radiator (the correct Nissens one) and will have to pay for return shipping for the wrong radiator even though it was the part they told me to order for my turbo 850.

It's incredibly frustrating and insulting for them to blame the mistake on me and refuse to cover the return shipping for the wrong part they told me to order. As I do my front brakes and complete suspension overhaul this month, I will do everything I can to spend my money elsewhere.

So, yeah, sometimes FCP messes up and disappoints a customer. This time - right after I'd gotten done lauding them - it was me.