What is happening at FCP Euro?

Post by **scot850** » 03 May 2018, 12:48

Anyone from Canada had dealings with FCP Euro recently? They seem to be changing their whole way of doing business. It now seems impossible to contact them by phone. Their 'Customer Service' department is now only open 9-4pm EST Mon-Thurs. I tried calling them today at 2.30pm and they are closed, so now you can't talk to someone until next Monday!

They have now removed the VIP Customer option they had for those of us who bought a crap load of parts from them. It gave slightly better delivery service and 5-10% off orders. No longer. This now gets randomly applied. Leave the parts in your order bucket for 24 hours and they will give you a 5% off e-mail!

I just place a $430 US order for brakes for my son's car. This was 8 days ago. They have (had?) a new shipping offering to Canada which I now realise is UPS Ground. The UPS Ground service to Canada sucks and always had. Gone are the 2-3 day shipments at a good cost from FCP using UPS Air. UPS ground has damaged several shipments (a Volvo radiator arrived like a banana and an axle with a broken boot to list a couple). There cross border charges are also huge, and way higher than I paid with their old process. This shipment is costing me over $220 CDN on a $430 US order. If it wasn't for the warranty and wanting try try brakes other than OE which seem poor on our XC70, I would have been cheaper buying OE brakes from the dealer!

I know this is a rant, but I don't understand how they have gotten so far out of whack from even the start of 2018.

I guess I can no longer recommend them as a supplier now, in particular to Canadian enthusiasts.

Oh, called UPS to find what is going on, and they said the shipment has just cleared customs where it has been since Sunday and I 'should' get it tomorrow. I paid the handling and taxes up front now, but usually the driver still won't leave it as they don't seem to tell them it has been paid for.

Neil.

Post by **oragex** » 03 May 2018, 13:15

Scot, because of customs fees and taxes I have dealt with FCP or Ipd but once. Plus, they don't have decent shipping fees for smaller items. I usually go with Eeuroparts with their Canada Direct shipping which not only is cheaper, but it says zero customs taxes or fees. Only moment is when they don't sell what I need, then I try Ebay.

The import taxes to Canada with UPS or Fedex are scary

Post by **scot850** » 03 May 2018, 13:41

I agree for the most part, although the previous shipping option FCP used to have still often worked out cheaper than buying from the dealer on larger orders. For smaller parts it is cheaper to buy direct from the dealer, and quicker. They often have the parts next day if I need them quickly and I do get a small VIP discount (sometimes larger if it is one of the guys I know).

Ebay is also luck of the draw, as are Amazon. The import and shipping charges from the US suppliers can be stupid high, although some are not too bad. Just have to pick and choose.

Mind you just found out local Toyota dealer sells parking brake shoes individually! Price ? $110 EACH!!! Ebay seller is selling front and rear pads and parking brake shoes for $160 US!

Neil.