Update 2: Ever get that feeling like you're being screwed? Appeasement

"Racescort666" (Racescort666)
06/29/2015 at 20:50 • Filed to: 2 wheels bad, Quantum Fuel Systems

The short version of this story is that I think I’m getting screwed by a company called !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I ordered a fuel pump for my Yamaha V Star last Thursday (who knew that carburetor bikes had fuel pumps?) with overnight delivery to be delivered on Friday. It never showed up and I’m starting to worry that it never will.

A little more detail on why this is so frustrating: I live in Chicago, my bike is in Michigan, I was in Michigan for work and had the chance to pick the bike up last week when I was there. And late on Wednesday night is when I discovered the problem with the fuel pump. Since my plan involved riding the bike back to Chicago, I pretty much needed it to be fixed or come up with another plan for getting home.

Thursday I started calling around to find a replacement fuel pump and came across the above company. An OEM pump was in the neighborhood of $300 while Quantum’s was $70 which seemed like a pretty slick deal even if I had to pay for overnight shipping (around $35). When I spoke to the sales guy on the phone, he assured me that they would ship that day and with overnight shipping it would arrive sometime on Friday. I provided my credit card information, shipping address (my buddy’s house), and my email address for tracking information.

I checked off and on the rest of the day but never received an email for tracking information. I didn’t think much of it, maybe they ship stuff at the end of the day so there’s nothing to send, maybe they forgot to send the update, who knows? I did see the payment pop up as pending on my online credit card statement so I had some confidence they wouldn’t be holding off on shipping due to a non-payment.

Friday, still no ship confirmation email. I leave work and head up to my buddy’s house. There’s a shipment from Amazon but nothing addressed to me. Fine, it’s early afternoon, maybe UPS hasn’t come yet. I check my email, nothing. I call Quantum for an update, voicemail. I leave a message and start taking the bike apart for when it comes.

I called a few more times getting voicemail each time with the outgoing message telling me to leave a message or to email the sales group. So I emailed the sales group and about an hour later I get the following response:

Racescort666 , can you tell me the part number you ordered, your address, and
the exact year, make, and model of your bike or vehicle?

Thank you,

Quantum Fuel Systems
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
1-818-574-FUEL

M-F 9am-6:30pm PST

I had already provided the address in the previous email but sure, if it makes things simpler, I’ll send those things again. No response and it was well within their operating hours.

So here I am, I ended up taking the train from Michigan back to Chicago. Disappointingly trudging through Union Station with my motorcycle helmet tucked under my arm like a loser. Presumably, the pump never shipped, in which case, I want my money back for the overnight shipping. If they’re out to screw people, I want the motoring community to know because that’s bullshit. We have enough frustrations with our vehicles that only occasionally work to have to deal with unscrupulous companies when we’re in a pinch.

Seriously, this fucked up my whole weekend. Thanks for reading, what are your thoughts?

UPDATE: I received shipping confirmation (USPS priority). I asked to be reimbursed for overnight shipping, we’ll see how it goes.

UPDATE 2: They will be refunding me for overnight shipping. This is really all that I can ask for except that my weekend was ruined. Still frustrating but I think all that can be reasonably requested has been done.

DISCUSSION (11)

desertdog5051 > Racescort666
06/29/2015 at 10:57

I sent them an email asking if the order I was about to place would arrive as agreed overnight. I referenced your situation. See what happens.

Toyota Sucks Lots Of Sausages > Racescort666
06/29/2015 at 11:01

Was it ordered through Amazon using credit card? If it was then you’d have a recourse to get partial or full refund.

Still an inconvenience though, understandably.

Racescort666 > Toyota Sucks Lots Of Sausages
06/29/2015 at 11:04

No, I called them direct because I wanted to make sure that if I was paying for overnight shipping, that it would be shipped the same day as the order. I don’t know if they’re a retailer through Amazon or not but I’ve had trouble with ordering stuff that isn’t fulfilled by Amazon which is why I called.

Racescort666 > desertdog5051
06/29/2015 at 11:04

Thanks.

Toyota Sucks Lots Of Sausages > Racescort666
06/29/2015 at 11:18

I see. At this point I hope you get the fuel pump delivered, and argue over the shipping fee with whatever you had documented (time of phone call, email exchanges, etc). Good luck!

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Racescort666
06/29/2015 at 11:19

Since it was purchased on a credit card you can likely get all your money refunded if it doesn’t show. Call up your credit card provider, tell them I ordered this part for $X and it was supposed to be delivered on 6/26. I have not received the part and the company has given me no information to indicate that I will ever receive the part. I’ve had a similar case and the credit card company went good on it with no hassle.

Racescort666 > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
06/29/2015 at 11:27

Yeah, that’s the plan if I don’t hear back from them.

Nisman > Racescort666
06/29/2015 at 20:57

I had a similar situation occur when the stator went bad on my old Yamaha. I ordered it THREE separate times, to find the order was cancelled the next day because it was out of stock, before the FOURTH vendor had it in stock. WTF!

desertdog5051 > Racescort666
06/29/2015 at 21:34

No reply back from them so far. I hope you get your stuff. Sorry.

If you don’t, Oppo can enlist a lot of resourses to bombard them with e mails. Keep us posted.

Conan > Racescort666
06/29/2015 at 22:04

Happened a couple times with car parts on the Internet for me. Credit card companies are usually pretty good about dealing with it if its not from an individual.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Racescort666
07/03/2015 at 12:10

I felt like I got minorly screwed with the purchase of my current car. I paid $5000 and after owning it for a bit, I discovered some things that I missed before buying. I figure I paid about $1000 too much for it.

In the greater scheme of things, it’s not something worth making a big deal over. The car still works... just not as good as I initially judged it to be.