TheSamba.com :: View topic - California Pacific aka J-Bugs

Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:59 pm

I've ordered several times from them within the last couple months and the stuff always came right away without any problems (i.e. received within 3 days).

Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:23 pm

I order an exhaust system from jbugs last month...it arrived in 3 days. I've done business with them in the past as well, always with excellent service.

Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:10 am

I ordered the interior kit and other parts for my bug. I had no problems and the guys on the phone were helpful. There were a few items that were not in stock at shipment time, but they sent them out priority as soon as they got them in.

Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:34 pm

I called to order a 1974 header for my bus. They sent me a header for a 1975 bus. I called to get the return in order and they tell me its my fault they sent the wrong part out and return shipping would not be paid for. This is not customer service. They basically called me a liar and refuse to acknowledge the mistake of their employees. Whatever happened to customer service. Do not buy from this company. Sounds like they don't need your business anyway.

Robbie

Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:13 pm

Boy am I glad I searched this one out. I was looking at their Thing floor pans, which are advertised as being the "thickest in the industry". After reading this thread and finding no response anywhwere from them, I think I'll hold off on that order. If anyone has ordered Thing floor pans from them I'd be curious how the experience went.

Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:43 am

Crap, I should have read this thread before ording from JBugs. Now I'm worried either my complete interior resto won't show up for a few weeks or will be missing something. I'll post something once I get them.

Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:16 pm

I personally ordered my TMI kit from Jbugs about 2.5 years ago. When I ordered it, it was not an item that they maintained in stock. If you want a plain type or stock type interior design, then it's likely they'll have it in stock. I've been in their showroom quite a few times, and it's clear to me that these guys are more focused on their internet orders, than their shop front sales. Their store is a mess, but they get the parts sent out quick, and keep a pretty decent inventory. alas, their shop may be a mess, but they have the parts you need..

Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:43 am

ordered a set of outer window seals for a squareback in nov,was told they were in stock and would be shipped out,dec comes around and i call to find out whats going on with them they said they were on back order,i told the guy that when i ordered them they were "in stock"he said they would be shipped out next week,e-mailed them monday and still have not heard a responce,they sure did not mind charging my credit card in nov when they had parts "in stock" and i still have no window seals

Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:25 pm

I deal with those guys all the time. They know there parts and have great service. They also have been around for along time and will still be there for along time to come.

Great job guys keep up the good work!!

Andy
Grease Monkey Racing :D

Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:04 pm

well i ordered a vinyl rear speaker tray from them on 11/7/07 and here it is 1/22/08 and still don't have it call them about once a week and and get different answers each time .. they blame TMI .. got one in it and it was damaged .. blah blah blah

the biggest problem with them is if you order online it does not say if it's in stock or not you won't know till the package arrives and only half you order is there..

last time for me and jbugs

codeman

Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:09 pm

sorry andy , but i belive they are talking about california pacific/jugs in oceanside not old jbugs in hawthorne.

Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:57 pm

<-- dumb me :oops: o-well If i have ay jobs out that way i'll use j bugs.

Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:48 pm

andy, just make sure you pick up the parts from us before you go that way. you'll be glad you did. :D ..thanks, Sal

Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:03 pm

I just received my second order from JBUGS. I have had great luck with them. I ordered on line and thought the price was reasonable and the shipping was the fastest I have ever seen. California to Nebraska in 2 1/2 days.

Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:00 pm

I ordered a custom TMI interior for my Ghia, and it tool a while to get, but what the hell, it's not a stock item. When I screwed up during the install and put a hole in the carpet that I should have Gary was really helpful and had his parts pickers check through all of the boxes looking for a replacement piece, but no dice. After 3 months the cloth binding (another custom bit) on the parcel tray carpet started to turn grey from black. And I was getting a lot of fraying in the carpet. Gary (oddly, I always talk to him when I call) told me that it the greying cloth bothered me, I should just color it in with a sharpey. So much for the TMI lifetime warranty. I'll try talking to him again, but I'm not holding my breath. Has anyone dealt with TMI about warranty claims directly?

Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:34 pm

JBugs is worthless, and I would never purchase anything else from them! I had a horrible experience after spending about $800 from them. I recently finished a restoration and ordered all my interior,exterior,door parts and rubber kits from them. I messed up and didn't realize that someone installed 73 seats in my 74. I ordered the seat cover kit for a 74 and when I started installing them I realized the difference. My fault, I understand. I already installed the front bottoms and didn't realize it until I started the front backrests and noticed that the headrests are different. Now..just spending $800 at a company, I would expect some level of customer service. I spoke with a half wit Julio who with his broken English informed me that I could send the covers and padding back and he would swap them out I would just have to pay the shipping... Cool, as expected. I sent them out and waited 2 weeks. I had not heard or seen anything so I called, Julio informed me that "ohhhh, I forgot about that." He said he got my package about a week ago but was busy and forgot! I remained calm and told him that he was holding up my restoration and all I was waiting on was their covers, but then again.. it was my fault so I couldn't get too mad. So he said that he would try to send them out that day (Friday) but may not get to it until Monday, but would split 3 day shipping with me. No problem! So I waited.. and waited.. until the following Friday, and I got nothing! I called again and talked to Julio who told me again.. "Oh man, I forgot about that"!!!! COME ON! Now I was pissed, but he told me to hold on and he'll get me a tracking number in 10 min and he'll call me back. So, he called me back about 45 min later and told me that they are out of stock and also, that I would have to pay for a new set!!! I was furious and demanded to speak to the owner. Julio said "He'll tell you the same thing, but whatever." I spoke with the owner, who was even more of an asshole and told me that it's not his fault that I ordered the wrong part. I understood this concept from the beginning, but was told by Julio that they would take care of this for me (like a good company should). Now they have wasted over a month of my time, and infuriated me. I told them to send my seat covers back that I had sent back to them. I should have just gone to Wolfsburg west or another respected company that had the product in stock all along! Hard lesson learned, but learn from my Jbugs mistake.. NEVER buy from Jbugs!!

Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:30 pm

JBugs = Night
Wolfsburg West = Day

I have ordered 2 or 3 times from Jbugs in an effort to support the local guys. I live near by so I always pick up the orders. I eventually got all orders but they have never had the items I needed in stock nor have the lead times been correct. They haven't called me to let me know the parts have arrived, I have called each time and they claim the parts just came in and they are happy I "saved them a call". The shop floor is below average but phone sales seem to be brisk as they have 2 or 3 guys behind the counter on the phone. They obviously put their emphasis on phone and internet sales.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:46 pm

I did a resto on a 61 Ghia about a year and a half back and ordered all the interior and rubber parts from JBugs at a cost of about $ 1500 if memory serves me well. . I did a black interior with the tweed inserts in the seats and panels. They told me it would take longer because some of the seats or panels may not be in stock at the moment. I figured maybe a month to six weeks for them to come and they would be incomplete. I was wrong on both counts. The entire interior and rubber parts came in a week and they fit perfect. Only problem I had was with the headliner. It was for the wrong model. I called them told them of the problem and they sent me a new one overnight and told me to keep the other one in case I could use the vinyl for some other use in small areas of the car. I am now doing my 73 bus and will order my interior parts again from JBugs. Maybe it was just luck on my part, but I saw a 63 bug that a customer at my store did a few months ago and I thought it was pro done. He and I came to the conclusion that as long as the parts fit right all one needs is patience and direction.

Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:48 am

Ordered from them a few times when I purchased my 63 beetle back in November - had to place one of my orders over the phone and the dude I spoke to was a real dick. He had no patience at all for the questions I had (simple stuff like "is this in stock???"). Anyway, have used others since with much better customer service!

Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:18 pm

Jbugs does not post if a part is in stock or out of stock on their web site.

Lots of their parts listed are not in stock. A good business orders parts before they run out.... or at least lets you know before paying for it.

So here you go paying for a part on the net that takes 2-3 weeks to come in... what a joke....

The guys that work there are not experienced VW people... so expect wrong parts shipped and don't bother with questions.

I recommend shopping somewhere else.

I have had good luck with EIS. they post if a part is out of stock. they give waaay better deals than Wolfsberg West and just as fast service...