TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:14 am

I ordered a Torque Meister tool from So Cal on 4 Apr. It arrived at my house on 13 Apr via UPS. All parts were included and packaging was adequate for the contents.

Overall, no real complaints. Everything went smooth except that I was stuck on "C/C processing" from 04 Apr to 08 Apr. When I responded to their e-mail with a question, I never did receive a direct response to my query. However, the same day I was notified by an automated update that it had shipped. Coincidence? I don't know, but I would have appreciated a short reply typed by a person.

Tue May 31, 2011 10:49 pm

Slowest shipping ever.
I've been CC processing for 6 days so far with no email showing my order has shipped.

I called to find out whats going on and was promised that I would be called back with an update-
What do you know, No call back.

Still waiting and waiting. Wish I would've spent 2 dollars more and ordered ALL my stuff thru WW. I get that Next day.

OOps.
Never again.

Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:38 pm

Same here-

took way to long to get a simple package from SOCAL to NORCAL- I seem to get stuff from the east coast within a week, took almost 2 weeks to get my package from half a state away, WW has packages on my doorstep the next day-

inspected right away like the label says, everything LOOKED ok, went to install found I got 2 sets of front brake shoes and no rear for my brake kit-

called to get an exchange and basically got a hassle- guy on the other end of the phone needed and "invoice" number, which I didn't have available at the time even though I had everything else-

decided it wasn't worth the hassle, bought what I needed locally and won't be calling them again for anything.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:51 pm

olskool58 wrote: Same here-

took way to long to get a simple package from SOCAL to NORCAL- I seem to get stuff from the east coast within a week, took almost 2 weeks to get my package from half a state away, WW has packages on my doorstep the next day-

inspected right away like the label says, everything LOOKED ok, went to install found I got 2 sets of front brake shoes and no rear for my brake kit-

called to get an exchange and basically got a hassle- guy on the other end of the phone needed and "invoice" number, which I didn't have available at the time even though I had everything else-

decided it wasn't worth the hassle, bought what I needed locally and won't be calling them again for anything.

Yea for some reason they love to haggle with you- and give you 100 excuses as to why the guy you are talking to is the WRONG guy to talk to- its pathetic.

Be aware they charge an EXTRA $5.00 handling fee- just to handle your shit for WAYYY longer than any other company.

Hopefully forums like this make shitty business get better or go out of business.

Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:55 pm

Was gonna order a carb sync tool from them, good price, plus free shipping, sounds good! Then they wanted tack on a 15.00 handeling fee!lol no thanks I'll go elsewhere.

Sat Aug 06, 2011 4:04 pm

Almost got robbed... Well not quite but... Was doing online order from SoCal Imports and as total was worked up including tax and shipping, I noticed a additional $15 "handling fee"......

Umm... Don't think so..... This is a gotcha that is unfair and wrong for the consumer..... Check invoice BEFORE CONFIRMING order in future to see if these (or any) unfair fees are tacked on to purchase....

Needless to say I canceled order and asked retailer to delete my account and told them why.........

Dale

Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:52 pm

Wish I would have read this before ordering from So Cal Imports.
My total order was just over $525.00, of wich $229 was for a dual quiet pack system. It arrived with a dent in one of the mufflers. Crap happens,so called them right away.Was told that they would enter a claim with UPS.I replied there was no damage to the box,just a piece of bubblewrap, around the header, paper around the mufflers, and a piece of cardboard in between.At this point I thought all would be OK.
Guess I was wrong, almost 3 weeks in, they have the exhaust back in thier shop, and I'm told they need to fix it. Sorry I did not buy a repaired exhast system(guess they are Tri-Mil also), I just want the NEW system I paid for.
I entered a dispute with Pay-Pal, and So Cals answer was that it's a UPS claim,also that I disputed the full amount, not just the 229.00.
My reply was that the rest of the items, were doing me no good without the exhaust, and would also be returned.

Update to follow..............

Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:21 pm

Thanks to you guys at SAMBA.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would not have known who to talk with. Yes, Andy did make things right. Not sure how confident I am to make another order, but I probably will. Guess everyone is allowed a bad day.

Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:47 pm

I was missing a simple pair of glove box stops from my $197.00 order so I called them and was told that the owner packed them himself and that I needed to file a claim with UPS for it. Come on now, all that hassle for $2.10 in parts?

I left a nasty comment on their Facebook page and will use Appletree Automotive next time.

http://www.appletreeauto.com/

Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:28 am

I was just about to place an order for one small $19.99 item marked with free shipping, and during the checkout process, a $20 "handling fee" appears. Fee is way to high for my liking. Called them and they said the fee is based on the size of the order.

I guess "free shipping" is not what it cracked up to be.

Fri Sep 30, 2011 10:51 am

I just about ordered something from them as well until seeing the $15.00 handling fee.... :roll:

Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:33 pm

BigHerc wrote: Was gonna order a carb sync tool from them, good price, plus free shipping, sounds good! Then they wanted tack on a 15.00 handeling fee!lol no thanks I'll go elsewhere.

Yup, my $45 order turned into almost $75 with $15 'handling fee' PLUS shipping costs...I wonder how many people don't hit the 'confim payment' button on the last page of the checkout because of that. That is ridiculous!

Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:38 pm

DaKine wrote: BigHerc wrote: Was gonna order a carb sync tool from them, good price, plus free shipping, sounds good! Then they wanted tack on a 15.00 handeling fee!lol no thanks I'll go elsewhere.

Yup, my $45 order turned into almost $75 with $15 'handling fee' PLUS shipping costs...I wonder how many people don't hit the 'confim payment' button on the last page of the checkout because of that. That is ridiculous!

WOW, I don't charge handling fees I think that it's a rip when a company does that, unless of course the are packing something special for you..

I have had some people pay me to pack something a special way for them..

Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:03 am

I know this is an old thread and I wish I had seen it sooner, but it looks like things at So Cal haven't changed a bit since the first post about them. Here it is 2012 and they seem to be doing business the same way. I had bought some Tri-Mil headers (who andy is supposed to be the "president" of as well) and had an issue with the coating on them. Talked to Andy Shouse right off the bat and he said they needed to get them re-coated for me for free as long as I paid the shipping back to them. During the course of 5 or 6 e-mails he kept changing his story over and over so after about 2 weeks of back and forth I finally sent him ALL of our emails to show him how his story changed. Then he sends me an e-mail like a 5 year old who just lost a beauty padgent to a lil fat girl, using all caps like he was "yelling" at me and underlining words, it was almost comical to see someone who is supposed to be the "president" of a company rant like that. The moral of the story is, if they have bad employees they learned from him, so it does no good to go to him about it, best you can do is let others know so they don't get the same rip off.

Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:11 pm

I placed an order Jan 30 2012 and they were quick to take the money out of my account. But here i am almost 3 weeks later and havent heard a thing. All I ordered was 1 trailing arm.

This is outrageous

Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:28 am

I ordered some wheel adaptors which it turns out are very crappy in design and didn't fit well with my application so I called to return them and was shuffled around until one guy answers the phone and gets my name and other info, verifies my order and then asked me for my invoice number and when I didnt have it, he said quickly. "Call us back when you have your invoice number" click...If you have to return anything, they will make you jump through hoops to get an RA and after you ship it they will not speak with you and act ellusive about refunding you. It's been two weeks since they received the item and I still don't have my refund. I spoke with a female who I was told in a later phone call is the vice Pres of the company and that she obviously has my info and will call me shortly to get my card number to process the refund. Three days later, no calls.... They claimed one of the four adaptors looked used... I did a test fit of one and that's how I knew it would not be safe for my application and then told me some garbage about a 10% restocking fee and they didn't think they could sell them again because there was a spot or two of grease on two of the threads. horrible company. I'm now trying to go through Paypal to get my refund and trying to be fair and give them their 10% restocking fee. we'll see

Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:56 pm

I obviously missed a call and caught up with a voice mail from them.... Now their offer is; for me to pay for return shipping or pay $60/hr to clean up to part (of which I admit there was a spot of grease on two of the threads on the stud for the wheel adaptor from a test fit) But really?! WTF is the 10%restocking fee for anyway? So now I either pay to let them clean it in order to get a small refund after the $60 and knowing them they will claim it took two hours to clean and I now owe them money again after the $20 plus to ship it back to them or pay for shipping back to me or yes, I will see what result paypal has for me on this one and in the mean time, I plan to get BBB and my bank involved. What a bunch of crooks. And all of this over some cheaply made Empi wheel adaptors. I will also NEVER buy anything made by Empi.

Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:34 pm

haudiosolutions wrote: .....and they didn't think they could sell them again because there was a spot or two of grease on two of the threads.
That is a problem right there, that they would try to sell a known bad wheel adaptor to someone else. Why should you have to pay to have a defective part cleaned?

PayPal should refund your money as long as you have proof that it was returned to SoCal. It may take a few days to get your money.

What style wheel adaptors are they? I may have some good ones in my stash.

Keep us posted on the outcome and good luck.

Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:10 pm

Thanks for the reply, I figured I'd go a lesser expensive route and try the empi 4x130 to 5x130 adaptors which through them has been a complete disaster. Since then I've had some adaptors custom made from billet for 300 but fits like a glove and feels very safe. Thanks for the offer though.

Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:19 pm

Finally this ordeal is over thanks to Paypal. Best part is I offered them their 10% "restocking fee" bacause that IS what I agreed to but Paypal refunded me the full amount. So, if the crooks would have just worked with me, they would have gotten a few bucks for their trouble. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS BUSINESS! Even if it's a few bucks cheaper, think of the headache if things do not go well. Buy from a vendor that will support your hobby/lifestyle and be that helping hand many of us need and with that sort of comfort, we tend to go to them for support, products, and questions. It's this kind of vendor we spend our hard earned descretionary income with. SO Cal Imports is NOT that business.