DISCOUNTACPARTS.COM SUCKS

[doublezero30]

order placed march 31 2011, i call that same day because i forgot to order a reciever drier with the compressor and orfice tube. they go in and edit the order, somehow take my apartment number off the shipping address. so i wait i wait i wait, no parts. i call, they say it got delivered, signed by hector. who the fuck is hector? so im like dude, im not fucking hector...they dig a bit deeper and find its actually getting shipped back to them. sweet. so theyre like yea well we already shipped it out once (it had free shipping) you have to pay this time. im like wtf why the fuck do i have to pay? you fucked it up when you edited my order thats not my fault? we argue, im like fuck it its $20 not worth the frustration just charge me. so they do, i finally get my parts 2 weeks after i originally order. reciever drier installs fine, orfice tube is fine, compressor....fuck no. totally different. the lines do NOT fit in this one they gave me (which i provided the OEM part number for...i had 2 dealerships + ECS give me the same part number for my VIN). so i call back, im like hey listen you guys sent me the wrong compressor. they look in the computer, oh yea youre right, it takes this other one. what we can do is just take a deposit and when we get the original one back, we refund the deposit. cool i need to get my a/c working as soon as possible so lets do that. so i get the second compressor in, before even trying to install it im like im making sure this is the right one, so i compare it to the first compressor they sent me. EXACT SAME COMPRESSOR, PART NUMBER AND ALL. now im like WTF! so i call them, they cant seem to grasp that they sent me the wrong compressor again. stating over and over and over that this is the right compressor for the part number i gave them. CLEARLY IT ISNT! so they make me take comparative pictures of this compressor to my old one, send them to them. i call theyre like oh yea we got that email what you need to do is swap the part where the lines connect from the old one to the new one. im like what??? no. how about you just send me the correct part? they say theyll call back. so while im waiting for them to call back, i call denso. denso gives me their part number for the compressor that fits my car, different from the compressor this place has sent me TWICE. i call them up and give it to them, theyre like ok well call you back in 10 minutes....1hr, nothing....2hrs, nothing....at this point i have shit to do so i cant wait around all day for a phone call. i never got a call regardless. weekend comes, theyre closed so i wait til the following week. i give them a call, and im like look, ive been dealing with this nonsense for at least 3 weeks now, i just want a refund and ill have to go someplace else (i make sure to talk to a different person because the guy i was dealing with the first time wouldnt let me return the compressors claiming that they were used even though that impossible because they didnt fucking fit my car!!!) so this guy seems nicer and begins trying to solve the problem and im just like listen no offense to you guys but there were a couple VIN splits and like 4-5 different compressors for the b6a4, not a big deal i just want a refund and ill go someplace else. so he starts saying its basically my fault because theyre going off the part number i gave them. right, i did give you a part number which was confirmed not only by 2 dealerships, but also ECS...and guess what, ITS NOT THE RIGHT COMPRESSOR! which can only mean that they have NO clue about the vin splits. (by the way i should mention i talked with another member on here, who has a 03 before the VIN split with a totally different part number, mines an 04 after the VIN split...they sent him the exact same compressor i got twice.) well holy fucking hell he seems to start getting pissed off, tells me its been two months since i ordered and he shouldnt even be allowing me to return it, but he will and has to charge me a 15% restocking fee. i litteraly fucking laugh out loud at him. I HAVNT EVEN LIVED IN CALI FOR 2 MONTHS YET!!! HOW DID I PLACE AN ORDER 2 MONTHS AGO?? so i argue about the restocking fee, see its going noplace so im like wtf is the total for the restocking fee? $81. alright fuck it fine. ill deal with it. so im sending the 2nd compressor back today, which i have to pay shipping on. i havnt got my money back for the first compressor i sent back yet either. this place is fucking terrible at doing business. they need to realize, sometimes the customer knows more than they do about their car! for fucks sake. this place is miserable. for the sake of the other member who i spoke to...i hope the compressor fits his car, i really do. i dont want anyone to have to go through the bullshit i went through with this place.

so total loss: $20 return shipping the first time, $81 restocking fee, probably another $20 to ship this compressor BACK to them, and a whole months worth of BULLSHIT. And i still need a compressor which im probably just going to try to get used now because i have no job, and im out $150 on this horsedick bullshit of a fucking company.


FUCK DISCOUNTACPARTS.COM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!


seriously if the would have just listened to what i was saying, taken that denso part number i gave them and ACTUALLY tried to fix the issue, i would be fine. if the end result turns out being ok, im not one to get mad even if i have to go through a bunch of bullshit like this. but the fact that these assholes kept giving me the run around, saying oh this is the right one for your car, well call you back...with none of that being true, THAT is was pisses me off. ontop of the fact that i now wasted $150 basically to argue with people. i dont need to spend $150 to argue with people i can do that shit for free if i want to...FO FREE!

[doublezero30]

FWIW, i sent the ac compressor back 5 weeks ago, it was delivered just over 4 weeks ago on may 11th, i am yet to recieve a refund for it. i called and the guy on the other end was confused why, also said he was going to send an email to the finance office and i should see a refund within 5 business days. we'll see how that goes...

[Brrman]

any resolution to this? Was gonna order from them but hell, now I am not so sure.

[Preytell]

They are scam artist, and there is NO way to reach a manager, or anyone over the sales schmuck on the phone. I ordered a compressor for my Van, they make it VERY clear that the parts you will be receiving are EXACTLY what is pictured on their order site. They will even confirm the damn part number with you on the phone. Than, they will send the wrong part and blame YOU for the mix up, but that's OK just pay for the correct part and they will return your money for the wrong part when they receive it <**- Read into this statement, "Please give us MORE money (in my case $330.00) to ship the correct part that we failed to ship in the first place, pay for the return shipping on the incorrect part yourself because you obviously gave us the wrong description or part number the first time and trust us to do it right this time."

If you say no thanks, I don't trust you guys anymore I just want my money back, they will not return the shipping cost on their mistake, and will charge you a 15% restocking fee for the privilege of receiving the incorrect part in the first place. If you read the policies on their site they will tell you it will take 4~6 weeks to refund your money if you return a part, even if that return is their fault.

Avoid them, they may look like a good deal, but every scam artist makes the sh*t they are selling you look good. Do yourself a favor and buy from a company that stands behind their service.

For all of those that want to complain and cannot get through, they are owned/operated by:

Meridian Auto Parts
Additional Locations
Phone: (858) 587-8777
Fax: (858) 587-8778

10211 Pacific Mesa Blvd #404, San Diego, CA 92121
[email protected]
http://www.discountacparts.com

You can file a complaint with the BBB info here:

BBB file opened: April 21, 2006
Business started: 04/01/1988 in CA
Business incorporated: 05/01/1991 in CA

Licensing
This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.

These agencies may include:

California Secretary of State (Debra Bowen) [email protected]
1500-11th Street, PO Box 944260, Sacramento CA 94244
http://www.ss.ca.gov
The license number is C1574515.

Type of Entity
Corporation

Number of Employees
35

Business Category
AUTO PARTS & SUPPLIES - NEW
INTERNET SERVICES

Alternate Business Names
Meridian Rack Pinion Inc
Discountacparts.com
A BuyAutoParts.com Company
The Steering Store
The Steering Gearbox Store
The Rack & Pinion Steering Store
Turbo Charger Pros

I will try to track down corporate officer information. But AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!!!

[BASARAB]

Why not file a claim with credit card?

[Preytell]

I will, and intend to shortly. But I talked to the claims department and they had this to say:

"When the charge was put through the Visa network than it is much harder to recover when the dispute is simply over an incorrect part shipment. If it were outright fraud then it would be easy, we will still dispute it but we cannot simply pull the money back from the transaction."

[Preytell]

I finally got to speak to a manager, same customer service skills as the rest of the people there, I recorded the call and I will put together a Youtube video so that you can see clearly they only solution to correcting THEIR mistake is incur the cost if returning the item, buy yet ANOTHER kit for an additional $295.00, and HOPE that this company that has already acted in bad faith will correctly handle the return. Wait at least three days for them to verify that unit was not installed (see notes below) and then wait for up to two weeks for the money to be returned. And if you think I am kidding, this is a snip from their policies section of their webpage:

Snip ****->
"All unused, unopened and uninstalled parts can be returned. Please open this page , complete the form and return to us. You will lose shipping (actual shipping charges if you got free shipping - typically $10-$20) and there will be a Restocking Fee of 15%($10 minimum). You are responsible for paying for the return shipment and insuring the package.

If this is a defective replacement, please see warranty info. It is our policy to replace defective parts. If you return a wrong or mis-shipped item, it will be treated as a standard return. Installed retuns cannot be returned for credit. Please see the Warranty page for info on defectives.

Installed parts are never refundable. Regardless of fault or reason, no refund will be issued. Your only option is to check and see if it is under warranty.

Returns MUST come to our San Diego Warehouse. We ship out of numerous warehouses to get the parts to you faster, but returns are processed through San Diego. Parts returned to other warehouses will not be refunded. The address is on the Return Form.

Returns must be received within 30 days of purchase date. Returns after this date will not be accepted. Returns that do not include the return form are not accepted.

All refunds are processed within two weeks. Please do not call to check the status of your return, if you have not heard from us, please email [email protected] "

<**--Snip

The highlights in the above snip are mine, not theirs. I understand the section, but feel that there SHOULD be another way to correct wrong part shipments other than, "Buy another one".

Now keep in mind that this was THEIR mistake, you will hear that in the YouTube video as well, yet they insist that the only way to get the correct part is to purchase it again, and wait for the refund of the incorrect part. You can hear in the call that I stated I do not trust them now, and I am not willing to purchase another product, I said I would eat the cost of overnighting the part to them, they can check it out and send me the correct part overnight. THIS IS NEVER AN OPTION with this company, you MUST spend another $300+Shipping cost to them to correct their mistake. If you are like me and called to order the parts because my A/C is out, and I need to fix it your are screwed by their mistake. Your best bet is that your A/C "MAY" work again if you gamble another $300 and hope they get it correct this time.

They insist that an e-mail confirmation was sent BEFORE the shipment was made, this too is a lie, no such email exist I looked in both my inbox, and spam folder. I know companies make mistakes, but they own up to them and provide a way to make the transaction good again, to keep customers. Companies like this thrive on the fact that they believe pissed off customers, even with legitimate complaints, will not have a platform to let others know how crappy they really are. Well we have recording devices on our phones, we have YouTube, and we have the BBB. That last one the BBB is not much help these days, we will see how my complaint is handled but I don't see much happening there. If this thread fails to be returned in web searches I will put up a site to let others know.

Oh well enough ranting, I have to go ship the wrong unit back and wait for the refund, which I am sure will be processed as slowly as possible to get back at me. Wait for my Youtube video, you will see that I am not making this stuff up.

Save yourself the frustration, and time. It's worth it to pay the extra $40.00~$60.00 that it will cost at the local parts house to avoid this company.

[Preytell]

I had to of course search around to find the parts from a local supplier, it took a loooonnnnggg time, no one has my compressor in stock, they all need to order it. But I finally found the depot for several shops around town, and they had one.... just one.... I purchased the compressor, new, with a 2 year warranty, the receiver/dryer and the expansion valve.... grand total..... $259.00. It is the same shit that "Discount" AC Parts scammers are selling and it's $50.00 cheaper and in town.

So what I am saying is, take your time.... you CAN find the parts local for less money and not have to deal with these assholes.

If you cannot find the part locally then try ANYONE else first... if you MUST order from these schmucks treat it like Russian Roulette, pull the trigger and hopefully all you will have to do is flinch. I feel that this gun has 5 bullets and one empty slot. Take your very slim chances that you will have a pleasant experience.

[Preytell]

Just an update, the president of the company is Jean-Pierre Gilbertz, I am attempting to locate contact information for him.