What's the deal with Audis4parts.com?

[s4avant87]

I ordered 2 things from Phil 1 month ago. A metal thermostat housing and what was supposed to be 034 motorsports density line trans mounts. He took his time sending me my stuff after promptly paying him and I had to ask twice for tracking info. He finally emails me tracking and clearly didn't ship it when he said he did because I had the "label created" status for the next 2 days. No big deal. Mind you this guy practically hunt me down for the sale after he missed my phone call.

Fast forward to when I got the order and he had sent me aftermarket Meyle transmission mounts. Definitely not what I ordered and now I'm slightly pissed given the price I paid and his slow processing times. I emailed him to which he responds that they were in the same box as the 034 ones and he "grabbed the wrong ones" and that he would send them out USPS priority right away and that I can keep the Meyle mounts. That was 10 days ago. I asked for tracking again since I get orders shipped to work and like to keep an eye out so things don't get into the wrong hands. Now I'm getting crickets and half tempted to file a paypal claim.

Perhaps I'm being slightly impatient and maybe this guy is a 1 man band but I feel like there is a responsibility to uphold for running a business. People pay you and in return you give them what they ordered. Mistakes happen but communication is everything and things like this put a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyone have a similar transaction with him? Or am I just an impatient asshole?

[emrewawa]

par for the course with a one man shop, so I’m not surprised. he’s the asshole for lying; being honest about wouldn’t have had you feeling this way about it, you probably would have understood why he was delayed.

on the flip side, “we” should try to divert business to guys like these as they extend the lifespan of the platform overall. I only do this when I’m not in a rush, and with the expectation to not have an Amazon-like experience.

I would say the only wrong thing you did was buying from him and expecting a timely delivery. next time go directly to 034, it’s likely in stock and would have shipped same day or day after.


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[s4avant87]

par for the course with a one man shop, so I’m not surprised. he’s the asshole for lying; being honest about wouldn’t have had you feeling this way about it, you probably would have understood why he was delayed.

on the flip side, “we” should try to divert business to guys like these as they extend the lifespan of the platform overall. I only do this when I’m not in a rush, and with the expectation to not have an Amazon-like experience.

I would say the only wrong thing you did was buying from him and expecting a timely delivery. next time go directly to 034, it’s likely in stock and would have shipped same day or day after.


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This is true, but I'm no stranger to long processing times. I've ordered several made to order parts from Nick over at projectb5 and have had way better experiences.

I think this may just be a case of not standing by your word. I will give him the benefit of the doubt this time and allow him the extra time to make it right but I won't stand for the lack of communication. At the end of this week I will report back with the outcome.

Thanks for your input.

[zipdoa]

Phil must be busy... messaged him 3 times last week and crickets.

[wbrunner23]

I ordered from him a few weeks ago. I had to contact him a couple times to get an invoice for a part not listed on his site, but I've had the part sitting in my garage for 2 weeks waiting to be installed.

Like others said above, I think he largely manages the operation on his own and he's busy. I've ordered from him many times and will continue to.

[wstpride92]

I had a similar issue with him not communicating and getting a partial order. I had to wait about a month to get the rest of my parts because he went to africa on a trip lol. I ended up getting everything in the end. Seems to be a common theme amongst a lot of the guys catering to the B5 platform. Don't think there is to much we can do about it.

[belms4]

Phil is a good guy, he'll always make it right in the end and get you what you need. But that said, you do need to pester the hell out of him or he'll forget. Would highly recommend calling him directly rather than emails or texts. When I had large orders I was calling weekly for an update to chat with him. He's insanely busy there and very few of my orders have ever been promptly shipped. He's easy to get a hold of on the phone though to remind him and get an update.

[s4avant87]

Just got an update from Phil. He finally sent me tracking info and despite what he said, it's still not shipped. I don't appreciate him telling me one thing and then doing another especially since he's had my money for a month and he made a mistake to boot. Suffice to say I won't be ordering anything else from him in the future. He seems to have found himself a niche in which he can operate under whatever discretion he feels like and people are okay with it given the scarcity of parts within the platform. More power to him. My mistake for not buying new in the first place. Lesson learned.

[cactus_cars]

Good to know. I've considered buying parts from them many times but usually was able to find stuff at the junkyard. Waiting for an 01E or 01X to show up at my local rn. Almost bought rear shock mounts from them. Ended up finding a better price on ebay for a rust free cali part.

[Nycam]

Exact same thing happened to me with him. Still never received anything and eventually after 4 months he refunded me. Was super quick to email me back after my initial enquiry and take my order and money and then crickets for weeks or empty promises. He seems like a ‘steal from Peter to pay Paul’ operation. There are many companies around that are 1 man bands and have their shit together.


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[Caddylack]

I was referred to Phil by the previous owner of my car, and I have made several purchases now.

Personally, I have not had any issues with my orders. He shipped quickly and the parts were as described.

HOWEVER... I know that Phil does not actually stock everything that is listed on his site. Some of the listings are basically him saying, "I can find this for you". That was the case with the C5 sport struts.

I would recommend clarifying in advance that he does physically possess the item before sending payment.

[RMode]

I was referred to Phil by the previous owner of my car, and I have made several purchases now.

Personally, I have not had any issues with my orders. He shipped quickly and the parts were as described.

HOWEVER... I know that Phil does not actually stock everything everything that is listed on his site. Some of the listings are basically him saying, "I can find this for you". That was the case with the C5 sport struts.

I would recommend clarifying in advance that he does physically possess the item before sending payment.

If you order it on eBay from his store, it ships much quicker.

There are lots of other sources too even for used stuff that will ship extremely fast. But, higher priced. Depends what you favor.


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[s4avant87]

Another update: I finally received the parts Phil sent and the mounts were brand new still wrapped in plastic. So I'm not sure if Phil made a boo boo and couldn't find what he promised or what. Also, the mounts pictured on his website as being used mounts were definitely covered in dirt and grime and certainly not brand new sealed in plastic. So, just figured I'd update with some slightly good news. I appreciate Phil possibly going out of his way to deliver the order as promised in the end. Just hope the next guy has a similar or better outcome.

[darren p.]

I appreciate Phil possibly going out of his way to deliver the order as promised in the end.

Phil is a good guy and I've been getting parts from him for as long as I've had my B5. I've had issues with orders at times but like the above, in the end he always makes it right.

[underrrrr]

For what it's worth, I gave Phil a lot of money recently and didn't have any issues.

[narth327]

he's hit and miss. poor communication in general. you wont be ripped off, he will follow through.

[zatch_303]

+1 for positive experiences with them/him in the past.

[Dinsdale]

Phil is a good guy. I've purchased many parts from him. I just recieved a c5/6 speed swap last month. Took 4 months and everything was as promised. I'm very happy and will continue to puchase from and support Phil@audis4parts.
We need guy's like Phil as they continue to support our old C5/B5 formats.

[emrewawa]

Phil is a good guy. I've purchased many parts from him. I just recieved a c5/6 speed swap last month. Took 4 months and everything was as promised. I'm very happy and will continue to puchase from and support Phil@audis4parts.
We need guy's like Phil as they continue to support our old C5/B5 formats.

we need guys supporting this depleting platform, but do we need them to lie about lead-times, or outright ignore emails, go radio silent?

what’s wrong with holding them accountable there? I don’t under the push back there.


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[s4avant87]

we need guys supporting this depleting platform, but do we need them to lie about lead-times, or outright ignore emails, go radio silent?

what’s wrong with holding them accountable there? I don’t under the push back there.


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I agree. We DO need guys like Phil but we need them to be a reliable resource as well. Unfortunately for me he's way too unreliable and unresponsive for me to be okay with it.
Even though I said I wasn't going to order anything else from him after my last experience I figured I would give him the benefit of the doubt and give him another opportunity. Well I called and sent an email out 2 weeks ago and again he is unresponsive and hasn't returned my call. He has my info, knows who I am and have had back and fourth email contact previously.

I get he might be busy but who isn't? I have a car to get back together so I need parts. There are other places to source parts from such as eBay and a few other reliable group members with consistent part outs. Anyways, I think the real issue here is that he might be a good guy, but he's a terrible seller. At the end of the day I'm looking for parts, not a good guy friendship.

[B5-S4]

Just my 2 cents but I ordered a carpet from him about 2 years back and it arrived promptly and then ordered an engine from him in August of this year. I finally received it last week but it was in better condition then I was expecting. I had the luxury of not needing the car to be a DD or needing the car anytime soon. My B5 is only a fun weekend car that I maybe rack up 2-3K miles in a summer and thats pushing it. I did have to check in with him a few times over the course of the 3 months to see where the progress was on receiving it but every time I called him he recognized who I was immediately gave an update on it. I will recommend him and if my car needs anything major and its not local in MN I will continue to buy from him.

[zipdoa]

Edit - not gonna leave a review.

[S6b5s4]

I ordered 2 things from Phil 1 month ago. A metal thermostat housing and what was supposed to be 034 motorsports density line trans mounts. He took his time sending me my stuff after promptly paying him and I had to ask twice for tracking info. He finally emails me tracking and clearly didn't ship it when he said he did because I had the "label created" status for the next 2 days. No big deal. Mind you this guy practically hunt me down for the sale after he missed my phone call.

Fast forward to when I got the order and he had sent me aftermarket Meyle transmission mounts. Definitely not what I ordered and now I'm slightly pissed given the price I paid and his slow processing times. I emailed him to which he responds that they were in the same box as the 034 ones and he "grabbed the wrong ones" and that he would send them out USPS priority right away and that I can keep the Meyle mounts. That was 10 days ago. I asked for tracking again since I get orders shipped to work and like to keep an eye out so things don't get into the wrong hands. Now I'm getting crickets and half tempted to file a paypal claim.

Perhaps I'm being slightly impatient and maybe this guy is a 1 man band but I feel like there is a responsibility to uphold for running a business. People pay you and in return you give them what they ordered. Mistakes happen but communication is everything and things like this put a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyone have a similar transaction with him? Or am I just an impatient asshole?

It seems Phill may sell alot of parts he doesnt have in stock and waits till they arrive on a scrap car even though he takes everyones money up front for them

[ShelbyM3]

It seems Phill may sell alot of parts he doesnt have in stock and waits till they arrive on a scrap car even though he takes everyones money up front for them

This.


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[B5_Booster]

Good communication is the expectation with any business transaction but I feel like I had to chime in when I started seeing “lies” and “ignoring emails..”
All of my experiences with the company have been very transparent and expectations had been set prior to all of my purchases. It is a small shop with only 1-2 techs and when someone calls out, it’s Phil out there doing the work. He just had a new addition to his family and being a father myself, I know how distracting that can be. I think Phil did everything he could and went over and beyond to buy OP new mounts to make things right. I think some people have unrealistic expectations, especially when it comes to B5 parts. I know he does better on the phone rather than email - I’ve always had positive experiences working with Audis4parts and will continue to do business with them.


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