Revision to FCP Euro's Lifetime Gurantee

[arjun90]

I'm sure many of you are aware of the changes made to FCP Euro's Lifetime Warranty. I think FCP Euro made the right decision from a business perspective while attempting to maintain their existing clientele. Yesterday, 10/31/22 was the last day to submit orders to be grandfathered into their original plan where you get refunds back to your original source of payment. In a nutshell, going forward, all new orders placed on 11/1/22, onward will only get back store credit when using the Lifetime Warranty. What are your thoughts on this?

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/fcp-euro-li...arantee-update

[ILVTRANCE]

not bothered. I will still order form them as they are reliable.

[bakedziti]

not bothered. I will still order form them as they are reliable.

Agreed.

I personally find that this is quite fair to the enthusiast and to keeping your car running, but obviously does require you to put in some capital that winds up being store credit to be used for your next purchase. That’s fine with me.

I’ll say though, I wish they would just remove the fluid consumables from the lifetime warranty as I’m curious what the warranty liability has been for things like oil alone over the lifetime of the original warranty. I don’t know why but stories of sending spent oil back have always irked me.

[ILVTRANCE]

Agreed.

I personally find that this is quite fair to the enthusiast and to keeping your car running, but obviously does require you to put in some capital that winds up being store credit to be used for your next purchase. That’s fine with me.

I’ll say though, I wish they would just remove the fluid consumables from the lifetime warranty as I’m curious what the warranty liability has been for things like oil alone over the lifetime of the original warranty. I don’t know why but stories of sending spent oil back have always irked me.

agreed with the oil return. I mean I feel like some items could/should be lifetime, but oil? nah.

[q5 dave]

Good ol inflation. Thanks for sharing. FCP sends out emails daily and never mentioned this. Unless I can get it local for the same or lower cost, I'll still use them.

[arjun90]

I'd have to agree. I'm not bothered either. Although I did place one last order at the 11th hour which follows the old policies. Any future purchases will be reinvested into other areas of the car or future Audi's through their store credit option. Its still a win-win as far as business and customers go. The lifetime warranty on oils has been great. Haven't had to spend $100+ on an oil change in years. Oil gets recycled then restocked.

[q5 dave]

Def had a good run with free oil changes the past few years. And free return shipping from paypal. But I've closed my pp account as they are ending free return shipping (this month) as well as enacting their ridiculous censorship terms, withdrawing $2500 from users bank accounts for each time you “promot[ed] misinformation” or you sent, posted or published “messages, content, or materials that, in PayPal’s sole discretion, (a) are harmful, obscene, harassing, or objectionable.”

[jbain2]

It’s still an unbelievable offer. Even to get store credit on wear and tear items is something not offered anywhere else. Use the store credit toward the purchase of a replacement item. Sure it may not completely cover the cost but it’s still the best offer in the business.

I never understood why they allowed it for oil and other fluids personally.


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[flyfishing]

It’s still an unbelievable offer. Even to get store credit on wear and tear items is something not offered anywhere else. Use the store credit toward the purchase of a replacement item. Sure it may not completely cover the cost but it’s still the best offer in the business.

I never understood why they allowed it for oil and other fluids personally.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

cause it's their thing. the majority of people won't take the hassle to return things. i bet they have statistics and likely the statistics show that most people don't, but have the intention to. they likely know also that once someone starts buying things from them, they will continue to buy things. those that do return, still likely offset by lifelong purchases.

they are likely successful at this notion as they have been doing it for a long time. if it wasn't profitable, they would have ended it a long time ago.

store credit is no biggie. once i found that store, i've literally bought all oem/oe replacment parts there except if i wanted specific performance after market parts.

[jbain2]

cause it's their thing. the majority of people won't take the hassle to return things. i bet they have statistics and likely the statistics show that most people don't, but have the intention to. they likely know also that once someone starts buying things from them, they will continue to buy things. those that do return, still likely offset by lifelong purchases.

they are likely successful at this notion as they have been doing it for a long time. if it wasn't profitable, they would have ended it a long time ago.

store credit is no biggie. once i found that store, i've literally bought all oem/oe replacment parts there except if i wanted specific performance after market parts.

We are in agreement. I have used the return policy on a couple of occasions. The reality is that most parts sold and replaced will outlast the typical ownership of a car. I think I saw a statistic that most Audi owners come in just under 5 years of ownership of a vehicle.

I will continue to use them as the store credit serves the same purpose in my mind. No biggie on my end. I’ll still even continue to pay more as needed to purchase from them because of the experience I’ve had both in receiving and returning items.


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[Norskie]

I might re-think whether I buy from FCP.

When Paypal stopped free returns my cost to return oil is $20, that's still a good price for quality parts. I'm probably still going to use them for consumables and parts if I have a credit.

(since Ebay dropped Paypal I'm no longer forced to use or have a need for Paypal so I'll be closing my account soon).

I doubt my next car will be German so that means I may have unused credits once I sell the SQ5.

[arjun90]

Frankly, this program did not hurt me in terms of lifetime oil changes. The store credit is essentially a deposit. $200 for oil changes - rinse and repeat, never have to use my credit card for purchasing oil ever again. $10 for shipping the oil back to FCP since I'm only one state away.

My oil changes still get refunded to credit card as I'm grandfathered into the original plan

Now when it comes to retiring your daily driver, I would use up the remaining store credit on consumables, miscellaneous items (i.e. detailing products, sockets, etc), or spare parts for the next owner to use.

I vow to never have more than $200 in store credit from FCP which is why I made my final major purchase from them on Oct 31. Purchased the rest of my parts from OEMVWShop. I only plan to purchase minor things going forward like spark plugs, seals (When doing carbon cleaning), and some hardware.