Am I being petty or do I just need to man up???
Discussion
Hey folks, having just shelled out a fair whack, I finally received my dampers and rear wishbones.
My problems are two fold.
Firstly, the dampers were packed very poorly (just thrown in an empty box with a piece of cardboard on top), and as a result the springs and dampers have had chunks taken out of the protective coating, as below.
and secondly I also have an issue with the wishbones, that I paid extra for to have a 4 stage coating applied for extra durability, yet on arrival (in fairness they were very well packed), some of the mounting points on the lower arms have been bent, and the powder coating flaking off. Clearly straightening them will result in more powder coat coming off.
My frustration comes from the fact that these are new items and not cheap. Clearly it will be easy for rust to get a hold with the coatings damaged, which is the exact reason that I am replacing the parts with these new ones.
Do I send back all the parts and ask for undamaged replacements, or just bite the bullet, accept that they will eventually chip, and try to find a similar paint colour to touch them up???
TBH, the wishbones are more frustrating as I paid extra for the added protection, which clearly chips off at the easiest opportunity. I'm happy to straighten the mounts, but I know this will make the powder coat worse, and once the water and rust get underneath it, it will spread quickly.
My problems are two fold.
Firstly, the dampers were packed very poorly (just thrown in an empty box with a piece of cardboard on top), and as a result the springs and dampers have had chunks taken out of the protective coating, as below.
and secondly I also have an issue with the wishbones, that I paid extra for to have a 4 stage coating applied for extra durability, yet on arrival (in fairness they were very well packed), some of the mounting points on the lower arms have been bent, and the powder coating flaking off. Clearly straightening them will result in more powder coat coming off.
My frustration comes from the fact that these are new items and not cheap. Clearly it will be easy for rust to get a hold with the coatings damaged, which is the exact reason that I am replacing the parts with these new ones.
Do I send back all the parts and ask for undamaged replacements, or just bite the bullet, accept that they will eventually chip, and try to find a similar paint colour to touch them up???
TBH, the wishbones are more frustrating as I paid extra for the added protection, which clearly chips off at the easiest opportunity. I'm happy to straighten the mounts, but I know this will make the powder coat worse, and once the water and rust get underneath it, it will spread quickly.
Edited by PJ57 on Wednesday 20th May 18:57
Edited by PJ57 on Wednesday 20th May 18:58
Thanks for all the replies guys, glad it's not just me that finds this not right.
In answer to some of the questions, the dampers were bought from a very reputable source, and were passed on to another supplier with a great reputation for quality. The damage to the springs and dampers is purely down to the guy that packed them for the final shipping to me.
Top marks to the original supplier, who got back to me within half an hour of me emailing him with pics.
He was rightfully unhappy and is now taking this up with the people who clearly damaged the goods he supplied with piss poor packing.
He has promised to get back to me very quickly with a solution
These is the boxes they arrived in, not the lack of packing material and the damage to the box where they've been banging around
The wishbones were bought from a well know supplier who have been around for a while.
I have bought many parts from before, and the service has always been great.
They got back to me first thing this morning apologising for the problem.
They have offered to replace the items, and asked for more pics to be able to come up with a solution for transferring them over.
I dropped a line back with more photo's, and also expressed concern that the durable coating clearly was not right, even not taking into account that the bracket ends were bent.
Haven't heard back yet, but hopefully tomorrow.
My concern is that the metal underneath looks way to shiny to have been properly bead blasted. This is the process described
"4 stage anti corrosion process, 1x Aluminium bead blasted , 2x Phosphate dipped , 3x Zink Primer for corrosion resistance , 4x Epoxy powder coated."
And has costed an extra £87.29 over the standard powder coat option.
Clearly there is something wrong here. I'm wondering if I'm better off getting new wishbones bare, taking them down to Southways, and get them blasted, Thermal zinc sprayed along with Zinc phosphate primer & de-gas and a Two-pack polyurethane wet-spray.
I Think this may well be the only guaranteed way to get the job done?
The car is already booked in with them to get the chassis and outriggers done early next year.
In answer to some of the questions, the dampers were bought from a very reputable source, and were passed on to another supplier with a great reputation for quality. The damage to the springs and dampers is purely down to the guy that packed them for the final shipping to me.
Top marks to the original supplier, who got back to me within half an hour of me emailing him with pics.
He was rightfully unhappy and is now taking this up with the people who clearly damaged the goods he supplied with piss poor packing.
He has promised to get back to me very quickly with a solution
These is the boxes they arrived in, not the lack of packing material and the damage to the box where they've been banging around
The wishbones were bought from a well know supplier who have been around for a while.
I have bought many parts from before, and the service has always been great.
They got back to me first thing this morning apologising for the problem.
They have offered to replace the items, and asked for more pics to be able to come up with a solution for transferring them over.
I dropped a line back with more photo's, and also expressed concern that the durable coating clearly was not right, even not taking into account that the bracket ends were bent.
Haven't heard back yet, but hopefully tomorrow.
My concern is that the metal underneath looks way to shiny to have been properly bead blasted. This is the process described
"4 stage anti corrosion process, 1x Aluminium bead blasted , 2x Phosphate dipped , 3x Zink Primer for corrosion resistance , 4x Epoxy powder coated."
And has costed an extra £87.29 over the standard powder coat option.
Clearly there is something wrong here. I'm wondering if I'm better off getting new wishbones bare, taking them down to Southways, and get them blasted, Thermal zinc sprayed along with Zinc phosphate primer & de-gas and a Two-pack polyurethane wet-spray.
I Think this may well be the only guaranteed way to get the job done?
The car is already booked in with them to get the chassis and outriggers done early next year.
Edited by PJ57 on Thursday 21st May 18:51
Edited by PJ57 on Thursday 21st May 19:09
Thanks guys. I agree that it would have made sense to de-burr and file all the sharp edges, and I will be happy to do so, and get them properly coated.
I will have to look at the options once the vendor gets back to me, but I feel doing it myself will be the only way forwards.
Will have to see what can be sorted, but clearly if the replacement wishbones look like these, I will need to look at the latter option.
Definitely frustrating that some people in their jobs couldn't give a s
t about peoples parts...........That sounds all kinds of wrong
But even a two year old could have packed the dampers better.
The original supplier has offered to replace the dampers and collect the damaged ones, and I have to say he has been superb. The damage wasn't caused by him, but he has jumped in and sorted the situation.
Top bloke, and very much appreciated.
As was said in an earlier post, that I wholeheartedly agree with. All vendors can be great, it's when things go wrong that you really see who genuinely cares and who's just there to take your money.
As it stands, both suppliers have dealt with the problem rapidly, and offered a resolution.
Just need to get it organised
Will be a happy camper once all is sorted and I can get on with sorting the chim
I will have to look at the options once the vendor gets back to me, but I feel doing it myself will be the only way forwards.
Will have to see what can be sorted, but clearly if the replacement wishbones look like these, I will need to look at the latter option.
Definitely frustrating that some people in their jobs couldn't give a s
t about peoples parts...........That sounds all kinds of wrongBut even a two year old could have packed the dampers better.
The original supplier has offered to replace the dampers and collect the damaged ones, and I have to say he has been superb. The damage wasn't caused by him, but he has jumped in and sorted the situation.
Top bloke, and very much appreciated.
As was said in an earlier post, that I wholeheartedly agree with. All vendors can be great, it's when things go wrong that you really see who genuinely cares and who's just there to take your money.
As it stands, both suppliers have dealt with the problem rapidly, and offered a resolution.
Just need to get it organised
Will be a happy camper once all is sorted and I can get on with sorting the chim
Yep, I agree, thought grit would have been a better medium to provide an etched surface, but thought the suppliers would need their stuff.
I too have no faith in powder coat either. After speaking with the supplier, many parts come to them already chipped, so not much hope when on a car.
Update from Friday.
The damper supplier is replacing the units with new ones in pristine condition, and will sort the collection.
Very impressed with the speed he sorted this, even though the damage was nothing to do with him, and done by a 3rd party.
I spoke to the wishbone supplier who had also offered to replace the parts immediately. I expressed my concern that even the higher level of protection wasn't up to scratch.
As a result, I'm going for the cheaper basic power coat, and when I get the chassis sorted next Jan, I will get all wishbones (front and rear), uprights and the entire chassis grit blasted, Thermal zinc-sprayed, Zinc phosphate primer and then Two-pack polyurethane wet-spray, whilst the body if off for the outriggers replaced.
Hopefully this will provide a better level of protection, and the plus side is that I can touch up any chips in a poly paint more easily than trying to re-seal chipped powder coat.
Hopefully the new parts will all be sorted in the next week or so
I too have no faith in powder coat either. After speaking with the supplier, many parts come to them already chipped, so not much hope when on a car.
Update from Friday.
The damper supplier is replacing the units with new ones in pristine condition, and will sort the collection.
Very impressed with the speed he sorted this, even though the damage was nothing to do with him, and done by a 3rd party.
I spoke to the wishbone supplier who had also offered to replace the parts immediately. I expressed my concern that even the higher level of protection wasn't up to scratch.
As a result, I'm going for the cheaper basic power coat, and when I get the chassis sorted next Jan, I will get all wishbones (front and rear), uprights and the entire chassis grit blasted, Thermal zinc-sprayed, Zinc phosphate primer and then Two-pack polyurethane wet-spray, whilst the body if off for the outriggers replaced.
Hopefully this will provide a better level of protection, and the plus side is that I can touch up any chips in a poly paint more easily than trying to re-seal chipped powder coat.
Hopefully the new parts will all be sorted in the next week or so
Getragdogleg said:
That's cool, ask if you can be supplied the wishbones unpainted or just primed, then hit them with a load of hammerite or other thick oily paint and then just wax until you do the big refurb.
If you get powdercoated ones the coating will take forever to remove when you do the refurb and it will be a waste of time and money twice, when buying and when paying some guy to remove it !
I charge more to blast powdercoated stuff when I do blasting !
Thanks mate. I did look to get bare arms, but after checking with the blasters, they're charging a flat rate with either powder coat or Hammerite.If you get powdercoated ones the coating will take forever to remove when you do the refurb and it will be a waste of time and money twice, when buying and when paying some guy to remove it !
I charge more to blast powdercoated stuff when I do blasting !
I has new wishbones
TVR spec apparently, although they are a grey powder coat rather than white. Not too fussed though as they'll be painted up properly in Jan.
The interesting thing is that the bolt holes have been masked, I'm assuming to allow the bolts and washers proper purchase against the steel, as well as to stop the powder coat from cracking when tightening up.
That was a concern with the 4 coat ones, as I feel this would have split the coating easily.......not to mention having to straighten up the brackets
Over all, a better buy me thinks
TVR spec apparently, although they are a grey powder coat rather than white. Not too fussed though as they'll be painted up properly in Jan.
The interesting thing is that the bolt holes have been masked, I'm assuming to allow the bolts and washers proper purchase against the steel, as well as to stop the powder coat from cracking when tightening up.
That was a concern with the 4 coat ones, as I feel this would have split the coating easily.......not to mention having to straighten up the brackets
Over all, a better buy me thinks
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