Firstgens.com

I placed an order 5 weeks ago for new wheels/tires from a certain distributor of Vintage Wheel Works in Corona, CA. At first, he told me two weeks, then two weeks later another week, then another week, then nothing. It's now going on 6 weeks, and I have to call them to ask where my wheels are. They have given me no reason for the delay, and have not returned two emails sent asking what the delay is. I finally called Vintage directly, and they said they are out of V40 for GM bolt pattern. Now, if that really is the case, why isn't the distributor telling me? Why do I have to call them? I spent a big chunk of money to get no response at all. Besides, the guy is sitting on my money for over a month now. Maybe the guy is strapped for cash and is waiting to place the order? Either way, I'm really bugged. I've already paid my credit card bill so I didn't get hit with interest. My car is sitting on jack stands waiting for new shoes. Oh, and summer is winding down, and I haven't driven my car yet this year. Is this guy playing games or what? This is no way to keep customers happy. Needless to say I won't be buying anything from this guy again.

That really sucks. I love Vintage Wheel Works product, I'd say it's worth the wait, but 6 weeks with no end in sight is really pushing it, and the summer is starting to wind down. Have you tried other distributors to see if the have any in stock? Newstalgia comes to mind. I think I know who you are talking about in Corona CA, if so it surprises me as I've only heard good things about them before. Good luck with your wheels.

I managed a retail store for many years. If you paid by credit card, call the issuer and see if you dispute the charge, will they back you up if they try to ship them in the future & re-charge you later. Get it in writing or email. Then get them elsewhere. If not you have no option but to put something on the car and wait until the situation is finalized.

Hmmm, the manufacturer says there are no wheels?

Then you either wait, or you call the distributor and cancel or change your order to wheels that are available. Call the distributor.

I think the availability is the key point. If the supplier, who you contacted directly, said they don't have the wheels in stock I think you're pretty much on the back-order list buddy. It's unfortunate they took your money up front. Dealing with big outfits like Summit, they wait to charge your card until the part is shipped as I recently found out when ordering an out of stock item. It seemed quite reasonable to me. Summit said it was 2 weeks to get the part, 2 weeks later I found the charge on my card and got an email about FedEx delivery the same day. I got just what I ordered, just the way they said I would. Of course they are huge, I have no idea who you are dealing with in Corona, CA.

Maybe we should have a forum for everyone to share knowledge about suppliers, good or bad, without any rancor, just factual reporting. Instances like this one where a real chunk of change is laid out there in limbo is something I'd prefer to avoid.

To sum it up, Don is absolutely correct. If you think you are being cheated in anyway, contact your credit card company. They will work with you to resolve the issue.
Jim

Yeah, if the guy tells me up front it's going to be six weeks then I'm prepared to wait. But when he says two weeks, and then it turns into six weeks with NO communication or reason for it, that is a problem. Especially when he charges my credit card right away. I'd expect a phone call or email explaining the delay, at the very least.

I'm not looking to bash any supplier, I understand availability issues when you're a distributor for a manufacturer. I just can't accept not being told what is going on, even after I contact the manufacturer directly and get a plausible response.

I'm willing to give them until Monday to get a response, and then consider contacting my credit card for possible recourse. I just want my wheels!!

it's the weekend, and they ain't workin. and your emails are probably stick in someone's spam filter.
Call them on the phone Monday morning, I'm sure they will do what it takes to get er done.
Not communicating with you about the delays is just plain poor customer service, even if the issues did fall through the cracks.

Unfortunately, nobody can make product out of thin air. you're gonna end up waiting, or changing your order.