As most of you know, I have been modifying the suspension on my new daily driver, a Saturn Vue. Well, part of that project was the purchase of a set of KYB GR2/Excel-G struts and shocks (Part Numbers: 339053 339054 343433 343433, as seen here on Tire Rack).
On 4/9/2014 I placed an order on Amazon for the set of four through the seller "Just Suspension" with guaranteed delivery by 4/16/2014. On 4/14/2014 they finally shipped my shocks, which arrived on 4/21/2014, which is when the fun began...
As seen in this thread with photos, the seller threw all four struts/shocks into the same box with no packing material and sent them on their merry way. One strut punched through the side of the box and had the spring perch ground away on cement, causing the retraining strap to snap which let the strut fully extend, punching through the box and allowing damage to the threaded top portion.
I immediately emailed the seller through Amazon and it took three emails and almost 2 days for the seller to reply, and their response was "Thank you sir, have you opened the box?". Three emails and another day later, I get "Can you send some photos?" (Keep in mind that I had attached photos to my first email, and uploaded them to Amazon's invoice page). Multiple emails back and forth of them claiming that can't see or open any of those files finally got to me, so I opened an Amazon A to Z claim. My only request the entire time was that a replacement set be sent ASAP, and a return label generated so I could pop this one back in the UPS system. I just wanted what I had paid for.
Now the seller finally acknowledges my complaint but declares that they have to wait for "Amazon's decision" (which according to Amazon is totally bunk, the seller is in full control). Well they claim they won't do squat until the old ones go back, and Amazon won't help. I tell them there's no way I'm paying for return shipping, so Amazon gives me $10. I run the box over to the UPS store and the quote is $66.59, so Amazon finally gives me another $56.59 to actually pay to ship this debacle back (why they couldn't just email a pre-paid return label like every other Amazon return ever is beyond me). We are now at 4/29, some 8 days after receiving the item. I send them the next morning and send all the tracking info over.
Fast forward to 5/7 and UPS shows my box was delivered. Another round of unanswered emails, and a refund finally appears on 5/8, but for less the shipping amount. Another round of emails directly to Amazon now, and the full amount comes through on 5/11. So 32 days worth of frustration, and I still don't have my items. I'm told the only resolution is to just purchase the item again (apparently replacing stuff damaged in shipment isn't an acceptable way?!?).
So what do I do? Buy the damn things again, I need them! So order on 5/15, a tracking number is generated at 11:59 on 5/19, and they finally arrive today 5/27. Are you sitting down? Not only did I get damaged items again, they sent me the exact same set I had returned! They even left it in the original box, with damage everywhere and return labels, and just shoved the whole thing in a larger box with no other packaging.
That's the story so far. Tomorrow I will be calling the credit card company to have them just cancel the payment. Then I will do what I should have done in the first place, and pay Tire Rack some $50 more for the damn things.
