We have had a thread on the list from time to time about problems with
one of
the major suppliers, Golden State Pickup Parts. I like the idea of dealing
with Golden State as their retail location is only fifteen minutes from my
place and I can often drop in during the course of my regular activities
without making a special trip. They have a nice showroom with lots of neat
stuff to look over, and I even enjoy looking at the trucks in the parking lot
that the other customers drive in. All in all, it could be a very pleasant way
to do business. Lately I've begun to have my doubts as to whether these
advantages overcome some of the less than noble experiences I have had trying
to spend my money at Golden State.
First, let me say that the quality of the products has been fine. (To
bad
they almost never have even the most common stuff actually in stock) I have
never returned anything because it was poorly assembled or made of inferior
materials. My problem with Golden State is with the competency and attitude of
the staff that handle the over the counter customers and that make dealing
with any company a productive or an unproductive experience (and the fact that
they don't carry any bloody stock).
Several times I have hopefully asked questions, for example: "what
color were
the bumpers of a '51 Chevy painted?" The guy behind the counter screws up his
face so that I could imagine that I could actually see the wheels turning
somewhere in that brain and says "aaahemmm, aaaahhh, uuummmm, black! They were
all painted black!" Over the past several months I have put several questions
to them about different specific items, but the counterpersons reaction was
about the same. I rapidly decided that if I needed to know something, I can
get much better info here on this list.
Next, they can't seem to get an order right. There has been an error of
some
kind on EVERY single order I have placed with them. For example, one fine
Saturday A.M., I ordered the stainless metal frames for the trim panels on the
doors of my truck. Wouldn't you think such a common item would be in stock? As
usual, they had to back order the item. Later during lunch, I was idly (OK
maybe not so idly) checking the paperwork, I noticed that they had backordered
3 pair of regular non stainless frames. Three pairs! How the hell did they get
that? I telephoned Golden State and got hold of the guy that took the order
and after a lengthy explanation from me, he said he would take care of it.
Somebody did call me and say that stuff had arrived from three different
backorders and another Saturday A.M. I dutifully trouped up to Golden State to
pick up my parts. The counterperson found some of my backordered stuff, but
not my stainless frames. After about fifteen minutes of fooling around and
shuffling papers, an assistant manager arrived and it became obvious that
nothing had been done to correct the mess. The assistant manager had a fair
idea of what had gone wrong and she pitched in to correct all the screw ups.
This required the most enormous amount of invoices, credits and return slips
to finally get my stuff, but at last it was done and I walked out the door
with some new stuff to improve my oletruck.
Home again, eating lunch again, and trying to sort out my new trove of
truck
parts and the blizzard of paperwork, and I noticed that the lovely stainless
metal door frames were both for the drivers door! AAAGGHHH! Another phone
call, another assurance that all would be set right, and I now need to make
yet another trip down to that all too familiar truck parts emporium called
Golden State.
Paul O'Neil,
1951 Chevrolet 3600 Pickup Project, See it at:
The Poor Man's Advanced Design Tech Tips Page
http://home.earthlink.net/~conntest47/
Fullerton, California USA
Hudson29@aol.com
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