Opinions on FCP Euro?

docwyte said:

REI used to have an unlimited return policy.  When I'd go to their garage sales, where they'd resell the returned gear, I was always shocked at what people had returned.  Things like shoes/boots that were clearly worn out, watches that looked like they'd been hit with a hammer, etc vs things that had defects or had broken and shouldn't have.

That caused REI to change their return policy to 1 year only.  It makes me wonder if FCP will tire of people sending back brake rotors, brake pads, used oil, etc and change their policy too.

I applaud their desire to provide great service.  We don't have enough companies like that these days. 

A few rotten apples, though, will ruin the barrel.  I was looking into this policy and came upon a thread on Rennlist of some guy wanting to utilize the policy for his track pads... The guy drives a 2014 Porsche 911, can afford to track the car, and wants to screw over a company who just wants to provide better service for its customers.  Some people... 

https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-and-drivers-education-forum/1119896-track-pads-for-or-stock-pads-for-life.html

I wonder about it too, but FCP themselves seem to promote this "all bets are off" approach. For a lot of things I can imagine the shipping costs make it less than worthwhile for most (oil being the obvious one here), but pricey track pads could be one area where they stand to lose. However, this loophole is fairly easily closed - stop selling track pads - without nuking the whole policy.

I just bought a bunch of stuff from FCP Euro for the M3 and very happy with the experience.   I also like Warehouse33auto.com with coupon code Rennlist for 10% off. 

bcp2011 said:

docwyte said:

REI used to have an unlimited return policy.  When I'd go to their garage sales, where they'd resell the returned gear, I was always shocked at what people had returned.  Things like shoes/boots that were clearly worn out, watches that looked like they'd been hit with a hammer, etc vs things that had defects or had broken and shouldn't have.

That caused REI to change their return policy to 1 year only.  It makes me wonder if FCP will tire of people sending back brake rotors, brake pads, used oil, etc and change their policy too.

I applaud their desire to provide great service.  We don't have enough companies like that these days. 

A few rotten apples, though, will ruin the barrel.  I was looking into this policy and came upon a thread on Rennlist of some guy wanting to utilize the policy for his track pads... The guy drives a 2014 Porsche 911, can afford to track the car, and wants to screw over a company who just wants to provide better service for its customers.  Some people... 

https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-and-drivers-education-forum/1119896-track-pads-for-or-stock-pads-for-life.html

 

I know a guy who does that with pad/rotors for his M4. That said, he's an instructor and has FCPEuro stickers on his car, so is probably in a good position to "advertise" for them to all the people at the track he instructs. 

My guess is that FCP (and now eEuroparts, which just started the same policy) can do this for two reasons: First, only a small percentage of people will actually do it - I mean look, track/race guys are a small percentage of the populace in reality. If 100 people buy brake pads, probably only 1 or 2 would return them for new ones. The average Joe driving a BMW 328i is gonna get 3-4 years out of brake pads and just have some local dealer replace them or whatever. So whatever returns they get are probably a tiny proportion of their overall sales. 

Second, I'd be willing to bet that they are able to write off these warranty returns on taxes or something like that. Maybe not, but seems like the kind of crap our tax code lets companies get away with....

irish44j said:

bcp2011 said:

docwyte said:

REI used to have an unlimited return policy.  When I'd go to their garage sales, where they'd resell the returned gear, I was always shocked at what people had returned.  Things like shoes/boots that were clearly worn out, watches that looked like they'd been hit with a hammer, etc vs things that had defects or had broken and shouldn't have.

That caused REI to change their return policy to 1 year only.  It makes me wonder if FCP will tire of people sending back brake rotors, brake pads, used oil, etc and change their policy too.

I applaud their desire to provide great service.  We don't have enough companies like that these days. 

A few rotten apples, though, will ruin the barrel.  I was looking into this policy and came upon a thread on Rennlist of some guy wanting to utilize the policy for his track pads... The guy drives a 2014 Porsche 911, can afford to track the car, and wants to screw over a company who just wants to provide better service for its customers.  Some people... 

https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-and-drivers-education-forum/1119896-track-pads-for-or-stock-pads-for-life.html

 

I know a guy who does that with pad/rotors for his M4. That said, he's an instructor and has FCPEuro stickers on his car, so is probably in a good position to "advertise" for them to all the people at the track he instructs. 

My guess is that FCP (and now eEuroparts, which just started the same policy) can do this for two reasons: First, only a small percentage of people will actually do it - I mean look, track/race guys are a small percentage of the populace in reality. If 100 people buy brake pads, probably only 1 or 2 would return them for new ones. The average Joe driving a BMW 328i is gonna get 3-4 years out of brake pads and just have some local dealer replace them or whatever. So whatever returns they get are probably a tiny proportion of their overall sales. 

Second, I'd be willing to bet that they are able to write off these warranty returns on taxes or something like that. Maybe not, but seems like the kind of crap our tax code lets companies get away with....

Maybe it is different in an online experience, but I'd rather saw myself in half with rusty barbed wire than deal with those two shiny happy people who would return their used engine oil.

Also- If it looks like a scam, and smells like a scam, eventually it will be a scam.  Somehow.  Stuff isn't free.  Period.

I started dealing with FCP Groton a long time ago. They were the first on-line retailer that I dealt with that got their E36 M3 together and arranged for shipping to Canada with pre-paid duty and clearance so that UPS, Fed-Ex, etc. didn't greet you with a nice little bill!!! (P.S. it wasn't little!)

Ignition amp for 99 Passat - VW Canada - $499.00 - FCP $79 USD

FCP Euro supports this forum and our publications. That is one reason I recommend you use them and tell them you are a GRMer.

I know most of them and they are genuine car guys and are at the track perhaps even more than I am. They do honor that warranty on consumables, but realize most people won't send back used oil.

Personally, I have ordered almost every part we used on that 318is from FCP Euro. I love the way they offer OE, OE equivalent and then virtually no cheap crap. Their customer service has been excellent and the one time we had a snafu, they bent over backwards to fix it.

my experience with FCP has been 100% positive, have ordered parts for 5 different bmws over the last 4 years.

I use FCP and RockAuto for atleast 90% of my part purchases. Never had a issue with FCP and the only issue I have had with RockAuto was wrong part shipped out and they resolved it quick. I’ve been using both for probably 10 years. 

In reply to Tim Suddard :

Thanks Tim, that's high praise indeed. They'll get an order from me one I have completed the initial parts list for my 911. 

I berkeleyed up a high-dollar BMW 8-series spherical control arm once during install and FCP exchanged it for a new one no questions asked. Customer for life ever since.

I've ordered a fair amount of hardware from them over the years and have been 100% satisfied. Can't say that about ECS, for sure.

And while I get about three emails/day from ECS touting their latest "sale", I get about 0.2/day from FCP. And no, I haven't made any effort to change either of them, I think it's just a different way of managing their business. I like it.