Who is jerking my chain? (Summit Racing and Addco content)

I placed an order for an Addco swaybar through Summit on June 1st. As Addco makes some of the more obscure stuff to order, i was notified that the part was "back-ordered" and would ship by June 24th.

On July 3rd, i contacted Summit asking for status, as well... i kindof need this damn thing.

I was informed by Summit that Addco was out of my bar and had to order it. The bar will ship on July 20th. (Too late) What in the berkeley does that even mean? Addco is out of 1" bar stock, has BEEN out of 1" bar stock, and they can't make any 1" bars at all?

I contacted Summit again, and ask them to clarify, with the knowledge that Addco makes the bars themselves. I also pointed out that Jeg's says the same bar would ship on July 15th (i can make this work) if i ordered it TODAY, yet an order through Summit on June 1st gives me a ship date of July 20th.

This was the response.

Summit said: They must be getting a shipment in of the materials to make the bars, and JEGS must have a order in before us, so that is why there date is different. You should have been notified by a post card in the mail. I apologize that you did not receive one.

Now, i have a friend that works "in the business" and he has lots of horror stories to tell about Addco, and i've had some less-than-satisfactory dealings with them myself, in the past. (They don't actually make brackets/bushings that fit their rear bar for this car, but they're glad to charge you and send you some random bullE36 M3 that doesn't fit at all. Three times! Before you get sick of it and just order a Prothane part that's easily modified.)

At this point, do i just cancel my order and go through Jeg's after i call them on the phone and make DAMN sure it'll ship on the 15th? Do i place an additional order through Jeg's, don't cancel my order with Summit, and whomever ships first gets to keep the money?

This whole thing is really frustrating. I knew nobody had it in stock, that's why i ordered it EIGHT WEEKS in advance.

So now... what do?

In this case it doesn't seem to be Summit's fault (I've had only good experiences with them) so, yeah, it's probably Addco. Personally, if you absolutely MUST have it, I'd do as you suggested, placing a second order through Jeg's, then canceling whoever ships second. But yeah, make sure Jeg's really does have access to one.

Swank Force One wrote: So now... what do?

Call Addco directly and ask for a rush job. Tell them it is for a points race and tell them if they put a sticker in the box you will put it on the car for helping you out.

kb58 wrote: In this case it doesn't seem to be Summit's fault (I've had only good experiences with them) so, yeah, it's probably Addco. Personally, if you absolutely MUST have it, I'd do as you suggested, placing a second order through Jeg's, then canceling whoever ships second. But yeah, make sure Jeg's really does have access to one.

I'm inclined to believe that, however... the guy i've been talking with has been replying suspiciously quickly, and not during Addco's business hours, so there's literally no way he could have verified the "fact" that Addco is "out of 1" bar stock."

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: So now... what do?

Call Addco directly and ask for a rush job. Tell them it is for a points race and tell them if they put a sticker in the box you will put it on the car for helping you out.

I like this. We'll see if Addco answers their phone today.

Addco, like most manufacturers, won't interrupt money-making production for low demand items. They prefer to wait until demand makes it profitable enough to schedule changes on the shop floor. Single-item orders won't fly if they need to make and sell at least four or five to at least break even.

Note: those numbers are pulled from thin air but the reality exists.

Have a bar made? There's got to be some circle track stuff out there that would be close enough...

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Have a bar made? There's got to be some circle track stuff out there that would be close enough...

I don't really have time budget to deal with all that. I have time budget enough to point, click, and order a bar that's made for my vehicle on the internet, then complain about it on my employer's dime while i'm stuck in my cubical. Not much more than that.

Another option, which we've used to good effect- get another stock bar and double it up. That, however, requires some "custom" bracketry...

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Another option, which we've used to good effect- get another stock bar and double it up. That, however, requires some "custom" bracketry...

It does require some custom bracketry, and doesn't work/fit on this particular car, because the swaybar runs behind the steering rack in an enclosed channel.

Swank Force One wrote: I'm inclined to believe that, however... the guy i've been talking with has been replying suspiciously quickly, and not during Addco's business hours, so there's literally no way he could have verified the "fact" that Addco is "out of 1" bar stock."

Have you entertained the possibility that he knows this because he has to answer 2-3 calls per week about this?

Knurled wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: I'm inclined to believe that, however... the guy i've been talking with has been replying suspiciously quickly, and not during Addco's business hours, so there's literally no way he could have verified the "fact" that Addco is "out of 1" bar stock."

Have you entertained the possibility that he knows this because he has to answer 2-3 calls per week about this?

Yes, but considering the first two contacts were him saying "they had to backorder your part," and the last one was saying materials as i had pretty much spoon fed him prior.... somewhat unlikely.

Doesn't matter. I don't get my bar any faster talking with Summit, it seems. I'll call Addco on break and see what they say.

Swank Force One wrote:

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Another option, which we've used to good effect- get another stock bar and double it up. That, however, requires some "custom" bracketry...

It does require some custom bracketry, and doesn't work/fit on this particular car, because the swaybar runs behind the steering rack in an enclosed channel.

OK, I'm really curious now what make/model of car this is. I've never heard of or seen such an animal. Wow.

I hope you have luck with Addco.

I too have had good experiences with Summit, but they seem to have a policy of waiting forever for backorders and not saying anything about it. I once cancelled a backordered part shipment a full 5 months after initially ordering, because I sold the car it was for!

volvoclearinghouse wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Another option, which we've used to good effect- get another stock bar and double it up. That, however, requires some "custom" bracketry...

It does require some custom bracketry, and doesn't work/fit on this particular car, because the swaybar runs behind the steering rack in an enclosed channel.

OK, I'm really curious now what make/model of car this is. I've never heard of or seen such an animal. Wow. I hope you have luck with Addco.

MX6.

It's not fully enclosed in the channel itself, it just slots up inside of it. I could strap a second bar to it underneath it, but then i'd have a hell of a time actually getting the steering rack back in, because it kinda sits right in front of/under it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=addco+559&espv=2&biw=1295&bih=814&ei=hQy7U9yCNOq1iwLA9oHwDQ&start=10&sa=N#q=addco+559&start=0

make some calls... see if anyone might just have one in stock......???????

Addco's phone system doesn't work at all. Shocker. God i berkeleying hate this company and wish there were other options available.

Learn to fab and bend your own.

Or reach out to a place like Quickor that will make bars to your spec.

Order 60 of them to get their attention and send 59 back.

turboswede wrote: Learn to fab and bend your own. Or reach out to a place like Quickor that will make bars to your spec.

Never heard of this company, will call tomorrow.

Thanks!

Swank Force One wrote:

Summit said: You should have been notified by a post card in the mail.

WTF? Who uses the mail to contact someone about a delayed order?

Cancel your order via carrier pigeon.

RX Reven' wrote: Order 60 of them to get their attention and send 59 back.

Hahaha I like the way you think. Now to scrounge up $12k for a swaybar order.

In reply to ProDarwin:

In my experience they actually send the post card about one in eight backorders.

Summit is really annoying me with backorders the last year or two. It's getting more often. I like ordering from them because I get next day shipping on everything. If I cant get that, I can get this E36 M3 just as fast or faster if I order it direct myself, for cheaper.

ProDarwin wrote: WTF? Who uses the mail to contact someone about a delayed order? Cancel your order via carrier pigeon.

Mail is a more reliable method and customers actually like to get hard-copy notifications. Mail-order retailers are compelled by law to keep customers in the loop regarding out-of-stock merchandise. It's commonly referred to as the "30 Day Rule". Info here: http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus02-business-guide-mail-and-telephone-order-merchandise-rule

Cancelling an order by phone (or e-mail if offered) ensures a prompt refund; any other choice only keeps your money out of your pocket longer than necessary.

I had the almost exact same story unfold with Summit and an Addco sway bar order. I ordered months ahead of autocross season. Finally got them in the middle of summer. Summit in the end delivered, but it was certainly a supplier problem. Summit did a few nice things to try to make up for it. All my other Summit orders have been flawless and speedy.