Online Ordering of Specialty Parts

[dijinn]

So, I've been trying to give my SAAB a facelift and order the Maptun/Realcar front bumper. Since Realcar doesn't have a distributor here in the US, I've been attempting to work through State of Nine to get the front bumper piece. Yeah, I know it's more expensive but I figured the compromise is ease and reliability of state-side ordering.

Is it me or is SON's customer service pretty much nonexistent? I would like to order a few exterior trim pieces for my SAAB and aside from two initial phone calls and an e-mail inquiry I sent, I have heard nothing back from them in 2 months time. I wasn't expecting anyone to go out of their way and jump through hoops but when a potential customer is inquiring about purchases in the $2k range, I figured I would get some kind of response back from SON.

So, now I'm looking into my only other option: trying to order directly from Realcar in Sweden. Has anyone on the forums ordered anything from them and received it here in the US? If you have, what did you order, what were the approximate taxes/duties incurred and what trip ups (if any) did you have with customs and importing (large) high dollar items?

I'm just trying to understand where any hang-ups could occur before I commit to spending a reasonably large chunk of money.

Any help or advice from previous experience would certainly be appreciated!

- J.

[Bryce804]

I got a pretty good response the one time I dealt with SON. called me back several times and answered all my questions.

[awjones]

have you asked the site sponsor PartsforSaabs.com? they will direct you to fill out a custom order form.

they got and shipped me Hirsch pieces way before they were sold by SON or in stateside Saab dealers.

[dijinn]

Originally Posted by awjones

have you asked the site sponsor PartsforSaabs.com? they will direct you to fill out a custom order form.

they got and shipped me Hirsch pieces way before they were sold by SON or in stateside Saab dealers.

Hmmm, I had no idea. I will shoot out an e-mail to PartsforSaabs and see what kind of response I get.

Thanks for the heads up!

[awjones]

Originally Posted by dijinn

Hmmm, I had no idea. I will shoot out an e-mail to PartsforSaabs and see what kind of response I get.

Thanks for the heads up!

no prob! im sure PFS will take care of it. shipping costs on that fiberglass bumper is going to be insane! let us know if PFS can help you, i kinda want the RealCar front spoiler

[saabhutter]

This is going to cost a ton. Like 15-25% of the value of your entire car. To each their own, at least it will look good.

[BobSaabit]

Yeah, avoid SON. Total dicks when I've had to deal with them. Add to that the fact that they falsify list prices just to make their ridiculous markup look reasonable. Here's just a few examples:

Eibach OG 9-3 springs:

List at Eibach Web Site: $399; Typical on-line $225-$275;
Phony "List" at SON; $742; price $520

Maptun tune for 9-3:

List at Maptun Web Site: $390; Typical on-line $350-$375.
Phony "List" at SON; $763; price $610

SAAB NG900/9-3 Convertible Map/Reading light

List from Saab Dealer; $58; Typical on-line $53
Phony "List" at SON: $150; price $110.

[saabhutter]

I haven't had any experience with SON guys being rude but their markup is indeed a complete joke. How they manage to stay around baffles me. The shipping to Canada is also about double the price it should be... matching their prices.

[Brandnew70x7]

I noticed the prices myself... to me it's price gouging. Isn't it against some kind of rule to do what they do?? I mean honestly their prices are markedly more than most other places.

[saabhutter]

Originally Posted by Brandnew70x7

I noticed the prices myself... to me it's price gouging. Isn't it against some kind of rule to do what they do?? I mean honestly their prices are markedly more than most other places.

There's nothing to say that they can't charge those prices but naturally their penalty will be the fact that all buyers will choose to look elsewhere.

[BobSaabit]

Originally Posted by saabhutter

There's nothing to say that they can't charge those prices but naturally their penalty will be the fact that all buyers will choose to look elsewhere.

Here's how it works:

Average 'net seller pays $200 for Eibach springs and sells them for $225 to $250. Makes $25 to $50.

SON pays $200 and sells them for $510. Makes $310 on one sale, or the equivalent of 6 to 10 sales by the discounting vendor.

SON only invests $200 where the other vendor had to invest $1200 to $2000. SON also has 10% of the labor/overhead/storage cost (one shipment).

Multiply it out... they only have to catch one sucker out of 10 and they make the same money. It's harder for them now with all the vendors on the Internet and their model must be causing them issues.