Decent mail order bits supplier?

On or around Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:52:19 -0700 (PDT), AndyC enlightened us thusly:

unfortunately, it's mostly in the lap of the gods with delivery now. I've had stuff with extra-cost next-day delivery and it still doesn't show on time, 'cos the bloody courier (Amtrak in this case) CBA to drive out and deliver it.

Might be worth a comment to Paddocks, if you haven't already. Generally I found them good - not used them for a while due to supporting Beamends, but since he no longer does mail order I'll doubtless go back to Paddock.

I've had good service off MM

.Remember you are in the hands of the carrier and in these days of screwing every ounce out of the workforce its become custom and practice to send couriers out with more work than they can possibly do to eliminate slack time - a very fine way to lose business. Derek

On or around Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:05:05 GMT, "Derek" enlightened us thusly:

Yeah, I've dealt with MM before with no hassle. ISTR they had a good price on a starter I wanted.

but as for carriers, we need to pass on the info about who are good and who aren't, so that we know who to avoid.

FWIW, around here, ANC seem reasonably good. The ones who let me down with a paid-for fast delivery were AmTrak, should stick to running trains across the pond, innit. In that case it was self-evident that the bloke thought "sod that, it's Friday afternoon, another 30 miles, and I'll be late for me tea" - which is not legit if it's a paid-extra next-day thing.

Bearing in mind I'm in a rural area, they do OK. Stuff tends not to get delivered on friday, but if it's a normal 2-3 day style thing it's not worth complaining about.

One of the local operators used to have a stunning blonde who turned up in the van sometimes, sadly, seem to have moved on as I haven't seen her for some time now.

Some of the drivers are smart, too: one of them saw me in the caff in the local town and said that he'd just been to my place and it was a pity he'd not seen me earlier as it'd have saved him a journey.

Trouble is it's very variable by area and as a customer one rarely has a choice from a supplier as to the carrier they use. Short of only using suppliers who you know to use "good" couriers...

I think we probably get better service out in the sticks. Delivering and picking up out in the countryside must be a damn site easier than in a urban area or city. Much less hassle to park, less traffic, nicer things to look at... = happier drivers, less churn, they get to know their patch.

With us I think there is a reasonable insentive to deliver, 'cause if they don't they'll only be back out again and at a 60 miles round trip from most courier depots thats a 2hr or so drive. And they still have to find us, (not that we are hard to find) but the number of times I spot a delivery van go flying past down to the village to come back up 10 mins later with a package. You'd think they'd all have full post code satnav, mind you that only gets you within 1/2 a mile but thats enough to prompt you to start looking at the buildings.

Have a look at the following (no connection, just a happy customer)

Colin

On or around Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:32:14 -0700 (PDT), Colin Reed enlightened us thusly:

no series and no chassis, or not at a quick glance, anyway.

OK, to be fair to Paddocks, the bits did arrive not long after I posted, so I could spend my weekend swearing a radius arms and suspension bushes.

OTOH, it took the best part of 5 working days from my order to delivery, and that is the basic =A35 P&P service. Carriers were ANC BTW. I didn't think to look when the package was shipped, so I don't know if the delay is with Paddocks or ANC. It's a slightly unfair comparison, as they're a much bigger operation, but I order a lot of stuff from RS for work - order before 5pm for free next delivery and I don't think they've ever let me down. RS use Securicor/Omega FWIW.

Cheers,

AndyC.

I'll give them a try, thanks.

AndyC.

RS are also fecking expensive. The least you can expect for the way they rape your wallet is speedy delivery.

and yet I've never been let down by Paddocks ANC service. I've ordered stuff, taken the standard 3 day delivery (free if over £50 order value!) and generally it has arrived in less than three, but never more than 3.

-- "For those who are missing Blair - aim more carefully."

To reply direct rot13 me

bURRt the 101 Camper

200TDi Disco with no floor - its being fixed at last! 200 TDi Disco, "the offroader" 1976 S3 Lightweight

I just put another order in with Paddocks and noticed that the difference between normal and express delivery was only £3 (£8 cf. £5) so I went for that and all the parts arrived the next day, so that would appear to be the solution - not only do you get a quicker courier service but (as you'd expect) your order also gets speed through the Paddocks system.

AC :)

i just put in a paddocks order and it took 3 working days/5 days total to arrive. I got a dispatch note about an hour after putting the order in, but ANC obviously sit on it for a few days.