WAS: Not happy with A&S, NOW: Happy!!!

[was]

After some internal debate about buying parts from my local dealer vs. buying from an internet place, I split the list of parts that I needed and did both. My local dealer had everything I requested in stock. For the internet order I used A&S, primarily because of their nice microfiche of parts giving the BMW part number. I ordered $400.00 plus of parts on 2/9. I immediately got an email from A&S, thanking me for the order and telling me that all the parts are out of stock. Huh? Brake hoses out of stock? Crank case cover gasket out of stock? Shift lever ball pins and shift selector rods out of stock? This place does do repairs and maintenance on BMWs, yes? I immediately emailed back that I found it difficult to understand how every part I ordered was out of stock, and also that I needed more information - like how long it would take to order all the parts and ship them to me. That was on 2/9. I didn't expect an answer over the weekend. I didn't get one yesterday or today. I finally called the place, and someone in the parts dept. said, yes, all the parts were out of stock, they all had been ordered from BMW, and it would take 5 - 7 more days for A&S to receive then and ship them to me.

Not happy, and will not order from this company again.

[Ted Shred]

After some internal debate about buying parts from my local dealer vs. buying from an internet place, I split the list of parts that I needed and did both. My local dealer had everything I requested in stock. For the internet order I used A&S, primarily because of their nice microfiche of parts giving the BMW part number. I ordered $400.00 plus of parts on 2/9. I immediately got an email from A&S, thanking me for the order and telling me that all the parts are out of stock. Huh? Brake hoses out of stock? Crank case cover gasket out of stock? Shift lever ball pins and shift selector rods out of stock? This place does do repairs and maintenance on BMWs, yes? I immediately emailed back that I found it difficult to understand how every part I ordered was out of stock, and also that I needed more information - like how long it would take to order all the parts and ship them to me. That was on 2/9. I didn't expect an answer over the weekend. I didn't get one yesterday or today. I finally called the place, and someone in the parts dept. said, yes, all the parts were out of stock, they all had been ordered from BMW, and it would take 5 - 7 more days for A&S to receive then and ship them to me.

Not happy, and will not order from this company again.

Hi Bill,

I'm sorry you're not getting the parts in a timely manner. I'll have my parts manager call you in a few minutes and see if we can't speed up the process.

Ted Hudson
Sales A&S BMW

[zippy_gg]

After some internal debate about buying parts from my local dealer vs. buying from an internet place, I split the list of parts that I needed and did both. My local dealer had everything I requested in stock. For the internet order I used A&S, primarily because of their nice microfiche of parts giving the BMW part number. I ordered $400.00 plus of parts on 2/9. I immediately got an email from A&S, thanking me for the order and telling me that all the parts are out of stock. Huh? Brake hoses out of stock? Crank case cover gasket out of stock? Shift lever ball pins and shift selector rods out of stock? This place does do repairs and maintenance on BMWs, yes? I immediately emailed back that I found it difficult to understand how every part I ordered was out of stock, and also that I needed more information - like how long it would take to order all the parts and ship them to me. That was on 2/9. I didn't expect an answer over the weekend. I didn't get one yesterday or today. I finally called the place, and someone in the parts dept. said, yes, all the parts were out of stock, they all had been ordered from BMW, and it would take 5 - 7 more days for A&S to receive then and ship them to me.

Not happy, and will not order from this company again.Even BMW dealers do not always have all parts in stock. When shopping online you should expect some delay in getting certain items, but on the flip side you are able to fill up your shopping cart on your own and pay less, and in most cases the cost of shipping will be a lot less than your local sales tax so you win here too.
If you need parts urgently then by all means try the dealer, but then again there is no guarantee they will have everything in their inventory.

Personally I like the fact that I can look at the part fiche on line. It helps me visualize what I need to replace, with all the little parts and washers that need to come off. You don't get to do that at the dealer's, however a good part guy will point out all these idiosyncracies to you.

Maybe do some "balance" shopping, urgent stuff form the dealer, other stuff from an on-line vendor.

[JPSpen]

So Ted,

What's the score on BMW parts.. I called for some cam followers today from my local dealer and he had to order those and an exhaust stud and nut as well

Seems like these parts one would keep in stock....

Aren't most dealers obligated to keep a good supply of maintenance parts on hand ? Or would BMW rather keep the parts in a central supply and dole them out on an as needed basis...

Or are they just keeping their " in stock " parts for those who have their bikes serviced at their shop and ordering parts for those who DIY.

Seems like this might be the case...

My local dealer did have the valve cover gasket in stock but not the buckets...

Just wondering

John

[pkpr1998]

Hi Bill,

I'm sorry you're not getting the parts in a timely manner. I'll have my parts manager call you in a few minutes and see if we can't speed up the process.

Ted Hudson
Sales A&S BMW

Now, it's hard to argue with this kind of service!

Now when are you going to drop the cost of the BMW NAV III Plus? :p

[grahamw]

Interesting dilema. In the UK I tend to use Motorworks - good service, keep all my bike details, knowledgeable staff and happy to give advice. My local dealer happy to provide test rides and a nice place to visit. Should I support my dealer more and buy more 'stuff' from them especially when the price differential is not that much - except when it is new v's secondhand? If the dealer knows that me and others will be looking for these parts are they more likely to keep them in stock? Will I moan when the dealer closes down because of lack of turnover?

If I shop online I expect certain things, if I make an effort to go to a shop I expect a different experience.

my 2p worth.

[Ted Shred]

So Ted,

What's the score on BMW parts.. I called for some cam followers today from my local dealer and he had to order those and an exhaust stud and nut as well

Seems like these parts one would keep in stock....

Aren't most dealers obligated to keep a good supply of maintenance parts on hand ? Or would BMW rather keep the parts in a central supply and dole them out on an as needed basis...

Or are they just keeping their " in stock " parts for those who have their bikes serviced at their shop and ordering parts for those who DIY.

Seems like this might be the case...

My local dealer did have the valve cover gasket in stock but not the buckets...

Just wondering

John

It's up to the dealer how much inventory he wants to carry. We have over 20,000 part numbers in our system. It's just not possible to stock them all. We stock as much as we can and the rest we can usually get with in 1-2 days if neccesary. A couple of the part numbers that Bill ordered we have not sold any of going back 8 years so those parts we obviously are not going to stock. We are working on getting him the right stuff ASAP....

[jorawro]

Just be glad that you don't live in my general area. Except for oil filters nearly everything else is ordered ----PITA.
I did some shopping at A&S last summer (did it in person - better than the internet - and it was a nice drive:) ) and found that they had everything that I wanted and went out of their way to be prompt and friendly.
The only other dealership that was equal to them (IMHO) is Bob's

[grifscoots]

I rode to A&S last September from New Braunfels, TX to buy a tshirt. They gave it to me! Now, that's what I call service. A fine store and I kinda like the folk's working there.

Wouldn't a broken exhuast stud be VOR?:D

[was]

Hi Bill,

I'm sorry you're not getting the parts in a timely manner. I'll have my parts manager call you in a few minutes and see if we can't speed up the process.

Ted Hudson
Sales A&S BMW

Hi Ted. I did not realize that someone on the forum had juice with A&S, or I would have sent you a PM. I was not home last night, but when I got home there was a message on my machine from Shannon with her office number. I'll call her later today when the Left Coast wakes up. I do appreciate your intervention and responsiveness, no matter what the outcome.

[was]

Interesting dilema. In the UK I tend to use Motorworks - good service, keep all my bike details, knowledgeable staff and happy to give advice. My local dealer happy to provide test rides and a nice place to visit. Should I support my dealer more and buy more 'stuff' from them especially when the price differential is not that much - except when it is new v's secondhand? If the dealer knows that me and others will be looking for these parts are they more likely to keep them in stock? Will I moan when the dealer closes down because of lack of turnover?

If I shop online I expect certain things, if I make an effort to go to a shop I expect a different experience.

my 2p worth.

Graham, that's it exactly.

[Ted Shred]

Hi Ted. I did not realize that someone on the forum had juice with A&S, or I would have sent you a PM. I was not home last night, but when I got home there was a message on my machine from Shannon with her office number. I'll call her later today when the Left Coast wakes up. I do appreciate your intervention and responsiveness, no matter what the outcome.

Well I don't know how much juice I have;), but I does what I can:D

[was]

Well I don't know how much juice I have;), but I does what I can:D

Well, Ted, whatever you did helped. I talked with Shannon a little while ago. She was very nice, helpful, and not at all defensive. It turns out, as I kind of knew had to be the case, that they did have much of my order in stock, but they wanted to get the other stuff from BMW to minimize shipping costs. Shannon spontaneously acknowledged that the email I got from A&S could be misleading, and said that they will change the email to get rid of that possibility. She also had the good news that all my stuff is in, and they will be shipping this afternoon. She offered to expedite ship it, but there is no need since I have lots of other things to do to the bike and won't need any of the parts immediately.

Upshot: I appreciate what Ted and Shannon did to make me feel better. I hope it's a good outcome for A&S. I WILL buy from this company again (especially since I can PM Ted or call Shannon if I have concerns!). Now if only I could change that darn thread heading to Very Happy with A&S.

[Ted Shred]

Well, Ted, whatever you did helped. I talked with Shannon a little while ago. She was very nice, helpful, and not at all defensive. It turns out, as I kind of knew had to be the case, that they did have much of my order in stock, but they wanted to get the other stuff from BMW to minimize shipping costs. Shannon spontaneously acknowledged that the email I got from A&S could be misleading, and said that they will change the email to get rid of that possibility. She also had the good news that all my stuff is in, and they will be shipping this afternoon. She offered to expedite ship it, but there is no need since I have lots of other things to do to the bike and won't need any of the parts immediately.

Upshot: I appreciate what Ted and Shannon did to make me feel better. I hope it's a good outcome for A&S. I WILL buy from this company again (especially since I can PM Ted or call Shannon if I have concerns!). Now if only I could change that darn thread heading to Very Happy with A&S.

Thanks for the update Bill. I knew Shannon would be able to take care of you:)

[zippy_gg]

Now if only I could change that darn thread heading to Very Happy with A&S.You can always start another thread stating just that!:D

[info]

Sounds like the order was juiced. ;)

[was]

Hey, many thanks to the moderator or whoever else was able to change the thread subject heading. Perfect edit, I appreciate it.