Simon's new Xantia V6 and Leaf blog

[CitroJim]

Horrific that a company would do that I've seen that method used many times by private sellers but for a company to do so is abhorrent... I guess they'll blame Covid...

[harryp]

Simon,
I never use flat bladed screwdrivers to tighten Jubilee clips! Far easier to use 1/4 drive 7 or 8mm sockets - and they do not slip off the head, which is the curse of using a flat blade They are also easier to wriggle into very small places I used to have a "special" screw driver with a circular shield around the end which prevented the blade from slipping off, but I haven't seen it in years.
Take care

[Hell Razor5543]

I recall getting my Mum a Jubilee Clip driver with a semi flexible shaft, so you could tighten up almost any Jubilee Clip if you could see most of the head of the bolt. Something like this;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7mm-FLEXIBLE ... %3A2334524

[Mandrake]

Mail them a photo of the damaged item and the "packaging".


Mister Auto would have sent one of those out in a gigantic, padded box, if my delivery from them today is anything to go by.

The odd thing is that I've had loads of things from CarPartsInMotion from small parts to coil springs, and they've all come - without exception - well packaged and without issue. I don't think it helps that the courier depot that serves Simon's area appears to be staffed with neanderthals

The thing is, they seem to be contracting someone else to supply the part directly to me, so perhaps its a part they don't carry in stock so they farm it out to a wholesaler when someone orders it.

Carpartsinmotion's ebay company listing says they're based in Exeter EX2 8PY, however both the empty box and the plastic bag wrapped arm have the sender as "Tetrosyl Express" with a senders address of Rochdale OL11 3DT....

A quick Google suggests that Tetrosyl Express is a wholesale car parts supplier, but I don't know what relationship the two companies might have, but they don't seem to be the same company.

[Mandrake]

Simon,
I never use flat bladed screwdrivers to tighten Jubilee clips! Far easier to use 1/4 drive 7 or 8mm sockets - and they do not slip off the head, which is the curse of using a flat blade They are also easier to wriggle into very small places I used to have a "special" screw driver with a circular shield around the end which prevented the blade from slipping off, but I haven't seen it in years.
Take care

Although this jubilee clip has a combo hex head/slot bolt and I have the correct size socket (5mm I think) once it's nearing being tightened it's impossible to get a socket onto it as the head is right against the band. The short flat blade screw driver is unfortunately the only way to tighten it.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Quinton Hazell are a brand owned by Tetrosyl, the other Parts in Motion like you say operate out of an industrial unit in Exeter and probably have no connection other than sourcing the part via Tetrasyl/ Quinton Hazell and getting it delivered direct to you.

Regards Neil

[white exec]

Simon, your claim is against the folk you ordered it from, not any carrier or subbed supplier - but you knew that anyway!!
Tetrosyl is/was a well known brand of paint/sealant

[bobins]

I think CarPartsInMotion's business model is that they deal in surplus stock and clearance job lots*. I can well believe they've agreed to shift QH's excess stock and that's why it's come direct from the Tetrosyl location.

*- Though I may well be wrong on that.

[Michel]

For the rusting on the suspension components, get a couple of cans of ACF-50 and apply it liberally after giving them a decent wire brushing. ACF 50 is aviation anti-corrosion goo, loved by all-weather bikers for obvious reasons. Not particularly cheap but an amazing amount less messy than underseal. Do my bike with it once every year before winter. No corrosion at all.

[Mandrake]

Quinton Hazell are a brand owned by Tetrosyl, the other Parts in Motion like you say operate out of an industrial unit in Exeter and probably have no connection other than sourcing the part via Tetrasyl/ Quinton Hazell and getting it delivered direct to you.

Ah that makes sense - so what you're basically saying is if I order a Quinton Hazell arm from anyone it is going to come from Tetrosyl and be at risk of shoddy packaging...

In any case I've opted for a refund. The week I had off work where I planned to do this job has passed and its going to be many weeks before I have another chance. Hopefully by then Mr Auto is back in the UK and I will choose some other brand than Quinton Hazell to ensure it doesn't come from the same warehouse!

Simon, your claim is against the folk you ordered it from, not any carrier or subbed supplier - but you knew that anyway!!

Sure,

I do feel sorry for them - the seller has been very responsive and apologetic both times but at the end of the day I still don't have my un-damaged suspension arm, so I eventually opted for a refund as I don't think a 3rd delivery attempt is going to go any better.

[Gibbo2286]

Have you tried your nearest Parts Alliance member.
https://www.thepartsalliance.com/

[Mandrake]

Just to add I got a refund for the arm - they initially wanted me to send it back using the ebay returns process but before I could get it packaged up they changed their mind and said just put it in the bin.

So now I have arm that I can't really use but I'm also loathe to put it in the bin... Maybe I can use it as a practice device for removing and fitting bushes...

I checked Mr Auto and they're still not selling to the UK.

[white exec]

Simon, are you looking at Mister Auto's UK site?
Can't understand why they would not 'sell to UK' .

There's now a sizeable commercial wall around the UK, with a problem getting goods in or out. Especially affects small orders. Many firms have just given up. I have had three orders unexpectedly 'terminated' ("Goods damaged in transit") after they were (a) paid for, and (b) put into courier/postal service dispatch. Even included items ordered through Amazon.

Mister Auto regularly move stock around Europe (and presumably elsewhere). If I order something on Mister Auto ES, and the item is not held in Spain, they quickly obtain it from UK, DE, FR or wherever it happens to be. This usually only adds a few days to delivery times.

Puzzled.

[Mandrake]

Simon, are you looking at Mister Auto's UK site?
Can't understand why they would not 'sell to UK' .

The UK website is browsable and you can put things in your basket, but you can't complete a transaction and there are banners like this on nearly every page:

Also as I mentioned earlier I emailed their support and got a form letter back blaming Brexit and Covid travel restrictions. Trust pilot reviews report the same form letter being sent to others enquiring going back to January. So they are officially unwilling or unable to sell in the UK at the moment, and this has been the case for 5 months now.

I am also very puzzled because I ordered parts from carparts4less.co.uk - which AFAIK is just a pseudonym for the well known eurocarparts (since the website and available listings are identical) which is based in Europe and had the parts in two days with no hassles at all.

Unfortunately their selection of suspension arms is very limited and they don't have any I like the look of.

[bobins]

It's a bit odd that Mr Auto choose not to supply to the UK. There are procedures and processes in place to allow them to supply to the UK if they wanted, but they're choosing not to do so. It smacks of a 'sour grapes' response to me