Rear Entry Handle

[dougm]

I ordered a new rear entry lighted grab handle from rvandvansurplus.com which is a link that others have posted on this forum.
I ordered it the 29th of last month and it is still not here. I called them a week and a half ago to inquire what the delay was and was told since i wanted "CHINOOK" engraved on it that it would take at least 10 days from the date i ordered it for it to ship. Ten days has long since come and gone. Its been nearly 3 weeks now and i havent heard a peep from them since. Has anyone ordered from this place before? Im considering calling the bank and resolving the matter.

[chin_k]

I think they are legit business, but I never order anything from them. With the current situation, it can be tough to meet deadlines. I would give them more time, unless your bank have specific deadline for calling them.

The handle can be easily cement-welded with solvent. But if it is badly crazed, it may not be a good idea since you don't want it to break as you try to use it to left yourself up the stairs.

[dougm]

The problem isnt are they legit or not. The problem is in that they send the handle to a third party to have it engraved and that third party then ships the final product to the customer. Since i have no idea who that thrid party is or how to contact said third party that leaves any negative consequences on the shoulders of the business i ordered from.

[chin_k]

Are you waiting for the handle for a trip? Relax and give them a few more days. The engraving is likely done by U. S. based company, and we should give them the support esp. if you don't need the handle right now. I completely understand how frustrated it can be when working with companies that are not efficient and customer-friendly.

[dougm]

I consider three weeks to be beyond a reasonable level of patience after being told it would take 10 days. Its been 3 weeks now, thats 21 days and it still hasnt shipped. I cant agree with you that a consumer should reward bad service by remaining silent and allowing the company to leave consumers hanging indefinately. I emailed them last friday and of course as of today i have no reply from them. Tomorrow i will call them and if the product isnt ready to ship i will demand a full refund, if they dont want to issue a refund i will have the bank handle it. No, a company that has complete disregard for its customers is not deserving of anything above and beyond what any other company is allowed simply because of the chunk of dirt they happen to do business on. If you cant deliver what you advertise in a reasonable period of time or even respond to customer concerns, you need to close up shop.

I could have imported one from China and had it delivered to my door by now for half the price i paid. I paid a premium price and recieved third rate service in exchange, and so far no product has been delivered after three weeks.

If you ordered a meal at a Bistro and it took them three hours to bring you a cold meal would you just go ahead and eat it and pretend that everything was hunky dory with the service and then pay them anyway?

[chin_k]

I agree that 3 weeks is a bit excessive, consider that they originally told you it should be 10 days. I wish you luck on this issue. Is there other company that can do the handle for you?

[dougm]

His exact words were.... "sometimes it can take up to 10 days for them to ship". Which i took to mean, sometimes it does and sometimes it doesnt, it could ship out sooner but expect up to 10 days before it ships. Course 10 days has long since come and gone...

You can buy the handles from any RV dealer, but if you want it engraved with something thats another story. All i really need are the chrome end caps because mine are pitted and corroded to the degree that polish no longer cleans them up and makes them look nice and of course the paint in the engraved "CHINOOK" has long since disappeared. The actual handle isnt broken.
But i figured i would just buy a complete unit so its all nice and fresh.

I dont like being a prick and i dont consider myself to be one. If i was i wouldnt have waited 3 weeks when i was told 10 days. However i also dont believe in rewarding bad businesses and bad business practices with my dollars. A more likely scenario is that the place orders them from China or some other country and the delay is caused by customs and import regulations. I say that because it doesnt take 3 weeks to engrave 7 letters into a plastic handle even if your swamped with orders.

[chin_k]

It is fair to ask them about the status. I think you have the right to ask him since he give you the timeline. I have a feeling that you going to hear a list of excuses. When there is the word "sometimes" in a sentence, it does not mean much anymore.

If it is just the letters CHINOOK, it maybe possible to just remove the handle, clean out each of the letters (or part of the letter rather) with a screw driver, and pour some black paint into the channels. But for your case, it is probably cheaper and less hassle to order the entire thing. If mine broke again, I will put a LED bulb inside instead of the regular automotive bulb.

[dougm]

I thought about just yanking it off and dropping the end caps off at the chrome shop to have them re-chromed and then cleaning the handle up inside and out, then painting the letters myself. I decided with the time involved and the cost and wait for them to re-chrome the end caps it was more efficient to just order a new one. I was wrong again....

[chin_k]

Maybe you want to suggest to them to send you the end caps separately, while waiting for the handle to get engraved? Or you already burnt the bridge?