Marine Parts Source - Beware Hidden Costs on all returns

[Herrickjde]

I bought the wrong part at marine parts source marinepartssource.com and had to return it for a different part and while they offer free shipping, they take whatever the cost of shipping was against your refund in addition to you paying the shipping to return the item and a restocking fee. Their prices are not bad, but when you factor those hidden costs it is probably not economical to shop here and I will not going forward. Just make sure you don't need to return something unless it is their mistake or defective. Just thought I would share this experience.

 

[Almightys]

Good to know. Anything non Amazon I look at return policy prior to buying.
So I assume the mistake was on your part then of buying wrong part and needing to return?

 

[bobeast]

Asking you to pay shipping in both directions for something that wasn't their fault does not seem unreasonable to me. Restocking fee, however, seems like a bad business decision.

 

[Herrickjde]

Thanks I just wanted everyone to be aware. I have not had this happen to me and I have done business with West Marine, Amazon, Hodges Marine and I expect to pay the freight back, but not the restock or free shipping charge. Anyway I am done with these guys.

 

[bahamabreisus]

Try to shop local.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Local - we have 2. One can’t say when parts arrive, the other are somewhere between incompetent and thieves. And not including the WM store cause .. just no.
Amazon never let me down. (I really don’t care what Bezo does with yachts and bridges).

 

[bahamabreisus]

Local - we have 2. One can’t say when parts arrive, the other are somewhere between incompetent and thieves. And not including the WM store cause .. just no.
Amazon never let me down. (I really don’t care what Bezo does with yachts and bridges).

Luckily, we have a couple of good shops nearby. Prices seem better than Amazon most of the time.

 

[Creekwood]

The world is changing and what is local is now becoming on-line. On-line software and much more efficient logistics and shipping make it more efficient for smart companies to operate with a wide market. So “buy local” won’t exist in many less populated places except at a price premium, unless one of your local suppliers is able to establish a viable larger scale on-line business based in your town with a store front. A few people have bought things on eBay from Searayman13. I view him as “local” in a way.

And every company can set its own rules in a free capitalist world. So like everything, its on the buyer to understand the terms of a transaction when you buy. If the seller does not disclose the terms or violates their own terms, then that is a problem. But if they do, and you don’t like the terms, shop elsewhere.

I have a bit of sympathy for stores and companies that take returns because I will bet there are more unethical buyers out there than there are on-line retailers. Lots of people buy, and use things, and then return them, despite the sellers policies. And everyone slags retailers on-line, but retailers don’t have the ability to slag unethical buyers in a public way.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Kudos to Searayman. Bought a few things, and when one didn’t fit he accepted return with no problem.

 

[Blueone]