Vendor not refunding core charge; Resolved

[Sam Buchanan]

This is not an attempt at vendor bashing but just a heads up to inform the community.

 

I purchased a rebuilt vacuum advance unit from Andy Bernbaum for my P15 and it arrived a few days after placing the order. The price included $30 which was to be refunded when I returned the old unit as a core. The old unit was shipped back to AB the same day I received the rebuilt advance and tracking indicated the core arrived at AB three days later. Ten days after AB received the core the $30 charge had not appeared on my bank card. I sent a web message indicating I had not yet received the refund. Fourteen days after AB received the core I still hadn't gotten the refund so I called and was told the refund was on its way. It is now over three weeks after AB received the core and still no refund.

 

It is just $30 but the non-return of the refund, intentional or otherwise, indicates to me either a lack of interest in customer service,  a breakdown of internal procedures, or something more serious. I have purchased a lot of merchandise from Andy Bernbaum and their ebay store but this is giving me pause about further purchases. I still hope this will be resolved and will not hesitate to update if that occurs because I have no desire to treat one of our vendors unfairly.

Edited May 8, 2023 by Sam Buchanan

[Plymouthy Adams]

is it bashing if it is the truth

[desoto1939]

I would call and ask for Chris, the new owner of AB's and explain the situation to him directly.  There might have been a break down in communication. Always best to communicate with the owner than a worker in the organization.  I know Chris tries to make everything correct when a mistake has been sent in the part so call him.

 

Rich Hartung

[Marcel Backs]

It sounds like the quality of the services is matching the quality of vendor's offshore produced stock! This is the scourge of many "suppliers" and "services". This is as close to consistency as it gets nowadays & it will lead to the demise of the hobby. We must bring our production back to America and ignore the inferior offshore junk that our friendly "suppliers" are constantly passing off to paying customers at heavily inflated prices. They will get the message when lack of inflated "foreign part sales" (replace foreign for chinese at any time) does not pan out anymore when people go to the NOS market or "exclusively American made" parts as I have done. We must adapt in order to cause positive change which is something our overly technological world has zapped out of existence! MLB

[Plymouthy Adams]

the cause and effect and the cure will lead to heated arguments, much hate, denial, and political implications at every turn...this will not get turned around in our lifetime if ever fixed at all.  

[desoto1939]

As an after thought on this topic. Most car owners do not think of purchasing spare parts when at swap meets. They are ususally looking for something or some specific part for their car. We all come with lists hoping to find the parts and go home happy.  But as we all know we all have limited amt of funds to spend.  But over the past 35 years of owning my 39 Desoto i am always looking for items for my car, Go to Hershey, Carlise, Allentown and other swap meets.

 

I go with th emind set that if i see something that fits my car and its spare part and the price is fair I will purchase it or them, becsue as we all know once it is sold to someone else the part is no longer available for your purchase, 2nd, the parts are not being reproduced so there isa limited amt of spares to be found, 3rd if you plan to own your car for 5-10 more years you better get the extra parts especially if there are NOS or rebuilt here in the USA, european asian repros are just junk.

 

You have to think out of the box and for future times down the road. Think ahead not for the current time, We see that point, condensers, caps, rotors and all of the good electrical Autolite components are not showing up at major and or local events.  The guys do not want to carry these items they want the high perfrmance items but the meat and potatoes is still some of the older items.  People want to switch over to electronic ignition but I have had the standard points setup in my 1939 ever since the car was built.

 

Yes I only use autolite parts becasue I know they are still quality components.  So alwasy be prepared to purchase items not alwasy on you parts list if you see them on a vendors table. Yes you might not have to install the item but someday someone might need the part and go can get your money back for the item.  Do not think Ebay will always have the part you need or desire.

 

The best line of defense is your offensive line to having those extra parts for the future.

 

Rich Hartung

[Sam Buchanan]

On 5/8/2023 at 8:52 AM, Sam Buchanan said:

This is not an attempt at vendor bashing but just a heads up to inform the community.

 

I purchased a rebuilt vacuum advance unit from Andy Bernbaum for my P15 and it arrived a few days after placing the order. The price included $30 which was to be refunded when I returned the old unit as a core. The old unit was shipped back to AB the same day I received the rebuilt advance and tracking indicated the core arrived at AB three days later. Ten days after AB received the core the $30 charge had not appeared on my bank card. I sent a web message indicating I had not yet received the refund. Fourteen days after AB received the core I still hadn't gotten the refund so I called and was told the refund was on its way. It is now over three weeks after AB received the core and still no refund.

 

It is just $30 but the non-return of the refund, intentional or otherwise, indicates to me either a lack of interest in customer service,  a breakdown of internal procedures, or something more serious. I have purchased a lot of merchandise from Andy Bernbaum and their ebay store but this is giving me pause about further purchases. I still hope this will be resolved and will not hesitate to update if that occurs because I have no desire to treat one of our vendors unfairly.

 

Update:

 

I forwarded the above message to AB and received a reply from Chris within an hour. Apologies were offered for the tardy service and explanations given (I won't go into that). AB sent me a credit statement that indicates the bankcard credit should be forthcoming. I will consider this matter closed provided the credit appears on my bankcard account in a timely manner.

 

Andy Bernbaum has been a reliable vendor for me for four years and I assume that will continue to be the case. I appreciate their prompt attention to this matter today, just wish it hadn't been necessary to follow-up several weeks after the fact.

 

Update: Credit has been received, case closed.

Edited May 9, 2023 by Sam Buchanan

[Los_Control]

@desoto1939 is correct .... too carry it a bit further, I think it is a mindset .... some have it some do not.

 

For example, I never would have returned the core in the first place. I would have used the new part, then rebuild the old one & store it on the shelf for future need.

I did the same with my carburetor. I kept my original fuel pump .... I have a new water pump on the shelf, but old one is still working. Original fuel pump is in a box, needs rebuilding.

 

I really think it is a mindset .... for example I had a old seat from  some mid sized truck .... too narrow for my Dodge.

Some would throw it away .... I stripped it down to save the metal.  Good heavy 16 gauge+ metal.

I see two taillight brackets & a needed alternator bracket. ..... Texas gold right there .... I aint throwing nothing away or sending cores back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sam Buchanan]

26 minutes ago, Los_Control said:

 

For example, I never would have returned the core in the first place. I would have used the new part, then rebuild the old one & store it on the shelf for future need.

 

Ok.....so how do you propose to rebuild a vacuum advance unit??  You do exactly as I did, send in your old one and get a rebuilt one back.

 

As far as I know there are no new ones available.

 

Let's think before we post.......    ?

[Los_Control]

Just now, Sam Buchanan said:

Let's think before we post.......    ?

Exactly .... lets think about it.

 

How would you rebuild a fuel pump if you never did one.

How about a water pump ....

A carburetor?

 

A vacuum advance is built by human hands. It is rebuilt by human hands.

I may have a learning curve ahead to do it .... I'm not afraid of that.

Exactly what tools did they have in the 1900's to build vacuum advance, that we do not have today?

 

Lets be serious here, I have no idea what it takes to rebuild a vacuum advance .... no interest in it at this time.

If it did come up, modern technology like the internet serves a purpose & a learning tool.

We have modern tools ..... I THINK WE COULD REBUILD ONE IF NEEDED!

 

I'm only suggesting I would never gave up the original quality part for a core charge. ..... Even if I needed to hire a bum smarter then me to do the job .... would be better to start with original then some overseas crap.

Just now, Sam Buchanan said:

You do exactly as I did, send in your old one and get a rebuilt one back.

 

Just saying no. I would buy the new one, then learn to fix the old one.

Many of these adventures of mine sometimes cost me money .... I usually get a lesson from them.

[Sniper]

I think the issue is that while you can get a rebuild kit for a fuel pump I am not aware of anyone making rebuild kits for vacuum advances.

[Los_Control]

I agree @Sniper I'm only suggesting that we can learn & create our own replacements part needed .... rather then send them to a vendor & get overseas parts in return.

 

I'm terrible because I bought a newly rebuilt carburetor from RockAuto.  .... I never sent my $90 core back, I rebuilt it.

Now RA has no carburetors available because nobody sent the cores back .... I may be a contributor to it .... would happen sooner or later anyways.

 

Think of the thread going down the babbit hole ..... we have to make our own parts or find those that can.

 

Is rebuilding a vacuum advance so far out of the home garage range?

If so maybe we need to try new things, like welding the advance at full timing?  ..... 18 year old kids been playing with vacuum advance since the 1940's.

You can try replacing the springs with lighter or heavier too suit your needs ... some light oil to get everything moving helps .... Need a rubber diaphragm? 

You may need to make that..

 

No there is no kit for it .... but has been done for decades .... A learning curve.

 

I'm not trying to be disrespectful, just saying I would never give up my core in the first place.

 

I'm glad AB came through with the return.

 

[FarmerJon]

2 hours ago, Sam Buchanan said:

 

Ok.....so how do you propose to rebuild a vacuum advance unit??  You do exactly as I did, send in your old one and get a rebuilt one back.

 

As far as I know there are no new ones available.

 

Let's think before we post.......    ?

Its as simple as sending your old one to Terrell machine, where he rebuilds your old one. No cores to deal with, and cheaper than AB...

It absolutely could be done at home, although like sniper said, you would have to cut out your own diaphragm and re-rivet the center plate. You would also need to make a fixture to squeeze the crimp back flat in a press.

[Sam Buchanan]

Man....I wish I was half the mechanic you guys are.............................

[Sam Buchanan]

59 minutes ago, FarmerJon said:

Its as simple as sending your old one to Terrell machine, where he rebuilds your old one. No cores to deal with, and cheaper than AB...

It absolutely could be done at home, although like sniper said, you would have to cut out your own diaphragm and re-rivet the center plate. You would also need to make a fixture to squeeze the crimp back flat in a press.

 

How much does Terrell charge for rebuilding one of our vacuum units? I found some comments in forums from a few years ago where members had used Terrell and the cost was more than what I ended up paying.

 

Trying to uncrimp the vacuum can in a way so it could be reused, fabricating a diaphragm that has the same vacuum response as the an original unit, building a stamping die to recrimp the used can with a press, and replating all the parts prior to assembly.......naw......not worth $85 to me.   

 

Los_Control, how do you know the core I returned was an original part? And that the rebuild I received was from off-shore? It might have been rebuilt by Terrell. 

 

This thread has gotten ridiculous.....but entertaining.

Edited May 9, 2023 by Sam Buchanan

[Bryan G]

My thought, when I had to replace my advance: no way I'd ever get that thing apart and back together again! The crimp was the issue. Same thing with rebuilding a heater valve. I could get it apart, but my attempts at getting it to go back together were futile. But, there are folks out there with the right tools and they can handle it. We need to keep them around.

 

As for me, I found a NOS unit on eBay and it seems to work just fine.

[Sam Buchanan]

I saw a NOS vacuum advance on eBay, too. But I was concerned about the condition of the 75 year-old rubber diaphragm and the asking price was over twice what the rebuilt unit cost. The rebuilt I received really looks good, I suspect the can is a new part and everything is nicely replated.

 

 

Edited May 9, 2023 by Sam Buchanan

[Bingster]

I rebuilt the fuel pump for my '47 DeSoto and I was surprised at how straightforward it was. Of course, I haven't put it back on the engine yet. If it leaks, it's maybe not as straightforward as I thought. I had to get over the fear of completely botching a "complicated" part. A carb is more of an example of teeny jets and such. Ouch!

[kencombs]

46 minutes ago, Bingster said:

I rebuilt the fuel pump for my '47 DeSoto and I was surprised at how straightforward it was. Of course, I haven't put it back on the engine yet. If it leaks, it's maybe not as straightforward as I thought. I had to get over the fear of completely botching a "complicated" part. A carb is more of an example of teeny jets and such. Ouch!

Back in the '60s, when I got heavily into mechanic work in my Dad's and later my shop,  all fuel pumps got rebuilt.  Of course, then I could go to my local store, 'The Automotive Inc' and buy the kits, along with cheap carb kits.   Same with starter-mounted solenoids as they almost always just needed the studs and contact washer reversed.  So, 'rebuilt'.   I collected the labor instead of supporting a rebuilder.  Did a few water pumps to, but not as many.

 

 

 

[Bingster]

There is a YouTuber who does "This car is 500 years old. Will it Still Run" and his young son is his "co-anchor."  The dad is a very nice and knowledgeable guy, and as far as I've seen generally gets them all running. It's amazing to me how these old rust bucket engines still start with a little persuading.

 

Anyway, this nice kid - Ralphy is his name - is getting a great education in mechanics, and actually takes part in the work, then his dad lets him drive the car around the property after it's running.

 

And it's obvious that the two of them are very tight. What great memories that kid will have of his dad later on.

[Hickory]

I'm glad to see a reference to my thread the babbitt hole. I take pride in doing what I can. But you can't do it all, all of the time and sometimes you have to way out the fun, education, experience and price to make a proper judgement. Stay dirty and keep it yours?!!!!!!