WARNING: ABOUT BABBIT’S ON LINE!! (Modified title for those easily offended)

[nogrey]

Hey friends: just thought I’d post this as I’m pretty disappointed with Babbits online. It’s a parts house for motorcycle parts etc. Anyway, I ordered a part on Saturday, then a few moments later, I realized I needed the next higher assembly. I requested a cancellation. I tried to call the first thing monday morning but was place in eternal hold. Still, I had several emails to their order dept from Saturday requesting the cancellation so I figured I would be OK. I finally got an email from them this evening (over 24hrs later) stating that they could not honor my request because 1) they needed notification within an hour of order and 2) could not cancel an order if the request was after the first hour of opening on Monday morning. My request met both of their requirements but still they are shipping the parts without cancelling the order. They told me that I could return the parts (but failed to mention the 20% restocking fee plus the shipping being on me, which eats up the entire cost of the order). So, I’m just letting you know. Babbits is not an honorable dealer of parts. They are liars and will not honor their own policies. Hope to save you from my mistake. So tired of getting taken from these supposedly “reputable” online dealers.

[Gideon]

Call the On Line contact at 231-737-4542 and let them know what you think of them. 

[Valker]

I've seen your displeasure posted in several different venues. Please don't tell me where or where not to do business, but please continue to share your opinions and experiences. Let me decide my purchases.

[nogrey]

I've seen your displeasure posted in several different venues. Please don't tell me where or where not to do business, but please continue to share your opinions and experiences. Let me decide my purchases.

Yes, because many of my fellow valk riders (whom I care about) are in so many different social media forums, I have tried to cover as many as possible due to my bad experience. My hope was to save others from the same bad experience.
But for you, please, by all means, purchase from Babbits online...frequently.
Oh, and please don’t tell ME what to post and what not to post. Unless I am mistaken, I have the same freedom of speech rights that you do.

[nogrey]

Call the On Line contact at 231-737-4542 and let them know what you think of them. 

I tried, several times. I’m retired, I’ve got the time. Was on hold so long I gave up. Oh, and that horribly cheesy recording they have telling you “Hey, you’re next up so hang on!” Gets really old after the hundredth time. Thus my post. It would seem that customer service is not their “thing”.

[JimBob]

There's the brick-and-mortar store's complaint that people come in, shop, put their hands on an item, then go buy it online.

I do Just the OPPOSITE.
I use Babbitt's online parts books to identify the parts I need, get part numbers, check that the parts are still available (I tinker with older bikes)...... then I go BUY the parts at Suzuki City in Biloxi, MS for Suzuki parts, or South Mississippi Powersports in Gulfport, MS for Honda or Yamaha parts.
Suzuki City is run by Mike Nasakias, and South Mississippi Powersports is run by his son Michael.
They are some of the Good Guys in the world.... friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely HONEST!

If you are in the Gulfport-Biloxi area, I HIGHLY recommend them!

Jim

[Hook#3287]

Nogrey, thanks for your post. 

Apparently, Babbitts is having some issues.

This is listed on their web-site.

"Due to the recent extreme weather we have experienced, we are not accepting any new orders
until Tuesday, February 12, 2019."

[The emperor has no clothes]

There's the brick-and-mortar store's complaint that people come in, shop, put their hands on an item, then go buy it online.

I do Just the OPPOSITE.
I use Babbitt's online parts books to identify the parts I need, get part numbers, check that the parts are still available (I tinker with older bikes)...... then I go BUY the parts at Suzuki City in Biloxi, MS for Suzuki parts, or South Mississippi Powersports in Gulfport, MS for Honda or Yamaha parts.
Suzuki City is run by Mike Nasakias, and South Mississippi Powersports is run by his son Michael.
They are some of the Good Guys in the world.... friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely HONEST!

If you are in the Gulfport-Biloxi area, I HIGHLY recommend them!

Jim

Excellent ! There are many stories of crappy dealers, I've got a few of my own. It's nice to hear of good ones. And they need and deserve our business.

[nogrey]

There's the brick-and-mortar store's complaint that people come in, shop, put their hands on an item, then go buy it online.

I do Just the OPPOSITE.
I use Babbitt's online parts books to identify the parts I need, get part numbers, check that the parts are still available (I tinker with older bikes)...... then I go BUY the parts at Suzuki City in Biloxi, MS for Suzuki parts, or South Mississippi Powersports in Gulfport, MS for Honda or Yamaha parts.
Suzuki City is run by Mike Nasakias, and South Mississippi Powersports is run by his son Michael.
They are some of the Good Guys in the world.... friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely HONEST!

If you are in the Gulfport-Biloxi area, I HIGHLY recommend them!

Jim

When I was in Sarasota FL, years ago and seriously needed help because I was 3500 miles from home and stranded with problems on my Valk, Hap’s cycle sales dropped everything to get me in and on the road. They didn’t gouge me either. They have a facebook page. They are the kind of shop I wish I had here in Nampa. Awesome folks and I can’t say enough good about them. It was apparent as they were slammed. They had 5 Valkyiries in their shop at the time and knew everything about them. Great folks.

[Toovalks]

I'm sorry for your bad experience. I personally have had many great dealings with Babbits. I will have to admit that I haven't needed to deal with customer service, because I have received all orders in a timely manner. I especially appreciate their parts fiche layout on their web site. Instead of having to guess which heading to look under , you can scroll through all of the fiches for the vehicle in question and see where to look. Wouldn't it be a shame to write anyone off because of one bad experience. Let's not cast the first stone.
 You ,of course have a right to express your opinions...maybe not the vengeance.
 The market place will self correct if they continue to treat everyone poorly.

[h13man]

I just recently ordered the wrong part online from a Honda dealer. It was my fault not theirs. It cost me 20% restocking fee which is normal and $4.53 in shipping to return $33 worth of parts. MY FAULT regardless. I've deal online most of the time over the years with bike parts suppliers and I can say all has been good as I deal with EBay and Amazon a lot especially now my OEM supplier has left the web for whatever reason.

As for your situation with Babbit's, once you push the button to purchase something online, chances are you made the purchase regardless what you think is reasonable etc.

[..]

I'm sorry for your bad experience. I personally have had many great dealings with Babbits. I will have to admit that I haven't needed to deal with customer service, because I have received all orders in a timely manner. I especially appreciate their parts fiche layout on their web site. Instead of having to guess which heading to look under , you can scroll through all of the fiches for the vehicle in question and see where to look. Wouldn't it be a shame to write anyone off because of one bad experience. Let's not cast the first stone.
 You ,of course have a right to express your opinions...maybe not the vengeance.
 The market place will self correct if they continue to treat everyone poorly.

Here's another good one.
https://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/c/honda_motorcycle/parts

[Moonshot_1]

This kind of reminds me of the company I  work for. It is a grocery chain in the midwest called Hy-vee. Generally the company has a good rep. Certainly can nitpick if I wanted.

Anyway, I am in the Distribution Center.
We have switched to a Warehouse management system called Manhattan.

Been using it for a couple years now. If everything is done with absolute perfection it is a spectacular system. Throw it a curve and it is failure on a grand and a lot of times catastrophic scale.

Like someone changing an order. Once started can't stop it. Oh, you can but there is hell to pay.

I'm sure the internet guys are in a similar boat. Trying to get the product out asap your order is in progress moments after you place it. Stopping it would like take a near act of Congress. Changing your order or even canceling it is throwing the system a curve it cannot hit. It just can't

[MarkT]

This kind of reminds me of the company I  work for. It is a grocery chain in the midwest called Hy-vee. Generally the company has a good rep. Certainly can nitpick if I wanted.

Anyway, I am in the Distribution Center.
We have switched to a Warehouse management system called Manhattan.

Been using it for a couple years now. If everything is done with absolute perfection it is a spectacular system. Throw it a curve and it is failure on a grand and a lot of times catastrophic scale.

Like someone changing an order. Once started can't stop it. Oh, you can but there is hell to pay.

I'm sure the internet guys are in a similar boat. Trying to get the product out asap your order is in progress moments after you place it. Stopping it would like take a near act of Congress. Changing your order or even canceling it is throwing the system a curve it cannot hit. It just can't

Advantages vs. disadvantages of company size and sales volume.  Small outfits like mine don't have the economies of scale so product cost is likely to be a little more - if a comparable product is even available elsewhere - not so with most of my products, they are unique.  However I can be flexible and work "out of the box" to handle custom orders and most order changes without much issue or (perceived) atrocious fees.  Especially if the change is requested before custom work has begun.

[hubcapsc]

I tried numerous vendors after HDL dropped the Valkyrie specific page they
had. I settled on partzilla... never an issue...

-Mike "nobody's perfect, of course"

[RonW]

I placed an order for the kickstand spring bolt on the 25th last month, and a few miscellaneous parts. Today (2/11) they sent an email stating "order shipped," like it's was at my door a week ago. They wasn't able to ship it last week Friday? Instead of the following Mon.  I realize that none of the oem parts websites stock every part, but is there no way to place my order from the same supplier that the oem vendors order my parts from, instead of the parts get shipped to them and then after the parts arrive, they ship it to me.

[Foozle]

I will say that my one (and only) experience with Babbitt's online was similar to your own:  They charged exorbitant shipping and took forever to deliver (and I'm a only state away).  All-around poor service, IMHO.  Fortunately, there are much better alternatives.  Someone mentioned Partzilla, which I also recommend provided you don't need the part yesterday.  If you don't mind 1-2 days of "processing", their prices are hard to beat.  As always, YMMV.  Terry

Hey friends: just thought I’d post this as I’m pretty disappointed with Babbits online. It’s a parts house for motorcycle parts etc. Anyway, I ordered a part on Saturday, then a few moments later, I realized I needed the next higher assembly. I requested a cancellation. I tried to call the first thing monday morning but was place in eternal hold. Still, I had several emails to their order dept from Saturday requesting the cancellation so I figured I would be OK. I finally got an email from them this evening (over 24hrs later) stating that they could not honor my request because 1) they needed notification within an hour of order and 2) could not cancel an order if the request was after the first hour of opening on Monday morning. My request met both of their requirements but still they are shipping the parts without cancelling the order. They told me that I could return the parts (but failed to mention the 20% restocking fee plus the shipping being on me, which eats up the entire cost of the order). So, I’m just letting you know. Babbits is not an honorable dealer of parts. They are liars and will not honor their own policies. Hope to save you from my mistake. So tired of getting taken from these supposedly “reputable” online dealers.

[nogrey]

I will say that my one (and only) experience with Babbitt's online was similar to your own:  They charged exorbitant shipping and took forever to deliver (and I'm a only state away).  All-around poor service, IMHO.  Fortunately, there are much better alternatives.  Someone mentioned Partzilla, which I also recommend provided you don't need the part yesterday.  If you don't mind 1-2 days of "processing", their prices are hard to beat.  As always, YMMV.  Terry

I use Partzilla quite often. They are my preferred vendor. However, Babbits could (supposedly) ship quicker. Oh yeah, received the part 2 weeks later. Still working with them, although they seemed to have dropped me as I have not heard back from them for a week. Never using them again.