Cancel the order.
I replaced my burned out compressor pump with a POS from Harbor Freight. What a mistake. Overheats, smokes, throws oil everywhere, serious fire hazard. You have to limit your air use and allow cooling time for the compressor. I can't be having that. Once it gets hot - the air pressure stops rising. If you weren't there to shut it off - it would continue to operate continuously until it bursts into flames. The POS might work as a boat anchor except all the leaking oil would pollute the water.
I was happy with my American-made Campbell Hausfeld even though I did buy it at Harbor Freight 10 years ago (Home Depot sells them too). Cast iron, extreme duty, OK to run it continuously if you need that much air. It will maintain 100 lbs with continuous air tool use, one user. It had lasted over 10 years in spite of my abuse.
I found my exact replacement pump at Improvementdirect.com for 201.57 shipping included. "Leaves the warehouse in 6-8 business days." Plus the time for ground shipping. It will be about 2 weeks. Not happy with the speed, but maybe I can limp along on the Harbor Freight POS until it gets here. Ordered it Monday AM, paid with paypal. Called up, asked the agent to do what they can to expedite it - he called the factory they drop-ship from, and told them - the best he could do. No promises of any good effect of my call.
Right after I completed the order - I noticed another listing on my Google search - from Amazon. Amazon will ship from their closest warehouse immediately - it's in stock - and add overnight shipping to the speed for only $3.99, and with the compressor cost at $199. That warehouse is in TX or KS.
I called improvementdirect.com back Tuesday afternoon as they had not sent me shipping advice yet. Oh no, they can't check because the factory is closed now, can't call until tomorrow. Looked on the reviews at improvementdirect.com - one poster said he was happy except they took an EXTRA WEEK before it left the factory. Hmmm. 6-8 days BEFORE IT LEAVES plus AN EXTRA WEEK plus ground shipping time? Sounds like THREE WEEKS. I'm not sure this POS H-F compressor will even last that long - never mind it slowing up my work the whole time while it sprays an oil mess everywhere. I called up Amazon - they confirmed they will get it here in 1 day for $3.99, it is in stock. I called improvementdirect and canceled the order, since they don't seem to care that I am in dire need of my compressor. Called Amazon and ordered the pump.
I received my email at 3:51pm Tues advising I had canceled the order from improvementdirect.com.
Wed morning at 7:15am I received my email advice the improvementdirect order is shipped. Cool. So they don't get a fire lit under their butt until they've lost the sale - so if they ship it anyway, maybe that will save it.
No it won't - but now they've sent me all kinds of exact yet contradictory rules I have to follow to return the pump they never should have shipped or I won't get my refund:
- All items returned must be in 100% resalable condition and placed in factory packaging. Therefore, please enclose your returned items in a box for shipping and make sure that the items are packed according to carrier standards. Please do not write or mark on factory packaging. Doing so will invalidate your return and no credit can be given.
- Please make sure the RGA number is clearly labeled on the top of the shipping package. Multiple returns for the SAME warehouse location may be returned together, but all RGA numbers must be on the top of the shipping package.
- Factory package must be protected. Factory box CANNOT be shipped back itself. Outer protective box must be used.
- Product returned that has any writing AND/OR in an unprotected manner, will be returned back with no credit.
- Please ensure manufacturer packed protective materials are used in repacking product and components.
- Installed product cannot be returned for credit as it cannot be resold.
- All product must be returned within 30 days of this RGA issuance. We appreciate your business and thank you for choosing ImprovementDirect.com.
Affix the information below to your package to insure proper credit.
The pump arrived from Amazon yesterday, as promised, and I have installed it. Haven't seen the improvementdirect pump, an email with tracking advice, or the call tag they have supposedly sent. They will not issue the refund until they are told by Fedex that the pkg they should have never sent, is on the way back. So I have to trust them while they don't have to trust me. I have no hope of seeing my money for at least a week - I suspect it will be longer.
If you want something FAST - especially from improvementdirect.com - call up and cancel the order. Do it so they can claim missed communications internally.
As for me - improvementdirect is on my crap list of companies that I can find far better customer service.
