I've had a customer order an engine from me for their vehicle and they have received it and the buyer has started a return, reason being is it doesn't fit.
My first step of course was to apologize for it not fitting and then proceed to ask for the year make and model of the vehicle that they made the purchase for, as well as the VIN for the vehicle.
She has provided that to me, and much as I suspected, I decoded the vin, and she ordered the wrong engine. The following is what is listed as vehicles that our engine would fit, it is in our vehicle compatibility chart that we provide for every single automotive part that we sell:
This part will fit these makes and models with these options
BONNEVILLE 88 6-231 (3.8L), VIN C (8th digit)
NINETY EIGHT 89-90 (6-231, 3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)
REATTA 88-90 (6-231, 3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)
BONNEVILLE 89 6-231 (3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)
NINETY EIGHT 88 (6-231, 3.8L), VIN C (8th digit)
TORONADO 88-90 (6-231, 3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)
EIGHTY EIGHT 89-90 (6-231, 3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)
ELECTRA 88 6-231 (3.8L), VIN C (8th digit)
EIGHTY EIGHT 88 (6-231, 3.8L), VIN C (8th digit)
RIVIERA 88-90 (6-231, 3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)
LESABRE 88 6-231 (3.8L), VIN C (8th digit)
PARK AVENUE 88-90 (6-231, 3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)<<<<<<<<
BONNEVILLE 90 (6-231, 3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)
ELECTRA 89-90 6-231 (3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)
LESABRE 89-90 6-231 (3.8L, VIN C, 8th digit)
I decode her vin and her vehicle comes back as 1987 Buick Park Avenue, which as you can see with the info we provided, it does not fit.
I haven't broken this news to her yet. The last time I had an issue like this, a guy ordered a transmission, for a 1988 Chevy van that was 2 wheel drive, our listing clearly showed in its list of vehicles that it fit, that it was for a 2004 Chevy truck and it was for a 4 wheel drive.
He initially made contact with us by phone, and after talking with him, he discovered he had made a mistake, we offered to use our purchasing power to get him the best rate possible for return shipment, and deduct that from his refund.
This was also noted in messages back and forth after words. I came in on a Monday to see that he filed an INAD and he even stated in the reason for it being INAD was he ordered the wrong part. I won't drag this whole story out, but it was the most lopsided ruling ebay has ever made, they sent me a message saying that they agreed it was the customers fault, and were going to inform him he had to pay return shipping.
In the end, he no longer responded to messages or phone calls, ebay reversed their decision, for whatever reason, he got to keep the transmission, and the money.
In this case, its not an INAD, but as stated in the title, YET. Are there insider tips on how to keep her from changing it to that, after I let her know that she didn't read our application chart?
Sorry for the length of the post. And thanks in advance.
