Do you pay for parts catalogues?

Post by **wanderinstar** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:30 pm

On Wednesday I called in to a major Minor part supplier, while on my way down to South Wales. I bought a S/S LCB manifold and an uprated heater core, plus a few other bits and a catalogue. Total cost was around £200. (A lot of money) After I had left and was back on my way I happened to glance at the invoice. It included £3.00 for the catalogue. The following day i was doing the same run again and as I was thinking about spending another £80 for the rest of the system I rang them up. I asked if I could return the catalogue for a refund, which would then go to the cost of the other parts. The reply I got was "Oh really, there will be a restocking charge if you do." In a very condesending manner.
Needless to say I didn't take the catalogue back and certainly didn't get the parts I was going to get. I have about 5-6 catalogues from various other suppliers and have paid for none of them.
I really would have thought that when spending £200 plus possibly another £80, they would have thrown a catalogue in. As it turns out there are parts in catalogue that they no longer stock and the seperate price list is also out of date. I was told that when given it

Has anyone else had this happen to them?

Post by **MGFmad** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:17 pm

I tend to use the same parts supplier - I know they have a printed catalogue you can buy but have never bothered - just searched their on-line version and ordered that way.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:56 pm

Pay for catalogue - NOT LIKELY ! MOSS will send you one free - and most are online anyway. I would take my business elsewhere Ian !

Post by **eveline** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:00 pm

i feel your pain ,when i bought my car , i ordered my restoration manual,, that was 4 mts ago, i had to pay for the book before they would even order it 30 euro ,,every time i ring them they dont ring me back ,if he ans he makes up storys ,

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:14 am

Don't worry Roy, I wont be going there again. Even though it is very handy to motorway. I have always used ESM in the past and there service is excellent.
eveline, are we talking about the same supplier? PM me with who it is and what is the restoration manual?

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 9:08 am

eveline wrote:i feel your pain ,when i bought my car , i ordered my restoration manual,, that was 4 mts ago, i had to pay for the book before they would even order it 30 euro ,,every time i ring them they dont ring me back ,if he ans he makes up storys ,

Can you cancel the order and get a refund?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:53 am

After I had left and was back on my way I happened to glance at the invoice. It included £3.00 for the catalogue.

If you never asked for the catalogue, or if you asked but were never told it cost money then you are 100% within your rights to ask for a refund.
Consumer law is on your side - restocking cost is BS.

I've had similar problems (different supplier) but the parts dealer didn't want to follow UK law. The money involved was small, especially compared to the many £hundreds I spent on parts, so I just took my business elsewhere.

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:29 am

Thank you for that Ray. Must admit when I saw you had posted, I thought "Eh up, thread closed now".

Don't worry it will be the last time I use that supplier. Pity we can't name them, especially the one Eveline is having trouble with.

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:39 am

Ian,
Was the catalogue part of the over all invoice and was 15% VAT charged on it, if so complain as they should be exempt. Did you actually order the catalogue?
I'd have thought that if you let the company know that you are discussing this issue on a National website (obviously no names etc) then they might be tempted to change their mind.
Usually companies who do charge for a catalogue (quite legitimate) will refund the cost with your first order for a given spend. I assume that this trader gave you discount on the parts ?

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:25 pm

jonathon wrote: Was the catalogue part of the over all invoice and was 15% VAT charged on it, if so complain as they should be exempt. Did you actually order the catalogue?

Usually companies who do charge for a catalogue (quite legitimate) will refund the cost with your first order for a given spend. I assume that this trader gave you discount on the parts ?

Yes Jonathon I did ask for one. No they didn't charge VAT on it. No, I didn't get any discount.

i am just a bit annoyed to actually be charged for it given the amount I spent
£201.89 inc. catalogue and VAT. I used to call in there when passing, as it was quite easy to park my wagon. But from now it will no longer be stopping there. It is not that hard to get to Napton, if in the general area.

Post by **eveline** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:19 pm

i ordered it off halfords in ireland ,i rang consumer rites and they said im intitled to a full refund so im goin up monday ,ive seen the same books on e bay ,so im going to order one ,thanks all

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:08 pm

What sort of 'restoration' book are you looking for ? Best bet is to order it in the Library - and just keep it on loan 'for ever'. If you don't have a Manual - PM me for the free download link.

Post by **eveline** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:25 pm

haynes morris 1000 ,there great books have so much info in them ,and realy well illistrated ,im never goin to part with the car ,so i need a good book to study everything ,,,,,

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:34 pm

Haynes - hmmmmmmmmmm. Well - just search ebay or Amazon if you really want one. Handy to have the Manual - it's not without it's faults - but it's not bad!

Post by **minor_hickup** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:23 pm

I've been stuck with this one, and handling fees for returning parts. Its usually a way of off putting people from returning stuff. As far as I'm concerned if you didn't want it or they sent the wrong part there is no way they can charge a handling fee. If you bought a load of parts you 'might need' is another matter, but most reasonable suppliers don't do this. As for charging for catalouges, that just seems non sensical to me!

Post by **jonathon** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:56 pm

The point here is read the terms and conditions on the websites before you buy. One main dealer admit in there Tand C's that the do not insure the goods in carriage and that you are responsible for taking out insurance to cover loss or damage. I'll let you do your own homework to see who does this.
There is a bit of a dilema regarding parts sent out to customers.
For one the profit made on most parts is very low, cos you all want cheap parts, two someone has to process your order ,pick the goods ordered, and package them, send them out by either carrier , post office etc. Third no one wants to pay carriage, let alone the cost of the packaging,(not normally charged). Most traders offer exceptional rates for carriage. And number four staff need to be paid from the profits made from the parts. So bearing in mind that if an item is sent and is not faulty, but the purchaser decides that they just no longer want it, then its only fair that they incur some of the uncharged costs of picking/packaging and re stocking the returned item, by way of a handling charge.
Clearly if the goods are faulty or damaged its fair that the customer be fully reimbursed when the item is returned. If the parts are damaged by the customer or not returned in the original condition then a decision needs to be taken as to whether the items returned will be accepted.

Post by **wanderinstar** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:04 pm

But most parts firms give catalogues away free. Those that do charge, usually reimburse you if you spend a certain ammount with them, say £50.
I had spent £200 and would have spent another £80 the following day, had they reimbursed me for the catalogue.
In fact Jonathon I think I picked up one of yours at a National, mind you it was a few years ago. Didn't pay for that.

Post by **jonathon** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:39 pm

I agree Ian, its unusual to pay for catalogues and most are reimbursable. Some companies do produce some special catalogues I have a superb limited edition one from Saab and gladly paid for it, however this is the exception.

Post by **mike.perry** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:39 pm

I have never quite understood why VAT is added after p&p so that the customer is charged VAT on the cost of the postage stamp which he could buy from the P.O. ex VAT. Is it another form of government double taxation?

Post by **jonathon** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:54 pm

Well , its because if a trader includes postage in an invoice it is deemed a service, so is legally bound to charge VAT. Its the same with an MOT which is VAT exempt if you pay for it yourself, if you ask a dealer/garage to do this ,then again its a service and as such attracts VAT.