I ordered a pass side 1/4 skin for my '65 Malibu conv, along with pass and driver side 1/4 skins, trunk, and driver side floor pan for my '63 Nova. With shipping, it was a $754 order. These parts were ordered from a vendor that comes highly recommended on this site. This was my first dealing with them. The container was packed so that the 2 Nova skins were on one side, the Chevelle skin was in the middle, with the trunk and floor on the outside. The Chevelle panel has a large 8", but shallow dent right on the body line. The supplier offered to credit back to my account $100, stating that the delivery was signed for and that's the best I should hope for. This panel was obviously damaged before being shipped; I can't reasonably see how an employee loading the container could miss it. My friend, who will be doing the work, says he could probably straighten it, but it would take a lot of time. I don't want to have a body line straightened on my new panel. Should I reasonably expect a new panel, or was their offer fair? I offered to cut the panel in half to reduce return shipping costs. Your opinions are welcome. TIA

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Wes
1965 Chevelle Conv
1964 Impala 9 Passenger Wagon
1963 Nova SS Conv
1962 Nova Conv, FOR SALE

did you order it on a credit card? If so dispute the entire charge.. However you should inspect the items before you sign.. Your CC company WILL NOT pay the vendor and the vendor will have 90 days to rectify the situation. However please make sure you exhaust every attepmt to collect from vendor. That is why I only buy large items at a swap meet or use Year One for large purchases like that... Swapmeets you see it first before you buy, Year One packages the part as they should! They by far have the best packaging department in my book! good luck! Sounds like you are going to need it!

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X-Ray View of my Chevelle :D (http://www.normieschevelle.com/sideview.jpg)
Getting Closer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/passfull.jpg)
my baby in primer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/prime/primerdrv.jpg)

Normie, I paid by debit card, so I doubt I could dispute the charges. It's my own fault, because I know credit cards offer protection that debit cards don't... I just hate using credit. The parts were shipped to the warehouse of my company. They signed, I got the parts the next day when I got back in town. They were boxed OK, but could have been protected better. That said, I really think the panel was damaged prior to shipping, and that's why I'm so upset by it. Some joker saw it was dented and packed it anyways. I don't see how it could have been missed.

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Wes
1965 Chevelle Conv
1964 Impala 9 Passenger Wagon
1963 Nova SS Conv
1962 Nova Conv, FOR SALE

Wes I understand your frustration. BTDT.
After a number of calls up the food chain and by insisting calmly that a BENT body line in a 1/4 skin was uncceptable. I got a refund. but had to eat the freight !!!!
filed a clam to no avail (Roadway Express)
I now do a normie suggested and get them at shows or take a road trip to my local Chevelle parts house.

GL


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Wayne
ACES# 1556
TCG # 186

Wes you are in luck! If you used your Debt card it should offer similar if not better protection! Call the number on the back of your card and try.. Call the company back and explain the situation to them and that you would like to solve the matter with them. Explain all you have here in a calm polite tone. Tell them about the box not being damaged and the shipping dept (at your work) assumed that the items were OK! this is why you believe the panel was dented.. If they tell you to pound sand call the number on the card and explain the situation and how they will not help.. They will reverse the charge (or should) or go after the company for you! Good Luck man! I have been there as well (with my motor!) I hate roadway express!

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X-Ray View of my Chevelle :D (http://www.normieschevelle.com/sideview.jpg)
Getting Closer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/passfull.jpg)
my baby in primer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/prime/primerdrv.jpg)

Wes,
When it comes to truck freight, if you sign for it before looking everything over, you won't have a leg to stand on when it comes to either the trucking company or the supplier.

Basically, you don't own anything untill you or someone signs for it, and if the damaged panels were noticed, new ones would have been on their way before that truck even left.

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Jason Babal
69 Chevelle SS
3100lbs. W/O driver

The launch (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/igotta71launch10.jpg)

Pro Auto Specialties (http://www.proautoclassics.com)

Thanks for the feedback guys. Jason, I suspect you're right regarding my claim. Given the outside of the box wasn't damaged, and the the fact the panel was in the middle of the box, it couldn't have been damaged by the courier. My first thoughts were that a lazy, or possibly disgruntled employee stuck the panel in the box knowing it was dented. However, I can't help but wonder, after experiencing their customer no service, if the company sent it to CA knowing it wouldn't be returned due to cost. It looks like that if I want another panel, I'll have to eat another $100 in shipping. So, I'm going to chalk it up as a lesson learned, and I will not deal with this vendor again. If anyone wants the name of this vendor, please email me and I'll be happy to give it to you. BTW, I was under the impression these panels were stamped in the USA, but they weren't, and these panels DID NOT come from Sherman.

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Wes
1965 Chevelle Conv
1964 Impala 9 Passenger Wagon
1963 Nova SS Conv
1962 Nova Conv, FOR SALE

Hey Wes,
I should have said this last night, but I'm sorry for your loss. We sometimes recieve "pre-damaged" sheetmetal that's burried in the middle of mint stuff. I think that even if it may be fruitless, you should bring it to their attention that the box was fine but the parts were tweaked.

There are very repo few panels that are stamped in the US. About the only ones worth talking about are the floors and trunks stamped by American Designers. You can tell their floors because they do not have the EDP on them.

I know that my supplier has their own R&D dept. in Georgia and they tool and test fit every panel they make. THey then send the dies across the pond to stamp them. It's sorta shady, but the finished product is a solid piece priced in the area we want to pay.

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Jason Babal
69 Chevelle SS
3100lbs. W/O driver

The launch (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/igotta71launch10.jpg)

Pro Auto Specialties (http://www.proautoclassics.com)

Wes, please at least try your card company.. You might be suprised at the results, especially if the box was not damaged! Explain your situation to them and they will tell you if you have a leg to stand on! Now you have my curiousity peaked, please e-mail me the name of the company. I have a good idea.. just want to make sure http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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X-Ray View of my Chevelle :D (http://www.normieschevelle.com/sideview.jpg)
Getting Closer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/passfull.jpg)
my baby in primer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/prime/primerdrv.jpg)

Wes as Jason pointed out MOST all panels are stamped out side the USA. To the best of my knowledge, thee are only two 64/65 1/4 skins stampers. Sherman,I think? (bare steal) and Goodmark ( black EDP coated) I have instaled the two above and prefer Goodmark.

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Wayne
ACES# 1556
TCG # 186

Sorry for the slow reply. I've been out of town, and today is my first day back on a computer. As a result of a couple private emails I answered, I'd like to say that my complaint is NOT with Ground-Up. Normie, you have mail. Jason, I explained to them, and everyone I was transferred to the condition of the panel and how it was packed. No one seemed to care beyond the fact that I was annoying them, because my $754 order included a previously damaged panel, that they packed and shipped. How inconsiderate of me to waste their time. Wayne, I will say the new Nova skins were nicer than the Sherman skins I previously put on my car. However, the Chevelle skin (aside from the dent) didn't look too good in the area where the rear wheel well meets the lower rear 1/4. It may just be a bad stamping; I've never seen another to compare it to. My plans are to proceed with this 1/4 skin, unless I find something nicer in the mean time. I hope to get started on the body in August, and I'll post the results and my question as I progress. Thanks again for the help.

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Wes
1965 Chevelle Conv
1964 Impala 9 Passenger Wagon
1963 Nova SS Conv
1962 Nova Conv, FOR SALE