Importbitz

[Hybrid]

p.s. I have placed it here due to import bitz being a forum sponsor and part of Toymods in that way.

Below is likely to get me flammed etc, but this is not a "bitch" , this is something that I hope is taken seriously and intended as constructive critisism.

I am not angry honestly, I am just very dissapointed.

I am not sure how many people deal with John at Importbitz, but unfortunately I am less that satisfied with his customer service skills

John has great prices, seems like a nice enough guy, but seems to have severe difficulties getting back to you in relation to buying an item, or when that item will be shipped.

I have brought a Torsen diff from John in the past, paid for it, but then had to email him, pm him countless times trying to get a comfirmation that he had received payment, and when it would be sent. In the end I had to contact him via his private phone number to get any action... the diff then came a few days later... It took me about 3-4 weeks after payment to get the item.

However what has really got up me is I am after another part, which I enquired about over a month ago now (12th dec), was promised he could supply it, and have not heard back since. I followed up with an email to ask.... no reply.... I left it a week and gave another email & PM.. still no replies. I then resorted to contacting him again on his private number which he said he couldn't supply 1 part but the other was fine AFAIK. Basically now it has gotten to the stage that all my correspondance is being ignored, and has been put in the don't care basket. I don't think anyone would feel this is adequate.

For others that know me and have dealt with me know that I am easy to deal with, am a fast payer, and am also very patient...... to a point.

If someone is running an internet business, or supplies an email address as a point of contact, then I would expect that it should be serviced correctly.

Now I am well aware that John is a one man show, and that he has moved into a new shopfront... I understand how much work he would have on his plate, but he needs to look at it from a customers point of view.... I am sure he would be pissed off as hell if he sent an email to another company with an enquiry and never got a reply.... anyone would be. Honestly even if he had replied saying he received the msg,and will get back to me shortly then I would have been more than happy with that.

I welcome John to read what I have written, and take it as feedback, and if I have pissed you off John in any way and that is why you are not replyling please tell me. Like I said I understand how busy you are, but there is nothing more frustrating to a customer than to not hear back anything.

If only one thing is taken out of this, then it should be that only a quick reply is needed to a customer to keep them informed.

[MR 1JZ]

I am sorry too hear this rob as I have dealt with john in the past as you already know and he has been a little slow on correspondence sometimes but usually not this slow

I will also vouch for rob as I have dealt with him via the sale and purchasing of items and he is an EXCELLENT buyer and seller to deal with...

hope it gets sorted for you soon rob

[boris]

I have now bought a set of rims, an exhaust and a dash off John. He replied to my emails promptly and organised times straight away to go and get the parts. I know this is different to freighting parts but oh well. Sucks to hear about whats happening dude and I hope you sort it all out.

[wagonist]

These are my personal thoughts on reading this thread.

I haven't dealt with John so can't give you an answer on his service, but I deal with small businesses all the time.

Firstly, we've just gone through Christmas & New Year. I think anyone & everyone (especially those who run a small business by themselves) is entitled to some kind of a break. Small business people often don't get time off at any other time of the year.

Secondly, he has just set up a new shop which I'm sure has been a hassle & has taken time away from the business work. How do you know he hasn't been having issues with the phone or internet?

Thirdly, John is simply a sponsor of this forum, which gives him some privileges in regards to posting, but that's about it. I'm sure that he is on other forums & also has his own website. Considering the amount of people on here, how many enquiries do you think he receives a day? I couldn't even guess.

Fourthly, why is it that people nowadays think that just because they can send an email around the world in a matter of seconds, that there is a person at the other end waiting specifically for them to send that message so they can reply instantaneously?

Are you that desperate for the parts that you can't wait another week or 2? I'm sure that complaining about it via a third party medium is a way to get you to the bottom of a response list. That's what I'd be doing personally. There's enough customers around to ignore any bad ones (not implying that you are, just a general statement), and I know businesses that do exactly that. They have enough custom to be able to pick & choose.

Anyway that's my gripe against the world. Time to get back to work.

[Hybrid]

edit: comment deleted, I give up.

[boris]

Mate, don't give up! John is a nice guy and is working hard. Like Wagonist said he has probably been busier than you can imagine.

[WiLo]

Mid to late January Im off to Japan

thats from the importbiz new premisis thread, think that may explain why you havent heard anything from him
as said over christmas most small business would have closed down(i know a few larger business that did aswell) and the going to japan i doubt he would really have the time to constantly check emails

[The Witzl]

I am going to stand here and say uncategorically that John & Importbitz is the best internet performance car business that I have ever dealt with.

I can also say that the level of service, quality of parts, and prices from Importbitz are awesome - and the only times he has ever delayed responding to enquiries are times like he is having now.
He would be getting around 300+ emails a day with enquiries ranging from "can you get me a panda AE86 jdm like on initial D" to "can you do a 1jz conversion on my MZ20" to "can I buy a part on website that is alread sold" to and actual real valid enquiry.

John will be in touch once he returns from his trip to Japan to source even better parts and products to service yourself and the rest of us even better.


4 thumbs up for ImportBitz.

[thu187]

Fourthly, why is it that people nowadays think that just because they can send an email around the world in a matter of seconds, that there is a person at the other end waiting specifically for them to send that message so they can reply instantaneously?

If someone is running an internet business, or supplies an email address as a point of contact, then I would expect that it should be serviced correctly.

Fair enough I'd say.

[The Witzl]

have you ever worked on the other end of sales enquiry emails?
I've done it for Jaycar in the past, and dear lord is it a fulltime job and a half!!

So, what you are saying is:
If i called your work number and left a message cos you werent at your desk at the time, and didnt receive a response from follow-on messages left.... then found out from your work colleague that you were overseas on a business trip....... would I then complain that you didnt correctly serve my needs to my next door neighbour?


Comon, he is ONE man, running a business that we all BENEFIT from. He is currently overseas looking for ways to help us out even more and hopefully grow his business further. I think that's a perfectly valid excuse.


I'm with Wagonist here.... give John a break.
......the internet has given everyone a voice, and people have chosen to use that voice to bitch and moan about anything and everything that isnt what suits them.

[Hybrid]

have you ever worked on the other end of sales enquiry emails?
I've done it for Jaycar in the past, and dear lord is it a fulltime job and a half!!

So, what you are saying is:
If i called your work number and left a message cos you werent at your desk at the time, and didnt receive a response from follow-on messages left.... then found out from your work colleague that you were overseas on a business trip....... would I then complain that you didnt correctly serve my needs to my next door neighbour?


Comon, he is ONE man, running a business that we all BENEFIT from. He is currently overseas looking for ways to help us out even more and hopefully grow his business further. I think that's a perfectly valid excuse.


I'm with Wagonist here.... give John a break.
......the internet has given everyone a voice, and people have chosen to use that voice to bitch and moan about anything and everything that isnt what suits them.

First off I would like to say one thing, if there is a problem with anything, and no one raises it.. then how is it expected to be solved?. I am hoping that my feedback will be used as a positive and nip in the bud any problems that may be starting to begin that he was maybe not aware of?.

This thread is definitely not mean't to turn into a bitch fest. Like I said in the top post I am not angry but dissapointed. what I was trying to get forward were my concerns, and hopefully for John to use as feedback to better improve his service.

The good feedback that I have seen in the past is why I started buying parts off John in the beginning.

We all know he is a decent person, but how was I mean't to know he was in Japan and that is why I was not getting replies?. If a business was telephone ran and you tried and tried to call this business and the phone rang out, I bet you would be rather concerned.

Below is my possilbe solution to this,

Since he is internet based I think maybe he needs to look into updating his website with maybe a "where am I?" section on the front page. If this was in place then anyone who has not heard back wont be wondering what is going on or if indeed their enquiry was received or not.

[The Witzl]

Dont worry Driftspec, i know you arent bitching or whinging, I was more refering to the mentality that I often see from people dealing with "online" businesses.... just a general rant from me

Your idea is a good one, and is probably something John wanted to do.... but of course with the amount of time he hasnt had lately he probably couldnt implement this before leaving.

Anyway, i think this thread has seen enough daylight
I might have a chat to John for you when he gets back to Brisbane.

[boris]

All good points being raised, but driftspec remember that John/Importbitz has nothing to do with Toymods apart from being a sponsor (just so he can advertise). We pulled a gauge cluster out of a jza70 cut John has just the other day. I could have sussed it all out for you!

[Hybrid]

Dont worry Driftspec, i know you arent bitching or whinging, I was more refering to the mentality that I often see from people dealing with "online" businesses.... just a general rant from me

Your idea is a good one, and is probably something John wanted to do.... but of course with the amount of time he hasnt had lately he probably couldnt implement this before leaving.

Anyway, i think this thread has seen enough daylight
I might have a chat to John for you when he gets back to Brisbane.

Thanks Witzl.

I agree I think you are right. If we could lock it (or if I can) that would be great.

[boris]

Driftspec I'll send you a PM!