Misadvertised product- Craddocks

[Genocache]

Hi,    So my rear spring on drivers side, LHD, has sagged 2". I went on Craddocks site and ordered a set of rears,  "HD British Made" springs.  Shipping was almost the cost of the set. When they got here they had C of O India on them. I filed a return and shipped them back again costly. I don't want an India made product when I buy "British Made" and one spring was 1cm longer than the other.

Craddocks has a 14 day return policy, I got them Sept 19 and shipped them the 21st.Fedex. On 8 Oct I got one back. The other is still in transit. I've filed a claim with Fedex today.

Main reason for this thread is the misadvertising done by Craddocks. I thought because Jones and Craddocks have the same price for the same springs that Craddocks was selling Jones springs. Not so and I want my fellow Rover owners to not fall for into the the trap.

Now I think it may take weeks to get sorted and I still have a leaning daily driver.

Part numbers in question are; 272967 G  and 272968 G.

[Alan Drover]

If the part numbers have a suffix G then they are genuine Land Rover parts (or should be). That's what the G stands for.
When I ordered a new set of parabolics from Dingocroft last year I was offered Indian or British springs and I chose the latter which were actually cheaper.
Most of the parts I've been ordering recently are genuine parts mainly from Blanchard's but the one part I bought from Craddock's was genuine but these were "once in a lifetime" parts and when they've gone there are no more.

[JReid]

Can't fault Dingocroft for there parts or service. Use them when I want the knowledge (Tim is the Series go to owner).

[Rusty66]

Albeit, correct me if I'm mistaken, but my impression is lately that the G also denotes items that are now sold under e.g. the (new) Lucas brand, which is just a label licensed by ZF Automotive to Elta Lighting which themselves import automotive electrical parts, and that even Britpart these days are OE.

So what I probably want to say in plain English (as far as I am competent of that as a foreigner  ) is that G-qualitiy doesn't necessarily equal NOS-quality.

[diffwhine]

Correct. G suffix appears to be a arbitrary - treat with some caution but they should be better than base spec. They imply similar to Genuine, but often it means that the part comparable standard to original equipment spec.

[Alan Drover]

In that case I suspect it's applicable to fast moving parts. However I don't imagine anyone would manufacture a Series 3 dash top or a thermostat housing for a 2.5 engine any more as they're obviously slow moving parts and not worth the cost of the tooling so I reckon mine are genuine new old stock parts.

[Deverill]

PA Blanchard and or dingocroft tend to be my first port of call to get the real thing. Just got a sharks tooth window bar for a canvass from Blanchards NOS which is perfect and less cost than elsewhere (shipping was pricey though as it was over a meter per,). Don't you love getting an new part but with old land rover/freight rover stickers/ labels on it.

[diffwhine]

It does actually raise an interesting point. Parts stock management is a far more accurate science than it was even 10 or 15 years ago. Many dealer groups now have far lower stock levels, relying on just in time delivery from the OEM wholesaler. If in the future there is any appetite for restoration of newer vehicles (which seems increasingly less likely), then NOS spares availability will far more limited than the opportunities that we have benefitted from. I suspect another nail in the coffin for the classic car market for anything post the millennium.

I think we should count ourselves lucky that poor parts stock management over the past 80 years has been the bedrock for keeping these vehicles on the road!

[Alan Drover]

This arrived today, a genuine 346750G Series 3 dash top. I've since given it a coat of Autoglym Vinyl polish and sprayed the metal parts with black satin paint. It's in excellent condition apart from the top left hand edge where there's a very small piece of vinyl missing. I've stuck the edge of the remainder down with superglue.
I've located the bolts that hold it in place and they're accessible once the vents are removed. Now to fit it sometime. In the meantime it's living indoors.
I've dealt with Dingocroft, Emberton, Blanchard's and once with Craddock's who had what Blanchard's didn't. No problems and Emberton supplied a proper tank sender unit instead of that dreadful Britpart thing.h

[Genocache]

You know I'm really surprised at how you guys just gloss over the fact that it was mis-advertised and we are being cheated out of making expensive choices on critical pieces of equipment that could be life saving.

At this point I am frelling angry at the whole situation and I don't care about how or where you got some other bit of a Rover.

I'm glad you got what you wanted, it was probably correctly advertised.

As it sits right now I am out around $1,200 and have 1 spring which I don't want and Craddocks doesn't either because it's been "damaged" as the original cardboard packaging at one end got wet.

Diffwhine, As a part on this saga I looked on GoogleEarth for Craddocks North Street building, it has a for sale sign on it and looks empty. They have another address on Progress Dr and that looks capable of doing more of an on demand warehousing.

Doesn't the UK have any truth in advertising laws?

[Exile]

I can't answer your last question, but as someone who started buying from Craddocks in 1973, if there are laws they must be difficult to enforce - as I have had similar situations to yours over the decades.


My answer has been simple:

Always buy from elsewhere, if at all possible.

[Alan Drover]

Apologies if it came out like that, Genocache, it wasn't intentional. We were just comparing our experiences of the "genuine" parts situation. I'm not surprised you've had problems with Craddock's as it's not unknown but here in the UK it's easier to resolve. I don't know how your consumer laws cover suppliers from outside the USA in recovering your losses.
The only solution is not to buy from them again but use Blanchard's or Dingocroft. I rarely deal with Craddock's unless absolutely necessary which it was recently and I was lucky but that doesn't raise my confidence in them.

[Theshed]

I would have thought the Springs could be returned as 'not as described' ?
Description was 'British Made' which evidently they weren't. As for the condition of the packaging, that should be Craddocks job to take up with the Carrier.
My advise would be to take plenty of photo's showing condition of the item, Country of Origin and the original 'British Made description.
Contact them by letter or Email explaining why you are not happy and ask that they resolve the issue, give them a reasonable timescale.
If no joy then contact Trading Standards in Staffordshire citing Counterfeit goods, which I am sure an item labelled British that is not would be.
Your location is irrelevant, they are Stafford based so that would be your start point.
Good luck.
 Just thought. You may be able to try 'Clause 75' for a claim back through your Credit Card ? Not sure if this covers you being US based ?

[jonhutchings]

Diffwhine, As a part on this saga I looked on GoogleEarth for Craddocks North Street building, it has a for sale sign on it and looks empty. They have another address on Progress Dr and that looks capable of doing more of an on demand warehousing.

Doesn't the UK have any truth in advertising laws?

Cradoocks moved from North street some time ago - the address, as per all their adverts and website is on Progress Drive.

The part numbers you quote on Craddock's website bring up photos of springs which clearly have britpart labels. To me that would indicate that they are not Jones supplied (even if they are made in the UK).

What was the reason for not ordering from Jones springs directly ? Were they not happy to ship to the US ?
 

[Genocache]

Diffwhine, As a part on this saga I looked on GoogleEarth for Craddocks North Street building, it has a for sale sign on it and looks empty. They have another address on Progress Dr and that looks capable of doing more of an on demand warehousing.

Doesn't the UK have any truth in advertising laws?

Cradoocks moved from North street some time ago - the address, as per all their adverts and website is on Progress Drive.

The part numbers you quote on Craddock's website bring up photos of springs which clearly have britpart labels. To me that would indicate that they are not Jones supplied (even if they are made in the UK).

What was the reason for not ordering from Jones springs directly ? Were they not happy to ship to the US ?
 

Jones does not have a International shipping option on their website. One must send an email inquiring if they do International, then they ask for an address for shipping charges. So convenience played a part. My springs came without a Britpart label.