Do NOT Buy From West Coast Fiero (Page 1/5)
Stricken DEC 03, 10:25 PM
My credit card company just ruled this dispute in my favor, so I'm finally posting what I went through with WCF.

I ordered WCF's A/C lines which, given the photo and comment box to describe application on their website, I thought would be drop in, completed lines that at most I would weld adapters onto. Well, below you can see what I received. It was literally a box of loose McMaster Carr parts with a new label slapped over the McMaster one.

Obviously, this is garbage, and misrepresenting your product with a photo that looks nothing like what you deliver is illegal. I requested a refund via email, and they pointed me to their refunds page which specifies a 50% restocking fee which I wasn't about to pay. Well, I went around on the phone with them. At one point, they insisted that the lines weren't assembled because I didn't tell them anything about what the application was. That set me off because there's a box on the order page to provide car details, which I filled in with a brief description. Whoever I talked to kept insisting that there was no such box on their website, and that I never told them anything about my application. At some point, the guy boasted that he had put me on speaker phone because I was cussing him out after he basically called me a liar about that the description box. See the screen grab from my order confirmation. They were implying I was a liar while lying themselves, and having a good group laugh. I must have Karen-ed enough that they said they'd give me a refund minus card fees which I'm actually fine paying (the guy claimed that's what was offered from the start, but their email clearly pointed me straight to their page with the 50% restocking fee).

Fun side note- they updated their website to include "assembly required" immediately after my call, but I have a screen grab from beforehand. They obviously felt their description was misleading if they had to update it.

I then attempted multiple times to get them to confirm the refund amount via email so I had a record, but they flat ignored me, so I returned the parts certified mail and opened a dispute with my credit card. WCF has still not issued any form of refund despite receiving the parts back over a month ago. I'm sure they're trying to get me for 50% of the cost.

I was amazed to find out that I am in no way an atypical case. I have even been roundly mocked for buying from them. People who are friends with the owner say they would never buy from him. I am hoping to warn others to stay the hell away from them. I would go so far as to put a sticky up about these guys so new people like me would know to stay away.


I've filed a complaint with the California AG, and they have contacted WCF, but probably won't do much over one case. If you've had issues with them, make sure to let the AG know.

https://oag.ca.gov/contact/...-business-or-company


[img]http://images.fieroforum.com/userimages/Stricken/Screenshot_20201023-162931 .png[/img]


[This message has been edited by Stricken (edited 12-04-2020).]

Stricken DEC 03, 10:37 PM
Another side note: a local A/C shop made custom fit lines for $110. Buying local ftw!
da.slyboy DEC 04, 12:36 AM
I've never purchased anything from West Coast, but I've been part of this forum for years and while I've read of people having good success with them, I've also heard quite a few who don't. I have to wonder as a business if the complaints seen are just so few compared to the amount of satisfied customers that WCF just brushes them off and moves on. I would think if most had a negative outlook on this company they wouldn't have been around for so long, especially in the last 10-15 years of instant online complaining.

For such a nich market WCF provides for, you would think they would provide the best customer support they could. Then again, I've never heard of a company charging a 50% restock fee either.......
Blacktree DEC 04, 01:47 AM
50% restocking fee? WTF?
Fiero Vice DEC 04, 04:23 AM
After reading many complaints against West Coast Fiero over the years... going back over two decades, I would NEVER do business with them.

ONE complaint is too much for me, knowing they don't value customers.

If they can make it, we can get it made at much cheaper rate locally.

Being in a niche market, it's a shame that we can't support a Fiero shop with a bad reputation.

[This message has been edited by Fiero Vice (edited 12-04-2020).]

css9450 DEC 04, 08:17 AM

quote
Originally posted by Blacktree:

50% restocking fee? WTF?



I once ordered some camera gear which unbeknownst to me was out of stock. After waiting several weeks, with no predicted date of availability, I cancelled my order. They charged me a re-stocking fee!

Retailers take note: It's a grudge I'll take with me to my grave.

sourmash DEC 04, 09:17 AM

quote
Originally posted by Blacktree:

50% restocking fee? WTF?



It was an instant warning sign to me. Like a betting machine with odds favoring the house.
It tells the buyer there have been a substantial number of issues with items the seller is sending.

Edit; it also says the seller has a chip on his shoulder and probably isn't interested in fostering a healthy relationship with buyers.

[This message has been edited by sourmash (edited 12-04-2020).]

Stricken DEC 04, 11:01 AM
I've been told that the Fiero business is basically a side hustle for them now. They have a more mainstream shop that's the real bread winner. I tried to explain that one bad customer experience can cost them multiple other sales, but they were convinced I wouldn't cost them any. They really just don't care about any of us.

I've been through a lot of specific cars, trucks, and motorcycles, and niche vendors are usually fantastic. It blows me away that these guys are universally renowned for being awful, and apparently it goes back 20years. I honestly wish they would just stop selling anything because, as I show, it would have been easier and cheaper to just do it myself.
css9450 DEC 04, 11:40 AM

quote
Originally posted by Stricken:

I've been told that the Fiero business is basically a side hustle for them now.



I got curious when I saw the address in the picture posted above, since I've been in Tehachapi many times. So I looked at the Google Street View and saw a Dave's Auto Repair in the building at the front of the lot (at a different address) with WCF in the building at the back of the lot. No other signs. Whatever their other business is, it isn't marked. Of course it could be something totally unrelated like a call center or something.

Has anyone ever visited them in person?
Blacktree DEC 04, 05:56 PM

quote
Originally posted by sourmash: It was an instant warning sign to me. Like a betting machine with odds favoring the house.
It tells the buyer there have been a substantial number of issues with items the seller is sending.


Maybe they've had a lot of returns, and are taking it out on the customers?

Personally, I've done business with them twice. I ended up regretting both purchases. I don't own a Fiero anymore, so won't be doing business with them anymore, by default. But even if I still had a Fiero, I'd steer clear of them.