4smartcar.com

[Black]

ordered my s-mann kit from him and it got to me pretty quick..

[tigerwong58]

I have ordered a few items from 4smartcar.com and the communications have not been an issue. If there are any delays they usually let me know. The were at a Las Vegas Convention for awhile with their Ed Hardy Smarts. When I bought my sub enclosure it took 2 weeks and they did charge my card the day I ordered it online (normal, if you do anything online). But you are right, they should not offer something if they can't deliver it right away.

[tcollins648]

Originally Posted by tigerwong58

I have ordered a few items from 4smartcar.com and the communications have not been an issue. If there are any delays they usually let me know. The were at a Las Vegas Convention for awhile with their Ed Hardy Smarts. When I bought my sub enclosure it took 2 weeks and they did charge my card the day I ordered it online (normal, if you do anything online). But you are right, they should not offer something if they can't deliver it right away.

Hey Tiger, thanks for your comments. I just got a FedEx email notification that something is being shipped from Van Nuys, CA to me, so I assume it's the rack.

What REALLY pisses me off about this 4smartcar.com is the LACK of ANY communication of any sort from the company. They knew from the start that the units wouldn't ship as stated on-line as "August 20th", and yet they did nothing to update the site with back-order information, nor did they attempt to contact THIS customer in any way to update me on the shipping, EVEN AFTER I had complained to them AND Al & Ed's.

Poor business practices, from this experience. And yes, I know they were in Vegas, but they apparently stopped doing business during that time. Another poor business practice. In fact, unless the product is outstanding in quality, I can't think of anything that would make me want to EVER order from them again. Also, MOST businesses don't charge my account until the product is shipped. That's a common rule of good business practice....

I can only assume that my order is so small it's just not worth worrying about. But LOTS of small orders can make the difference between success and failure.

Grrrrrrr.....

[SunDiego]

Stating on their website that they would have been gone would seem like a good idea (assuming they didn't)..

[fmaxwell]

Ordering online from a small, recently established merchant is an exercise in faith to start with. The company should go the extra mile to ease any concerns that the customer may have. The web site should have timely and accurate information regarding the item's availability and ship date. The customer should get an e-mailed order confirmation with a ship date and a promise that the credit card will not be charged until the item is shipped. If the shipment will be delayed, the company should automatically send an e-mail with an apology and estimated ship date, ideally with some kind of coupon for a future discount as an apology. If a ship date is missed and the customer contacts the business before they contact the customer, the business failed.

[tigerwong58]

As you have probably noticed, I have a defective DTH Center Exhaust Muffler from 4smartcar.com. I contacted Elie at info@4smartcar.com which goes to his Blackberry and he sent a replacement unit out first thing Monday and provided a tracking number. Not to defend anyone, but you are right, communication is a very important key to success. Everyone learns from experience, so far mine has been good.

[tcollins648]

Yep, I got the bike rack via FedEx on Wednesday, the 17th, as indicated by the shipping notice from FedEx. I never got any information from 4smartcar.com that the unit was being shipped. I guess they don't do that, probably too much trouble.

The rack is literally out of the box Thule with three rods made for the smart car application. Once properly installed it holds the bike, but the forward and back motion of the car, caused by normal acceleration and braking, loosen the black knob bolts of the Thule rack. After ten miles across town the entire rack was loose and had to be tightened before I could go home.

There is no lateral support to hold the bike taut. I will have to come up with something.

In the mean time, I am NOT happy with this product, and certainly not happy with the company.

I cannot recommend anyone doing business with this guy. Bummer, I was hoping for more...

[tcollins648]

Originally Posted by fmaxwell

Ordering online from a small, recently established merchant is an exercise in faith to start with. The company should go the extra mile to ease any concerns that the customer may have. The web site should have timely and accurate information regarding the item's availability and ship date. The customer should get an e-mailed order confirmation with a ship date and a promise that the credit card will not be charged until the item is shipped. If the shipment will be delayed, the company should automatically send an e-mail with an apology and estimated ship date, ideally with some kind of coupon for a future discount as an apology. If a ship date is missed and the customer contacts the business before they contact the customer, the business failed.

I don't know, I guess I am just expecting too much from 4smartcar.com After all this time and effort in communicating with them they STILL have not updated their web site for this product and it shows: *PRE ORDER NOW**SHIPS AUGUST 20TH*
Not only that - but it says the rack and bike lock to the car, which is NOT true.

The more I know about this company the more it stinks....

[eskargo]

Originally Posted by tcollins648

I don't know, I guess I am just expecting too much from 4smartcar.com After all this time and effort in communicating with them they STILL have not updated their web site for this product and it shows: *PRE ORDER NOW**SHIPS AUGUST 20TH*
Not only that - but it says the rack and bike lock to the car, which is NOT true.

The more I know about this company the more it stinks....

not defending the company but i did inquire about a product from their website and the respond was quick. the email was sent from his blackberry. (as mentioned by another post).

[tcollins648]

Ok, several weeks ago I mounted the bike rack and after some tweaking and such I got it to work. Not well, but it works. I had to come up with a way to provide lateral support so the bike doesn't move forward and back with the acceleration and braking of the car.

So, last week I needed to take the rack off when we took it to the dealer to have the switch-over valve replaced. Anyway, in the process the perpendicular bolt broke out of the parallel bolt that mounts to the bumper. If you have seen the rack this might make sense. Now I have both emailed and left voice mail with 4smartcar.com and have yet to hear back from Elie. I guess tomorrow (Tuesday 10/7) I will have to wait to hear from him.