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Group A Motoring (Gr.A Motoring) Shipping and Customer Care NIGHTMARE
I always try to give a company the benefit of the doubt but I can do so no longer.
I have waited patiently for a refund without any luck and I want to share my experiences with others... just in case any of you are thinking of doing business with them. Some may have been lucky.
PART 1 - Order and Delivery
======================
Aug 27th - Group A responds to my inquiry on an AD 9 Hood quoting price and shipping costs. I respond and inquire about their FEED Hood.
Aug 29th - No response - I send a follow up inquiry.
Sept 9th - No response - I send a follow up inquiry.
Sept 9th - Group A Motoring responds - they were out last week - medical emergency etc... They confirm one AD9 FRP hood in mold ready by end of this week (Sep 14th or early next week (Sept 19th).
Sept 10th - I confirm I want the AD9 Hood. Invoice sent, Same day (note the speed)
Sept 11th - I send a message saying my preference is for a FEED hood. The AD9 was too aggressive for my needs.
Sept 11th - GroupA confirms they have a FEED hood CF ready to go.
Sept 14th - I confirm I want it..
Sept 17th - I Send payment... however, after researching looks CF is dang ugly... so I revert back to an FRP and request the difference approx. $100 - Group A does so immediately - difference received.
Sept 17th/18th - FEED FRP confirmed... and paid for. ($835 in total - including shipping) Shipment details given.. Group A confirms Road Runner Freight to deliver... (CA to PA)... long haull by truck. I am to inspect and not accept package if damaged. Package must be signed for upon arrival... PER Group A. number given to Road Runner Freight.
Sept 19th - Inquired if hood has shipped. Group A. says needed 2 days to completed Mold process because I switched - OK with me.
Sept 22nd - Inquiry if hood has shipped.. No.
Sept 25th - Inquiry if hood has shipped - Group A says RRF picks up tomorrow.
Sept 27th - Inquiry if hood has shipped - No response.
Sept 29th - Inquiry if hood has shipped - No response.
Oct 1st - Inquiry if hood has shipped - finally a response confirming a shipment from Group A.
PART 2 - The Delivery
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Oct 9th - D-DAY.... I see the hood has been dispatched for delivery by RRF... no call for me to meet them... nothing. I decide to go home at lunch..... AND I see a shipment that looks like hell for $835.
My HEART IS SUNK!
1. My first thought is you have to be kidding me - they dropped it off before I could inspect and sign.
2. The hood was shipped in two boxes held together by tape. Are you kidding me??? Some padding but not enough as the box was caving now.
3. The front of the hood was definitely pushing against the boxes corners - enough so shape the box.
4. Parts of the hood looked like it poked a hole in the box - YES... A pointed edge....THERE HAS TO BE DAMAGE. BUT I DON'T WANT LIABILITY SO OPENING THE PACKAGE IS A BAD THING.
Oct 9th - Alert Group A of Package condition.Send Pictures ask for a call.
Oct 9th - Group A responds asking me to open the package it to see if further damage. At this point I have already sealed it back (as best as possible given the boxes are already collapsed) and want it pickedup. But we discuss options and the Options are A) open it, take to body shop and they will pay for the repair to the damaged hood., or B) Have RRF pick up and return for a full REFUND. I elect Option B because I have been here before in life, and I almost always get screwed taking option A. Additionally, I stopped opening the package once I saw the edge damage and with poor packaging who knows what else could be wrong with the hood - poorly protected latch etc...
PART 3 - RETURN AND REFUND (ONGOING OF COURSE)
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Oct 9th - After several calls RRF picks up the package for return to Group A WHICH I NEVER SIGNED FOR.
Oct 10th - I notify GroupA the hood was picked up yesteday... NO RESPONSE.
Oct 11th - I check with RRF - The hood is still sitting at their DOCK... because GroupA has not processed/confirmed it as a return yet. I Request a FULL REFUND BACK ASAP.
Oct 15th - No Response from GroupA. I send both direct TEXTs and Msg them... Requesting a REFUND IMMEDIATELY. I also confirm that the package is sitting at the RRF warehouse still.
Oct 16th (Tues) - GroupA sends a text response "Yea will process your return", "And refund". I respond... "Thank you ... When will this happen?" ... NO RESPONSE...
Oct 19th (Fri) - I contact RRF.. they confirm they are still waiting to hear from Group A and they are also processing the damage via OSD group. I send this to message to Group A requesting my refund, and Initiate a Dispute via AMEX and PayPal.
Oct 19th (Fri 4:54 PM) - Group A responds..."Yea I'm gonna refund you the payment", "Yea roadrunner only emailed me but not tracking but no worries"
Oct 20th (Sat) I again respond ... "Refund When?"
As of now, I am still waiting on Group A to make me whole again. While the issue seems to have been with the shipment, please remember that the a hood should be packaged accordingly - ESPECIALLY if it is being trucked across country. Group A is responsible for the delivery of the hood sans damage and this means that they should have taken the care to wrap and protect the hood. RRF is also to blame as the package is clearly marked as FRAGILE...
I hope Group A sees fit to refund my payment and close this matter once and for all. But what strikes me is that their responses are very short and curt and once the payment occurred reaching them was much harder to do. Just my .02 Cents.
This isn't the first time I've heard of Group A and their customer service or lack thereof . I hope you can get the situation rectified. Did you pay via paypal?
This isn't the first time I've heard of Group A and their customer service or lack thereof . I hope you can get the situation rectified. Did you pay via paypal?
Well their service was pretty good prior to the payment. After that it was hit or miss on response time. Mostly miss as it got worse. I paid via PayPal using AMex so double layer there. Oh and update....Oct 23rd - Group A responds “Refund sent”. That’s it. That’s all. I have not received it yet but will I will wait another day before going back to them. 🤦*♂️
Seems like the 1st thing they did is not reply for 10 days to a couple simple inquiries. That should have been the 1st red flag.
Then I did a quick search on this site. Here's what I found within 2 minutes:
Originally Posted by Houstonderk
I bought group a's scoot hood and you can really see how they keep the price down. It has nothing on the quality of the real thing. Went with a seibon ad9 and haven't looked back. The rep hoods hinge area where it bolts to the car is pretty much a small piece of wood in the hood with 2 rivnuts. I had one pretty much come loose while installing and had to repair myself. But if your local, it wouldn't be too bad as you could bug them until things are good.
Red Flag #2
Shine Auto is right here, answering questions, posting pics of their fitment, and providing us with parts we can't get anywhere else. Why not support the vendor that supports us? I have a feeling that if you did, you'd be much happier with your purchase.
Seems like the 1st thing they did is not reply for 10 days to a couple simple inquiries. That should have been the 1st red flag.
Then I did a quick search on this site. Here's what I found within 2 minutes:
Red Flag #2
Shine Auto is right here, answering questions, posting pics of their fitment, and providing us with parts we can't get anywhere else. Why not support the vendor that supports us? I have a feeling that if you did, you'd be much happier with your purchase.
@Natey,You raise good points. And I did read up a lot on Group A prior to engaging them. However, I missed some critical write-ups prolly because some others with Group A hoods vouched for them personally despite minor issues etc. I was also on Shine Auto’s List. So, I am going to work with Shine now. Lesson learned on this one. AA.
GroupA did make me whole again. Vendor processed a refund on Oct 23rd which was received my Amex on oct 24th. However it never showed because I had already opened a dispute with Amex.
Biggest learning-pay more attention to packaging expensive items. It’s disheartening to receive a $900+ (hood and shipment) package that’s all banged up and showing signs of damage.
I hope GroupA figures out how to package a hood for shipment across the US.
contacted on FB about what hoods they had in stock. Confirmed they had a 1x1 carbon feed style. Paid. It shipped within a week. Shipping company showed up a few days later than they were supposed to but thats not on group a. Hood was packaged very well. Big cardboard box, multiple layers of plastic and bubble wrap, wood pieces were bolted on to the hinges to protect the rear corners. Hood has some imperfections in the carbon weave but I wasnt expecting perfection for the price. Fit very well. Would buy again.
i had a very positive experience with them a few months back. i purchased a fg rear diffuser and the whole thing went very smoothly. great service, always replied in a timely manner and top quality for diffuser was top notch, im actually getting a rear spoiler from them now and highly suggest them to a few local guys around here.
sorry to OP for his bad experience though.
10-22-18, 04:24 PM
Group A Motoring (Gr.A Motoring) Shipping and Customer Care NIGHTMARE
