Ordering M3 Parts: How Is It That ECS Stays In Business ?

[Nate047]

Name any retailer and you'll find people who dislike them. That is normal. Every business has issues sometimes.

Now, name a retailer where you find literally thousands of horror stories from all makes and models across the spectrum, then you know that retailer has toxic core issues as a company and you should avoid them.

Matt, I understand you have a good working relationship with some of the people over there. I would just be careful about getting too deeply associated with a company that has such a spotty customer service history. I'm not sure what your plan is as far as providing superior service compared to current ECS/Turner customer service (or maybe I misunderstood that comment) but that aspect probably needs to be explained very thoroughly if you want to gain people's confidence to the point of ponying up for a paid membership.

[Epoustouflant]

I think this may be counterproductive for FCP. I’ve owned my e46 since 2005 and have been ordering from FCP since around 2015/2016. I’ve spent insane amounts of money with them but I’ve also utilized their lifetime replacement. Just alone with biennial fluid flushes I’ve managed to save in the thousands..

From chats with both of them, you are in the minority; a loyal long term owner is a very rare thing these days.

ECS / Turner has also started offering a lifetime replacement warranty. I suspect it's a direct counter to them switching to store credits to manage cost increases.

[c watson]

The upside for them is to gain access to long term owners and big spenders - and develop customer retention. It's absolutely maddening the amount of money these companies spend on various pay per click advertisements only to engage in stupid price wars than end up driving the prices up anyways because Google is driving up advertising prices.

I think this may be counterproductive for FCP. I’ve owned my e46 since 2005 and have been ordering from FCP since around 2015/2016. I’ve spent insane amounts of money with them but I’ve also utilized their lifetime replacement. Just alone with biennial fluid flushes I’ve managed to save in the thousands..

[Icecream]

I still just don't have any issues with ECS/Turners, IDK if you guys are bad luck or what.

I did order a Powerflex part from Turners, and the wrong part showed up, in the right box. 3 different times.

They sent me a return slip for all 3, and I sent the wrong parts back and have yet to receive the parts I ordered... but I figured they need to get them from Powerflex, so I'm not really stressing. I see the open order on Turner's website.

Lol, bruh, is this joke post?⁴

[Epoustouflant]

If you start selling basic maintenance parts without posting pricing, I swear to God dude lol.

Never! My plan is to shamelessly leverage the data you all shared with me to get their brands to offer year long discounts on everything along with superior service. The recap is here. It's out of their process but I am getting there.

The upside for them is to gain access to long term owners and big spenders - and develop customer retention. It's absolutely maddening the amount of money these companies spend on various pay per click advertisements only to engage in stupid price wars than end up driving the prices up anyways because Google is driving up advertising prices.

[ugaexploder]

I've had to buy from everyone in the past 3 months because I'm new to the E46 game and partially a crackhead for fixing things that aren't broken, and I'm in the ECS hasn't screwed me yet crowd.

Ultimately, all of our experiences are just a few data points in the grand scheme of things, and it's hard to extrapolate the amount of successful transactions versus the ones with upset customers from the outside looking in...

Here are some screenshots of the small, but often orders I made from ECS...some from Turner as well and no issues there either now knowing they are essentially the same company?

[Sharocks]

I could write an essay on this. Just posting this for now to subscribe, and come back to it. Having dealt with these companies, I've seen the internal culture. I'll share my perspective.

If you start selling basic maintenance parts without posting pricing, I swear to God dude lol.

[Epoustouflant]

I could write an essay on this. Just posting this for now to subscribe, and come back to it. Having dealt with these companies, I've seen the internal culture. I'll share my perspective.

[01SG]

I could, but I don't bother. They're about an hour from me. I get the free or cheapest shipping option and it typically arrives next day or two.

[c watson]

I stopped going to Bimmerworld after they forgot my water pump gasket. FCP is the only one that hasn't let me down yet.

You're in CT. Is FCP close enough for you to do will-call and pick up?

[01SG]

ECS better hope this lifetime replacement point system works out for them. It sounds like they’re on thin ice.

In other news, the good-guys at Bimmerworld seem to be holding it together. Keep sending me those free candies 🍬

I stopped going to Bimmerworld after they forgot my water pump gasket. FCP is the only one that hasn't let me down yet.

[c watson]

Yeah, pretty much. I've had more issues than trouble free transactions.

ECS better hope this lifetime replacement point system works out for them. It sounds like they’re on thin ice.

In other news, the good-guys at Bimmerworld seem to be holding it together. Keep sending me those free candies 🍬

[bigjae46]

Use ECS only if desperate and also if you get option do not use fedex pay extra if needed

Yeah, pretty much. I've had more issues than trouble free transactions.

[c watson]

I’ve ordered from ECS and never had an issue. FCP is my go-to since they have a better reputation and they’re closer to me so the parts arrive quicker.

The only issue I have on the FCP side is some of the parts that were delivered to me look like they sat on a shelf for a LONG time. Headlight lenses with hairline scratches that looked dull, oil filters in crushed packaging, radiators with messed up fins, etc. They made it right each time and even overnighted the radiator to me.

I would point blame at the shipping company here. I personally like FedEx better than UPS. USPS is better at finding lost or mis-delivered packages.


A little off topic:
I do have a wholesale account at my local BMW dealership and I have to say I would rather take the chance and buy OEM parts on eBay than the dealer. Most of the parts employees are usually pissed off most of the time and are miserable. I almost always end up bumping heads with them when I give them part numbers off realoem. This is why I stick to online ordering strictly. I won’t even purchase wipers at the dealership because of this.

[digger]

Use ECS only if desperate and also if you get option do not use fedex pay extra if needed