ACA Restocking Fee

J

jao1972

New member
Has anyone dealt with ACA's 20% restocking fee? My father recently received a bill from ACA for $1,100.00 to restock a set of $5,500.00 aluminum landing gear. His mechanic never opened the shipping package and actually caught the UPS truck that delivered the part the same day to return them. I can understand a restocking fee for opened electronics or a special order part, but this is a metal gear that ACA had in stock.

I apologize for my ranting here. My father's has owned this plane for 20+ years, I soloed in it, and we both have a deep respect for what ACA does in keeping the brand alive. I am just very disappointed in what I thought to be a respectable business, and an American one at that. Did it actually cost ACA $1,100.00 to put the part back in its warehouse? On top of that, my father purchased $2,500.00 worth of parts that he kept and were included in the same bill!

If anyone has had any luck with ACA waving this fee or knows who I could speak with there to discuss this issue, please let me know. I don't intend to be angry with ACA, but just hope someone there realizes the harshness of this policy.

Thanks for all the great help on this forum!

Joe
 
Jerry,

Thank you for your response, and I appreciate your time. I apologize for my delay. I was not able to respond to you at work today.

I received some clarification from my father. From what I understand, the mechanic did not pay for shipping of the originally delivered landing gear. (The mechanic's secretary accepted and paid for the COD on the landing gear. Upon finding out about this the same day, the mechanic had the UPS driver come pick up the part for return and give back his payment.) The restocking fee was included in the COD delivery bill from ACA for the parts later ordered that were kept and installed on the plane.

I spoke with a person at ACA at lunch today (nice lady who first answered the phone) about getting a copy of the invoice so I can determine what was actually paid for and billed. She was aware of the restocking fee charge on this shipment and was going to locate the invoice. She was kind enough to agree to email me a copy of it. I have not heard back from her yet.

My father is glad to pay for the shipping each way and realizes the necessity to reimburse ACA for their costs in packaging and shipping the item. Obviously his mechanic has not been on top of his bookkeeping to let these things happen. He also understands the need for a restocking fee, but $1,100.00 is a hard pill to swallow, particularly on top of purchasing $2000.00 worth of other parts from ACA.

Again, thank you very much for your response. Any assistance you can provide in helping us cut the costs on what has already been an extremely expensive endeavor will be greatly appreciated.

Joe
 
Yeah, suffice to say, its complicated enough to need 2 paragraphs.

I put in my piece on his behalf, namely supported by the fact he has a rebuild project going on. I am not the final say in the matter though. We'll see. I proposed something that will eventually make it come out in the wash.
 
Jerry,

Thank you again for your response. I reviewed the invoices and talked to the mechanic more this week to try to determine what exactly happened.

The first invoice dated 9/15/2010 was for $5,859.13. This cost included $66.98 for freight. It covered the new aluminum gear and all the parts necessary to retrofit them to the plane. From the mechanic, this shipment was returned the same day via the original UPS driver. I assume it was the equivalent of not accepting delivery of a shipment.

The second invoice dated 9/29/2010 was for $3,206.06. This cost included a restocking fee of $1,171.83 (20% of $5,859.13—complete prior order) and a freight cost of $95.34, leaving $1,938.89 for parts ordered. These parts consisted of all those necessary to replace the original equipment, except the gear themselves, and items to correct other damage not ordered originally. Since the second shipment consisted of a lesser order, I wonder if the higher shipping cost included that not paid from the original order.

The parts from the second shipment have been paid for and are installed on the plane. I apologize if I misspoke earlier, but the work on the plane is complete. One gear was damaged, and that has now been corrected. We hope to continue business with ACA, but I hope it’s not damage related again. If it helps, my father's mechanic is the local Bellanca-Citabria mechanic in the area and owns a 7KCAB himself.

Again, I appreciate very much your responses here, and most certainly, any support you can give. Please let me know if I can do anything or provide any other information.

Thank you!

Joe
 
Jerry,

I apologize for letting this issue slip; life pulled me into another direction for a bit. I need to help my father find resolution to the restocking fee he was charged. Can you suggest who I should contact at ACA to discuss this? Please feel free to email me at my personal email address jaoiii@gmail.com or call me at (804) 304-7831.

Again, thank you very much for assistance in this matter.

Joe
 
Dear jao -

I don't consider that ranting, and I suggest you call Char Mehlhaf directly at 262-534-6315. If anyone can help, she can. And give her the history.

I also was pretty steamed last month when I had to shell out $90 each for landing gear through bolts which just a few months earlier had been $32. Then again, if you really want to feel raped . . . get a TBM and buy parts from SOCATA. $42 static wicks for $200; $60 Rosen visor lenses for $120; $17,000 hydraulic power packs for $26,000; and the list only gets worse.

Or, better yet, buy a TBM850 for $3.2M and enjoy a semi-functioning Torque Limiter and totally disfunctional Environmental Control System.

At least at ACA, you're dealing with Americans, not a troup of skunks who think garden pests with garlic and butter constitute "appetizers."

I didn't like the new through-bolt price, but better safe than sorry and still love my 7GCBC.

Jim Robins
N87VF
 
Jim,

Thank you very much for your response. I do appreciate the contact information for Char Mehlhaff. I will give her a call on Monday.

As you, I appreciate very much the fact that ACA is an American owned and operated company. They seem to be a dying breed these days, particularly with the economic impact on the aviation industry. I strive to do all I can to support them. My father is a small farmer in Mississippi (another dying breed) that needs help also. I just hope ACA will be supportive in helping us with the fee. Jerry was very kind to comment on the situation and to suggest a solution internally. His comments on this forum are a valued asset and speak volumes for ACA as a company.

As I said before, I can understand the need to recoup costs for shipping on large, heavy items or labor spent in assembling orders. However, my father still spent nearly $2,000.00 on a second order and will be glad to compensate them for their expenditures on the first shipment. $1,100.00 just seems a bit excessive.

Again, thank you for your response. Happy Thanksgiving!

Joe
 
Yeah, you'll have to appeal to Char or Jerry Sr at this point.

OT: seems my account was not letting me in here for a little while, obviously fixed
 
Jerry,

Thank you for your input. I will touch base with Char and see if she can help me. One last question, do you think it is better to call her or email?

Thank you,

Joe
 
Thanks for the info on the email address. I meant to ask you before, but did not. If you don't mind, who do think would be better to speak with--Char or Jerry?
 
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