Experience with iboats customer service?

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Hi,

first of all, I'm a long-time member of this board and, with a projet undergoing on my boat, I choose to place an order for parts with iboats.com; man, what a mess!

On January 19, I placed the order online for two 25 ft 2-gauge battery cables (Mallory part #9-11200 and 9-11201) and, on February 2nd, I received a package containing two tools that I never ordered (Mallory 9-79824 Stepless Clamp Pliers and Mallory 9-79825 Gimbal Brg Installer).

So, on February 2nd, I wrote to a customer service representative (Peter) to notify the problem and, two days later, he responded "Sorry, we do not ship internationally"!!! I wrote back asking of what he was talking about and never heard from him. I then call on February 6th and ask for a customer service supervisor (Jarom) and explain him the problem, as the previous representative is clearly clueless.

He deduct that a mismatch probably occur with their customs broker but, unfortunately, the items I want were now out-of-stock! They should get them in 10 days and ship them. The 18th of February (12 days later), I emailed him to check if they receive the cables but didn't get any answer. On the 22nd of February, I called and was told, after asking for him and giving my name, that he's on his lunch hour! I then leave a message and he, of course, never called back!

I don't want a rebate, a refund or anything else, I just want my cables (or any equivalent substitute, i.e 50 ft of 2-gauge marine cable) to complete my work!

At first, I was ready to believe in an honest error but I begin to think that they didn't have the items in the first place and try to send me any two other items. What was the chance that the items I ordered were the last two they have before being out-of-stock? And that the tools that I receive by "mistake" were also two consecutives parts numbers, like the cables I ask for? And to never get any responses, even after multiple calls or email...

It looks fishy...:mad:

Any ideas? What else can I do?
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Experience with iboats customer service?

Wow!! what a gorgeous boat, saumon! And I know Boston Whalers about as well as anyone.

Occasionally there are mix-ups on orders that are filled from someone else's stock. Had a situation like that a few years back that iboats Customer service was able to unravel and get fixed for me. Your situation is very unusual and I am sure will be resolved to your satisfaction.

I am FW this thread to our Admin folks.
 

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: Experience with iboats customer service?

Thanks JB; she's a bit stern-heavy and have a tendency to porpoise at WOT when fully trimmed up so, that's the reason why I want to relocate the cranking and TM batteries, that now sit under the stern quarter seats, into the console. But I need that cables...

And thanks for forwarding my inquiry... I'll keep you updated with the outcome.
 

tazrig

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 20, 2012
Messages
1,752
Re: Experience with iboats customer service?

Hi,

first of all, I'm a long-time member of this board and, with a projet undergoing on my boat, I choose to place an order for parts with iboats.com; man, what a mess!

On January 19, I placed the order online for two 25 ft 2-gauge battery cables (Mallory part #9-11200 and 9-11201) and, on February 2nd, I received a package containing two tools that I never ordered (Mallory 9-79824 Stepless Clamp Pliers and Mallory 9-79825 Gimbal Brg Installer).

So, on February 2nd, I wrote to a customer service representative (Peter) to notify the problem and, two days later, he responded "Sorry, we do not ship internationally"!!! I wrote back asking of what he was talking about and never heard from him. I then call on February 6th and ask for a customer service supervisor (Jarom) and explain him the problem, as the previous representative is clearly clueless.

He deduct that a mismatch probably occur with their customs broker but, unfortunately, the items I want were now out-of-stock! They should get them in 10 days and ship them. The 18th of February (12 days later), I emailed him to check if they receive the cables but didn't get any answer. On the 22nd of February, I called and was told, after asking for him and giving my name, that he's on his lunch hour! I then leave a message and he, of course, never called back!

I don't want a rebate, a refund or anything else, I just want my cables (or any equivalent substitute, i.e 50 ft of 2-gauge marine cable) to complete my work!

At first, I was ready to believe in an honest error but I begin to think that they didn't have the items in the first place and try to send me any two other items. What was the chance that the items I ordered were the last two they have before being out-of-stock? And that the tools that I receive by "mistake" were also two consecutives parts numbers, like the cables I ask for? And to never get any responses, even after multiple calls or email...

It looks fishy...:mad:

Any ideas? What else can I do?

I order from iBoats on a fairly regular basis and have never had a problem but as with anything today try to follow the three golden rules:

1) Always deal with a human and verify what each part number is each time.

2) Don't bother emailing because they are either never read or responded to.

3) Don't bother leaving phone messages because they are either never listened to or returned.



iBoats is one of the few good guys out there in the online world. I'm sure they will rectify your problem for you.
 

toneeees

Administrator
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
3,024
Re: Experience with iboats customer service?

Hey Saumon, unfortunately our offices are closed over the weekend. On Monday I will notify the customer service manager of your situation.

Thanks,
Tony
 

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: Experience with iboats customer service?

Thanks Tony,

I'm getting a bit impatient; boat is sitting in the garage with the console tilted and a pull rope in the rigging tunnel for a month now!
e.jpg
 

toneeees

Administrator
Joined
Mar 15, 2011
Messages
3,024
Re: Experience with iboats customer service?

I understand how frustrated it is to have an unfinished project because of an order error. I just checked our invoices and it does look like Jarom placed the order, so I'll make sure he follows up with you on Monday.
 

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: Experience with iboats customer service?

Thank you.

being now more than 20 days that I notify the customer service of the error (I told them on the 2nd and we're now the 24th), I expect nothing less to hear that they've been shipped to me now, or at least a replacement, and that I should receive them shortly, not another "we still wait for them and will ship as soon as we get them"...
 

BradC-iboats

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
609
Re: Experience with iboats customer service?

I am so sorry to hear about your poor experience. We do everything we can to treat each customer like a member of the iboats family and we have clearly not done this for you. On behalf of iboats, may I sincerely apologize for the poor service you have received. I have checked with Jarom (the CS representative that is assisting you) and he said that the replacement cables have been ordered, but, like you said, are on back order until the first week of March. We will send the cables 2nd Day Air at no expense to you to the Canadian border where the package will then go through Customs and then to your door. I will also email you a $25 iboats gift certificate as a small token of our apology. We hope you will give us another chance.
 

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: Experience with iboats customer service?

Issue resolved; I finally got the cables. It's been long but I received them, which is the most important. Thanks to everyone involved.
 
Top