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  #1  
Old 02-18-2017, 07:43 AM
pa38112 pa38112 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Clarksboro, NJ
Posts: 829
Default Apology to ACS

I recently commented on VAF expressing my opinion that Aircraft Spruce is awesome, but has very high shipping prices and slow delivery. A couple of days later I got an e-mail form Jim Irwin, president of ACS, to see if my issues were specific to a particular shipment. My profile does not have my name, but he had gone to the effort of looking up customers from my town and tracking me down. I was impressed by this, and after two exchanges was reassured by the quality of the company – yet still convinced that their shipping prices were too high and their delivery slow. Last week I needed to order caliper O-rings, and thought since they are cheap I would order from several companies to compare shipping costs and delivery. Jim, I owe you and your company a public apology !!!

Vendor, Date Ordered, Part Cost, Shipping Charge, Date Received
Aircraft Spruce, 2/12/17, $0.49, $1.47, 2/15/17
Wicks, 2/12/17, $1.10, $8.80, 2/16/17
Sky Geek, 2/12/17, $0.52, $3.67, Still waiting on 2/18
Chief Aircraft, $1.20, $11.37, Did not order do to $11 shipping cost!
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Last edited by pa38112 : 02-18-2017 at 03:15 PM.
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  #2  
Old 02-18-2017, 08:13 AM
mturnerb mturnerb is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ponte Vedra, FL
Posts: 1,475
Default

My experience is that Aircraft Spruce ships quickly and packs stuff very carefully. Great website. I haven't noticed shipping to be exceptionally high. Try mouser sometime to see high shipping costs.
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Last edited by mturnerb : 02-18-2017 at 08:19 AM.
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  #3  
Old 02-18-2017, 08:18 AM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
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As both a vendor for and a customer of Aircraft Spruce I can't say enough good things about them.
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  #4  
Old 02-18-2017, 08:23 AM
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erich weaver erich weaver is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: santa barbara, CA
Posts: 1,682
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I have always had good service from ACS. My only complaint is that I wish they would stop using the styrofoam popcorn for shipping. Very messy on my end and environmentally unfriendly.

Erich
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  #5  
Old 02-18-2017, 08:29 AM
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bullojm1 bullojm1 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erich weaver View Post
I have always had good service from ACS. My only complaint is that I wish they would stop using the styrofoam popcorn for shipping. Very messy on my end and environmentally unfriendly.
I always thought ACS used biodegradable starch packing peanuts. I recall on more than one occasion I would eat one to prove to my coworkers they disolve!
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  #6  
Old 02-18-2017, 09:05 AM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bullojm1 View Post
I always thought ACS used biodegradable starch packing peanuts. I recall on more than one occasion I would eat one to prove to my coworkers they disolve!
You are correct, they are using the starch peanuts. While they are edible, I just lick my finger and touch them. That's all you need to do to see them dissolve.

The Mac Daddy of packing has to be Van's. I have always been impressed at how well they pack all the little parts they ship and unless the shipper runs a forklift through a box, the parts arrive in good shape.
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RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
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Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
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  #7  
Old 02-18-2017, 09:31 AM
dave4754's Avatar
dave4754 dave4754 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Edson, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 483
Default Takes a real man to admit something like that

We all get frustrated and believe we are being shorted especially in the land of Big Box stores and internet anonymity.

Gone are the Ma and PA stores we loved to go to that would give you that "special" feeling of being someone they wanted back in "their" store.

The poster deserves a hand for his retraction and ACS deserves an applaud for being diligent in trying to maintain that "special" feeling for the customer.

Good on you both, and this community for trying to maintain that customer/ retailer link and keeping it "special".
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  #8  
Old 02-18-2017, 11:02 AM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
Default Don't compare apples to oranges.........

Quote:
Originally Posted by pa38112 View Post
I recently commented on VAF expressing my opinion that Aircraft Spruce is awesome, but has very high shipping prices and slow delivery. A couple of days later I got an e-mail form Jim Irwin, president of ACS, to see if my issues were specific to a particular shipment. My profile does not have my name, but he had gone to the effort of looking up customers from my town and tracking me down. I was impressed by this, and after two exchanges was reassured by the quality of the company ? yet still convinced that their shipping prices were too high and their delivery slow. Last week I needed to order caliper O-rings, and thought since they are cheap I would order from several companies to compare shipping costs and delivery. Jim, I owe you and your company a public apology !!!

Vendor Date Ordered Part Cost Shipping Charge Date Received
Aircraft Spruce 2/12/17 $0.49 $1.47 2/15/17
Wicks 2/12/17 $1.10 $8.80 2/16/17
Sky Geek 2/12/17 $0.52 $3.67 Still waiting on 2/18
Chief Aircraft $1.20 $11.37 Did not order do to $11 shipping cost!
I hope that everyone keeps in mind that shipping cost and time en-route is largely dependent on where you live and where the business is.

I agree that Chief is a bit on the higher side for shipping cost but since they are only 200 miles from me I can order ground UPS and have it next day without paying any extra. You will usually always do better on shipping time and cost by ordering from a business close to you.

Other service variables (receiving wrong parts, dealing with returns, etc.) are more of a level playing field.
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  #9  
Old 02-18-2017, 12:38 PM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Location: Dayton, NV
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One of the best bargains in home building is when you order a single small item from ACS, and they can slip it in a padded envelope and send it USPS for less than two bucks. It makes having to order a single AN fitting or the right size bolt much less painful!

Paul
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  #10  
Old 02-18-2017, 01:44 PM
Sam Buchanan's Avatar
Sam Buchanan Sam Buchanan is offline
been here awhile
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 4,301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironflight View Post
One of the best bargains in home building is when you order a single small item from ACS, and they can slip it in a padded envelope and send it USPS for less than two bucks. It makes having to order a single AN fitting or the right size bolt much less painful!

Paul
I too have gotten spoiled to ACS's USPS service, in my case out of the East warehouse. On more than one occasion I have split hardware orders so they will be small enough to go USPS and still saved a bundle compared to a single UPS shipment. Two day service from Georgia is just a bonus.
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