Just received my LoD bumpers - they're damaged

Black Hole · 09-09-2008, 01:03 PM

What would you do?

I placed my order on August 1st for a 44" front bumper and Extreme rear bumper & tire carrier and was promptly told "1-2 week wait" and shipping would take about 1 day as it's only about 100 miles from LoD (just west of Indy) to my house in Cincy.

Long story short, I called a few times to check on the order and received excuses blaming mostly the powdercoater. The order took 5.5 weeks (39 days) and was finally delivered yesterday.

The boxes were in my driveway leaning against the corner of the garage and I originally noticed that all 3 of the shipping boxes were beat up and damaged, so I promptly opened and inspected the parts.

I proceeded to find that all 3 parts have scuffs on the powdercoat finish from inadequate packaging, I have a couple of major chips in the powdercoat on the tire carrier, and the two lower tabs on the front bumper are bent, dinged, and the powdercoating is cracked and peeling. (see pics in link below)

http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/ptcruzn2/lod/

I left a message with LoD last night and also sent a similar email to this message (including the email link) to them but haven't heard back yet.

I've checked my credit card and I haven't seen a charge yet.

Obviously these are bumpers that will be going on a modified Jeep that will be offroaded, but I have problems with paying about $800 for a set of bumpers that weren't atleast in good condition when I installed them. The lower tabs of the front bumper will have to be straightened to allow for the frame to fit inside.....this concerns me as I'm twisting the mounting point for the bumper (which is a recovery point and will eventually have a winch mounted to it) and also because I don't want the mounting point to rust.

What would you do?

Zachs · 09-09-2008, 01:10 PM

Drive the 100 miles to LoD and get them replaced...seems pretty simple. Why didn't you just pick them up in the first place? Why risk the brown man messing it up? I mean hell, if I was that delivery guy and you were on the end of my router, I'd freakin kick that heavy crap off the truck while I was still moving. Just saying... haha

Honestly I wouldn't mount damaged materials, I'd report the damaged boxes to brown and LoD.

**Jerry Bransford** · 09-09-2008, 01:12 PM

For a bumper that's just going to get beat up on the trail anyway, I'd touch them up with a little satin black Rustoleum rattlecan paint and forget about the minor cosmetic damage. Then step back smile at your new bumpers after realizing how much effort and anxiety you eliminated by not having to call and gripe followed by shipping them back and waiting for more that will not likely show up in pristine condition either. Also, shipping heavy objects is difficult which leaves the manufacturer with two options... pay for crating and truck freight which would be more expensive than most customers would be willing to pay, or pack them in cardboard as best you can which leaves them more vulnerable to damage but the shipping cost savings are substantial.

**mschviuz** · 09-09-2008, 01:13 PM

I'd call him as I'm sure they can get it worked out. They seem like pretty cool guys each time I've talked to them on the phone.

**0blcktj6** · 09-09-2008, 01:14 PM

When I got my rear bumper from them the packaging was just as bad, they used DHL for mine but luckily enough there weren't really any problems with the powder coating. But x2 on just driving over there. If you aren't going to do that then I would suggest calling them, they were not so great with returning e-mails but they were very speedy with phone calls.

XtrailratedJ · 09-09-2008, 01:16 PM

Cancel the charge on your card and keep the bumpers...

2005X · 09-09-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XtrailratedJ

Cancel the charge on your card and keep the bumpers...

i dont see that working, its not like there is $800 worth of damage.
OP: lets say you go throught he hassle fo returning them, how do you think they will ship them back, the same way they shipped in the first place, which takes the chance of it happening again. if anything i would file a claim through UPS. you have waited 6 weeks for these bumpers, touch them up and put them on

dallasjetfan · 09-09-2008, 01:28 PM

This is why Rokmen told me they send theirs bare steel!!!

**Whybu1** · 09-09-2008, 01:28 PM

If they were damaged in shipping the carrier is responsible for damages; if they were damaged before shipping it is the manufacturer. Of course both parties are going to first blame the other party to tie things up for awhile. Then you might end up waiting weeks for new ones. If it is bad enough to warrent all that then call both the carrier and manufacturer and start the process. If not just touch them up and enjoy the new bumpers.

gily25 · 09-09-2008, 01:31 PM

I agree with the OP he shouldn't have to paint them...they should have come right from LOD. So what he lives close...it's not about his proximity...if they were mine (I'm in CT) and they came like that, there'd be hell to pay. I would call and complain and see what they have to say about the matter. If/when they do charge your credit card (I'm going to hope here you didn't use debit) it is your right to cancel (contest the charge) and I would. This is one of the reasons being complain about the price of Jeep stuff b/c more often than not it turns into a battle and then the wife gets ticked you spent money on junk. Plus it's a real ambition killer...at least for me anyway. If they can't send new bumpers right away get a refund and go somewhere else, it's not worth the wait if it's going to show up wrong.

That said, powder coat is crap so if you're going to paint it, just get it bare steel or primed. I had purchased the smittybilt SRC front bumper and it was in the same condition as yours, I went through the same ordeal with quadratec then finally when I told them I was contesting the charge and keeping their bumper a return label came. Now I have the glory that is my factory bumper complete with milk jugs until I decide on a replacement.

2005X · 09-09-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gily25

I agree with the OP he shouldn't have to paint them...they should have come right from LOD. So what he lives close...it's not about his proximity...if they were mine (I'm in CT) and they came like that, there'd be hell to pay. I would call and complain and see what they have to say about the matter. If/when they do charge your credit card (I'm going to hope here you didn't use debit) it is your right to cancel (contest the charge) and I would. This is one of the reasons being complain about the price of Jeep stuff b/c more often than not it turns into a battle and then the wife gets ticked you spent money on junk. Plus it's a real ambition killer...at least for me anyway. If they can't send new bumpers right away get a refund and go somewhere else, it's not worth the wait if it's going to show up wrong.

That said, powder coat is crap so if you're going to paint it, just get it bare steel or primed. I had purchased the smittybilt SRC front bumper and it was in the same condition as yours, I went through the same ordeal with quadratec then finally when I told them I was contesting the charge and keeping their bumper a return label came. Now I have the glory that is my factory bumper complete with milk jugs until I decide on a replacement.

technically your right, he shouldnt have to paint them, but if LOD sent out a perfectally brand new set of bumpers, and UPS damaged them, then UPS needs to correct the wrong not LOD

Jeepguy1977 · 09-09-2008, 01:40 PM

This is the reason I HATE UPS. I can't recall the last package they delivered to me that wasn't damaged. They even managed to bend the mounting tabs on my Hanson bumper when it came a couple of weeks ago. And it was actually pretty well packaged. I've come to believe that they deliberately destroy things.

**Jerry Bransford** · 09-09-2008, 01:42 PM

Come on guys, these are frigging bumpers, not a fine piece of furniture. Touch them up with a little Rustoleum and forget about it. Only owners of street queen Jeeps would worry about a little cosmetic damage like scuffs or chips in the powdercoating.

AlTheKillerr · 09-09-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

Come on guys, these are frigging bumpers, not a fine piece of furniture. Touch them up with a little Rustoleum and forget about it. Only owners of street queen Jeeps would worry about a little cosmetic damage like scuffs or chips in the powdercoating.

agreed. its a steel bumper. touch it up and go on with your life. they are in perfect condition

p-rev · 09-09-2008, 01:51 PM

did you get insurance when they were shipped? if not UPS wont do anything.

09-09-2008, 01:28 PM	#8
dallasjetfan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 618 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	This is why Rokmen told me they send theirs bare steel!!!