Anybody ever order from Centercaps.net?

[Benzadmiral]

My big Buick has lost the little tri-shield emblem from the center cap of one of the 16" chromed factory wheels. The dealer tells me I have to buy the entire 8" center cap, the chromed disc with the five chromed fake lug nuts, at $109 before tax. For just one.

A search brings up Centercaps.net, a Pennsylvania company, who seem to be about the only ones to stock this part. They state that these are (gently) used, there's free shipping to the US, and they want only $32.99. Since my only other option seems to be crawling over junkyards in savage Swamp heat, this sounds pretty good. I'll e-mail 'em before I decide, but in the meantime, what sayeth you?

 

[GMBoy]

If you use your credit card, you're pretty much protected. I say go with them.

 

[Spector]

I just did abouot a week ago, sounds like a similar part, mine are smaller. My dealer wanted $72 each. I found a few on the internet new for $35-40 each but decided to go with Centercaps for 22.50 each. You realize these are used center caps, they are not new! Slightly used may be a little generous on their part!

Anyway, mine arrived (quick service by the way) and they were in decent shape, much better then the ones I was replacing, however, both had some minor scratches which I buffed out and some touch up paint helped in a couple of spots. they definitely are not new but from 10 feet away you cannot see that they are used caps.

I would use the Co again but I am not sure that the price is that good a deal for used ones when it looks like I could have gotten new for $40 each

 

[Benzadmiral]

Well, I dug out the part number the dealer gave me (not the same number as Centercaps has). Gmpartsdirect.com has it, apparently new, for $67 plus shipping.

ETA: Shipping brings it up to $81.19. It's a special-order, non-returnable part, though.

 

[XS650]

Looks good, but do a comparison. Their center cap for my VW Jetta was $5 more than I just paid for a new one from an online VW dealer.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Update: I heard back from Centercaps.net and they say the part is in great shape, so I've gone ahead and ordered. I'll probably see it next week sometime, and I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Update,

I received the part from Centercaps.net yesterday. It was exactly the right part. But --

They sent it, not in a box with padding, but in an envelope with no padding. (They never offered the option to pay for a more secure shipping method, either.) And the moronic postal employee simply jammed the envelope into my mailbox. I have no idea how he got it in there, since I had to wrench and sweat for two minutes to get it out! Once I did, the edge of the disc was chipped and a hairline crack was visible in the surface. Probably because of its being forced in and wrenched out.

In retrospect, I should have had it sent to my office instead, but I've had problems getting my shipments on time that way.

With a small screwdriver I popped out the emblem in the center of the cap. I should be able to glue it in place in the existing, unchipped, uncracked cap already in place on the wheel.

So the emblem itself cost me $33. Better than $120 or so for a new part . . . but the vendor really should offer a safer shipping method. I'd have paid the extra. Had it come in a larger, padded mailer, it wouldn't have fit in my mailbox, and Moronic Postman (tm) would have been forced to leave me a note to pick it up at the post office.

 

[Spector]

Not sure you should be blaming the comp[any or the PO for stuffing it in there. Soundsmore like a PO issue then the company. Mine came in the same padded envelope but it fit in the mailbox okay. I may have complained to the PO Truck driver that stuffed it in there and let him know he damaged the part and/or complain to your local PO about it

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: Spector
Not sure you should be blaming the comp[any or the PO for stuffing it in there. Soundsmore like a PO issue then the company. Mine came in the same padded envelope but it fit in the mailbox okay. I may have complained to the PO Truck driver that stuffed it in there and let him know he damaged the part and/or complain to your local PO about it

I agree, the major problem was with the Post Awful's moron. And if I were to complain to someone about it, I suspect it would be like talking to a post.

But the envelope Centercaps sent my part in was not padded, nor was there any wrapping or any stuffing to pad the thing in transit. It could have been banged up before it got into my box. I've written to them to suggest, strongly, that they offer a better shipping option for a few extra bucks if necessary.