WARNING! Do not trust a word from Wheeler's Offroad

[Tricio69]

Back in June I ordered their Wheeler's Offroad 2010-Present Toyota 4Runner Suspension Lift Kit, fully assembled + the driver side spacers to eliminate the lean.

Spoke with them 4 times in the last 5 weeks, each time being told that the kit would "ship out the next week". First they said everything was there except the rear spacer, "should ship out next week". 2 weeks later it was the front spacer missing, "should ship out the next week". 1 week later, everything is there, waiting on assembly, "should ship out next week". Today, back to the rear spacer not being there, yet again "should ship out next week'.

Called BS today, was assured by the person claiming to be the manager that he is telling me the truth. Pushing it, letting him know that is what every other person has told me and I am getting pissed, he laughs/chuckles in my ear. Needless to say, that didn't do anything to help and I told him to cancel my order, to which he said "gladly" and then he hung up on me.

I tried previously to buy the Eibach kit from them and experienced the same run-around, but assumed it was an Eibach issue and decided to give them a try again on this kit. I don't know about anyone else, but this is some of the WORST customer service I have experienced from a vendor and will never even think of buying something from them again.

If this is how they treat customers before even shipping a product, imagine the follow-up support they provide if you have an issue.

Just my opinion, but steer clear of Wheeler's!

 

[BorotHex]

We get it that you had a bad experience, and appreciate the feedback, but please stop spamming the entire forum over and over.

Thank you.

 

[Tricio69]

We get it that you had a bad experience, and appreciate the feedback, but please stop spamming the entire forum over and over.

Thank you.

Just thought I would post in a couple places, not everyone comes to the 5th gen T4R section. My bad...

 

[Sundy]

You also realize every supplier is slammed/behind schedule to to shipping. Containers and trucks are impossible to get and when you do, you're paying a premium compared to before.

I'm assuming with the rash action you've taken you were also quite harsh on the phone and were told what you wanted to hear, just to get you to stop complaining.

I had a recent purchase get delayed 6 weeks. Was I thrilled? Nope. Did I think I could go somewhere else and speed up the process? Nope.

It is what it is - if you had this issue with them before I'm greatly surprised you ordered from them again.. fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me. :shrug:

 

[Seattle206]

Of my 7 years of owning my 5th gen 4Runner I purchased multiple times from Wheelers Offroad. They are a local PNW small business so I get my items fairly quick since I am in Seattle. Never had an issue where they couldn't fix. I'd continue ordering from them.

 

[updawg]

Supply chains are all messed up. Sounds like you went overboard if he dropped you as a customer that easy

 

[Tricio69]

You also realize every supplier is slammed/behind schedule to to shipping. Containers and trucks are impossible to get and when you do, you're paying a premium compared to before.

I'm assuming with the rash action you've taken you were also quite harsh on the phone and were told what you wanted to hear, just to get you to stop complaining.

I had a recent purchase get delayed 6 weeks. Was I thrilled? Nope. Did I think I could go somewhere else and speed up the process? Nope.

It is what it is - if you had this issue with them before I'm greatly surprised you ordered from them again.. fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me. :shrug:

You assume a lot Sundy. I am in sales, work with customers every day. We are also experiencing supply issues and we deal with it.

My issue with them was their made up excuses vs. being upfront. Up until today, my calls to them were simply "Looking for an update on my order", but today was the last straw, especially when laughed at when I expressed frustration.

I think if you actually re-read my post you will see that it was not about the delay, it was about the constant "it will ship next week" using one excuse or another. I didn't even mention the fact that they charged my credit card 3+ weeks ago, even though they had no idea when things would ship.

As for my previous attempt to purchase from them, again if you re-read my post, I stated I had assumed the delays were due to Eibach, not Wheeler's.

 

[Tricio69]

Supply chains are all messed up. Sounds like you went overboard if he dropped you as a customer that easy

I really wish people would actually read a post. Again, this was not about supply chain, that I understand. It was about made up excuses. If they simply told me that it would be delayed, no firm estimate on when, I could deal with that. But telling me 4 times over 5 weeks that "it will ship next week" and every time a different reason for the delay...

And if having my order for almost 2 months, having my money for weeks, and making up one reason after another for the delay, only to cancel my order when I simply asked what reassurances can he give me this time that it will ship next week is being "dropped" as a customer so easy, then so be it.

 

[85GT-79FJ40]

Welcome to life in the automotive industry during a pandemic. EVERYTHING is messed up. Many people refuse to work, shipments are delayed from nearly every vendor, some stuff you just plain CANNOT get, and demand is through the roof. I've spent the last 25 years in the industry and I have never seen anything like this. I've ordered a few of the Wheeler's spacers for a few rigs of mine over the years among other things. I bet their still waiting on them! Because they probably come from overseas. I understand not wanting to wait and being upset they charged your card. That practice is becoming less common but I worked for a BIG parts company for 20 years that was still doing it up until about 6 years ago.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Things are this way on the Mopar side of things, too. There are literally dozens if not hundreds of websites under different names, served by the same platform, RevolutionParts.

Issue is several part numbers will indicate IN STOCK, they’ll take your money, they you’ll get a sob story email about how it wasn’t able to be sourced and they’re refunding your money.

So much out there is broken.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tricio69]

Welcome to life in the automotive industry during a pandemic. EVERYTHING is messed up. Many people refuse to work, shipments are delayed from nearly every vendor, some stuff you just plain CANNOT get, and demand is through the roof. I've spent the last 25 years in the industry and I have never seen anything like this. I've ordered a few of the Wheeler's spacers for a few rigs of mine over the years among other things. I bet their still waiting on them! Because they probably come from overseas. I understand not wanting to wait and being upset they charged your card. That practice is becoming less common but I worked for a BIG parts company for 20 years that was still doing it up until about 6 years ago.

I agree and understand that everything is messed up with the supply chain, it is not just in the automotive industry.

Again, the issue I have with Wheeler's is not the delay (although that does stink), it is deception, either from lack of competence or flat out lying. They first told me the rear spacer hadn't arrived, then a week later it was the rear spacer not being there, then it was everything was there but waiting on assembly and now today back to the rear spacer was not there again. EVERYTIME I was told the kit would ship out the next week. This went on for 5 weeks!

Either they are just completely clueless and never really knew what the issue was or they were purposely telling me BS to get me to wait.

IF they had just said, we are still waiting on parts, we will let you know when they arrive, that would be fine. It is what I have to tell customers on a regular basis. It sucks, but that is just how it is now. But to give me incorrect information (either due to laziness or dishonesty) is unacceptable to me.

For all of the people assuming I am some irate auto parts "Karen", you are wrong. I have been patient and accepting all of their different excuses up until today when I get laughed at for voicing my frustration on being given incorrect info and repeated false promises of "it will ship out next week". If this is acceptable customer service to you, so be it. I thought this was a forum for fellow 4Runner owners to share their experiences with others, whether it be mods, mechanical issues, advice, or feedback (which was the intent of this thread). Maybe I was wrong.

 

[4wheeldrivesmatter]

The guy is just venting since he just kept getting the run around week after week. Rather than the company just being honest from the get go, they kept telling him a different thing. Week after week

Sounds like poor customer service and constant false information

Yeah, production of many things have been impeded. Just say that. No need to lie and keep saying it’ll be shipped when knowing it won’t

Sounds like a shitty company if they can’t even be honest

 

[Dynamo]

The guy is just venting since he just kept getting the run around week after week. Rather than the company just being honest from the get go, they kept telling him a different thing. Week after week

Sounds like poor customer service and constant false information

Yeah, production of many things have been impeded. Just say that. No need to lie and keep saying it’ll be shipped when knowing it won’t

Sounds like a shitty company if they can’t even be honest

Yep.

 

[Daikon]

I’ve ordered a few big ticket items from them and have never had an issue.

King shocks
Camburg ball joint UCA
Camburg uniball UCA

 

[hallcs]

EVERYTHING is backordered

It is Crazy out there. I ordered a recliner from Lazy Boy last year, first it was May of 2021, then june, july, august and now october is a maybe. I went to buy a dishwasher the other day, NO local places stock them now, home depot, best buys, menards, I found one Lowes still had in the back so I bought it. It is easy to get frustrated but every place is trying to stay in business. I didn't believe Lazy boy so I called around and every furniture store told me 18 months to get a new recliner. I think it will get worse and worse. Sadly if you give up your place in line and your item will be sold at a higher price, plenty of peole waiting.

 

[Bellatidusskyebeur]

It's a waiting game, regardless if you spend under 100, or over 5k. It gets to you when it gets to you. In the meantime, go out and hit some trails. Continously calling, checking on your order status isn't going to make it ship faster.

 

[riptundra]

Many industries have been backlogged and if you push for an ETA on an out-of-stock item you will get the information available at that time. And that information changes week-to-week due to supply chain and transport delays.

I, unfortunately, have a 3rd row 5th gen and wanted more ground clearance. Wheelers were extremely patient and informative on the phone with expected lift measurements and rake rates. I am very happy with my wheelers lift purchase and the detailed information their sales staff provided to help me select the right springs for my wants.

 

[mrblah]

in 2021, you're money and time don't mean much these days.

Prepare to wait like everyone else, or pay super high prices for things that are in stock, but don't call it hyperinflation, because thats just imaginary.........(sarcasm).

 

[somenoise]

in 2021, you're money and time don't mean much these days.

Prepare to wait like everyone else, or pay super high prices for things that are in stock, but don't call it hyperinflation, because thats just imaginary.........(sarcasm).

Hyperinflation isn't imaginary but it's a lot more severe than what's going on now. It's more like "i went to buy bread and there was a line to buy $100 loaves of wonderbread, when yesterday the same loaf cost $50" than the current "i have to wait a few months to buy items with a lot of steel or microchips at 10% more than last year because a miscalculation in production decisions early in a global pandemic disrupted supply/demand".

 

[Tricio69]

Many industries have been backlogged and if you push for an ETA on an out-of-stock item you will get the information available at that time. And that information changes week-to-week due to supply chain and transport delays.

Maybe this is just the thread taking on a life of its own, but I wanted to say again, this is not me blaming Wheeler's for supply chain issues. It is about them not being upfront and honest. In a matter of 5 weeks, going from everything is here, but waiting on the rear trim packer, to everything is here, but waiting on the rear shocks, to everything is here, but waiting on assembly, and the finally back to everything is here, but waiting on the rear trim packer again....and at each time telling me it should ship out the next week (while having charged my card and having my $). Then add them chuckling/laughing when I expressed my frustration with the continued changing of stories.

Not saying that Wheeler's, if they have the product readily available, is not helpful or anything...saying that if there is an issue, don't necessarily believe a word they say..they just seem to want to make you go away and not give you a true/accurate estimate.