Don’t buy from Mercantile Europarts Inc. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ksing44 · #1 05-31-2003, 08:30 AM

Don’t buy from Mercantile Europarts Inc., because it could turn in to a nightmare like it did for me. I purchased an S600 style Avantgarde grille. They sent me a broken grille, they double charged my VISA, and then they refused to fix the double charge without formal paperwork from VISA. I made numerous phone calls to Mercantile Europarts and VISA, I wrote numerous emails to Mercantile Europarts, I have done all the formal paperwork with VISA, and I registered a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau, but I am still waiting to have the double charge corrected. In addition, they charged me a substantial restocking fee for the returned broken part. DO NOT BUY FROM MERCANTILE EUROPARTS !

BENZ-LGB · #2 05-31-2003, 09:26 AM

I bought a wood gear shift for them and it worked out OK. Based upon our first dealing I decided to buy Euro headlights for my car This is where I had problems.

The lights were not what he had advertised. He had advertised DEPO lights, but delivered TYC lights. Essentially TYC and DEPO are identical. I have compared them side by side and I could see no difference. But IF you advertise brand X you should deliver brand X or advise the customer that you are shipping some other, albeit identical, brand. Then there were some problems witht he packaging, In a word, the packaging was crappy (it is a miracle that the lights were not damaged in transit) I then asked him for instructions regarding wiring and he sent me a piece of paper that was basically useless. Had it not been for this website, I'd not have been able to wire the lights. Then I asked him about euro wipers, and although he promised to get back to me, he never did. The man that I dealt with was rude, obnoxious and an all-around jerk.

Based upon my last purchase I'd not deal with them again. Insted, I'd buy from ImportVision. Their prices are reasonable and at least to me, they are local so I can go and look at the merchandise, decide if I like it, and then save on S&H. Plus I am protected by California's consumer laws, which are soe of the strongest in the nation.

My own 2 cents worth

ksing44 · #3 05-31-2003, 09:42 AM

My grille was also shipped with inferior packaging and that could be why it was broken when it arrived. Although the damage looked like being crushed against a hard surface had caused it before it was shipped. The "mixed" experience you described is simply unacceptable from an E-commerce retailer and my experience was not mixed. It was all bad business. Thank you BENX-LGB for adding to what may be a list of bad transactions, so that everyone will know that it wasn’t me. Mercantile Europarts is the problem.

jsmith · #4 05-31-2003, 11:07 AM

you should be able to contest the double charge with VISA. for bigger ticket mail order items i always make sure it's insured so that there's no hassle. i find that paying extra if need be for insurance makes for a smoother transaction overall...

ksing44 · #5 05-31-2003, 12:58 PM

Yes in deed, VISA and the Better Business Bureau are going to fix it for me. Everything has already been documented and submitted for processing.

#6 06-04-2003, 03:30 AM

I'm the Brother with the 190 Turbodiesel.

I hope this guy gets shut down one day. I bought some Eurolights from Mercantile Europarts as well and it was nothing but a NIGHTMARE. (TYC brand)

The lights were advertised on Ebay I believe as OEM, I made this purchase back in March of 2001 and to this day am stuck with POS headlamps in my 190 diesel.

Here's how it went down-

The first set of lights showed up, in raggedy, inferior packaging. Included with them was as shotty piece of paper with no useful directions at all. At this point, I did not know that my lights were broken.

It wasn't until I had driven 200 miles to my mechanic's shop in GA when he informed me that he couldn't install the lights because some of the cheap plastic clips that hold the molding to the lights were broken. 200 miles there and 200 miles back for nothing.

I furiously called the guy while I was in GA and he refused to admit that he had sent me broken merchandise. Luckily I was able to return the lights to him, but he would not give me a refund, only an exchange. After this initial experience, I no longer wanted to do business with him.

The second pair he sent me were no better. The packaging was inferior and it looked like big bertha used it for a stepping stool. I checked to make sure the cheap plastic clips were intact and they were, BUT, when i got back to GA to install them, the plastic started breaking on them. We were able to get them in though.

The actual lenses inside the lights were shot, because the plastic clips that hold those in place had snapped off. Because I was blinding 18 wheelers with my fog lights, I could not use them. My mechanic had to go in with superglue and glue the lens in place, and to this day it is still glued that way. (when you closed the hood of the car, you could see and hear the lens rattle inside of the housing.)

Now, as if all that wasn't enough. I am getting haze and condensation in my passenger side light. I am fed up with these lights.

I never filed a complaint with the BBB or Ebay, but I would NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER TO THE ONE HUNDRETH EXPONENTIAL POWER RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE TO BUY FROM MERCANTILE EUROPARTS. I'm still waiting for the police to pull me over one day and inform me that my headlamps are stolen.

Between the lines, that was the short version of the story.

I hope I have saved another Mercedes enthusiast the loss of time and money and the frustration that I endured in dealing with this man.

mike690003 · #7 06-04-2003, 10:07 AM

I live in Miami, FL. I live about 2 miles from mercantile. I can tell you that those guys are full of it. They sell inferior stuff at inflated prices. I have to admit that there is only one real honest and understanding worker. His name is Alex, he is the one that I deal with. The other salesmen are so money-hungry that they tell the biggest lies in order to sell a product. These lies would make a car salesman say "Wow". A guy there, told me that the TYC lights were made in Germany!. He also told me that 17x8.5 (et 35)rims will perfectly fit my 300e,(without poking out the sides), Liar Liar! Alex is about 22 years old, the other guys are in their 40's and I have to admit, Alex is their best worker.
If you need something,call and ask for Alex, he will definetly change your mind.