Feedback from someone we provided advice to:-

Good afternoon, Duncan

My son’s Rover 25 that I emailed you about regarding its wheel arches, is currently in the coachworks and I hope to get it back sometime next week.

I wanted to give you some feedback regarding the purchase of the replacement panels (wheel arch repair panels) that may prove useful if anyone else asks a similar question.

I purchased two panels from Car Body Panels 4U at £74.99 per replacement panel and a delivery fee of £15 for “two-day delivery”. There wasn’t an option for a slower delivery service; however, I wanted the panels quite quickly in any case, so the total price was just under £165 and they were advertised as being 'in stock'.

After three days the panels had not arrived, so I emailed the firm. There was no reply. The following day I telephoned them. Nobody answered and the message said it was best to complete the contact form. I did. There was no reply. I phoned again the following day without speaking to anyone and sent another email that went unanswered.

By this time, I had searched for online reviews for this firm, the majority of which were not encouraging.

Starting to panic slightly, I asked my daughter to order me two replacement panels off eBay. I don’t like using eBay; however, as I said I was getting slightly desperate. The panels were priced at £44.99 each with free delivery.

On the following afternoon, I received a telephone call from the eBay trader called Mark Chandler, asking if I really wanted two sets of panels for a Rover 200.

To cut the story short, Car Body Panels 4 U did not have the panels in stock, and bought the panels from this chap. The eBay trader was then sending the panels directly from his business to me. It would appear that the only involvement that Car Body Panels 4 U had in the business transaction was to take an extra £30 per panel, and the £15 delivery fee, and then order the panels from the eBay trader. Car Body Panels 4 U have since increased their price to £84.99 per panel.

The eBay trader assured me that both panels were exactly the same product, and he suggested that I could contact Car Body Panels 4 U and cancel my order with them. As I hadn’t been able to contact them at all in the previous few days, I thought that this would be extremely unlikely. He didn’t offer to cancel the order that had gone to him via eBay, and I didn’t ask, as his contract was strictly with my daughter and not with me.

Anyway, I asked the coachbuilder to check that the panels were ok before he started work and he said that they looked ok. He did phone me on the first day and I thought that he was going to say that they were of poor quality; however, he said that the rust on the passenger side had spread a bit and that he would need to fabricate plates to strengthen that area.

So, the wee car should come back in the middle of next week, and hopefully it is ok.

Thank you for that I was thinking of ordering a new driver side headlight to match my new passenger will have to think twice , I thought euro car parts were selling the wing for rover 25 as well .

It always amazes me how some companies remain in business! I accept they may be short staffed due to the pandemic, but it doesn't take much to sen an email!

Since the eBay trader acted honourably, I think he deserves to have his name
known by the rest of us. Could save us going through some of your aggro!

stay away from the polish guys on eBay as well, 2-3 days becomes weeks and weeks

RoverRevival wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:25 am stay away from the polish guys on eBay as well, 2-3 days becomes weeks and weeks

Disagree there its all about the individual I ordered alfa 159 engine under cover and was there in 3 days you can't call them all ! Alfa want 10 x times the amount and 4 week delivery.

i wouldn't mind if they said it will take weeks, don't lie to get the sale.