4 years ago
After reading a number of disparaging reviews abou...
After reading a number of disparaging reviews about Factory Authorized Outlet (FAO) online, I thought I should post a review of a recent experience of mine to warn others, but also to enlighten them.
I recently bought a JET JWBS-14DXPRO band saw from FAO. The reason why I bought the saw from FAO was because FAO had the lowest price out of all the other online dealers and my local dealer, but also because FAO was fulfilling a manufacturer's promotion from Jet of 10% off the list price. I have to admit that I could have paid a little more money (about $90) to buy the band saw with the same 10% promotion at my local dealer, but I chose to buy from FAO (because of my "always looking for the best deal to save money and buy another tool with that savings" attitude). About 8 days after I placed the order with FAO, I received an email from FAO stating that the item I bought was backordered through the manufacturer, and the new estimated arrival date would be 8 weeks after the initial date I bought the item. At that point, I had two options: either I could wait for the backordered item (on which I received a good sale but was not guaranteed to arrive by any specific date or even be in stock at all), or I could get a refund for my order and buy the same item at my local dealer at full price.
Because of my situation, I called the customer service line at FAO the next day, waited only about 7 minutes, and spoke to a friendly representative. He heard me out, and he gave me some down-to-earth advice about what he would do. He said if I needed the item right away, I shouldn't wait for the backorder to ship (especially when considering opportunity costs.) He said I could get a refund and pay the full price of the item, but I should call my local dealer (or another dealer that might have a better price) to see if they have the item in stock. He said if the other dealers did not have the item, or if they said it was "on order," I shouldn't buy it because I could end up in the same situation again. Basically, he said, if you want to avoid a situation where you are waiting for a backordered item, only buy the item if you know it's in stock. After my conversation with him, he gave me his direct extension and told me he could help me find either a replacement item or issue a refund.
Initially, I was upset at myself because I missed the opportunity to buy the item at my local dealer, but I know that the backorder is not FAO's fault. FAO is a dealer, but many of the big power tools that it sells, e.g. band saws, table saws, jointers, etc., are drop-shipped directly from the manufacturer. FAO may not even see or know the inventory of the manufacturer until they call, or receive a call from, the manufacturer itself. In our world of technology and the internet, we're all desperate to have things ASAP, or our information as up to date as possible. But, like I said above, Jet was offering a 10% promotion on the saw. A number of people could have ordered the saw through various dealers faster than Jet could keep track of the orders online. I'm sure once the promotion was done, Jet had already sold more items than what it had in-stock, and it had to find a way to fulfill the saws to those customers who had already paid and were now waiting. Hence, the backorder. While I'm regretting the situation, I know it's not FAO's fault, but JPW, JET's parent company, and the manufacturer who made a mistake. The lesson is that when ordering online, there is some risk because you cannot inspect the item for yourself. In some cases, a defect on the item may be the dealer's fault, but it may also be the manufacturer's fault, or the shipper's fault. Oftentimes, the dealer takes the heat, but no one complains about the shipping companies or the manufacturer. I will still purchase from FAO, but I may call next time to see if they have an item in stock or if they drop ship from the manufacturer. All of the other items (which have been in stock) that I have bought from FAO, I received in 4 business days or less.