Campbell-Nelson Auto Wrecking

[Alex Kowalski <akowalsk@shrike.depaul.edu>]

Here is my experience with Campbell-Nelson Auto Wrecking (advertised in 
the back of European Car) in Washington state:

My '84 4KQ fried two wires in the harness about two weeks ago.  I popped 
the fuse-relay panel to find bad corrosion peeking out from inside.  All 
of the engine electronics do not work and the car is blowing fuses in 
weird places for no reason.

So....

I called Campbell-Nelson and gave them the Audi PNs for the fuse panel 
and the ignition module.  They told me $100 for both (much better than 
the $600+ (!!) quoted by my mechanic for new factory parts, if they 
work).

Gave them a credit card number.  They couldn't give me the total right 
away as they had to pull and weigh the parts for shipping.  Gave them the 
phone number of myself and my girlfriend so that they could call the next 
day to tell me the total.  They said 5 days UPS from Washington to 
Chicago.  This was a Monday, so I figured probably Tuesday of next week 
at the outside before they arrive.

No telephone call the next day.  Ok, I thought, they probably have 
shipped them and just forgot to call back to tell me the total with 
shipping.  No problem.

Next Tuesday comes.  No package.  I call Campbell-Nelson and get someone 
other than the person I initially spoke to.  I described the situation 
and he said (at 4:00 pm) that he'd have to check with shipping to find 
out if the order shipped.  He would call me back soon.

No call.

Called again Wednesday (after waiting till my UPS guy usually comes to 
check).  Got the original guy.  Guess what?  They never shipped my order, 
lost it and the credit card #.  Where is it now, I wonder -- scrawled on 
the men's room wall?  

Mysteriously, he finds the order a few minutes later buried under a stack 
of papers on his desk.  I become politely irate and suggest that they pay 
the shipping 2-Day Air to me.  He agrees.

I received the parts; they look like they're in good shape, no corrosion 
and clean.  I'm feeling better, but losing my order and CC#, leaving them 
floating around the office, and no call-backs is inexcusible in my 
opinion.  Not again with them unless there are no other alternatives.


Best Wishes,
Alex Kowalski
'84 4KQ