SK Frustration

[mopac01]

Ordered a couple of items with the Father's Day sale on 6/21. My card was immediately charged but as of yesterday it hadn't even been "entered" according to customer service when I called. I'd called after sending an email a few days earlier that still hasn't been answered.

I understand being backlogged after a sale. But don't charge me if you aren't ready to process my order and ship my items that day. If I don't see some evidence my order is on the way by the end of the week I'm going to file a dispute with my credit card company and it'll be the last time I buy anything from SK.

 

[uncwstudent]

Unfortunately, the SK Steals and Deals got posted on slickdeals.net. As much as I love slickdeals, once things get posted on there, companies tend to get overwhelmed, particularly small ones like SK. I ordered stuff from Steals and Deals before they got posted on SD and got my order within a few days. After it was posted, none of my orders have shipped. Moreover, customer service always responded within a couple of days but I can't really get any call back or emails from them since things got posted on SD.

If it is marked as "pending" on SK's website, they may have already shipped it. They never update the shipping progress on orders and they almost never have as long as I have been ordering from them. You can sign up for Fedex Delivery Manager (for free) and it will send you a text message when someone sends you something through Fedex and it can tell you if a package is in the Fedex network on its way to you. It seems as if SK ships exclusively with Fedex (all of my orders from them have come through Fedex).

I'm frustrated as well but these are the things that I've discovered. Overall, I love SK's tools but the business definitely needs a major logistics upgrade to stay competitive--something which may not matter as much if they get sold. They also need better QC and blah blah blah.

 

[M635_Guy]

That about covers it...

 

[Ign]

Yep I'm also waiting on stuff. It shipped a couple days later per FedEx delivery manager.

I'm waiting on at least 4 packages via FedEx right now -- from SK, RockAuto, Wal-Mart and something else. They are VERY slow compared to normal times, and on at least one they took a page from the USPS playbook, getting it to the nearest hub and then sending it back out across the country.

I'm NOT making excuses for SK but FedEx ***** right now and that may be some of your problem

 

[Rinspeed]

Last order I placed took almost three weeks to ship, not a big deal to me. Also they are not very responsive to emails so I always call if I need some help.

 

[mopac01]

Thanks guys. Overall I think what chaps me most is that they charged me immediately. Charge me when you pull my order and I'm happy to wait. I don't want to go to a restaurant and pay for my meal first then wait 6 hours for them to bring it to my table.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Shipping seems to be crawling everywhere. Even prime is falling behind. One the one hand I want to be charged immediately for the sake of tracking when dollars were spent. This could also be an issue if someone is bad with money and may not have the cash when the card is billed, as they assumed it was already charged. On the other hand, you've had money ******* for 10 days and nothing to show for it.

I'm waiting on an SK order to ship myself.

 

[M635_Guy]

I also ordered during the Steals & Deals (on 6/16) and am waiting. We've all been trained to expect Amazon-like, lightning-fast shipping (me included). I'm guessing Ralph and Barbara in shipping have had a couple tough weeks...

 

[measuredtwice]

Unfortunately, the SK Steals and Deals got posted on slickdeals.net.

Someone is reposting deals from GJ on slickdeals. Obscure hard to find deals that I've posted here have been posted on Slickdeals afterwards by someone other than me. Unfortunately, that usually kills the deal quick. To be fair, GJ members are also posting stuff from slickdeals here.

 

[M635_Guy]

As an update, I got a FEDEX notice that I have packages coming on Thursday. When I look at my SK account, the order is still pending.

Honestly, as much as I want to be annoyed, I'm just not - lol

 

[JRPAviator]

Based on my experience, highly recommend Fedex Delivery Manager with SK. It gets updated as soon as they cut the label. In my case the order was the 18th. Label cut the 25th. Left IL today. Not the fastest but those were some sweet S&Ds. Probably massive order quantities.

 

[Legion Prime]

Yep I'm also waiting on stuff. It shipped a couple days later per FedEx delivery manager.

I'm waiting on at least 4 packages via FedEx right now -- from SK, RockAuto, Wal-Mart and something else. They are VERY slow compared to normal times, and on at least one they took a page from the USPS playbook, getting it to the nearest hub and then sending it back out across the country.

I'm NOT making excuses for SK but FedEx ***** right now and that may be some of your problem

When HASN'T FedEx sucked? I have never had anything but problems with almost every single package I've received from them over the past two decades and across three different states. The last time I got something through them it was three days before it was delivered. Not three days from when it was shipped to be delivered but three days since it was out for delivery before it got delivered. I called FedEx and somehow managed to get someone stateside who was just as puzzled as I was at what the hell was going on with the package before transferring me to the (overseas) CS call center. As best I could figure from talking with them was they didn't give a **** and it would be delivered whenever they felt like getting around to it. It actually did get delivered eventually and it actually wasn't hideously mangled so perhaps they're improving . . . somewhat. If I receive something through FedEx I just stop ordering from the vendor and make sure they know exactly WHY I am no longer ordering from them.

 

[Ton ton]

Maybe you could try a brick and mortar location for SK stuff. Just my 2 cents. That's what I do. Hopefully you can catch the Quality Control problems right away as well.

 

[uncwstudent]

I actually just got a call back from SK Customer Service about a 1/4" LP90 ratchet binding and they are sending me a rebuild kit. I asked the lady on the phone if they were backed up with orders and she said that they were incredibly overwhelmed with orders. Kudos to them for the call back and for being honest.

Their logistics system still definitely needs an upgrade but hopefully whoever decides to purchase them will make that a priority.

 

[Rinspeed]

Their logistics system still definitely needs an upgrade but hopefully whoever decides to purchase them will make that a priority.

I think they are just very short staffed.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Every SK tool order I've placed has been like that. No updates, then I'll get an email from FedEx that I'm receiving something from SK. One arrived today...it's always a little surprise to see exactly what showed up.

But at least they show up, unlike Frank's Tools!

 

[shoeless]

I actually just got a call back from SK Customer Service about a 1/4" LP90 ratchet binding and they are sending me a rebuild kit. I asked the lady on the phone if they were backed up with orders and she said that they were incredibly overwhelmed with orders. Kudos to them for the call back and for being honest.

Their logistics system still definitely needs an upgrade but hopefully whoever decides to purchase them will make that a priority.

Yeah, SOTM order was on 6/9 and and I put in another order 6/23 and the order numbers were 4068 apart.
My SOTM order numbers from 4/8 and 5/7 were 1343 apart.
5/7 and 6/9 were 1636 apart.
So yeah they got a lot more orders than usual in two weeks or so.

 

[Ign]

So from the Father's Day sale I received my soft jaw pliers yesterday. There are still outstanding items -- I don't even remember what, I'll need to check my records.

 

[mopac01]

Well I did sign up for FedEx Delivery Manager as suggested above but they have to send something via snail mail to your house for verification so it's not a "quick fix". And my order from SK just landed at my door. Their website still shows the order status as "pending" and no email with shipping notification or tracking information was received.

While I'm happy to have my order, the process was way more frustrating than it needed to be. And I honestly won't order from them directly ever again. If I can't get something of theirs through Harry Epstein then I won't be purchasing it, discount or not. I'm spending too much money, even discounted, not to get something as simple as a shipping update and a tracking number. Their logistics is awful. And with their possible sale, it might be time to close the book on the SK Tools in my tool chest anyway. Hopefully Wright will pick up the slack.

 

[Retroman]

Still waiting for my small order from 6/20. If I am in a hurry I never order from SK.