For years, West Coast Metric (WCM) was a go-to source for car parts, especially for those undertaking restoration projects. Initial experiences with West Coast Metric car parts were overwhelmingly positive. Orders were placed, and the received parts impressed with their quality, accurate fit, and overall excellent craftsmanship. This positive impression extended to WCM’s policies, which at the time emphasized top-tier quality and included a reassuring lifetime guarantee. Recommendations for West Coast Metric car parts were given confidently to fellow enthusiasts and friends.
However, a more recent experience has cast a shadow on this previously high regard for West Coast Metric car parts. A friend, seeking to source rubber products for their vehicle, was directed to WCM based on past positive experiences. Unfortunately, this recommendation led to considerable disappointment. While some parts ordered were acceptable, others proved to be of substandard quality, with some items being outright unusable. Specifically, the door seals purchased were notably inferior, even worse than the original, decades-old seals they were intended to replace.
Adding to the frustration, it was discovered post-purchase that these subpar door seals were sourced from Brazil and were, in fact, the only option available from West Coast Metric at that time. Crucially, this information regarding the Brazilian origin and lower quality was not disclosed during the ordering process. Furthermore, the warranty policy had apparently changed without clear communication. West Coast Metric now only fully guaranteed products they manufactured themselves, leaving these Brazilian door seals outside the scope of their warranty coverage. Despite being of “junk” quality, these door seals were not inexpensive, leaving the friend with both a poor product and significant installation costs already incurred. The previously relied-upon policy of “best available quality” backed by WCM’s guarantee seemed to be a thing of the past. Interestingly, comparable Brazilian-made bus door seals of good quality were found elsewhere for half the price, highlighting the discrepancy in value and quality offered by WCM in this instance.
Undeterred, another attempt was made the following year to seek resolution from West Coast Metric regarding the unsatisfactory door seals. Eventually, a compromise was offered: a discount on newly stocked German-made seals. Despite the discount, these “premium” German seals remained expensive and necessitated further installation costs to remove the adhesive from the previous seals – a labor-intensive process to avoid damaging the vehicle’s paintwork. Regrettably, even these new German seals proved to be problematic. They were so rigid and ill-fitting that the vehicle doors could not be properly adjusted, requiring excessive force and even causing door bending in an attempt to achieve closure.
Following these continued issues, a high-ranking representative from West Coast Metric personally inspected the poorly performing seals on the friend’s vehicle. Promising to investigate the new German seals on a company vehicle and provide a solution, no response was received for three months. Eventually, at a car show, a different senior representative assessed the situation and offered a resolution: replacement seals and installation by a local representative, at no further cost to the customer for installation – a positive step acknowledging the repeated installation expenses incurred. However, several weeks have passed since this offer, and as yet, no follow-up or further action has been taken. This leaves the situation with West Coast Metric car parts and their customer service in a state of unresolved uncertainty.
