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Babbitts Suzuki Partshouse

Rob S.

Rob S.

Forum Guru
Past Site Supporter
Any bad (or good) news to report about "Babbitts Suzuki Partshouse"?

It's been years, and I can't remember anything about the transactions. I'll be ordering both mirrors ($54.35 each) and an engine emblem ($15.31). All three parts have identical part #s for '82 and '83.

I know I might be able to save a few pennies if I checked out all the others (Partzilla, Outlaw, etc.) but I've already got all the Babbitt's numbers and prices written down for both years. One thing I'll be doing new is phoning and attempting to place the order with a real live human. System kept kicking out my orders, maybe it was my address, credit card #, who knows.

Maybe I'll even get lucky and the person on the other end will have the parts in front of them and tell me what they look like. I expect the mirrors to be black plastic, but wouldn't be surprised if the emblem is bare metal and needs painting.
 
Rob S. said:
Any bad (or good) news to report about "Babbitts Suzuki Partshouse"?

It's been years, and I can't remember anything about the transactions. I'll be ordering both mirrors ($54.35 each) and an engine emblem ($15.31). All three parts have identical part #s for '82 and '83.

I know I might be able to save a few pennies if I checked out all the others (Partzilla, Outlaw, etc.) but I've already got all the Babbitt's numbers and prices written down for both years. One thing I'll be doing new is phoning and attempting to place the order with a real live human. System kept kicking out my orders, maybe it was my address, credit card #, who knows.

Maybe I'll even get lucky and the person on the other end will have the parts in front of them and tell me what they look like. I expect the mirrors to be black plastic, but wouldn't be surprised if the emblem is bare metal and needs painting.
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The shop I work at uses Babbit's after Bike Bandit refused a refund or something. I doubt they actually have any parts sitting in front of them. They all do the same thing and get the parts from the manufacturer. If a part is on back order, it wont matter who you order it from, it's on back order for everyone. Babbit's is an actual dealership like Partsoutlaw, which is really Deland Motorsports, a Suzuki dealer about 15 miles north of me.
 
Last winter I placed a fairly large order ($300) with SuzukiPartsHouse (Babbitts) after shopping all the online parts places, prices + shipping seemed to be the best or at least real close to others. I had my online cart full and ready to order. Then I had an idea to call and talk to someone. I did. Explained this would be my first order with them. The CS on the phone gave me a discount code for 10% off my first order. That more that covered the shipping. I was happy. When I got my order, there were some back ordered items (expected) and some missing items (unexpected). It took me a few emails and phone calls over a few weeks to get straightened out. I chalked it up to the bad winter storms in their part of MI at the time, when people were having trouble just getting to work. After I finally got everything I ordered, I got an email letter from Eddie Babbitt apologizing for my order being "affected by some changes made to our warehouse procedures, as well as extreme weather conditions", promised corrections have been made and gave me another promo code for 10% off. Good deal.

I believe the worth of a company is in how they handle problems when they arise. I will order from them again. Now, if the next order gets screwed up, then I'll go elsewhere.
 
I live a couple miles from Babbit's so I'm familiar with the people who work there. The only reason I would go there is because I'm passing it anyway. The employees are a mix of people from my experience. Never dealt with service, but I can tell you the parts counter guys aren't the most knowledgeable. I really hate putting anyone down, that's not my thing. Just don't expect them to be any help technically speaking. They will act like they know exactly what they are talking about and waste your time. That's my experience. That being said, they are always very friendly and have gone out of their way to make things right. Just figure out what you need beforehand and don't let them sway you. They definitely won't have anything you need in stock. Ever.
 
EDGECRUSHER said:
I live a couple miles from Babbit's so I'm familiar with the people who work there. The only reason I would go there is because I'm passing it anyway. The employees are a mix of people from my experience. Never dealt with service, but I can tell you the parts counter guys aren't the most knowledgeable. I really hate putting anyone down, that's not my thing. Just don't expect them to be any help technically speaking. They will act like they know exactly what they are talking about and waste your time. That's my experience. That being said, they are always very friendly and have gone out of their way to make things right. Just figure out what you need beforehand and don't let them sway you. They definitely won't have anything you need in stock. Ever.
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This is why I use them (or have in the past)....local to me. But......this thread is reminding me of a negative review I posted on their feedback machine, my most recent parts order from them was missing the exhaust gaskets I needed, I tried to get them 4 times, twice in person and twice on the phone, each time I was starting over with whoever I was dealing with. I STILL don't have the stupid gaskets, I pretty quickly ordered them off ebay and had them in hand 3 days later....I still need to follow up and get a refund for the parts.....

I got an apologetic email, but no parts and no refund.

Also, their shipping prices are notoriously HIGHer than snoop dogg on april 20th.

So, no, I can't recommend Babbitts.
 
I am also about 20 miles from Babbitts. (bought my 82 GS650G there yeeeeeaaaarrs ago)

Have been there in recent years, in one corner of the dealer is a small office with the "Partshouse" logo, and I have wondered how such could be operated out of such a small office. Could look in and see 1 or sometimes 2 people in there. One time I asked and he said, oh, no, that operation is in that separate warehouse over there, <pointing>, is 20 to 25 people there sorting orders every day.

I think the counter people in the dealer have nothing to do with it. Well, other than if you order for counter pick up, the bag of your parts go over there.
 
Nessism said:
Did you tell them to pound sand?
Click to expand...

No. They charge by the pound.

I checked out some other sites (Partzilla, Revzilla, Bike Bandit); none were cheaper, some were a dollar more per part. Never took it all the way to shipping costs, though. I guess I should.
 
Poke around locally -- there are many Suzuki dealers who have set up a similar online OEM parts stores, so maybe you can find one nearby and get the best of both worlds.

I use https://www.onlinecycleparts.com/ They're actually a large dealer located in a suburb of Indianapolis, maybe 20 minutes from my house.

Prices are about the same as any other, but they're local, so I can choose "will call" and pick up my goodies in person when they arrive. This saves on shipping, plus I get to take a nice ride and slobber on some new bikes. Supporting a local business is also nice.

Plus, they have always actually called me when my parts arrive. I cannot overstate how rare that is; I don't think I've EVER ordered parts anywhere that actually bothered to call when they were supposed to. They seem to be pretty well-organized. I've had backorders a few times, and they called me to check and offer a solution.

In any case, even if you're not from around here, I can highly recommend https://www.onlinecycleparts.com/

Also, if you call or visit a dealer and you have to wake up the parts monkeys, you're going to pay full parts prices. The reason you get a discount online is that they don't have to answer questions or look up parts. If you can't figure things out on your own, expect to pay for the added level of service.
 
Rob S. said:
Almost $40 shipping on a $120 order!
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Rob S. said:
No. They charge by the pound.

I checked out some other sites (Partzilla, Revzilla, Bike Bandit); none were cheaper, some were a dollar more per part. Never took it all the way to shipping costs, though. I guess I should.
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Have you checked Parts Outlaw? Their prices are among the least-expensive, and yeah, they have the typical two-week wait time of most of the online vendors, but their standard shipping is a flat-rate $9.99. Right now, though, they are having a promo on shipping. If you enter the code that is easily found at the top of every one of their web pages (OUTLAW19), shipping is a flat-rate $4.99. There are a few larger items that do not qualify for the cheaper rate, but they are few and far between.

.
 
Steve said:
Have you checked Parts Outlaw? Their prices are among the least-expensive, and yeah, they have the typical two-week wait time of most of the online vendors, but their standard shipping is a flat-rate $9.99. Right now, though, they are having a promo on shipping. If you enter the code that is easily found at the top of every one of their web pages (OUTLAW19), shipping is a flat-rate $4.99. There are a few larger items that do not qualify for the cheaper rate, but they are few and far between.

.
Click to expand...

Thanks much!

Each part was at least a dollar less and shipping was $9.99 total!

Thanks again!
 
Thanks for the reminder!

I haven't pulled the trigger yet - have to wait for funds transfer tomorrow AM. Will definitely do as you suggest and save another $5. Every penny counts.

Many thanks!
 
I ordered a new petcock valve from Parts Outlaw (thanks Steve for the heads up on the $4.99 shipping) on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago, and received it that Friday! Fastest I ever received a part from any of the parts vendors. 5 business days.
 
You lucked out by getting something they actually had in stock.
dunno.gif


Anything they have to order from a warehouse (probably 90+% of all orders) will take another week for them to get it from the warehouse, then ship it to you.

.
 
Delivery times can vary based upon the timing of your order. Many dealers will place a single order with the parts warehouse once a week, to maximize the dollars per order get the best discount. If you happen to place your order with them the day of the week they order, you'll get your parts in probably five to seven working days. If you place it 10 minutes after they place their weekly order, it may take over two weeks to get your order.

If the US warehouse is on backorder from Japan (or, more and more often, China or Vietnam) for your part, then all bets are off on delivery time.
 
bwringer said:
Poke around locally -- there are many Suzuki dealers who have set up a similar online OEM parts stores, so maybe you can find one nearby and get the best of both worlds.

I use https://www.onlinecycleparts.com/ They're actually a large dealer located in a suburb of Indianapolis, maybe 20 minutes from my house.

Prices are about the same as any other, but they're local, so I can choose "will call" and pick up my goodies in person when they arrive. This saves on shipping, plus I get to take a nice ride and slobber on some new bikes. Supporting a local business is also nice.

Plus, they have always actually called me when my parts arrive. I cannot overstate how rare that is; I don't think I've EVER ordered parts anywhere that actually bothered to call when they were supposed to. They seem to be pretty well-organized. I've had backorders a few times, and they called me to check and offer a solution.

In any case, even if you're not from around here, I can highly recommend https://www.onlinecycleparts.com/

Also, if you call or visit a dealer and you have to wake up the parts monkeys, you're going to pay full parts prices. The reason you get a discount online is that they don't have to answer questions or look up parts. If you can't figure things out on your own, expect to pay for the added level of service.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads-up. Need another source other than Partzilla or Bike Bandit.
 
When going through my GS last spring I had a lot of small parts I was ordering from Parts Outlaw. They were cheapest and so I tried them out for the first time. I started to get a little irritated with them because my first order was taking quite awhile. What I had done is made a first order and about two weeks later I ordered a second batch of parts. They must have been keeping track because they held back my first order and shipped it with the second so it took almost a month to get anything. They had still charged me shipping for each order which I felt was BS. Everything I ordered fit in a box about 6"x6"x6". Small stuff. And my first order had things I needed to progress at that point on my project. I really should have called them out on it but I have better things to do with my time. If they have something someone else doesn't have I'll order but that first experience soured my impression of them so I don't care to order from them if I don't have to. It's bad enough having to wait two weeks but a month? That's one thing I can't stand about working on these bikes. I've purchased o-ring assortments from McMaster Carr just so I don't have to pay a ridiculous price and wait for some silly o-rings. Unfortunately most suzuki o-rings are not standard sizes that you can find in industry. I try to find other alternatives for parts where I can also, but it doesn't happen often, unfortunately.
 
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