JBJ charging me $110 for chiller nozzles?

[philtheso]

I just bought someone's used 1/4 JBJ chiller for a great price knowing he was missing the 2 elbow nozzles and fittings that screw on top and attach to hosing. I emailed JBJ asking if they would send me replacement parts, as AquaC has done for my skimmer more than once, free of charge, shipping included. I wasn't expecting a $110+shipping bill for a couple of plastic pieces...

Is this normal? This chiller is over $800 new so I would expect better after-sales service. How can they charge customers almost 15% of the initial price for nozzles and fittings that cost them a few of cents to produce?

I'm thinking I'm just going to take the chiller to Home Depot and hope someone there can help me find something that fits. If anyone has any extra laying around, I'd love to buy them. In any case, I'm horrified at JBJ's decision to nickle and dime (previously) loyal customers and thought I would let you guys know.

[MrSandman]

Definitely doesn't sound right. I would try contacting them again or maybe see if an online retailer or perhaps your LFS can acquire them for you.

[username in use]

Originally Posted by philtheso

In any case, I'm horrified at JBJ's decision to nickle and dime (previously) loyal customers and thought I would let you guys know.

Just a point of clarification. You bought the chiller used from a second party, so you are not really a customer of JBJ (formerly loyal or not). You bought it cheap so you could save your nickels and dimes so I wouldn't really badmouth a company for wanting to make their nickels and dimes when the profit margins on the chiller units are probably really small. They need to make the money elsewhere or they won't be in business to sell the first person a chiller for you to buy used. HTH

[philtheso]

No, I have other products from JBJ including a nanocube and ato, so I have been a customer in the past, and even so, I don't think they would give a different answer had I asked the previous ownder of the chiller to call on my behalf. I'm not badmouthing them, just informing others of companys' disappointing service policies in case they ever lose parts. My boyfriend bought an AquaEuro chiller used and also missing the same nozzles, but they offered to send them to him for $12, which is definitely reasonable. If plastic fittings were the way JBJ made the majority of their profits, I'm sure they would've been out of business long before. Now, not only am I not going to buy their $110 fittings, but I'm also going to do my best to avoid their other products in the future. Why wouldn't I buy from a company such as AquaC or AquaEuro that I know for certain will go a bit out of their way to keep us satisfied? Again, I'm not badmouthing anyone; I'm just recounting factual events.

MrSandman, I called them after talking to their chat service and then emailing them, and all three times they told me to pay up. The woman I talked to on the phone actually quoted me a higher price than did the two online reps. I definitely will ask my LFS and am in the process of looking online, thanks :]

[tqpolo]

Originally Posted by username in use

Just a point of clarification. You bought the chiller used from a second party, so you are not really a customer of JBJ (formerly loyal or not). You bought it cheap so you could save your nickels and dimes so I wouldn't really badmouth a company for wanting to make their nickels and dimes when the profit margins on the chiller units are probably really small. They need to make the money elsewhere or they won't be in business to sell the first person a chiller for you to buy used. HTH

Actually the profit margin on these are really high as they are not high quantity products. Which one do you think cost more to make, a $800 home refrigerator or a $800 chiller?

[MrSandman]

Originally Posted by philtheso

No, I have other products from JBJ including a nanocube and ato, so I have been a customer in the past, and even so, I don't think they would give a different answer had I asked the previous ownder of the chiller to call on my behalf. I'm not badmouthing them, just informing others of companys' disappointing service policies in case they ever lose parts. My boyfriend bought an AquaEuro chiller used and also missing the same nozzles, but they offered to send them to him for $12, which is definitely reasonable. If plastic fittings were the way JBJ made the majority of their profits, I'm sure they would've been out of business long before. Now, not only am I not going to buy their $110 fittings, but I'm also going to do my best to avoid their other products in the future. Why wouldn't I buy from a company such as AquaC or AquaEuro that I know for certain will go a bit out of their way to keep us satisfied? Again, I'm not badmouthing anyone; I'm just recounting factual events.

MrSandman, I called them after talking to their chat service and then emailing them, and all three times they told me to pay up. The woman I talked to on the phone actually quoted me a higher price than did the two online reps. I definitely will ask my LFS and am in the process of looking online, thanks :]

I agree with you totally. In these tough times, customer service is key. Manufacturers should be doing everything in their power to retain their customers, especially for something so cheap to replace. I'm not saying that JBJ should provide replacements for free, however, IMO they should not take advantage of a customer for such a cheap replacement part. Regardless of whether you're the 1st or 3rd owner, you're still a customer and the good manufacturers should take care of you if they want you to be a repeat customer.

I've had a JBJ 1/3HP chiller and when the compressor went bad i was told by JBJ that the cost to repair it would be almost cost the same to buy a new one. So what did i do? I went and bought a Tradewinds Chiller.

So anyways, ask your LFS or one of the major retailers here on RC. Perhaps JBJ is more accommodating to a big retailer than with a small consumer.

[TheH]

This is not about customer-service or "nickel and diming", $110 is outrageous. Replacement nozzles for my teco chiller cost me $20 shipped.

The only situation I can see where it might be acceptable, is if they don't have any nozzles in stock and they are no longer producing them. It might cost quite a bit to have someone custom fabricate them; even then $110 is still too much.

I think this belongs in the vendor feedback forum so people can be warned.

[autodave]

My Teco valves(nozzles) started to leak-they are sending me a new pair-FREE-I just had to pay for shipping

[strout]

When my time comes for a chiller,,,,, guess what I won't be buying,,,,,, for the money they just lost on the chiller that I will be getting down the road,,,,,, they could have sent you a bunch of fittings.

[Timanator]

Must be some baller fittings? They Vagazzled?

[billdogg]

If it were me, I would have gone the HD/Lowes route first - no shipping, and i bet they have something that will work just fine for about $1 each - check Lowes first at least around here they have a better selection of pieces parts

[ctmgardea]

What size is the chiller? Or what size elbows do you need? They come with 3 different sizes in the box. Someone may still have the spare ones.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by username in use

Just a point of clarification. You bought the chiller used from a second party, so you are not really a customer of JBJ (formerly loyal or not). You bought it cheap so you could save your nickels and dimes so I wouldn't really badmouth a company for wanting to make their nickels and dimes when the profit margins on the chiller units are probably really small. They need to make the money elsewhere or they won't be in business to sell the first person a chiller for you to buy used. HTH

So if you buy a used vehicle GM..Ford or whoever..then they should rip you off on replacement parts. Don't think so!!. I suspect those nozzles are just standard plumbing parts available at any hardware store.

[philtheso]

The chiller is a 1/4 hp. I went to Home Depot and they said they don't carry them :[

[MrSandman]

Home depot or any hardware store wouldn't carry these. They are specialized nozzles with cone shaped rubber washers and a screw down collar, from what i remember. They are unique to these chillers but they sure aren't worth 110 bucks.

[Bryan]

I replaced mine with 1/2" NPT barb (similiar to picture). O-ring was not needed and it works fine. Just use lots of teflon tape.

[MrSandman]

I think he's missing more than just the barb. He also needs the threaded collar that secures the barb to the chiller inputs and outputs.

[mic209]

Originally Posted by philtheso

I just bought someone's used 1/4 JBJ chiller for a great price knowing he was missing the 2 elbow nozzles and fittings that screw on top and attach to hosing. I emailed JBJ asking if they would send me replacement parts, as AquaC has done for my skimmer more than once, free of charge, shipping included. I wasn't expecting a $110+shipping bill for a couple of plastic pieces...

Is this normal? This chiller is over $800 new so I would expect better after-sales service. How can they charge customers almost 15% of the initial price for nozzles and fittings that cost them a few of cents to produce?

I'm thinking I'm just going to take the chiller to Home Depot and hope someone there can help me find something that fits. If anyone has any extra laying around, I'd love to buy them. In any case, I'm horrified at JBJ's decision to nickle and dime (previously) loyal customers and thought I would let you guys know.

Are you sure JBJ didn't misread your email, and is offering you a different part for that price?

[philtheso]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

I think he's missing more than just the barb. He also needs the threaded collar that secures the barb to the chiller inputs and outputs.

Exactly, except I'm a she! I hijacked phil's account because you guys seem more active than thereeftank.

They sent me this diagram, and I told them I needed parts 3 and 4. They asked $15 for the elbows and $30 for the compression fittings...EACH. I then called to confirm and the lady told me the compression fittings were actually $40 each, not $30. I think I'm just gonna buy them off AquaEuro for $12. They look similar so I'm hoping they'll fit.



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Thanks for the support and advice, guys!

[TheH]

Yeah I got two sets of the TECO equivalent for parts 3, 4, 5, and 6 for $20 shipped.

[grigsy]

Wait, WHAT??

$110 plus shipping for two chiller fittings??!!!

That is just highway robery.

You should call them up and seriously complain.

I have had chiller fittings sent to me from a few different manufacturers for chillers I have owned throughout the years, and I can never say I paid more than $30 a pair.

[Paulairduck]

thats just insane, NO WAY!!!

[James77]

Originally Posted by Bryan

So if you buy a used vehicle GM..Ford or whoever..then they should rip you off on replacement parts. Don't think so!!. I suspect those nozzles are just standard plumbing parts available at any hardware store.

While it is disgustingly high in price, it is not all that uncommon when dealing with replacement parts. The car dealerships will rip you off on parts regardless of whether your car is new or used . Refrigerators- I have a 2 year old one on which my tenant broke the little meat drawer, they wanted $95 plus shipping for the plastic drawer, when the fridge cost $275. It goes without saying that she no longer has a meat drawer .

I would figure out the dimensions on the part of the chiller, and look elswhere online for them. I really doubt JBJ makes that exact part, they are just marking it up after buying it from soemone that bought it from another.....on and on.

[jmolina15]

Originally Posted by philtheso

Exactly, except I'm a she! I hijacked phil's account because you guys seem more active than thereeftank.

They sent me this diagram, and I told them I needed parts 3 and 4. They asked $15 for the elbows and $30 for the compression fittings...EACH. I then called to confirm and the lady told me the compression fittings were actually $40 each, not $30. I think I'm just gonna buy them off AquaEuro for $12. They look similar so I'm hoping they'll fit.



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Thanks for the support and advice, guys!

hello,
i'm in the same situation as you, did the fittings from AquaEuro work?
or did you find another solution?

thanks for any help you can give me!

[philtheso]

No, I never ordered them because the Aquaeuro guy I called told me he was pretty sure they weren't going to fit. I think I'm just going to try to sell the chiller to someone who's better with fixing stuff than I am and just buy another one...buying the fittings from JBJ is out of the question because I don't want to support their evil ways haha :]