Ordering from Andover Norton (2020)

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have spent the past 45 years dealing with spare parts, from the days of paper books and handwritten changes on the pages. Through microfiche which were almost impossible to see in a bright office. Then later in computerised format with vehicle registration number lookup. I also managed parts departments at one time with £12million stock holding. Just before I retired I ran a major motor factor dealing with cars, vans and commercial vehicles. I have experience of looking up motorcycle spare parts from when I was messing about a lot on Hayabusas

Anyway, the point of this addition to the thread comes about since I got my first Norton, I accidentally, not knowing any better, purchased some stuff from a different supplier and experienced a few difficulties. Subsequent and future orders have been made, and will be made, from Andover Norton. Their website display is almost exactly what I need, I've identified and ordered correctly everything I’ve wanted so far. If there was one little detail I’d like adding, it is where they are not able to supply a part I’d like to see what the original part number should have been - that way I could then go looking elsewhere on the ‘net to see what I could buy. One example comes to mind, I was looking for a new rh handlebar switch unit complete. AN don’t list it or the original number, however I was able to find one elsewhere after a fair bit of looking hard.

shipping to me in the UK hasn't been an issue despite the lockdown as it’s not as if it was mission critical for me to get something immediately, I appreciate that there can be longer delays when shipping abroad. I used to import a lot of Suzuki spares direct from a dealer friend in LA, and watching his tracking I could see how something I’d ordered could leave the States inside 3 days and then spend 10 days in a warehouse here, before they then sent it for me to collect, and pay import duty and a delivery charge - when it wasn’t even delivered to me!
 
Ordered some carb jets on Thursday, delivered this morning
Very happy with the service provided by AN and indeed RGM in these difficult times
 
I can only add to recommendations for Andover. My order was dispatched Thursday last week 30/04 and arrived on my doorstep in New Zealand this morning Wednesday 6/05.
Very user friendly website and great service.

The funny thing was tracking the convoluted path that DHL Couriers used, London UK, Cincinnati USA, Los Angeles USA, Sydney Australia, Auckland New Zealand and finally Wellington.
It didn't slow the speedy delivery, as I ordered BSA parts from another supplier two weeks earlier, and they still are not here!
 
I can only add to recommendations for Andover. My order was dispatched Thursday last week 30/04 and arrived on my doorstep in New Zealand this morning Wednesday 6/05.
Very user friendly website and great service.

The funny thing was tracking the convoluted path that DHL Couriers used, London UK, Cincinnati USA, Los Angeles USA, Sydney Australia, Auckland New Zealand and finally Wellington.
It didn't slow the speedy delivery, as I ordered BSA parts from another supplier two weeks earlier, and they still are not here!
That is a strange route. They normally go London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Auckland.

I have had stuff pre shutdown sent on Monday arrive Friday in Wellington.

The disaster is if the order is sent Britiish Post NZ Post and is large enough to attract customs duty. Then it goes into the black hole that is the Auckland airport mail centre. Whatever they say about timing is a lie. It can easy stay there 10 or 15 working days. The NZPO website says 5 working days but they never achieve that.

DHL and other courier firms can do their own customs clearance so they are fast.
 
Received my AN order today - seven weeks after shipment. No problem, I understand the issues with shipment due to the current pandemic conditions. Now I can start putting together my next AN order list.

As an aside it appears they use "natural material" for their shipping materials. I have never seen bubble wrap or Styrofoam worms used for padding - always corrugated cardboard and other than the individual plastic bags for the parts - no plastic. Not sure if intentional but nice to see recyclable material being used.
 
The use of recyclable material is intentional. So far we haven't found an alternative to the plastic bags containing the actual part, unfortunately, but are still looking.
 
The use of recyclable material is intentional. So far we haven't found an alternative to the plastic bags containing the actual part, unfortunately, but are still looking.

My favorite packing material is the local newspaper, that way you get an insight into a different part of the world. Unfortunately finding printed newspapers is not easy anymore.
 
Plus, we'd have to get one more employee on the payroll to crumple up the required quantities of newspaper!
 
For those of you waiting for for an order from about a month ago. Mine just arrived today. Shipped on the 10th, Post Marked to the royal Mail on the 14th of last month.
With all that was going on, I think it was just a hick-up in the shipping. Nothing to do with Andover Norton.
 
I think maybe things are getting better. My last order took three weeks. AN advised my current order shipped today, May 7. DHL sent an email saying it will arrive on Monday May 11. Will let you know.
 
The delays are due to customs.

I got parts from AN in one week, shipped via DHL. The big shippers, UPS, FedEx, and DHL know how to deal with customs, or have their own Import/Export brokerages.

In comparison, I ordered a part from the UK two weeks prior to the order referenced above, and received it a week later, shipped via Her Majesty's Royal Mail. The hold up, I am sure was with US Customs.

Canadian customs seems to be no better ..... shipped something to someone in Canada, took 2 days to get to Montreal, and 2 weeks to leave Montreal to continue the rest of the journey.

Slick
 
I think maybe things are getting better. My last order took three weeks. AN advised my current order shipped today, May 7. DHL sent an email saying it will arrive on Monday May 11. Will let you know.
It arrived at 1:40pm PDT. Not bad at all, 4 days from shipment at Andover Norton to my front door in Stockton, Ca. By DHL.
 
I think that there is another omission on the Mk3 parts drawings on the A.N. site. I was looking for a kickstart shaft bush that sits in the inner cover and couldn't find it in the drawings or in all of the listed gearbox parts for the Mk3.
So I referred to my "NVT Replacement Parts Catalogue" and it is drawn on the kickstart shaft on the "Inner Cover" drawings, and so found the part number which is 04.0473 and did order one so no sale was lost.
 
Canadian customs seems to be no better ..... shipped something to someone in Canada, took 2 days to get to Montreal, and 2 weeks to leave Montreal to continue the rest of the journey.

Slick

That's because CP is dipping every piece of international mail in a vat of disinfectant
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top