New roof rack damage - how to fix?

I received my RCI roof rack today after a couple delays and bizarre re-routing from terrible old FedEx.

I noticed the side rails from the rack were hanging out of the end of the box upon delivery and the powder coat seems to have rubbed off a bit as a result.

Is there a way to fix this without having to send it back to RCI?

 

This is how it looked before I opened it or anything.

 

That looks very minor. Just lightly scuff/clean up the area, then hit it with a rattle can of flat-black. In a few months, you'll forget it was ever a problem.

 

Just noticed this, too.



And this.

Am I being nitpicky and this is par for the course with brand new $1000 roof racks? Or is this unacceptable?

 

I'm very OCD, so it's unacceptable to me. This is what I would do: Email those picture to their customer service dept and tell them you want a discount. Chances are high that they'll knock several bucks off the price you paid. It'll be cheaper for them instead of paying to ship them back, then offering them to someone else at a discounted rate, then shipping them out again.

 

Regardless of what happens with this particular incident, there are spray paint touch-ups in your future if you use them much.

 

My RCI rack was not damaged when I received it. Neither was my UpTop

 

Right, and I anticipate that. But to have them damaged straight out of the box isn’t ok to me.

 

That’s what I figure, too. I emailed them the pictures and am waiting to see what they say. Part of the reason I went with them instead of Westcott is RCI advertised how they use an epoxy coat with their powder coating to make it much more durable than competitors. Now if I’m having to touch things up right out of the box, the whole benefit of the better finish is moot.

 

not sure how comments like this are helpful...

 

Not sure how comments like yours are helpful…

See where OP asked if this was expected @TRDGrey2021?

 

fed ex re-route is always bad news...

I'd save the packaging it came it, contact RCI and ask them...
may have to file a shipping damage claim with Fed EX

you could always Line-X the whole rack...

I agree, it was gonna get scuffed up eventually...but for a NEW rack I'd like it to be perfect when I put it on, then I'd cry when I scratched it myself

let us know what happens

 

Glad you contacted RCI. I would do that first thing with that kind of damage.

 

You bought a roof rack, not a roof rack "kit".

You shouldn't have to work on any factory new product to bring it to 100%.

But poor quality Chinese manufacturing has turned almost everything we buy now into "kits"...

Send it back...

 

I don’t think RCI uses overseas manufacturing

 

That's just the nature of shipping large items like that with UPS and FedEx. It's not any knock on RCI. I'm sure if you email them they will take some money off for you. I certainly wouldn't send those back. Just paint them and call it a day. If you take that thing off the pavement touchups are going to be needed.

 

RCI is made in the USA.

I’ve sent them three emails now and not a single response. I’m incredibly disappointed with them at this point.

 

As I previously said, I’m well aware of touch-ups. As I also previously said, if I’m spending $1000 on a brand new rack, I think it should be in perfect condition when I get it.

I shouldn’t need to touch-up something fresh out of the box.

 

I had a similar issue with my RSG sliders - one got rerouted by FedEx and arrived a few days later. Same damage to the box and the powder coat got nicked. Not RSG’s fault at all. RSG was great, they knocked off $100 IIRC, as I let them know I would touch them up with bedliner spray, and did not need to send them back. 4 years later, I can’t even remember where the ding was.

 

Just tried calling and the office is closed. The recording says to press “0” to leave a voicemail. When I do, it says it’s an invalid selection.

So then I filled out their contact us form on their website to complain about how they aren’t responding to emails and I can’t leave a voicemail. When I submitted the form, it says an error occurred.

This is hands down the worst customer service experience I’ve had after making a large purchase. It honestly feels like they’re ghosting me and/or a scam company.

I know others have their stuff and like it but this is insane to not hear anything back from them and have no other way of contacting them.

I should have gone with Westcott. I was all about being “team RCI” and getting their sliders and everything. Not anymore. What a joke.

 

You can't ship something that large and heavy and expect the coating to hold up. It's great when it does but often it doesn't. That's why you buy uncoated and have it coated locally if you care. Otherwise touch it up and send it

 

No. If a company offers coating as a service, it’s on them to package it appropriately in such a way that it won’t get damaged in transit.

This is customer service 101 and not terribly complicated to understand. It’s part of the purchase. Do it right.

 

You must be new to all of this

 

To internet trolling or the concept of customer service?

 

This is why you buy local & use “local pick up”. If you accepted the package damaged it’s not RCI fault. You should have refused the damage package & let FedEx send it back. Sorry OP

 

To buying large bulky aftermarket parts in the offroad community. Coatings are coatings. You touch them up and move on. You also bought one of the cheapest options, so you get what you pay for. Of course they aren't going to wrap each rail like a faberge egg.

 

I’ll be honest, relentless fab has the best packaging I’ve ever seen…fyi

 

Can’t really refuse a package left on my front porch.

Also, couldn’t see through cardboard to know the extent of damage inside.

 

What “cheapest option” are you talking about? It was $1000. Not the most expensive but far from the cheapest.

If you’re specifically referring to the finish, perhaps you should do some research before trying to make me look foolish.

Had you bothered to check before running your ignorant mouth, you’d see they don’t offer a raw option. From their site:

“Heavy duty black textured powdercoat finish comes standard, plus we take it a step further and coat all racks with an epoxy primer for an exponentially more durable finish”

But hey, cool, guess it’s my fault for going “cheap”, huh internet stranger?