Just to add my bit to the discussion;
Twice in the last month, VB has sent parts to fellow club members which,
while marked correctly, were in fact not what was ordered.
In the first instance a rear seal was ordered for a RBB w/OD. The seal
package was marked with the correct (according to the catalog) part
number but the seal was obviously for an early 3 syncro tranny. (I got
the correct seal at the local NAPA store, by the way, for less)
In the second case, the owner had ordered two major rebuild kits for his
HIF carbs. The kits when opened, turned out to be "one size fits all"
kits from Beck Arnley. Among the items not included were the throttle
shaft seals and the correct carb to air filter gasket. The gasket was
sized for a 1 1/4" carb!
In both cases, when queried, VB's basic response was "that's what the
book calls for", and they would be glad to send another just like it.
I personally haven't used VB in several years, and my friends
experience keeps reminding me why.
Rick Morrison
72 MGBGT
74 Midget
On Thu, 28 May 1998 17:55:32 -0700 "Lawrie Alexander"
<Lawrie@britcars.com> writes:
>Paul...you hit the nail on the head in your comments about their lack
>of
>people knowledgeable about their own products - let alone able to
>answer
>technical questions about the cars.
>
>That's why we use them only as a "source of last resort"......
>
>Lawrie
>British Sportscar Center
>-----Original Message-----
>From: KILE, PAUL D <Paul.Kile@Aerojet.com>
>To: 'mgs@autox.team.net' <mgs@autox.team.net>
>Date: Thursday, May 28, 1998 7:52 AM
>Subject: Shipping times for Victoria British - slightly long rant
>
>
>>Awhile back someone was extolling the virtues of Victoria British and
>>their rapid shipping. Something to do with the company having a UPS
>>shipping terminus directly across the street. Well, I live in
>Northern
>>California (Sacramento area), and I find their shipping times are
>>abominable, and it's not all due to UPS.
>>
>>I called VB today (5/28) to check on my order, and I got the
>following
>>info. I ordered my parts on 5/20, they were shipped on 5/26 (six
>days
>>to get an order out the door? hmm...) and UPS will take 5-7 days to
>>deliver the parts (not sure if that is "working" days or not). That
>>means that the earliest I could see the parts is June 1st, since UPS
>>doesn't deliver on Sunday. That's 12 days to get the order to my
>door.
>>If we assume worst case (7 day delivery with activity only occuring
>on
>>"working" days) that would mean 15 days from order date to receipt of
>>parts! I'm glad I'm only doing a slow restoration, and not waiting
>with
>>the car belly-up to get it back on the road!
>>
>>I have gotten parts faster out of England (small orders traveling air
>>parcel post) than I have out of the Kansas prairie! Those UPS brown
>>trucks hurtle about so quickly that I am surprised it takes them so
>long
>>to deliver. More disturbing, though, is the long lag time for VB to
>>process and ship an order. No excuse for that in the 1990s!
>>
>>On top of all this, I have no idea of the quality or configuration of
>>some of the items I have ordered ("original" style MGB sill plates,
>for
>>example) until I open the box and look. That's a result of VB's
>>incredible policy of "no knowledge" salesclerks! At least with Moss
>and
>>TRF, it is possible to talk with someone who knows the parts, or who
>can
>>pull the part and describe its characteristics (original quality vs
>>Taiwanese claptrap). VB doesn't even give you the OPTION of talking
>>with someone in the know! I was once told that if I had a specific
>>question, I could send them a written description of my concern and
>they
>>would convene a "committee of experts" to discuss my issue and would
>>respond to me in an unspecified time! What an amazing way of doing
>>business!
>>
>>Well, thanks for letting me rant a bit. Any other denizens of
>>California (or elsewhere) that agree on the snail-like pace from VB?
>>
>>Cheers,
>>Paul Kile
>>
>
>
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