Well said. Thanks to all who have helped those of us on the list, & best wishes
to all who have the small businesses.
Merry Christmas to everyone, & happy parts hunting.
Tom
"Terry L. Thompson" wrote:
> Yeah, we really should take a lesson when we get poor service like that.
> I've had similar problems with any major parts suppliers Victoria British/
> LMC truck, MAC's Antique Auto parts (Ford stuff), and others.
>
> Sometimes you give into those super-saver deals though.
>
> I had a kit ordered from Mac's and the item was delivered factory direct
> missing one part and included two of another. The VP of sales of Mac's
> himself called me at home to appologize for any inconvenience and had
> the missing part out to me within a week. It's service like that, which
> ultimately decides who you'll purchase the part from.
>
> I'm still waiting on a rubber gasket I purchased from LMC Truck (VB's alter
> ego) about 8 months ago. (It's only $12, but it's still annoying me.)
>
> People that give you consistantly good service do tend to be the smaller
> businesses. Nigel at SpitBits hasn't always had the best prices, but the
> informativeness and the knowledge that I'm getting the right part is worth
> the few extra lucre. (Ask Nigel if something's back ordered and he'll ask
> you in his British accent "Back-ordered? What's that?")
>
> Ted's company "TSI British Imports" is the same way. Small company. Super
> duper service. (Am I the only one that wishes Ted were his next door
> neighbor to give advice on car stuff?).
>
> I'm not trying to put the big three out of business. But I think it's good
> that America's small businesses are regaining a foot-hold in market place.
> I'm really sick and tired of these minimum wage paying warehouse, members
> only clubs, supposedly best buy, 100% customer neglecting, businesses
> making their millions off of the lemming like droves of zombified customers
> that believe every sale advertisement that they read. "Well, it says it's
> the cheapest price ever, so it must be!".
>
> And with the increase in E-trade, I think you're going to see a resurgance
> of the small business owner.
>
> Unlike those large warehouse stores that save you pennies by buying in bulk,
> the small businesses are going to save you money by having low over-head.
> (Few employees to pay. No large warehouse to rent. And if you're purchasing
> out-of-state: no sales tax. And occasionally the same benefits...free
> shipping with large purchases, and preferred customer discounts.)
>
> You'll always have the need for stores where you can drive to at 5:00pm on
> a saturday to get that left handed tapered spanner widget to fix the drip of
> your bathroom faucet. But I hope that more people realize the true value of
> good customer service and appreciate the experience and honest advice of
> people, like Ted Schumacher, to keep patronizing their establishments.
>
> Terry L. Thompson
> '76 Spit 1500
> Maryland (but considering a move to Ohio to be closer to Ted, so he can
> help me install my electronic distributor.)
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