Well, I guess experience with parts suppliers vary all over the lot. I recently
had a bad experience with TRF where they chose to not tell me parts were not in
stock, in spite of them being advertised specials, and in fact, after I
complained, they told me the particular wipers and arms had not been in stock
for
three years. The man I spoke with was disinclined to pursue any kind of
solution. Very indifferent.
After I canceled my order for the rest of the MIA pieces, I ordered the same
from
Moss, got them the next day, and they were the same brand as supplied by TRF.
What's this all mean? Probably that the only experience to rely on is your own.
Bud Osbourne wrote:
> Just wanted to update the List about my quest for a left, rear, inner wheel
> arch panel for my '73 (RWA) Midget. Some of you will remember that I
> contacted Moss Motors, to see if they would/could get one for me, even
> though it was not listed in their catalog. Although their response was
> prompt and polite, they claimed that the panel was "not currently available,
> although we do have a right hand panel". That's it. No offer to order one
> from BMH Ltd, or any other option. Another vendor, trying to offer me at
> least SOME help, stated that "that particular piece is unavailable in the
> US". Huh??? I have to assume he meant that no one in the US stocks it.
> Now, I'd already contacted BMH, Ltd and confirmed what I strongly suspected:
> Yes, the panel is currently available and in stock. So, why does Moss try
> to deny the availability of a particular part, which they certainly have
> access to, for a customer waiting with cash in hand? I can only suspect
> that, due to the relatively small market potential for RWA rear inner rear
> wheel arch panels, they've decided that it's not sufficiently profitable for
> them to bother with (unless, of course, they can get the panel from one of
> their aftermarket producers at a much lower cost and sell it to unsuspecting
> US customers at the full BMH price, like I suspect they do with some other
> panels).
> Now, I don't do any half-assed sheet metal work and I'm determined to use
> the correct panels (I'm using a NOS BL fender that I bought at Import
> Carlisle several years ago). So, I e-mailed my friends at a nearby Triumph
> and MGB supply house and asked if they'd have BMH add my panel to their next
> stock order. They said "sure, no problem". In fact, when they e-mailed
> back, they'd already called BMH and ordered the panel for me. Remember,
> this outfit stocks and lists NO Spridget parts (although an affiliate of
> theirs does produce high quality carpet kits for late 1275 and 1500
> Midgets). They've told me they're not quite ready to add the Spridget parts
> line to their business because, when they do it, they want to have the
> capital and personnel on hand to do it RIGHT. I haven't gotten an answer
> from them yet about whether or not they are willing to accept specific, BMH
> part number orders for Spridget parts. So, I'm a bit hesitant in naming
> them. I've been a good customer of theirs for years and I've sent them a
> lot of new customers, too. I also loaned them an unmolested, low original
> miles Midget for them to use in producing their carpet kits and they may
> have taken my order to further express their gratitude. I don't know, for
> sure.
> However, if you've got any Triumph model, or an MGB and you are tired of the
> same old bullsh-- from Moss or the inferior, oriental crap from another
> nationally known supplier: contact The Roadster Factory, in Armaugh, PA.
> They still understand the true meaning of SERVICE and they treat their
> customers like, well, like they'd like to KEEP them as customers. What a
> concept!
> Their MGB catalog lists both the correct, BMH body panels and the
> aftermarket panels on separate pages, with different part numbers and at
> different prices (instead of ONE part # and price for whichever panel,
> genuine or aftermarket junk, that ---- is currently making the greatest
> profit on).
> Safety Fast!
> Bud Osbourne
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