Chuck:
I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Jim Leach regarding your problem
that you outlined in your post. Whereas I do sympathize with you concerning
the delay in getting your parts, it is sometimes to be expected when dealing
with cars such as Sunbeams. Believe me, we've all been right where you
currently are and, admittedly, probably felt like busting someone's ass over
it. However, at the risk of sounding like I'm making light of your
situation (which I can assure you that I'm not), this too shall pass. This
is all just part of restoring one of these magnificent machines.
I've been a Sunbeam owner since 1979 and have had many dealings with all of
the major Sunbeam parts suppliers at one time or another. I must say that I
have found Curt to be a stand-up kind of guy. He has helped me out of a jam
on several ocassions and I was grateful for it. I, too, went through a
Tiger about ten years ago that needed some rust repair (not my current
Tiger...) and I purchased all of the necessary body panels from Curt. I
seem to remember that there was a bit of a delay on getting some of the
panels but, as I understand it, if Curt had trouble getting them, then
practically every other supplier would be in the same boat. When the panels
did arrive, however, they were good quality pieces and were worth the wait.
All I can say is that, even though you are upset about it now since you are
being held up on you restoration project, this is probably just the first in
a long line of delays that you'll have to deal with. Fortunately, we do
have several really good parts suppliers out there for our cars and, in my
humble opinion, Curt is one of them. I would seriously recommend that you
guys try to "patch it up" if possible because he very well could be of
considerable assistance to you during your project.
By the way, Chuck, tell us a little about your car and what you plan on
doing with it. Is it a Mk1, 1A or a II? Are you doing it for show or as a
driver, or maybe some vintage racing? I don't know where you are located in
Texas, but I'm not too far up the road from you in the OKC area. If you
ever see that you are coming through here, let me know. We could possibly
get together and swap some Tiger stories!
Take care and good luck with your Tiger,
Andy Walker
B382001600
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Keding" <mhp@flash.net>
To: <tigers@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2001 11:48 PM
Subject: Crappy Sunbeam Parts Dealer
> If you don't want to hear my negative opinions about Kurt at Classic
> Sunbeam, don't read on, but I have to share the crappy attitude and
service
> that I have received from Kurt to try to keep other owners from wasting
> their time, effort and money dealing with an amateur. However, if you
want
> to save yourself some agravation, read on.
>
> I called Kurt (Curt fits quite well) on January 21 to order floor pans,
> rocker panels, frame patches, trunk floor, etc for my rust laden tiger
only
> to find out that he was "temporarily" out of stock on some of them. He
said
> that he was getting a shipment of body panels in two weeks (1st lie). I
> then called him two weeks later to ask him if he had received the
shipment.
> He said he hadn't but that they should be there in a few days (2nd lie).
I
> called back in a week or so and he said that the shipment was on its way
but
> he hadn't seen it and that it should be in any time (3rd lie). This has
> gone on and on and on............each time with a different delay (lie).
>
> I called three weeks ago and he said that the parts were in customs but he
> expected them out any day. Last week I called him only to find out that
he
> had broken his leg when he slipped on the ice (by now I suspect anything
he
> says). I respected his dilemma and gave him some time (weeks) to deal
with
> the broken leg. He said his son was coming home that weekend and that the
> parts were there and his son would unload them (again, truth or fiction?).
> I gave him an additional week and a half only to find out that he had
still
> not unloaded them. His wife took the information on the parts I needed
and
> said he would call me back. That was three days ago. No Phone Call!
>
> HERES THE PROBLEM:
>
> I called him today to ask him about the parts and said that I had been
> waiting on them since January 21. His reply was "you know I'm not really
in
> the mood for this".
>
> I don't care what kind of day he has had or what his problem is, but it is
> totally unprofessional to reply to a customer in that manner. I have
always
> been courteous to him and there is no excuse for that kind of
unprofessional
> behavior. He has cost me three months of delay on my restoration only to
> cop an attitude with me and acted like it was my fault. His attitude
> maddens me even more than the lack of parts.
>
> Please, Please, Please DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH HIM UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES.
> He is not deserving of our business.
>
> Now I have to find a REAL business from which to buy my parts. Any
> suggestions for body panels? I know Rob Martels' parts are supposed to be
> good. Is there anybody else you would recommend?
>
>
> Thanks very much
>
> Irritated in Texas
> Chuck
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