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Triumph Specialty was Triumphs only

To: "Michael D. Porter" <mdporter@rt66.com>
Subject: Triumph Specialty was Triumphs only
From: TeriAnn Wakeman <twakeman@cruzers.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 98 08:36:50 -0800
Cc: <triumphs@Autox.Team.Net>


>
>TeriAnn Wakeman wrote:
>> 
>> I tried to stay out of this one but...
>> 
>> Triumph Specialty and Triumphs Only are not in any way related except for
>> being small independent SF bay area companies specializing in used Triumph
>> parts.  The people involved are completely different.
>
>Triumph Specialty rings a bell--were they the shop that had their front
>door shot gunned, presumably by an irate customer? (!) Read that a few
>years ago in reference to their reputation.... <g>

Yep that's  the company.  It as sold and went into obscurity 8 or 9 years 
ago.  I dwelt with them too.  They had the best inventory of used parts 
that I have ever seen.  I purchased a used heater core and cockpit rail 
cappings from them at very good prices. I think he was giving the girl 
with her newly purchased TR3 a break.  I did run into problems later when 
I needed a head and he sold me the wrong one.  I got my money back by 
stopping the check and producing photographs showing the differences 
between the head he sold me and the correct head.  That is when I became 
a local expert on the differences among TR2 through 4A heads.

I think the owner wasn't a crook.  I think he just couldn't always tell 
which of the almost identical parts were which and sold the wrong part 
too often.  Since it costs a company more to deal with a returned part 
than not selling it in the first place, he added legal jargon saying that 
a part can not be returned and having the purchaser sign it as part of 
the transaction.  So when a mistake happened, the customer was screwed 
and very mad.  Evidently the one with the shotgun got even.  I have also 
heard a story about someone placing glue into the company's door locks.

You do not build a successful company on unhappy customers. Anyone who 
deals with mail order used parts seems to be just asking for unhappy 
customers.  I know I for one would expect something used to be like new 
for next to no money.



>
>Cheers.
>
>-- 
>My other Triumph runs, but....
>


TeriAnn Wakeman             I subscribe to several high volume mail
Santa Cruz, California      Lists and do not read every posting. 
twakeman@cruzers.com        If you send me direct mail, please start
                            subject with TW-  so I will know to read it.

"How can life grant us the boon of living..unless we dare"
Amelia Earhart 1898-1937


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