OK, I'll bite. As soon as I'm done I'm pulling out my racesuit!
Charles is about the most misunderstood person I have ever met. There is no
doubt that he is a little different from most of us (after all, I think he
started out to be a librarian). I'll never forget the first time I met him,
at the VTR Nationals in Savannah. I'd been buying TR6 parts from TRF since
shortly after they bought out the Triumph Parts Centre in NY in 1979 or
1980, and I was an enthusiastic customer who had spent a lot of money with
his company over many years. I had even recently responded to his request
for feedback on the idea of a nationwide "chain" of repair shops under the
Roadster Factory banner. In my hands, I had a little kids book that I found
in a Stuckys enroute with a red TR6 on the cover and I wanted to share it
with him, knowing his penchant for stuff like that (remember the Tintin
stuff?). He was a bit standoffish and distrusting, which made it had to have
a conversation with him, and I left wondering about him. Over the years, at
other VTR events, I have again had the opportunity to interact with him, and
it has always been the same. Shoot, last Saturday, I was at TRF and had
lunch with John Swauger and his wife at the Coventry Inn (good food and very
reasonable prices), with Charles in the building. We were introduced again,
and it was still the same. He did warm up a bit as we prepared to leave, and
he was pretty excited when he came outside and looked at the Devin. I may
actually have crossed the line and gotten to "know" him. Frankly, some
people are just turned more inside than others, and Charles is that way. His
writings are just as awkward as his face to face conversations. I believe
it was no accident that he was headed for the safety of the "stacks".
But something happened along the way, this introverted guy bought a TR3.
This was probably his way of getting noticed. I bought my first car, a '68
SS Camaro as an introverted teen looking for acceptance (from both sexes)
and moved into TR's soon after, driving around with my little tweed cap. I
was pretty shy as a teen, and my life experiences have help me to grow into
a different person. I haven't been called shy in many a year, and those that
know me probably don't believe me now! In Charle's case, he fell in love
with the car and it changed his life. He started selling parts almost by
accident, grew a fairly large company and expanded his horizons
tremendously. He has pushed himself way beyond what he ever expected, and
he continues to push himself and try to do more (I.e., the Coventry Inn),
but he is still in a small world there in Indiana PA. Who can blame him for
trying to get us to understand him? His writings, his restaurant, his past
exploits with the TR250 Rallye car, are just examples of trying to be
noticed and recognized (by those he looks up to, his peers I.e., his
customers) for what he has achieved in his life, which I might say again, is
quite substantial. Some people can go on day after day without recognition,
but others need healthy doses of reinforcement. For me, as a commissioned
sales person, the sales rankings and paychecks do nicely. For Charles we,
his customers, are it! Accept Charles for who he is. I applaud him for
developing a company such as TRF. Personally, I would never sacrifice the
in-stock levels of important bread and butter parts, risking pissing off
customers and losing their business, so I could sell some green hoses to a
smaller group of purist customers. I'm more motivated by the green $ , as
are Moss and VB. Charles is seeking to be recognized as the one guy who will
carry on, build the right quality parts and wants to receive recognition for
his efforts. I'm sure glad he does it. I hated those Quintin Hazel, replace
every year ball joints, and I know that I can get black hoses from the other
guys.
So what is the message here? I don't know because I rambled on longer than I
planned on, but remember this. Back in 1977, when I went to my local BL
dealer to get parts, I always had to special order some parts and wait for
them to come in. I had no other choice. TRF's business plan (whether planned
or by accident) calls for not having everything in stock because they have
chosen to set aside only a certain amount of cash for the bread and butter
stuff, so they can carry the more obscure stock, make bulk purchases of NOS
(they have lots of engine TR6 blocks), TR8 Cat Converters etc. and invest
in parts they manufacture. They will have back orders, just like waiting for
BL dealers. I for one, will continue to support TRF. I also buy from the
other guys, and I don't allow TRF to backorder anything for me. I have
choices, and I exercise them, but if TRF has it, that's where I'll get it.
Gotta go get dressed!
Bob Kramer, Austin TX
Hill Country Triumph Club
TR6's, TR250's, TR3A vintage race
rgk@flash.net
>Hi Listers: I do not want to be unkind, but once again I am totally
>astounded at Charles opening statement in the new TRF Christmas sale
>flier I received today.I have never read anything from a CEO that is so
>self serving as his opening monologue. What would we do without
>him---made me throw the catalog away. I feel sorry for his employees.
>TRF is a good company-I have purchased many many items from them. But
>the above mentioned examples are totally turning me away from them.
>Am I alone ???
>Dennis Barr
>
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