I have met Charles on only one occasion as I was passing through Armagh
in 1996, Bob's read on him fits to what I remember. But that doesn't
matter one bit with regards to my preference for TRF.
I look at the purchasing of parts as how I can best supply my car with
what it needs to be what I want it to be. (talk about a convoluted
sentence). Price has a lot to do with it, as does the timeliness of
receiving those parts. In some cases, I don't care if the parts get
here in a couple months or even longer. And if they don't make it, I can
still get them for what I would have paid if I originally went with
another supplier. However, by planning my purchases around the sales
and in a quantity (dollarwise) to avoid shipping or at least minimize
it, I find that TRF prices can't be beat. If I am wanting a single
part, or just a few, then there are other alternatives including the
Moss supplier locally who doesn't charge the shipping, but works closer
to retail. Another alternative is the British Parts Connection, who
deals mostly with Moss, but passes along the supplier discounts. Or even
Victoria British.
Today, I received a TR3 Autumn Clearance Sale Flyer from TRF. Since I
was planning on making a purchase in January for parts needed on
TS81802, I went through it and found about $150 worth of parts which
would have cost me over 200 if I waited another month or two. The same
parts through Moss would have been about 235. It will cost me 11 to
ship it, but it still saves me 20% more.
Whether I read or don't read what Charles has to say has no bearing on
my selection of a supplier. Whether I agree or don't agree with what he
says has no bearing on my selection... My opinion of his personality
has no bearing... You get the picture. I would like to think that most
people are the same way. If not, then there might not be the
camaraderie that is on this list. I might not answer or ask a question
of someone because I don't like the way s/he presents her/him self
through email. (And I can say that there are some out there that I feel
that way about) But we are all part of the Triumph "family". Just like
I put up with the gaff from a family member or friend I just ignore
(read: delete-key) that I don't want to accept or be bothered with.
If you choose not to purchase original or made like original or quality
parts then, feel free to throw the flyer/catalog or whatever away. Then
write or call TRF and ask to be taken off their list. I am sure they
would like to save the $2-4 it costs to maintain your name on their
list.
As always... my .02 worth (although with inflation it might have been
.05)...
Later,
Carl F. Musson,
You can't tell which way the car went
by just looking at the road...
TR3A's - TS25264L ('58 Almost Daily Driver)
& TS81802LO - ('61 Concours d'Wannabe)
Tampa, Florida (USA)
http://www.arts.usf.edu/~musson/triumph/
<http://www.arts.usf.edu/~musson/triumph/>
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Kramer [SMTP:rgk@flash.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 1998 6:26 PM
To: Dennis Barr; triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: TRF Sale
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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