What is this 'TRF' I hear people speak of?
Oh, I remember! The people who no matter how many requests I've made in the
last 2 years for a catalog-haven't sent me one! Even when the Spit catalog
*finally* came out-they just can't find it in their hearts to send me one.
So, I can't find it in my heart to order from them. I go Dave, Spitbits and
Moss-in that order. (And unsually, it's Dave and Spitbits.)
Btw-even with Moss in receivership, I haven't heard Dave saying anything
about difficulty in getting parts. Yet.
Laura
Vita brevis est: rapide agite, vigore strigate!
----- Original Message -----
From: Keith R. Stewart <kstewart@wwdc.com>
To: Jeff McNeal <jmcneal@ohms.com>; Stephen Hall <shall@fastpointcom.com>;
<spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, May 01, 2000 7:17 PM
Subject: Re: TRF
>
> Jeff McNeal answered To: Stephen Hall Re: TRF
>
>
> >
> > Stephen,
> >
> > I share your disappointment. I requested a catalog for my '67 Mk3 and
was
> > basically told the same thing. I've noticed a real bias in TRF sales
> flyers
> > against Spitfires in general. Bummer. I would be more inclined to do
> more
> > business with them if they demonstrated their interest in earlier
> Spitfires.
> > I'll probably go ahead and order a tune-up kit and new ignition wires
from
> > them, though.
> >
> Now hold on here...where do you get this bias? Basically in North America,
> there are three major suppliers of parts for our cars. Yes I know there
are
> others, but without the three major suppliers from whom the others get
their
> parts, there would be nothing. The exception here is someone like Ted over
> at TSI who comes up with great ideas and has new, modern parts
manufactured.
> But even Ted gets his run of the mill standard items through the standard
> channels.
>
> Now you may disagree, but it seems the three big suppliers are TRF, VB,
and
> Moss. Moss has a catalog for Mk IV and 1500 and can't even guess at the
> three earlier models of Spits. VB has catalogs galore, but have no idea of
> the parts required and the quality always seems to be in doubt. TRF has
> always been reasonable in dealing with the customer; like Moss, only had a
> catalog for Mk IV and 1500 BUT did come out with several other
publications
> that listed many parts for Mk 1-3; uses Standard Triumph/British Leyland
> part numbers, so cross references and any parts can be identified as being
> suitable or available.
>
> When will those in this hobby realize that these folks are our partners in
> this hobby. Without them, most of our cars would never see the road again.
> Read what the British magazines are saying about the situation with Moss
in
> Great Britain going into receivership...they are concerned about the loss
to
> the hobby and the other suppliers, not the fact that there might be a fire
> sale!
>
> How many of those remanufactured parts do you think have been commissioned
> to be re-made by those small suppliers? Who has provided the volume of
sales
> to encourage other major suppliers to take a chance on having a part
> remanufactured?
>
> I have owned my TR4 for over 34 years and I can get parts today from TRF
> that I couldn't get when it was still my every day car! TRF has supplied
> most (but not all) of the parts I needed to bring back to life my sadly
> neglected Spitfire Mk3! TRF supplied most of the parts to my TR4A! Without
> their assistance, these projects would be in jeopardy.
>
> These people are my partners in this hobby. I don't buy all my parts from
> them because I believe in supporting each of these suppliers (and others)
> each year and sometimes because they don't have what I need. However, over
> the years I have come to realize that TRF is committed to my hobby, they
> provide a quality product at a fair price, and they are honest folks to
deal
> with.
>
> Just my $.02 (but since it is Canadian, that makes it worth only about
> $.000000235).
>
> Cheers
> Keith
>
>
> _ _
> | \ / | Keith R. Stewart
> | \ / | 75 Camden Road
> | \_/ | London, Ontario
> | 62 | TR4| N5X 2K2
> | 67 |TR4A| Canada
> | 70 |Spit| Home: (519)660-1916
> __| |Mk3 |__ E-Mail: kstewart@wwdc.com
> | | | | |
> \T \___|___/ H/ (and a 68 Triumph Trophy 250)
> \ R I U M P /
> -----------
>
>
|