David,
I think I'm just to close to this vendor (emotionally and phsically). I
understand people need to make a profit, but 300% markup seems a little steep,
especailly since I know exactly where they got them from. I do have a
'love/hate' relationship with this vendor, since do love the fact that they are
close by, but over the years, I have bought 'several' items that I was told
would work on my bugeye, but when the time come to bolt them on, they were
either incorrect, or would not fit. For instance, the green door seal I bought
from them, the rubber is so stiff, that I couldn't even close the doors on my
bugeye with it mounted without the bottom of the doors sticking out 1/2" from
the body (not acceptable), even though it looks correct. They also had a set of
rear drums with a built-in 1/8 inch offset that I bought on sale, which I was
told would work, and they wouldn't fit at all with the spridget backing plate.
In any case, I use a lot more caution with this vendor now, and do my research
before buying from them.
They do after all have a good deal once in a while on a part I do need, and
depending on who's working the front desk, can be friendly and relatively easy
to deal with (although it always takes forever for them to 'ring you up' at the
register.
- Bryan
>To: "Bryan Vandiver" <Bryan.Vandiver@eng.sun.com>, <spridgets@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Re: $350 for a 210 tranny!! LOL
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>Bryan this reply isn't aimed at you, but relates to all of the stuff about
>suppliers in general that has been "threading" its way around.
>
>This country works because of the free enterprise system. The profit motive
>is the reason there are any suppliers at all. MM, M*ss, VB, etc. don't
>exsist for one moment because LBC's are cute little fun cars. These
>companies exist because there was an un-fulfilled need. Market demand
>creates an opportunity for profit, market demand dictates retail prices.
>
>Let's take the tranny scenario. Pretend I run ABC Auto Parts. Over 6
>months, I get enough calls, e-mails, etc. asking about a better
>transmission. As the owner manager, I go, "Hmm, seems like if I could buy
>these trannies at $89 and sell them for about $350, I could pay my
>employees, the rent, the phone bill ... and make about $50 bucks net." So I
>buy a couple, put em in the flyer and test the market. If they sell, I find
>more. If they don't, I have a sale on the ones I can't move. If I can't
>make a profit, I go out of business. If I overcharge, nobody buys, I can't
>make a profit, and I still go out of business.
>
>Our role in all of this is to tell the suppliers what we want, buy it if we
>think the quality and price are a good value, and not to buy it if we don't.
>David Riker
>74 Midget
>78 Midget
>63 Falcon
>70 Torino
>http://personalweb.sunset.net/~davidr
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bryan Vandiver" <Bryan.Vandiver@Eng.Sun.COM>
>To: <spridgets@autox.team.net>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 10:30 AM
>Subject: $350 for a 210 tranny!! LOL
>
>
>> I just got the latest sales flyer from my local LBC vendor (Crash you know
>who
>> I'm talking about!) and they are selling used, 'not inspected', 210
>5-speed
>> trannies for $350! They pull these from the same Pick & Pull that I got
>mine
>> from ~$89 plus 20 minutes max to pull. I'm assuming they clean them up a
>little
>> by degreasing (maybe not?) but talk about trying to make a profit :-(
>> In addition, last time I checked, they even want your 'orginal' sprite
>4-speed
>> as a core in return for the River-gate 5-speed conversion they resell,
>which
>> they will then rebuild (maybe not) and resell for $995. Talk about getting
>you
>> coming and going!
>> Sorry to rant, but I just had to get it off my chest.
>>
>> BTW - if you need a 210 tranny, and can't find one locally, I think Crash
>will
>> sell you one for a very resonable price.
>>
>> Regards - Bryan
>>
>
>
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