I have been getting acquainted with the forums. This is a similar post to another I recently put up on the subject of scammers. It is good that RJ has these forums, we can all learn a lot, maybe recover some parts, maybe save some people a bad time.
I lost money in bad deals too in the past (not through this site yet) I prefer mainly dealing with locals that have a good reputation for large projects. It may cost more up front at times, but it is usually offset by their help and their advice when needed!!
IMO if someone has a bad attitude its better to move on and find someone willing to be more helpful.
My one friend likes to say you should'nt have to kiss someones A$$ to give them your money! :lol:
Locally JanCen Automotive, Competition Trans, Torrelli Pro Cars, and other locals in Buffalo have given me plenty of helpful advice and great service.
I am just a little guy trying to get by like many, I know they have a lot of customers that spend a lot more $$ then I can afford to and still they are helpful, courteous, and do great work.
I know people that had good luck with Reher Morrison and others, but for me I prefer to have the people locally and when I have a question its much easier to be able to talk or take the equipment for them to see.
Last year Mike Janis helped on a blown motor I was putting together for a project. I had a budget and a deadline, I have put a few motors together but I am no engine builder, and not at a high HP level. Mike is very picky and had me check and report everything about the motor, I bought a set of Dart heads and other parts. As I was assembling and checking I was concerned about the valve springs coming close to binding.
Mike is super busy, he builds top shelf race motors, could of blown me off, could of said some nasty remarks about me not knowing what I was doing, but he did none of that.
Mike had ordered the heads himself, and asked me to bring the heads over. He took them apart in front of me and showed me how to check for max lift and bind! :wink:
Through out the project I would show him parts and Mike never tried to sell me something I did not not need, just what was not up to the task, or borderline.
Likewise Carl Ettipio at Competition has checked transmissions for me and he too shows me and teaches me about what is there.
I bought a used BBC combination (heads, intake, pistons, bare block) from Carl that became my first race motor along with a trans and converter he built for us. That combo performed exactly as Carl said it would.
These guys and others are priced very fairly with the market and the final deal becomes a positive pleasant experience.
As customers we should recognize good service takes valuable time over just selling parts at a low price. Low prices are great but good parts become expensive junk real fast when not put together correctly.
I like to do as much work as I can not just to save some $ but to learn cause at the track or home I may be on my own. When we choose this path we have to be responsible for our actions. If I screwed something up, its not their fault, but being honest with them they will help me out so I don't screw up again.
A parts seller may not make much profit, and does not have much time invested in the customer.
High performance and racing is expensive, I like a good deal as much as the next guy, and IMO the best deal is a fair price for a good product with good service.
This thread was not about these local guys, just showing how good hardworking, honest individuals handle customer relations and build a good business.
I don't expect a busy shop to drop everything at the first instant for me, they are very busy, but they always get back to me within reason. When I started dealing with them I assured them they would never get stiffed on a deal by me. After a while folks like that become more then just people we do business with, they become friends.
Professional means a person got paid for a service thats all, a good backyard mechanic is better to deal with any day then a bad Pro.
A good Pro will take of his customers, and in return his good customers will take care of them. :wink:
Just my opinion.
Carlos