Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 06:15:30 -0800 (PST)
From: David Edge
Subject: [imps] Spares Availbility / Quality
This issue is really beginning to make my blood boil. I have spent a small fortune on spare parts that are:I intend to write to trading standards when I have enough evidence because there are many companies currently trading in these components, which are essentially of hit and miss quality. No guarantees are offered let alone honoured.
- not genuine yet come in a genuine parts bag
- poor quality to the point of dangerous failure
- totally inappropriate for the job (mini ducellier dizzy and range
- rover fuel pump etc)
- being sold compenents as new when sometimes second hand, if not the
- reconditioned.
I phoned speedy spares the day after having a UJ professsionally fitted only to be told that their components are of the highest quality from Hardy Spicer to be specific. There was 1mm of movement along one axis of this item, "but Hardy Spicer components never fail sir". Needless to say I wasted money buying and fitting this item.
I ordered components from RJ Grimes once, only to be sent the wrong items. Not only did I not get what I asked for but I was charged nearly £12 for the privilege (20% of the order) simply because they said that their records noted that the customer supplied a part number with the order. I did not because the item does not appear in the catalogue, the assistant simply wrote a 'C' next to the order to shift the blame from himself.
Most other classic car markets have reputable dealers selling good components at high prices and the hit and miss quality stuff can be bought at autojumbles cheaply at the buyer's risk.
Please do not reply to this email informing me that I should be wary of whom I slander. I am quite clear in my own mind of statutory rights and would dearly invite anyone involved to challenge me.
I am simply outraged that people are more at risk from buying a flexible brake pipe than by attempting their own disk brake conversion. Similarly more at risk by fitting a poor quality fuel pump than making a fuel injection system.
Why do we suffer in silence when we place our lives in these machines.
Oh and on one final note I have purchased a set of brake shoes recently and they look like the linings have been fitted with a hand riveter, I have no intention of fitting them.