Tired of waiting on other people????

Today was just another one of those fustrating days when a vendor promises a delivery and then uses excuse #3 or 4 or 5 why it's not their fault. I've been doing this car stuff a long time, I can do all the mechanical and wiring, engine mount fab, so on and so forth. I can't do body work or paint worth a damn. I just don't have the patience. At times I need an expert to repair something or need a spe******t to tackle something I am not set up for. I needed a rear end narrowed, checked for straight, new bigger ends, and a new set of moser axles. Well, 2 1/2 weeks ago, I placed the order, "no problem buddy", 7-10 days, we'll get that cut today and call in the axle order tomorrow. Oh, by the way, since this a custom order, you need to pay up front. (This is a company with several shops, been around awhile), so I paid the full amount up front. A couple of days go by and I find out that the rear end is still on the ground at the shop untouched. I call, get re***urred and the manager promises me delivery on Feb 9th. 14 days, not 7-10. OK, I get it, no problem. I call on Feb. 9th, was told the housing is there and they are waiting on the axles from UPS. So today, 2 days after the promise, I go by to get the housing to begin my mockup this weekend, a employee tells me the housing isn't there, it's in the back of his bosses truck and he is on the way to L.A., and the axle and his boss should be in monday. My beef with all this is that it never seems to end, others are holding me and others back from getting things accomplished. If this was the first time, or even the second, I wouldn't be posting this. But, this **** goes on all over the hobby, from backorder stuff, (they take the order, send some stuff and then say the rest is backordered.)
From body shops to painters who won't honor a finish date. (Insert excuse number here). I know this is kind of a rant, but I'm sick and tired of it and wonder how many of you feel the same?

 

im diggin it, you cant count on any body these days, sometimes i even wonder about myself. hang in there

 

yeah, it feels good to rant once in a while. Perhaps the direct approach is the best. I don't think these guys can be embar***ed.

 

One of the biggest problems with stuff like narrowing a axle or other small parts, is that a machine shop isn't going to make one of there big clients wait, to do your small part. It ****s, but loosing your small job is a lot less important then a large client. Same with body shops, they will do insurance work before they work on your hot rod. That doesn't make it right, but that's how it seems to work. Back when I worked in body shops, the best one I worked for, when we took in a complete re-paint we would tell the customer that's how it worked. Its going to take a while, because we have to keep our insurance clients happy. Your work will get done, but done as filler. Most people didn't like the owner being HONEST and would leave. But they few that we did, were very understanding and very happy with the work and price.

 

i think this is a nationwide problem as there are many with no integrity in this hobby, which includes piss poor work and "do-overs", like the A hole in Jackson, Ms, supposedly a big engine guy, that put 390 cam bearings in my 427 side oiler, after being told the cam bearings MUST be 427 side oiler cam bearings. MY ERROR for not checking, ruined a new set of roller rockers, requiring an engine pull and complete teardown. The teardown was necessary because when I took the short block back to get the correct cam bearings installed, A$$ wipe left it hanging on the hoist where it was unloaded by an open garage door at the back of the shop. When I showed up the next day, the open lifter valler of the freshly overhauled engine was loaded with dirt/grit blown in through the open door. The A hole wouldn't stand behind any of his work even when shown his error and admitting it.

The good thing is that there are many fine folks in the business that do excellent work. Problem is you gotta sometimes go through the A holes first to find the good guys. Thats one reason sites like this along with cruise-ins and networking are so important. OK, I'm done now....Anybody wanting A holes name just PM me...

 

Tired of waiting on other people?

Yes.

 

I've just given in to the fact that the less you expect from others, the less you'll be disappointed.

 

They have no incentive to finish the job on time now ... they have your cash.

 

isnt everyone tired?

 

Know the feeling. Sent some gauges to be restored, expected turn around 6-8 weeks. That was in November, 2008. In December 2009 they were ready to ship and I paid the rest of the charges. As of today, they expect to ship next week.

 

All of the above (and some more) are the exact reasons I decided over 40 years ago I was going to become as self sufficient as possible.
The result is I now have a 40'X80' 2 story shop with a paint/body work booth, a machine shop area that is capable of everything but the most complicated procedures. I've got a hot tank, boring bar, valve equipment, 2 lathes, 3 drill presses, surface grinder, press, OA,stick,tig, mig welding capability, plasma cutter, 2 band saws, cutoff saw, 2 metal brakes, power shear, gantry crane, 2 large air compressors, floor hoist, 3 pedestal grinders, dozens of electric and air hand held tools and 4 double stack roller tool boxes crammed with hand tools. Not bragging (just think how much beer or drugs this represents), just saying that over the last 4 decades I rely on myself, not some jerks that think I can dance to their tune or do without.
Still haven't managed to own an iron mine or steel mill but I haven't won the lottery yet either so there's still time, as long as I'm still on this side of the gr***.

Frank

 

I know good ones as well, this is not about them, there are good reputable shops and people out there. It's about the a$$wipes who know they are screwing you, smile and ***ure you, then do their ****. That's what I'm tired of.

 

Yeah, this **** ****s. But I was wondering, why the hell is it in a pickup going to LA? Guess maybe you are too.

 

I'm really amazed at how some of these people stay in business! I keep thinking word of mouth will eventually catch up to them and they'll close their doors, but it just seems to go on forever!
I try to do everything myself, but when I have to depend on someone else to do a certain task, or get a part my stomach immediately starts to churn knowing it wont go well! I guess there's some consolation in knowing it isn't just happening to me, but I hate to hear the same horror stories from others!

 

I've gone through this repeadly over the last 20 years. It used to be that you could take a guy at his word. No more! Body shops are the worst. They want money up front and then your project sits forever with the promise, "it will be done by the end of the week". Week after week of waiting

After market vendors are a close second. Most of the parts billed as bolt in reqire some sort of modifiction. Specific to your car really means genaric. You will need to modify.

Even the simplist of items are a problem. Ordered a fan spacer from Derale. Took a month to get here. Despite lable on box arrived with standard threaded bolts instead of metric. Called, promised right bolts in mail. Never came. Called again. Bolts were to be UPS. Never arrived. Called again. Bolts to be UPS. Never arrived. Called again. Bolts UPS. Received two bulkhead AC fittings. Called again. Will UPS. Still waiting.

 

While it can be frustrating, sometimes there are legitimate reasons why this happens. They themselves are often waiting for suppliers to come through.

Few people hold a lot of inventory on hand, too expensive.

If this is the only thing you have to vent on consider yourself lucky and consider the big picture and what it all means in the long run.

Patience is the key word.

 

2/14/11 Frank, Can I come over to your place and do some work? I'm jealous! But happy for you.

 

Today's slogan: "Give me the least amount of quality work for the most amount of money."
That way I am never disappointed!

 

I think the biggest problem is to try commit to a deadline on custom work. There are too many variables. That is not so say that it should take forever, but to promise for example, that your body and paint will be done in a week is crazy. Some people watch too many of those car shows on TV where it is life or death to meet some unrealistic deadline, and expect that in real life. You want it done fast, or do you want it done right? It is a hobby. Hobby cars are expensive toys, not life or death.

 

Never pay for labor up front. If that's the only way they'll do business, you are dealing with a cowboy...take your business elsewhere.

 

Amen - well said.

AND it looks like he paid the full bill in advance. That should put him at the front of the line, regardless of the size of the project.

 

Fellow Hamber's,
I like most of you have been around the car world 25 + years or more and have seen a decline in the services business. I do not have an answer but a few opinions.
1) Generational change,all the old shops are going by the wayside where you could jump in and help,barter for parts/labor,then drive it home.
2) Money,If you have a fat checkbook things get done. Build a decent car hired out and you'll have $50K in it fast.
3) People, either customer or vendor,they cannot ever come together.The customer wants it yesterday and for 10% under cost.The vendor doesn't want to ever turn away a customer so there is 14 cars all needed work on at the same time.
4) Your Word and a Handshake, why can't WE all work harder on this,slow down,enjoy the God given talents we have,have fun,and don't try to make a fast buck every time.

I'm not trying to throw everyone under the bus but,if the shoe fits?

 

patience is the key word here. thirty-seven yrs ago I paid a guy twenty bucks to reverse a corvair box. Got the run around, went somewhere else, and that guy showed me HOW to do it. Fast forward to two weeks ago. My buddy back home calls and tells me he's sending me my parts. Since I didn't know he had any of my parts, I wondered what I was going to get. I open the box, and see a corvair box with my name on a tag. Seems the guys kid finally got around cleaning out the shop and found the box with my name on it. He tells my buddy what he's found, and if I still want it(small town everyone knows everyone). Best part is........ still wasn't reversed. Guess I'll do it myself

 

fab32 nailed it. I also, do as much of everthing as I can myself, and the amount I can do is increasing daily. I heard once where patience comes with age, but for me the older I get, the less patience I have. A man's word use to mean something..a shame that is a rarity anymore.

 

Look out you guys,this one hits a nerve with me big time. I currently want to do a little experiment with some dummy spots that I think might end up having a cool effect. I've got a set of spots in the garage, check, a variety of bulbs and bulb holders,check, but I need to get them out of the garage to see how they go together, and where to drill a couple of holes. Simple yes? Not quite as simple as it seems. You see, I'm a high-level quadriplegic and not even joking I have to get ***istance if I have an itch in my ear. So, I'm currently dictating this post into my speech program knowing full well that although everything I need is here and within easy reach, nothing is going to get done until someone with working hands can spare the time to try and put what is in my head into practice. That'll be my good lady wife, who is busy looking after my youngest son whilst cooking supper (which she will then have to feed me) or my eldest son, who is away for the evening getting it on with his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. I guess patience is a virtue, after all, because all I ever seem to do is wait for someone else.
Keep away from ladders.
Paul

 

It's not just the car world. I work in oil and gas and sometimes we get jerked around for months and I'm not talking small dollars either I regularly buy parts that could fit in a shoe box that cost more than a new car. Pay $100K for something only to get ****ed around for 6 months and see how you feel. When warranted (when I can show a loss) I have started to back charge vendors. They don't often pay but it sure gets their attention and they usually correct the situation. I blame the companies they do not train people correctly. They show the sales people how to punch an order in to the computer and that's it. Back in the days of catalogs the sales rep had to know the product they were selling. There was a time when a good counter man could make good coin but now the chain outfits don't pay ****.

 

Patience is the key word in everything you do in life. Especially when it comes to things you are supposed to be enjoying. Like a hobby.

As you get older you realize that it's all relative. Do what you can yourself and have patience with everything else.
Patience will take you a long way with your family and pretty much anything you are doing with your days.

 

exactly. I wonder what these guys would say about "relative" patience if it was their money and rear

 

You guys are missing the point. Normal has nothing to do with it, and it would not matter if it was my money or rear (or time).

It has to do with how you approach life in general. Relax and live longer.

And enjoy life.

 

I cant stay relaxed when someone intentionally lies to me and jerks me around. THAT'S the point