Hot Rods 1st experience with Bob Drake Automotive was less than pleasant.

in the vernacular of the last group of hip people to get passed by, "Wooorrrrrd"

 

I don't sit on the sidelines and criticize and I do make my own parts on many and most occasions if you know me. I just thought it was classless for his people to brag about how it was soo much easier to lay off his staff who were perfectly capable of producing a great product (and he charged a premium at that point for it) which many including me were more than willing to pay for. To ship it all overseas just to make a bigger buck. It made me sick to see all the molds and prototypes on the wall that his machinists had made, to be made no more on our soil, but that is the American way now. What I was pissed about was the cavalier attitude and how much they could make by going overseas.........

 

OK, I've gotta cop to something; I've always thought myself to be a reasonably HIP guy, but I have entered the
"Geezer Zone" so, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT ALL ABOUT!

 

Word of mouth is the best advertising. Maybe ol' Bob should do some snoopin around at work. That's what I'd do.
The son/son-in-law might be slackin........

 

I can certainly identify with your disgust. there are many skilled machinists in this country out of a job because of this nonsense. It used to be a very good trade to be in.

 

Well about 10 years ago the black community ( I think Hip Hop?) when something was true would say, Wooooorrrrrd. I think its been replaced by True Dat.

 

I observed suburban wannabes using "Word" nearly 20 years ago, so it's clearly older than that, even, as by then the expression would "be played out" as it were.

 

Well in that case, what I'm reading here doesn't surprise me. I live near the place and every time I drive by (yes during "business" hours) they look closed..

 

The thing is, do you honestly think that the Bob Drakes, Dennis Carpenters, etc., of the world, decided to go into business to "help" the enthusiasts, further the hobby, etc?

You don't think that maybe, just maybe..they thought "Hmmnn, I can make some money, might even make a good living"?

Hell, you think Ranchers raise beef cattle to "feed the world", or to make money?

The biggest gripe with the aftermarket suppliers (that I normally come across" is "This part doesn't fit, is not made right etc"...then when they call the supplier the response is "that's the first we have heard of it"...

But you can head over to FordBarn.com and see that so many talk about the same parts, get the same answers...IF these guys were doing this )making the parts) to better the hobby, they would fix their molds, retool, etc., not just continue turning out parts that customers complain about...so makes me really think they are in it for the money-as every other business is.

 

"You're the first person to complain."

That's SOP for weasels. Try not to strangle them. It's designed to deflect criticism, the implication that nobody else has a problem with it, you're obviously some kind of nutbag and way out there. Very effective technique in the past, not so much anymore.

One blatant example of defective goods found today, are overseas contact points and particularly the condensers. They are so often defective right out of the box and in large numbers, everybody involved HAS to know they are junk, no way around it. Not a peep from distributors or anyone apparently and they keep selling them.

 

Please show me where I said it was a BENEVOLENT enterprise. I said "serve a need" which is the basis of ALL for profit enterprises. How else would one propose to have someone willingly give you their money, if not for you offering something they need or want.

Entertainers, brain surgeons, tree trimmers, grocery men.....they all do what they do to make a living.....first and foremost. That in itself could well be reason enough to do what they do, but many people also have sought out a living doing something they enjoy doing. It is a sure sign of a small mind when people say things like, "they are only in it for the money", as though that is necessarily, and always, a bad thing.

Prove me wrong....tell me how you do what you do, but not for the money.

Ray

 

I'm not arguing the point that a lot of stuff went overseas, but I have never seen anything where BD bragged about laying off US workers and shipping stuff out. Where's your reference for this accusation? I have read their postings about having to sramp stuff out overseas because there were no longer large enough presses in the US-that's not really their fault and I guess you could then choose "overseas or nothing".

I sent Bob a "conversation" asking him to comment -haven't heard yet, maybe won't. It's pretty hard to make stuff exact fit for 80 year old cars. I think, in general, BD's rep is better than most.

 

I'd honestly never really heard of them till several years ago when I needed a new fuel tank. They were on sale. Lots of firms have the exact part, but the price was right. Decided to call them in person versus order online. Seemed OK to me. They asked if I wanted a catalog along with my order. Of course, I said "yes". They are almost a coffee table deal, works of art, and filled with all kinds of goodies and it's a beautiful thing that there are companies making parts for our old jalopies. I want to order stuff from them, and I don't even own a hot rod.

 

Look, I never said "benevolent", yet, the portion of your reply that I quoted, sure sounds like you feel that...aw eff it...not wanting to argue here.

but will tell you what I do for no money...

Line my buds cars up...I use MY electricity, my welder, my consumables...

I still let them line up, and use MY tools, my air compressor, my sanding discs...

I let them change their oil here, dump in my drums, which I take to get recycled when the time comes.

Why do I do this?

Just helping out.

Plus a few cold ones, but ya asked.

Did you want me to tell you about my free tractor work I do as well?

Naw...Because I happen to be someone who did invest time and money into some things, and I do help out those that need some help, I can dig a 14 foot hole for you, PGE will charge you 500 bucks, , for the hole, another 200 to drop the pole in the ground...hey..I'll help you out if I have nothing to do...give me 5 gallons of diesel, and we're good.

So you asked a question, at the time I did not answer directly, but since ya asked

 

I work on cars for fun.

I work on power plants for money.

 

I'm an accountant by education and profession. I've done business valuations on 40+ established "going concern" enterprises and WITHOUT exception those that lost sight of the reason(s) they were successful were on their way out.

"no longer large enough presses in the US" my ass, you're naïve and the only reason production gets outsourced is because some jackass accountant like me creates a powerpoint that convinces a herd of MBA suits that it makes sense. How many manufacturing/production divisions are shuttered because the short term tax advantage looks far better on paper than reinvesting/upgrading?

Anybody remember RB Obsolete... cost them 17% specific "loss of market" but the increased profit margin made sense in the short term and... out of business 8 years later.

I have a friend doing an Alcoa strategic valuation, anybody know where Alcoa's on paper profit comes from lately?

 

Some one here mentioned about the good deals that we get from the people we deal with and letting them know,you know what I do that, I deal with Dennis Carpenter and Vern one of the parts guys is pretty knowlegable on a lotta stuff and I've told him that I appreaciate his help when I need something,a couple weeks ago I called Catepiller for some forklift parts that he had to look on fiche for it was a bitch when I tore the offending object apart to repair it the parts Jim ordered were right on, I called him up and told him that all parts were bitchen and just right, his reply was thank you I don't hear that much,same with the guys at Chev's of the 40's or Sac Vintage Ford,it pays off, when I call the people I deal with I get service not bullshit.

 

Re original post : I would be more concerned about the truck in your avatar.........

 

Went up there a about 8-10 years ago with my car club 25 cars made the trip to the car show and since we were there we stopped by and were given a "grand tour" by I guess who was the second in command at the time Bob was out of town. As we got the tour of the facility we went into the old machine shop and there were plenty of great tools there, that's when I asked the question of where are the machinists and was given the response that they were laid off and we are so happy with our new endever of shipping all the work out overseas.....he said we still do some of the prototype work but will be shipping that overseas also real soon. We send them a part and they manufacture it. At that point I almost puked JMHO and like I said earlier, most people I know would have paid the increase in cost but like so many in this country now its about how much can I suck out of em...........That's my reference for the rant, I was there.

 

I think this has all gotten into a shouting match, rather than a discussion. A coupe of you fellas are really angry. This started out more about customer service than failure to renovate or upgrade existing facilities all in the name of profit. That may be the case, but there aren't many businesses that can afford to run unprofitably for any length of time-crafstmen/self employed, maybe, but certainly no business of significant size. As far as I can recall, the idea of a business was to make money. If there is something available on a wide market for a lower price-be it stamping a hood or buying plastic bags, it's difficult to justify spending more locally even if you want to. That's not this discussion as originally put forth. If you want to discuss customer service and how it affects us, fine, I'm in. But, if all you want to do is yell at the rest of us about how your point of view is the only one and we're asses if we think differently, well, I've got way better things to do. Enjoy your day.

 

We have had this same topic pop up many times in the last two decades. Same story, Bob has shitty fill rates. Jangleguy worked there years ago...............you know why you always get put on hold? See, there is a call center but Bob only ever staffs one or two of the many phones. That flyer? I have found it to be vaporware, most of the stuff is out of stock. Get enough orders and we will run a batch! I used to order a ton of stuff for a certain customer. I mean I tried to order it. Had better luck with other vendors.

 

I guess that I'm one of the lucky ones NEVER had a problem with Drakes I have bought a lot from him over the years and the quality has all ways been good the last item was 40 door hinges really good and 1/2 the price of the other guy in the Portland area............

 

That's a lot of door hinges!

 

How can you believe that? SAR, brookville and the big 3 seem to be stamping stuff??

 

Dat fo real Bean. You skrate.

 

I believe they were discussing stamping hoods on the long abandoned '40 Ford project. I wasn't aware SAR or Brookville was stamping anything that large and, of course, I could be wrong. As far as I know, the Big Three aren't contracting out their presses and I am trying to remember a story from years ago. Doesn't matter, really. If you're not going to order form Bob Drake, you're not. If you are, or have good experience from past orders, your opinion will differ. Impressions are in the eye of the beholder.

 

I'm not one to shout or even argue for that matter. I just wanted to (maybe) give you some insight as to why folks are angry to the point of shouting (though it does no good.) And I can assure you that it is not my "point of view" but everyone's. I say "everyone's" because (unless you live under a rock) everyone has experienced poor customer service, it is part of the new zeitgeist. Do you like (or know anyone who does?) to listen to those annoying menus when you call to speak to a CS human? Maybe you do, some people derive pleasure from pain. Even so, you would be in a very small minority. Some of those menu's don't even give you the option of speaking to a human. Or even more annoying, you get someone in India who can't be understood because they talk like they have a mouthful of dirt. This, because the corporation has opted to sub out their customer service so they can save a dollar. The corporation doesn't care if you like it or not because they are in it, not just for the money but for every damn penny they can wring out of it at the expense of CS, quality of merchandise, image even their soul. There was a time that the phone in CS absolutely had to be answered on the first ring. I'm sure it didn't always happen but that was the standard along with "MADE IN AMERICA". Those days are gone and "doing the right thing" left with them. So can you, maybe see your way clear to give these guys a pass? We are used to a much higher standard and companies that actually cared. I haven't done business with the company in question but I am thankful these folks are taking the time to report their shortcomings so I can make an informed decision about it. If there were one or two complaints, meh, but between two forums there are many. Where there is smoke......These guys (HAMBERS) that you feel are "yelling at you" are doing the best thing they know how and really the best thing overall. Report the companies who are not doing the right thing and maybe even vent a little. Don't take it personal. This is the best way to send the message to the greedy corporations who cater to our craft. That message being, if you want our business do us right. Does that seem unreasonable?

 

So, we can agree that customer service is pretty much an oxymoron these days, You won't reveal your age or profile (?), but I am certainly old enough to remember when things were better. However, while you describe the Gold Standard of customer service, it sure wasn't universal and Made in America did not always mean the best that could be made. There's plenty of crap junk lying around that was made right here in the USA-quite a bit of it coming out of "Detroit". I think,though, that we can agree that at least it was junk made by our neighbors or fellow Americans and that we were closer in contact to each other , than computer screens, satellites and cell phones have made us today. A business who doesn't consider its customers as its most important asset, will not survive long, regardless of the industry. Corporations, by nature, are generally greedy. And, I don't agree that "everyone's" experience has been bad because there are certainly good or neutral experiences posted here. But, if you have been ignored, lied to or overcharged, you will be posting unfavorably. I concede the point-as long as we stay on topic and those with various experiences respect each other. HAMBer A's good experience is not worth less than HAMBer B's bad experience. We need to hear them both, but it does the discussion no good if the sides don't listen to each other.​

 

I don't know this to be a fact but if he has ten people wanting a item and he has to buy 100 at a time from his supplier, he may run a flyer for this part hoping to get enough orders so he can buy the parts.

 

Maybe he doesn't want to sell it because then he won't have it in stock.