BuickMike said:Waiting a long time for parts is one thing, but there is sometimes more to the story. How would you feel if a vendor took your money, told you that your part was to be shipped in a week because it is "in stock", and then receive it over 2 months later due to several excuses?? Then on top of receiving it late, you find it banged up and bent to the point that it is not useable because the vendor didn't bother to put ANY packing material in the box? Now you have to pay to ship it back to the vendor who promises a 1 week turnaround because he's going to Fed Ex it back only to receive it a month later in the same box with only half the packing material that you paid for to ship it to him....and I am to be greatful that I can even get parts for my car?? BULLSH*T!!
I think after receiving this kind of service I have a right to complain. I consider myself lucky compared to others.
I agree 100% that the situation was BS, you should have never been treated that way. Thats one of my points, since the amount of buick vendors is so small your options are limited and you are almost forced to put up with that crap. In the LS1 community, if a vendor pulled that, he would be out of business. Its happened before. The LS1 online community is huge, second only to the mustang community (which I have had bad experiences with myself). Buick guys like to think they are the only respectful, trustworthy group out there. And while the buick guys are generally very honest, polite, and helpful, every transaction I've had with the LS1 boards has been just as good. The nice thing is because the community is so big and the website I frequent (LS1tech.com) is so professional if there are problems many people get involved to resolve it. If a vendor is screwing people, other vendors actually help the victims out! They know theres several other places you can get the same parts and if they don't treat you right you will go elsewhere.
In my years in the buick hobby I dealt with almost every buick vendor. I had some good experiences (RJC, Alkycontrol, maybe another, can't remember) and several bad experiences, which I won't name. But lets just say my worst experiences were with the most respected and popular vendors. It was crazy, everybody talked these guys up and I use them and get substandard service. EVERY motor I had built was wrong, even my Nick Micale motor, who everyone said was the best, had a very stupid mistake, which I even asked Nick to specifically check (like I should have to, come on!). I had better luck dealing with members than any vendor.
Tom---thats cool, time sure does fly! I'm gettin' old! I'll call you up when we get some stuff going, I'm setting up a dyno day in Tuscola, and hopefully we'll do some more street racing. Don't turn the T into a race car, you will regret it. Leave it as is, its too nice. The most I ever enjoyed my car was when it was just a bolt on 12 second car, it went downhill from there.
