On the subject of new parts that don't fit...

[61frogeye]

Hey Shawn,
FYI: I installed new rear wheel cylinders from Moss in my 60 Bugeye recently. The casting is warped or somehow misshapen since neither one would slide in the slot in the backing plate. About 20 minutes per side shaping that area flat with a file solved the problem.

 

[nomad]

Well, Shawn, I hope you will be stepping in for the complaint department at Moss that I asked for many moons ago. I realize this is a problem inthe whole british parts industry not just Moss. Whether the problem lies with motor heritage or where I don't know but I am continually amazed that the industry accepts parts from supplier's that don't look anything like the originals and would suggest that you keep an original part on hand for reference for everything. I've worked on several cars, have several parts cars and have reached the point that I avoid ordering new parts like the plague. I spend a lot of time on ebay looking for NOS and robbing parts off parts cars.
That mentality does the parts industry no good and devalues the cars that are still on the road. Rubber parts seem to be the most aggravating. Right now I would love to be able to buy a new early steering rack but suspect the parts as not being anything like original so I will tear apart a couple of old ones and see if I can make a good one.

Kurt

 

[RickB]

Amen Kurt, that's why I have a 63 Midget parts car and am looking to get a late 70's parts car as well. Original parts, even used, are better than things that are new and shiny but don't fit.

Shawn, I hope you don't get weighed down.
I am quite sure the vast majority of parts supplied by Moss are right and correct, I have ordered and received correct parts and they worked great.

It's the exceptions that get the attention.

 

[Guest]

I realize this is a problem inthe whole british parts industry not just Moss. Whether the problem lies with motor heritage or where I don't know but I am continually amazed that the industry accepts parts from supplier's that don't look anything like the originals

...and poor quality is RAMPANT!

It's a shame when 3M 8001 will hold a mount together 100 times better than it came out of the box.

I got TWO sets of brake drums that looked like Bell experimented with them as a recording device, not to mention the screw holes were drilled off.

Shawn, I can assure you, all here will be more than happy to help y'all weed out the bad stuff and offer corrective solutions, myself especially.

There's lots of talented folks on this site. If a problem can't be solved here it can't be solved.

And I'm not just talking about automotive stuff either. :wink:

 

[tomshobby]

Yep, glad to see someone here we can communitcate with. I stopped ordering from Moss due to lack of customer service. Things got bad enough that I asked for contact info for the head honcho...which I was repeatedly denied. Needless to say that only made the situation worse. VB may send me crap or the wrong part every once and a while, but they immeadiatly send a replacement without any BS or making me jump through hoops. They haven't ever hassled me with having to send the bad/wrong part back. It's one thing to make good on a bad part w/o hassle, it's a whole other level when you're willing to take a hit rather than inconvience a customer. That's what I call service!

I hear you loud and clear.

Shawn

I happen to have experience working with Shawn and know first hand that he does care. We have worked on a couple problems and he is currently helping one of our MBCG members with a bumper bracket for his early TR2.

Recently he connected the Moss R&D Dept with me to work on another problem.

 

[Guest]

[Recently he connected the Moss R&D Dept with me to work on another problem.

Awesome, it's about time someone did something.

Dave, I had the same problems with the w/c's on my '79.

Shawn, I hope you don't get weighed down.
.

I have a feeling the poor guy might get buried alive. Maybe we should send him one of those rescue beacon things. I'm sure somebody here has one.

 

[The_architect]

Yeah, I do. I bought it from you-know-who and guess what?
Just kidding
Charlie

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I do. I bought it from you-know-who and guess what?
Just kidding
Charlie

:lol:

 

[Guest]

Yep, glad to see someone here we can communitcate with. I stopped ordering from Moss due to lack of customer service. Things got bad enough that I asked for contact info for the head honcho...which I was repeatedly denied. Needless to say that only made the situation worse.

Shawn, I neglected to mention, this was all over a two dollar and thrity eight cent part. I was in the parts business for about 15 years and I never lost a customer on a return reguardless of price, especially if it was our fault.

It was supposed to be a metal shim but was a tiny rubber block about 3/16" square that the packing was mismarked. I couldn't imagine it costing more than $.50. I have no idea what it was. All I wanted was the right part. There was no need to charge me again to send the correct part, nor expect me to cover return shipping and wait for it to be exchanged. I needed it then.

Needless to say, I was shocked to be given such a hassle over such a small sum. It would have cost more in postage and insurance to return it than the original price.

I bought some of Moss' parts from a Moss distibutor that were bad. I was having problems with them accepting a return. When I called Moss, I was told I couldn't send it directly back, that I had to go through the distributor who wouldn't honor it. I was stuck in the middle and no one would help me. I always got the feeling from Moss they felt they were doing me a favor by taking my money.

I bought a $80 set of performance brake shoes from VB. After just a few miles one shoe started to flake apart. I called up and was told a new set was on the way and not to bother sending them back. I would have been happy with just one replacement shoe. I changed the one shoe and now I have three new ones as a back up.

Guess who got the 3K I spent after that?

In all fairness, I find Moss has slighty better quality parts than VB, however; I'd rather take an initial chance with quality from VB since all problems will be dealt with immeadiatly.

Shawn, you have no idea how glad I am to see you here, even if only just to hear us out. I say all this not to bash Moss, just to let you know what's going on.

Thanks for caring. :thumbsup:

 

[ShawnC_at_Moss]

I just ordered an EASY button from Staples. I am hoping it works as advertised. I could really use it.

In all honesty I understand your frustration on all levels. I have had issues first hand with some parts as well. An email or PM probably works best since I don't always get to participate in the forums as much as I would like. My wife doesn't let me do this all day for work then spend my "free" time doing it as well

As for the part in question that started this thread. I have measured stock and they are 1-1/16" thick including the metal backing. Here is a link to a photo.

I can't seem to insert a photo. All it does is put in the code. What am I doing wrong?

Shawn

 

[JPSmit]

I just ordered an EASY button from Staples. I am hoping it works as advertised. I could really use it.

I won't hijack this thread but don't even get me started on Staples! :madder: (suffice it to say the had to ship a laptop out for repair, they needed to send their own box to the store (in Waterloo Ontario) they shipped the box to Ontario California four times! (and the service went downhill from there))

 

[Pythias]

I can't seem to insert a photo. All it does is put in the code. What am I doing wrong?

Shawn

Did you resize it? It can only be so many bytes.. i forget the number, but it's not a lot.

 

[aeronca65t]

Shawn:

To insert photos here.....<span style="text-decoration: underline">first</span>:

1--Go to you Photobucket album (link below)

https://s1144.photobucket.com/albums/o489/mossmotors/

2--Right now, you only have 1 photo in your album; in time, you may end up with many more photos.

3--"Hover" over the photo and you will see four catogories appear below it

4--Move to the lowest catagory (called "IMG code"). As soon as you click in that lowest box, it copies the correct photo URL (plus image tags) to your computer clipboard (temporary memory).

5--You can now Paste that URL into a reply on the forum and a photo will appear (hopefully!....it may help if you cross fingers, knock wood and pray to your favourite Deity!)

Also, speaking for myself, but probably many other too: I appreciate your "hands on" efforts to resolve these problems. I'm a regular Moss customer and your efforts are part of the reason that I am. -- Nial

 

[ShawnC_at_Moss]

Thanks for the clear instructions. I will try them the next time I have to post about a problem part

 

[The_architect]

Shawn, the saddest thing about Moss in my book is that every time I spend 20 or 30 minutes trying to order something on your website, and I get clear to the end, just after put in my order, my email address and password, and attempt to create an invoice I get this popup box that says 'shipping cannot be calculated at this time.' and states that I have ordered something that must be drop shipped or sent by truck.

I cannot tell you how much time I have wasted trying to order stuff from you.

Tonight the order consisted of one choke cable stop, two tenax studs, four lift the dot studs, 10 nylon washers and two oil filter gaskets. "Shipping cannot be calculated at this time'. You're kidding? These widgets have to come by truck?<span style="font-style: italic"> I think not!</span>

But Shawn, your website is basically telling me "F' you, we don't want your money. Screw ya."

Never mind that Moss will charge me something like $10 to mail an envelope of these little old parts that they could probably put in a first class stamped envelope, I accept that. That's life. But, ditching me and my order on account of what I am sure is some kind of a software bug, makes no sense. I have phoned in at least three orders due to this problem, and always mention it to your guys who treat it like its a joke. I have even ordered a few things straight from the UK because I so dread your website.

Now look, surely your computer system can alert you when someone attempted to place an order and they got the 'cannot calculate shipping' message. You have already recorded my order, and I have already logged into your site before I even get this 'cannot calculate shipping' box.

So what would be great is if one of you fellows so armed with this information took five minutes, picked up the phone and called me or emailed me to CLOSE THIS SALE. I would be thrilled to hear from you.

heck, since you were going to triple your profit margin on these tiny widgets just by overcharging me on postage why not? Otherwise you are just sending your business elsewhere. And I hate buying from VB almost as much as I hate buying from a company whose website refuses to take my money.

Regardless, you would be well ahead mend this MAJOR PROBLEM with your website. It has happened every time I tried to order something from Moss for the last year. I just don't have time to order by phone during the day.

Charlie.

 

[ShawnC_at_Moss]

Charlie,
When you have time during your day to show me what's happening to you I would love to see it. I have never experienced this in all the time I have tested the site but we all shop differently, ship to different addresses and such.

You can reach me at 800-667-7872 ext 3225. If I am gone leave me a message and I will call you back. I would like to watch as you place an order and see what happens.

Shawn

 

[The_architect]

Shawn, I will just email you screen shots. I am sorry I don't have time to go through this with you today. Thanks for trying to help. I know it cannot be easy to do customer service online with all of the LBC world watching. I apologize for the rant.
Charlie

 

[The_architect]

UPDATE:

I promised Shawn I would post to let everyone know that we corresponded off-line and he and Moss have addressed a minor software bug that was preventing me from placing an order through their web-based e-commerce site.

That rogue site, without any human intervention, had determined that New York City is in a foreign country.

It may be far smarter than anyone thought. However, this would not explain why residents of California continued to receive parts without any problem.

California, of course, is also a foreign country.

Thanks Shawn,
Charlie

 

[jlaird]

LOL, you guys, funny stuff. One miss placed something in a line of code and wam. you dead.

Nice catch Charlie, nice fix Shawn.

i too have considered that $10 minimum because of the shipping. I'm afraid I just put off ordering then forget what it was. Mostly small stuff anymore.

When someone shouts MOSS in Miss Agathas hearing range all her parts wiggle in pleasure.