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Really really getting tired of buying junk that doesn't work

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Bayless

Bayless

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The latest was a boot seal that absolutely would not lit the lid close. Then a bonnet release cable that was 4 inches short of reaching the catch. Both of these from a well known supplier who shall remain nameless. I ordered these some time ago and just now got to installing them so it was too late to ask for a refund. After more than a week and several phone calls, I was finally told the yes, if I ordered another release cable that it would be too short also. Then I was cautioned by our local MG guru and a couple of members here to not get their door seals and fortunately, I did not. According to their catalog, they need clips of some sort to hold them on. Others have suggested glue. Thanks to Pythias here at BCF for telling me about MacGregor in Canada. I just got a set of door seals and a boot seal from him and installed them today. The doors close just like the doors on my Beetle, perfectly. The boot lid closes just like it should. Yes, MacGregor is a little higher but his stuff actually works. Finally, I recently got a set of vent window rubber. Guess what, the windows won't close now. The rubber all along the back edge extends too far out of the frame. I think I can fix that with a little belt sander time. Ok. End of rant. I'll see myself out.
 
MacGregor is where I bought the door seals for the 72 I restored. Met him once back in 2006, heck of a nice guy! And yes the seals I got from him were as factory, perfect! (y)
 
Been getting seals and such from MacGregor for likely twenty years. He worked at Abingdon when they started making the MGB. Quite a character.
 
I need a rear end rebuild on my swamp buggy, built on a 68 Chevrolet K10. Ordered the ring and pinion that Jegs web site said was it. Both parts had serious dimensional issues and could not be used. I called and talked to a tech specialist who said I needed a different specific set. Similar problems with that one. Called again and was told those were the only two possibilities. In the interim, I had ordered a pinion (spider) gear cross pin. It was half an inch too short and 1/16 inch too small in diameter. Jegs obviously is not this bad on a regular basis, but I am sure frosted.
Bob
 
I find this to be and ongoing deal with parts. It seems like tolerances are getting worse and worse and things like metric and imperial threads mixed up. I suspect it has more to do with jobbers than sellers and the fact that too much of this goes to the lowest bidder to be made.
 
JPSmit said:
I find this to be and ongoing deal with parts. It seems like tolerances are getting worse and worse and things like metric and imperial threads mixed up. I suspect it has more to do with jobbers than sellers and the fact that too much of this goes to the lowest bidder to be made.
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Agree, BUT if the ordered items don’t meet specs that the sellers ordered they should be refused. Most of the companies that sell us these parts have agents overseas that represent them to insure the manufacturers meet the quality standards. Really, inferior parts should not be showing up to the suppliers we purchase from.
 
Remember the days when we actually saw and touched the items before we bought them?

HomeDepot, Walmart, Lowes, pharmacies, health care providers, big box stores, auto parts, etc. - you go in to get a thing/service, and it's "only available online". So you don't know if it's what you need/want until it arrives.

grumble grumble
 
NutmegCT said:
Remember the days when we actually saw and touched the items before we bought them?

HomeDepot, Walmart, Lowes, pharmacies, health care providers, big box stores, auto parts, etc. - you go in to get a thing/service, and it's "only available online". So you don't know if it's what you need/want until it arrives.

grumble grumble
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But it does arrive faster :ROFLMAO:
 
NutmegCT said:
Remember the days when we actually saw and touched the items before we bought them?

HomeDepot, Walmart, Lowes, pharmacies, health care providers, big box stores, auto parts, etc. - you go in to get a thing/service, and it's "only available online". So you don't know if it's what you need/want until it arrives.

grumble grumble
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On a serious note Tom I think it’s been that way longer than you think.
Remember the Sears Catalog? You looked through the pages, held your breath, and placed an order. The only difference today is pixels vs print.
 
Having the object in-hand isn't always an assurance that its right either - I just last week bought one of those tubing flaring tools from the auto parts store (in person). Its useless out-of-the-box....the part that grips the tube and has the countersunk openings for the flare to form grips the tubing perfectly, but neither side has countersunk openings. Its perfectly flat on both sides.
 
DrEntropy said:
Been getting seals and such from MacGregor for likely twenty years. He worked at Abingdon when they started making the MGB. Quite a character.
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You're sure right Doc. He is a character. I sent him an email asking advice on prices and which to order. Got a phone call from him the next morning that must have lasted close to half an hour explaining what to order and why that particular one. Then he explained why his fit where the big name one doe not. He could talk your ear off to use one of my mother's favorite quotes. Quite a friendly guy and he does quality stuff.
 
Bayless said:
You're sure right Doc. He is a character. I sent him an email asking advice on prices and which to order. Got a phone call from him the next morning that must have lasted close to half an hour explaining what to order and why that particular one. Then he explained why his fit where the big name one doe not. He could talk your ear off to use one of my mother's favorite quotes. Quite a friendly guy and he does quality stuff.
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Character describes him perfectly. We see him every year at our big Show (British Car Day at Bronte Park) He always does a brisk business.

Coming to your comment Elliot I am not sure they have overseas agents any longer - more likely computer scans and jpegs. We also have to remember that people want cheap parts.
 
JPSmit said:
……..
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JPSmit said:
Coming to your comment Elliot I am not sure they have overseas agents any longer - more likely computer scans and jpegs. We also have to remember that people want cheap parts.
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People want parts that work. The approval process is a sign off to produce the part approved possibly with changes/modifications.
 
People want cheap parts that work. Makes sense. A mark of culture for the entire geologic time scale.

But the more stuff we want (that we don't really *need*), the more the suppliers try to provide stuff at low prices and increase their profits.

In the 1960s my dad was personnel manager of a department store (remember those?). He told me the store buys men's suits wholesale for $35 each. But sells them for $200 each. I asked why the huge markup. His reply: no one would want to buy a $35 suit. And if they advertise them as "$200 marked down to $150!), they'd sell like hotcakes.

And most of the customers just like the looks of the suit; they didn't really *need* another one.
 
Miss the parts stores that you walked up to the counter, told them what you need, and they would just go to the back and come back to the counter with the exact thing you needed without looking in the catalog. I now been y the more expensive part as it ( knock on wood ) seems to fit first try. Then I do buy a lot from the UK and pay a little more for shipping to get it right.
 
LarryK said:
Miss the parts stores that you walked up to the counter, told them what you need, and they would just go to the back and come back to the counter with the exact thing you needed without looking in the catalog. I now been y the more expensive part as it ( knock on wood ) seems to fit first try. Then I do buy a lot from the UK and pay a little more for shipping to get it right.
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Now it's "You want a part for a what?"
 
Especially my 64 Plymouth Valiant. A what? A 225ci , is it a V8? It has a trunnion? You sure it isn't a u-joint? :wall:
 
I would like a 340. Would make a sleeper.
 
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