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MGA Vic Brit - - - - Moss - MGA parts

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PAUL161

PAUL161

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Just checking on some parts used on an MGA comparable to my TF, I found that Victoria British wants $139.00 for an early turn signal switch that they "discounted" from $149.95? Moss wants $109.00 for the same switch in the Classic Gold line! Why would someone buy the Vic Brit switch? There are other price comparisons in Moss's favor! Plus, you get to talk to people who know what your talking about. JMHO. PJ
 
I'm going thru the engine on my B. Looked thru both catalogs online. Came out about $5 difference on the items I needed, bearings, gaskets timing chain, etc. But the shipping was about $5 different the other way. So it was equal.

You've just got to look at both and compare. Some items go one way, some the other. Availablity (in stock?) and time as well as quality are other things you need to watch as well. It can be a real toss up.
 
Well, since Moss is a sponsor here.........
 
Dave_W said:
I'm going thru the engine on my B. Looked thru both catalogs online. Came out about $5 difference on the items I needed, bearings, gaskets timing chain, etc. But the shipping was about $5 different the other way. So it was equal.

You've just got to look at both and compare. Some items go one way, some the other. Availablity (in stock?) and time as well as quality are other things you need to watch as well. It can be a real toss up.
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Well, I have to agree with you Dave on the prices bouncing one way or another. Quality depends on who made the part. I've dealt with both and I have a tendency to lean toward Moss for quality. Plus, they've treated me good over the years on correcting any problems I've had at no cost to me but a little time. Also, I get stuff from them normally in 2 days. Nice bunch of guys! PJ
 
I've actually tended to buy from a local guy who is a Moss distributer, but, when I started this I would order from the VB sale catalogue. Actually, ordered some trim rings this round of the sale, but priced out some other stuff and even the sale price at VB was within pennies of the regular Moss price. Lately I've seen folk ordering from the UK as shipping and prices actually are cheaper. go figure.

One critical thing though is that VB have NO technical knowledge. They employ operators who take down part numbers. If you need any advice, Moss (or one of the smaller specialty dealers) is the way to go.
 
I agree with Dave and Paul, look at the total parts cost plus shipping.

I do a spread sheet with the part number, description, order quantity, price and extended price for each part and for each vendor. I do the research on-line at their web sites and copy and paste. It doesn't take very long. I have Moss, V-B, and I've just added LBC (Little British Car Company), on the spread sheet. I also have a local guy who is a Moss distributor. He gives a club (Green Country MG Register) discount from the Moss price (which takes care of the local sales tax). Unless there is some specific reason to purchase an item from a specific vendor, I usually go with the lowest <span style="font-style: italic">and best</span> total cost. I also tend to support my local guy, just to keep him in business should I need him <GRIN>.

While you can see a substantial price difference between vendors for a specific part (68-74 1/2 MGB BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, DUAL LINE, NON-SERVO: Moss [Classic Gold] 180-766 $129.95; V-B 7-514 $99.95; LBC 180-765 $135.96; Range ~$35.95 plus S&H), if you go for a number of items the total cost difference, including S&H, can be very small.

I don't want to hi-jack the thread, but speaking of Moss Classic Gold brake master cylinders, I read some of the Triumph folks have had a problem with Classic Gold brake MC's for TR's (apparently, cheesy parts that don't fit/work very well). Has anyone had problems with the Moss Classic Gold brake master cylinder for the 1972 MGB roadster (as in example above)? I need to get a replacement for my badly leaking master cylinder, and I was leaning toward the Class Gold unit. I don't rebuild hydraulics very well and I've had professional mechanics tell me it's easier and better to purchase a brand new one, rather than a re-manufactured unit. PM me your response if you prefer.
 
And then there's guys like Gordon Strickland at the The B Hive, who works beyond the comfort zone of most vendors, he soures alot of his parts outside the big two or three, attend trades shows in the UK yearly to keep himself abreast of new offerings, and was actually a factory tech, so he can tell you how to fix it as well.
 
You'd be surprised what VB stocks that's still made in the UK while others source parts from China. I bought leaf springs (UK made) for my Triumph that fit perfectly and sit right for less than other suppliers. Most list them as NLA.

Just my 2 cents.
 
LBCs_since_1988 said:
You'd be surprised what VB stocks that's still made in the UK while others source parts from China. I bought leaf springs (UK made) for my Triumph that fit perfectly and sit right for less than other suppliers. Most list them as NLA.

Just my 2 cents.
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VB is Moss biggest customer, so you tell me, personaly I don't buy from VB anymore, it's more about the way they treat their dealers, but also it's the unknowledgable order takers and also lack of carrying uprated parts, sorry not going to use bi metal beaings, no name gaskets sets, and split cam bearings and other el-cheapo offerings in my engines. Then don't get me started on their shipping over charging. I do this stuff for a living, and you all can have VB, I pass.

Stuff like what I mentioned above is why I started offering engine rebuild kits, I fiquired there were people out there like me who wanted to do it right, and wanted the absolute best parts they could get, which is not one stop shopping with any vendor, I deal with normally about 3-4 different sources to get the good parts I put into one of my inhouse engines or one of my engine rebuild kits. I started the service mostly to help guide people in getting the same quality parts I would use in one of my engines and then a help them with technical advice thru the rebuilding process. I'm not technically in the parts business, I think of it more like a service, I get you the best parts at the best prices, so it would be the same if you knew what to buy an where to buy it, so in short I'm not peddling parts off my shelf and telling you how great they are, I offering service to seek out the best parts, and no vendor or parts guys will influence me to not supply you with what I would use, I represent you, not the vendor. It turned into about 30-40 engine rebuilt kit a year business, so I guess there was a need for it.
 
mgbsteve137 said:
.......Has anyone had problems with the Moss Classic Gold brake master cylinder for the 1972 MGB roadster (as in example above)? I need to get a replacement for my badly leaking master cylinder.
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Steve:

No problems with the Moss Classic Gold master cylinder I put in my '69 MGB last summer.
Works fine.

Oh by the way, welcome!
 
Thank you for the response and information about the Moss CG master cylinder. And, thank you very much for the welcome. I look forward to learning much from the folks on these fora.
 
First of all, welcome.

Second, I've found Moss to be excellent to deal with. I have several of their MCs on my cars without issue. Basil posted a note about this that is worth reading.
 
Although I have not bought MGA parts from either, I have bought MGB, Sprite Midget, Big Healey and TR parts from both for many years. I have to stand up and represent for VB, my experience they are sometimes cheaper and sometimes lower quality, but most of the time you get the same darn part from either one, and sometimes you can score big, when I ordered my big bore kit (87 mm pistons and liners) for my TR4a I got a set from Mahle, very high end supplies for Ferrari and others, or at least did last I checked.

I have had similar experience with customer service with both, I know what I am ordering when I get on the phone, so it doesn't bother me that their order takers (VB) aren't brit car people.

Also, being in the middle of the country I have to wait the better part of the week for Moss parts, VB often arrives the next day, so I like them because they are convenenient for me, would hate to see them go away.

Lastly, if rebuilding a motor or transmission I would not order my bits from either but would go to specialist to make sure I got parts that the vendor knows are good quality, sounds like that is what Hap W. is doing, and that is in my humble opinion the way to go for those do it once do it right engine and gearbox rebuilds and repairs.
 
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