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Victoria British

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I've had good and bad with both Moss and VB. VB got big thumbs down from me when I ordered the fuel line kit for my car. Not only was it missing the required tank fitting and flared end to connect it (despite being "ready made"), but it turned out to be about $10 worth of parts I could have bought at Home Depot and Autozone. I sure hope the water pump problems aren't common though; between Moss, Autozone, and VB, VB was the only one that had the water pump I just put in.
 
Seems to wax and wane... VB has supplied me with transmission innards Moss couldn't a decade back, now that situation is reversed. The side trim is currently inferior from BOTH of 'em (ill-fitting due to a too-wide inner channel).

All very strange. And frustrating.
 
yeah... I've not purchased anything from VB yet. However, they DO have parts that I've been eyeballing for a little while now that Moss does not offer. Just as an example, I'm eyeing a new down pipe for a 1975 MGB w/o catalytic converter, VB's catalog allows me to get just the down pipe; Moss's catalog has me ordering the entire exhaust system... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
 
Twenty years ago I use to buy almost everything from VB. Today I dought I get 1% of my parts from them. Moss has gotten to were they are selling some junk now as well. As for the retail customer I would look at Roaster Factory. For those of you like myself that do this for a living use Engle Imports. Sadly they want sell retail. If it's avalible out of England both these companies stock it.
 
nice! can always use more sources for parts... I didn't know about The Roadster Factory until this thread came around. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
It has been my experence that VB does have a few parts that Moss does not. Just a good to know if you are looking for something strange.
 
Same as Jack. VB has the proper one piece gaskets that go behind the front turn lamp assemblies. Moss doesn't, or didn't when I was replacing them. VB had the bulkhead sheet metal that goes between the trunk and the cockpit. Moss doesn't. That gave me a few interesting moments after I had cut the old one out. I looked in the Moss catalog and it wasn't there. Whew, I'd seen it in the VB catalog.
 
I have always liked VB very user friendly catalog,and the fact that they do carry many parts that outhers don't. That is the only reason that I still do some buisness with them. However I would under NO circumstances would I ever order ANY engine or electronic parts from them. I still order some engine parts from Moss, but I always ask the rep who is the manufactor.
 
I was just browsing "The Roadster Factory" website. They have some nifty stuff there, and seem to be comparably priced on the retail end.
 
It's a shame that the Roadster Factory doesn't stock a lot of midget/sprite parts (esp considering that some of them were true roadsters).
 
Our hobby is no different than any other venture. If you want the best quality, you have to shop. I've been dealing with the vendors for many years, and pretty much know who to buy a specific part from for the best quality. Items such as U joints, bearings, seals, master cylinders, etc. can generally be had through local sources, such as NAPA.
Engine parts come from places like APT, The Winners Circle, or the like. Venolia usually does my pistons, and pushrods come from Crane.
I guess my point is, the good stuff is out there, if you know where to look. If ever in doubt over a source, ask around here for comments on parts you may be considering. I'm sure some of us have been down the same road before, and can steer you in the right direction.
Jeff
 
For some reason the Roadster Factory isn't as popular with us MG guys. Over on the triumph forum TRF is probably the most discussed supplier. I haven't used them since the 80's when I had my own fleet of triumphs.
 
[ QUOTE ]
For some reason the Roadster Factory isn't as popular with us MG guys. Over on the triumph forum TRF is probably the most discussed supplier. I haven't used them since the 80's when I had my own fleet of triumphs.

[/ QUOTE ]

That 'discussion' can often center around their propensity for being 'out of stock' on several items and the dreaded phrase 'back order'.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
VB has some odd bits and pieces that Moss doesn't carry, such as decals. A couple of months ago I ordered about $150 in parts from VB and had to send them all back except for about $20 worth of decals. The rest of the stuff was junk.

Rob
 
Moss sent me entire exhaust system once and I had a heck of a time sending it back to get the right one. VB was a little cheaper. I think you're going to get good & bad from either it just depends on your first experience with them. It would be nice to hold the parts in your hand before you buy them though which is why I have purchased a few parts locally.
 
[ QUOTE ]
For those of you like myself that do this for a living use Engle Imports. Sadly they want sell retail. If it's avalible out of England both these companies stock it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, they do:
https://www.engelimports.com/contact.html

[ QUOTE ]
Retail Contact:
Lee Seiferlein
lseiferlein@engelimports.com
800-581-8188

[/ QUOTE ]

I've had a few dealings with TRF -- good parts, but I've never called them when I wasn't p!ssed off by the end of the call. It's been 8 years or so since I lasted bought from them, so maybe things have improved....
 
Yup - I used to buy from them back when I was in the business -- always dealt with Gary Ilcyn. I thought they only dealt wholesale as well until early this year when I went to their website in a moment of idle curiosity....
 
Concerning Vicky Brit, I was told by one of their supervisors, after complaining loudly about not getting much in the way of customer service, that Kansas law dictates that if they give any kind of advice whatsoever about a part, they then become liable. How true this is I don't know. Have any of you ever been able to get technical advice or even a verbal description of a part. I don't think so. I buy from VB, their return policy is liberal, but you gotta know what you want otherwise you will be disappointed. Interestingly, they do have some unusual items in stock that aren't available at either Moss or TRF. Look closely at their parent company which also markets truck/muscle car parts. Hmmmmm.


Bill
 
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