Am I out of line??

[Shmoov69]

Originally Posted by DOOM

Jimmy I don't think Greg meant it that way.

I didn't think he meant it in a "pocket change to me" kind of way, but I know quite a few people personally that do have that attitude and it really "turns off" the average Joe and helps feed the class warfare mentality. And I'd hate for some on here to feel that way about him because Greg seems like the real deal (nice guy without "that" attitude) from what I see on here day in and day out.
Hopefully no disrespect taken cause none was intended.

Good call on the local guy!

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by Shmoov69

I didn't think he meant it in a "pocket change to me" kind of way, but I know quite a few people personally that do have that attitude and it really "turns off" the average Joe and helps feed the class warfare mentality. And I'd hate for some on here to feel that way about him because Greg seems like the real deal (nice guy without "that" attitude) from what I see on here day in and day out.
Hopefully no disrespect taken cause none was intended.

Good call on the local guy!

Greg Weld would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it! I have first hand knowledge of this . Not to long ago we had a situation with a member that wasn't happy with his car that was delivered and Greg offered pay for the re repair to make it right . And this was no small amount of money either let me tell ya! So for anyone new to this board Greg Weld is one of the most stand up guys you will ever want to meet you would be hard pressed to find a finer gentlman. My dad always said ''If someone has to tell you what they have they have nothing just watch out for the quit guy in the corner saying nothing'' ..

[71RS/SS396]

Originally Posted by DOOM

Wow bold statement!!! So your telling me to go pound sand if I asked for agreement on when I was going to get my engine?? There was a time I thought in my business I was the best collision shop around until I had no cars coming through my doors and I was humbled real fast my friend. Trust me one day you'll think twice about that statement.

Maybe so, but I've been taught some expensive lessons along the way, sometimes the price of admission isn't worth it. I didn't say you wouldn't get an estimated delivery date. I just wouldn't make any guarantees on dates there are too many outside vendors that have to be worked with that don't meet their commitments that we have no control over. I'll play devils advocate and have you look at it from my side, I have 2 half built engines sitting in the shop right now that have been there for 18 months because the guy ran out of money so I'm sitting on $50K worth of parts that are good for nothing but these 2 engines because everything is so specialized when you build an engine like you're talking about. I'm not trying to start a pissing contest I'm just trying to give you some perspective from the builders point of view, we get taken of advantage of as well.

[Flash68]

I was going to bring that point up as well, Tim. How many half finished car projects are out there at various shops? We all know many I am sure...

No one seems to discuss businesses doing checks on their customers. Customers often seem to think businesses should fall over each other to take their hard earned money. Not so much. It's a 2 way street out there folks, especially when you start talking big dollars...

No one is saying this applies to you Mario, but it is a very valid point in the context of this conversation.

[ccracin]

If you went back and looked, Mario said he would setup an account with the money in it so the builder would know he is getting the money. A good quote, then purchase order, and po acknowledgment is all that is needed to make a good deal that also happens to be a contract. As I said in previous posts, my company commits to delivery dates on million dollar equipment and we rely on vendors for everything. It is possible with the proper procedures in place for using the right vendor. The best engine builder ever may not always be a good business person. Happens all the time in many industries.

[ccracin]

Originally Posted by Flash68

I was going to bring that point up as well, Tim. How many half finished car projects are out there at various shops? We all know many I am sure...

No one seems to discuss businesses doing checks on their customers. Customers often seem to think businesses should fall over each other to take their hard earned money. Not so much. It's a 2 way street out there folks, especially when you start talking big dollars...

No one is saying this applies to you Mario, but it is a very valid point in the context of this conversation.

You are correct, most people think it is all the vendors job in keeping them happy. It is absolutely a two way street. The vendor should do everything they say they will and the customer reciprocate with pay the agreed amount in time agreed to. No ifs ands or buts about it.

[syborg tt]

Originally Posted by Dayton

Less? A vendor asked for less money than quoted? Surely this is a typo!
Or, maybe miracles do happen....just not to me.

Nope no Typo here and it was a significant amount.

[Shmoov69]

Originally Posted by ccracin

You are correct, most people think it is all the vendors job in keeping them happy. It is absolutely a two way street. The vendor should do everything they say they will and the customer reciprocate with pay the agreed amount in time agreed to. No ifs ands or buts about it.

Truth!! I've sent "customers" to my competition before because some people are just made for each other!! LOL!!

[syborg tt]

Okay so I will chime in here.

During the day I sell packaging. Here are some of the rules we follow for our customer and if we don't do it right we are fined.

Label must be applied to the shipping ctn 1 1/4" from the bottom of the ctn & 1" from the side of the ctn. If the label is not applied to the ctn correctly you are fined $100.00. Then you are charged a handling fee per box and the product is shipped back to us at our expense. All of these fee's will be automatically be deducted from any checks.

If there is a overshippment it is considered a gift and you will not be paid for it.

If there is an undershipment and no notification was given you are once again fined.

If you are a day late - you are fined

If you are two day's early - you are fined

So the automotive world seems to be the only place that there are no contracts or in most cases an agreement and I believe the blame is on all parties involved Builder, Vendors and the Vendors Suppliers. The engine builder shouldn't have to worry that the guy making the custom pistons will deliver in two weeks vs six weeks.

I will leave the builders name out but tell a quick story. The builder was waiting for a supercharger for months and Sema was getting close. Finally he got frustrated and called a US Vendor received a supercharger the very next day (yes it was shipped NDA). That being said pick the right vendor and there is a good chance you are going to get you parts as promised and when promised.

The entire top half of my LS build came from Edelbrocks. I picked up the phone. Told them my goals and they spec'd the parts I would need and shipped everything the same day my Credit Card was charged.

Then I called Casey at Wegner Automotive. Said here is what I have and what I would like done and he made a few suggestions. He send me a estimate via email ( including powdercoating ) and I sent him my motor and all of my parts.

I received an E-mail that they received the parts

I received an E-mail that the block had been powdercoated

I received an E-mail that they ordered some ARP Bolts

Then I recieved an E-mail that the Motor was complete and he had a truck heading to Nickey Chevy and my Motor would be on the truck and I could pick it up there to save shipping cost.

I was never worried about anything because there was constant communication and I received it in a Timely manor.

[71RS/SS396]

Originally Posted by ccracin

If you went back and looked, Mario said he would setup an account with the money in it so the builder would know he is getting the money. A good quote, then purchase order, and po acknowledgment is all that is needed to make a good deal that also happens to be a contract. As I said in previous posts, my company commits to delivery dates on million dollar equipment and we rely on vendors for everything. It is possible with the proper procedures in place for using the right vendor. The best engine builder ever may not always be a good business person. Happens all the time in many industries.

I know zilch about the specs of Mario's engine but some of the boosted stuff we do is so specialized that there's only 1 vendor that makes the part you need so you're stuck with them for better or for worse and they don't just keep this stuff on the shelf, it's made to order.

What good does the contract, po,....whatever you want to call it do for me? If the guy runs out of money taking him to court and losing more money is a waste of time and money since he has no money to pay. From my point of view there's nothing but negatives with a contract because it could be a sign of someone that is going to use the contract to avoid payment or sue you later. We just finished an engine that the guy micro managed and changed his mind for what he wanted at least 5 times during the build so we had to go back and redo some things more then once, he would call everyday and sometimes multiple times a day, I didn't even charge him on some of the redo stuff or all the phone time and then he bitches about the labor bill at the end and wants to negotiate it, we made no money on the engine, he was not happy, so no one won,
. If I had a contract I would likely still be sitting on yet another engine someone didn't want to or couldn't pay for and could be in court trying to defend myself for doing what the guy asked for. I'm not saying Mario would do this but there are people who would so imho it's best to just avoid the potential headache.