Macs closing
 

Re: Macs closing
 

What a surprise...:rolleyes:
The hobby has just been dealt a favor and our good suppliers are sure to pick up alot of business from the uneducated who used Macs...

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Wow, not really surprised. Hate to see 70 people loose their jobs, but it will strengthen the other suppliers..

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No wonder they kept sending the old catalog to me 3 times. Must not be any "new" catalog. What's going to happen to all the Model A parts they have?

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I guess that is to be expected, when customer complaints go unheeded. The biggest issue, their formula for shipping charges. It could have been fixed. Only took Hecklers 4 years to ruin the company.

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I guess they weren't making enough money charging more for shipping than for the parts.

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I hate to see 70 people lose their jobs, but nowhere did the article say that MAC's was closing for good, just it's Lockport facility - my bet is they will resume polluting the parts supply chain from another location with either a cheaper labor pool or a lower property value...

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This article says that they're moving to Florida:
http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/...bf1f3a96e.html

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Yow!!!!!!!!!


The Corvette parts guy died recently in Florida,,,, (Eckler? Eckhardt?) maybe they are consolidating his business into theirs??

Re: Macs closing
 

If we would ask most of our individual Model A Parts Supplier "Owners", or any self-employed person, what is going on, something tells me that most of our Model A Parts Supplier "Owners" would share in telling how difficult it is to operate any similar type business today, especially with ever increasing assessor appraisals, taxes, permits, accompanied with every Government Agency on earth dictating all of what small business owners "cannot" do and what limitations apply to what can be done.

Current Game Plan Scheme today appears to be to enhance layoffs with Government Regulations, take people like these 70 or so poor souls ..... add some of them to the list of welfare recipients receiving Free Peanuts ..... then ...... in the near future .... they will vote for more Free Peanuts.

Seems like our old Model A's and our current senior working Model A owners may have lived in the best of times.

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As I read both newspaper stories it doesn't read like they're going out of business, only consolidating location to Florida. Makes good business sense.
FWIW I haven't ordered from them in about 5 years. Newbi learning curve.
Paul in CT

Re: Macs closing
 

When the new owners took over the Macs Lockport store it was hoped the company company could be brought back.
There was a time I enjoyed doing business with Macs, especially since they were fairly close by. But the service and quality declined drastically over the years and apparently was continued with the new ownership.

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Drop the "blame the govt" message! Not appropriate for this site.

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As the current owners are called Eckler the two things might well be connected.

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The shipping cost vs the item cost killed them for me.

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The article says that the parent company, Eckler, is Florida based so it makes sense to consolidate Mac's with their other operations. Economies of scale, shared staff. Plus, there are more days that you can't ship out of Buffalo than you can't out of Florida due to winter weather.

Although I haven't ordered anything from them, I'm glad they are just moving and not going out of business. Competition is good for the hobby.

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Well, the good news is, with Mac's gone, all the bitchin will stop on the Barn!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes::rolleyes: Any way the one star bandit could disappear with them???? :D Just joking, ya know I love ya!!!!! :rolleyes: :D

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Eckler's has expanded well beyond the Corvette market over the years, bringing economies of scale to a lot of collector car markets. They have a pretty big Mercedes division, not my first choice but my experiences have been decent overall. When we got the SL I was surprised they had such a presence, always thought "Corvettes" tied to that name.

The thing is, when a supplier is good, like Tam's, Snyder's and of course A&L you tend to stick with them. At least I do. Entry into this market must be tough, regarrdless of one'e experience with Mac's (I had no issue personally but have not bought from them in at least 10 years, others simply worked harder to win business) the reputation issues are there so it will be an uphill battle, but I bet they have some systems that work across the divisions.

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no surprise with NY taxes................ most companies headed south years ago- down south to NC, etc. where taxes are far more favorable.

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Hi ronn,

And if they decide to venture a little further south, much cheaper labor could enhance their even far more favorable taxes.

I wish them well in Florida.

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It is very difficult to operate a business in NY State. With the recent increase in minimum wage and the always high NY tax structure many companies have left NY for greener ($$$$) pastures. Endicott Johnson shoes, Grumman Aircraft , Zippo Lighters and many more. Lots of recent corruption recently exposed with very high ranking NY elected (google them) who fleece the taxpayers and then receive minimum sentences, and still collect their pensions. NO surprise Macs are relocating.

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LOL! 52 employees? really? last time I was there 3 customers and myself waited over 45 mins before anyone came out from the back to serve us, that was after we called their 1-800 and told them that there were 4 customers up front waiting almost an hour, they weren't amused. "Customer service" it seems business is forgetting the reason why they exist.

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FWIW:

Knew a Contractor years ago who told me he hired a Superintendent who hated Chevrolets & loved Fords.

Then one day he won a Chevrolet pickup at a Church fair raffle.

He drove it for about 150,000 miles with no problems until one day he was late for work.

Told his boss he had a flat ..... plus, he had to add ..... you know, anything can happen with a damn Chevrolet.

Pepsi, Coke, Sprite ...... Bud, Miller .... Blondes, Brunettes ...... just choices ..... never had a problem with MAC's ...... good catalog .... some would get out of Dodge just because of the new NY Restroom laws .... Freedom.

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When ordering a few items from that outfit, I was surprised to find them operating out of New York state. Figured that any business managed with an ounce of common sense would have bailed out of the northeast region long ago. It's a contest as to which is the worst business unfriendly, tax rip-off, governmental monstrosity state . . . Choose one or more . . . New York, Connecticut, Workers Paradise of Vermont, Crumbling Rust Pennsylvania, Masshole-a-chusetts, Perpetually Dank Maine, Bankrupt Lower Michigan or ?

My limited online Model A Ford parts purchase experience with MAC's was quite positive. Bought several items at the same time which was sent in three different packages. Cost of shipping was around eight-bucks ($8.00) combined. The aluminum roof trim piece was shipped in a heavy 5-foot long tube Fine item - Good deal!

Have been planning to purchase a few more oddball items and was going to check with MAC's first.

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Well, it's unfortunate to lose any Model A supplier, even one that doesn't run their business very well. I used to buy from Mac's, when it first started. It seemed to head downhill under the new owners. The hobby has become much more sophisticated and informed about quality, and the price of a part needs to reflect that quality. That's just basic business. We buyers have said many times that we will pay more for accurate and reliable reproduction parts when we can get them.

Maybe Mac's will rethink their business plan in new quarters.

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Early this morning I had looked to see if Amazon.com had Model A Parts with free shipping for sale under "Prime".

None found; however, listed further down below, (not Amazon), maybe paragraph no 3 or so, on the Amazon's site was an ad for MAC'S ..... did not check the address for this MAC's.

China is presently buying lots of major oil sites and oil businesses for billions in our immediate area ..... Wal-Mart Sales are paying off ...... at the rate we are advancing, appears we could soon be offered a Free Set Chop Sticks with our future orders Model A 600W ...... moving on up.

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Mac's may have not treated their customers the best but their paper catalog was the very best out there and their web site was equal the best.

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Had no idea MAC's is so close to Orlando and Disney in Florida.

Maybe some would like to think just a little on the positive side:

Wife would never miss a Disney visit with Goofy & Mickey with the grand kids ... or even mind a short, friendly strategic Model A visit at MAC's on way home ....... save lots on shipping a few Model A "heavy" parts or "large" parts like fenders ..... win-win situation .... everybody could smile and get happy quick.

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I have not been to Eckler's Florida location in a number of years, but if they have not expanded their building... I think it will be difficult to add the Model A parts to their shelves. I bought a lot of parts for my 55 Chevy there, and really had no problems.
The Mac's deal was something else...

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I've never had a problem with Macs. Ordered tons of parts over the years. Shipping is slow from New York to here, no matter what company it comes from. I can get a part from Florida quicker, even though its farther. Some people would complain about being hung with a new rope...

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im not surprised, with there outrageous shipping costs

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Per Mr. Eagle's "new rope" reply #33, i always find it hilarious to read Amazon.com's "One (1) Star Reviews", like:

A guy buys some metal tool object shipped in two (2) separate metal pieces in the same box that came with two (2) bolts, two (2) nuts, two (2) washers, and a diagram with written instructions.

His One Star Review:

"Assembly instructions were very poor and unclear. i sent it back. Don't waste your money."

Re: Macs closing
 

I agree with you Y block, great catalogue and their pricing hasnt been bad. the problems
seem to be with shipping and service.
When Ecklers bought them, no improvements seem to have been made. There are only so many model A Ford parts companies that can stay alive in this "cottage" industry and most on here seem to prefer the other companies.
I too used to buy from Macs, but Snyders and Mike's seem to have much more courteous service and nice to get your order in a week and not bits and pieces over 3-4 weeks.
In any case, we've been lucky to have choices, which may not be in the future.