Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-27-2012, 07:42 PM   #41
uncle max
Senior Member
 
uncle max's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SLC Utah
Posts: 798
Default Re: Drake parts

Well.... Someone has to be the first to thank Bob.
Let it go on record!
Thanks Bob!
__________________
RIP Tyler... My Son, Helper & Best Friend.
Feb '78 to Father's Day '10.
www.97-express.com ~ [email protected]
uncle max is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2012, 09:09 PM   #42
JM 35 Sedan
Senior Member
 
JM 35 Sedan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland
Posts: 10,856
Default Re: Drake parts

Yep Uncle Max, you are right and I would like to be the second to thank Bob Drake for responding here to what seemed to me to be an unfair 'street lynching mob' at times and for no good reason in my opinion. Thanks Bob!!...for being in the business of making parts for our beloved old Ford V8's. Many of us in this hobby do appreciate what you do!
__________________
John

"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein
JM 35 Sedan is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 07-27-2012, 09:10 PM   #43
Cecil/WV
Senior Member
 
Cecil/WV's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gerrardstown, WV
Posts: 2,265
Default Re: Drake parts

Good answer, Bob.
Cecil/WV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 09:15 AM   #44
Fe26
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 949
Default Re: Drake parts

Quote:
Originally Posted by done4 View Post
Fe26, great commentary and I think this is what Kube has been saying from the first word in his post. Now, the opportunity to act is at hand so how is it done?

As for Ryan (the boss) I don't see why he would be dragged into this issue. His plate is full and I think this is an end user problem that have the numbers and direct control to change and improve the product and services used by the group that supports the suppliers. The power is in numbers and Ford Barn has that. Time to use it?
I was refering to a comment made in Post #30. When he said he would try to do something.
Fe26 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 10:30 AM   #45
Fe26
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 949
Default Re: Drake parts

Mr Drake,

Thank you for your timely reply.

As I began in my last post I would like to further thank you for your valient endeavours in the manufacture and supply of reproduction parts to the Ford V8 community.

While your enterprise is seen by many as borne of and for profit (a neccesary motive) it would I think also be true to say such endeavour is also borne of a desire to maintain and preserve our brand of cars and trucks. Some might gush and call it love.

As I previously said, without you and others like you, our community would be much the worse for lack of parts. The consequence of that situation would be very high prices for original/second hand parts, and the attendant scarcity of those parts.

You have won much support over many years, such goodwill is hard-earned, and our collective respect is your due.

High praise is accorded you by many when, the parts they have ordered from you arrive in timely fashion, are well packaged, cause delight to the owners eye when unpacked, and then cause the owner to swell with pride when the parts are fitted without trouble, and finally, go on to provide years of good and reliable service.

In an ideal world this situation never goes awry. We don't however live in an ideal world, which brings me to the complaint. My hope here in addressing the concerns of many is to offer by way of reason, and reasonable opinion, that the situations and proceedures in the manufacture and the selling of parts that are defective, may be addressed in a fair and balanced way. In this I would ask fellow Fordbarners not to use emotive language to either insult or chastise each other or Mr Drake. The situation I am about to relate is not specific to Mr Drakes business. The final paragraph however is specific to 'Bob Drake'.

I live in Australia, three of my cars live in New Zealand, and shipping is very expensive. When I receive defective parts, it is often weeks, sometimes months after they were ordered, most of the time the return dates have expired. Such parts sit on a shelf; a testament to reputations lost. They cannot be returned and cannot be sold.

It is not unreasonable to ask and indeed to expect to pay the sellers asking price for parts that do what they are intended to do, that is; work or fit as intended. Therein lies another dilemma for manufacturers, meeting the market at the lowest price. This is not easy when buyers dollars flow to the lowest price. I do not know the solution to this. I do know that these market forces cause parts to be made as cheaply as possible, and therin lies both our problems. Your problem becomes our problem, and we are the worse for that.

One solution might be that at the end of the R&D phase, advise might be sought from the guru's on this site and others. As you will know, much valuable information (and opinion) is to be found here. Subsequent to that advise, perhaps a limited number of parts could be sent to the known commercial builders and restorers for evaluation. Based on their feedback the parts are further improved. While I understand you have a skilled R&D Team, a recurring problem exists with the complaint of parts quality and fit. I suggest this could be reduced by 'sharing the load'.

Finally, I raised in my previous post the likelyhood of a mandate or instruction within your business to deflect or fob off complaints with the dictum " Really, you're the first guy this has happened to". While I thank you for your reply with one hand I must also raise the other. I believe you are being disingenous to declaim that such an instruction does not appear in your customer service directives to your employees (this is undoubtedly true) the implication is; if it doesn't appear in the manual then we don't say it. The anecdotal evidence (as recorded on this site alone) is to the contrary and overwhelming. To suggest or to claim otherwise is insulting.
What this forum shows is, when a vendor consistantly says the same thing to many people, that vendors attitude to their customers is exposed. In my view this is unacceptable. For what it's worth, the remedy to this is mentioned in my previous post, it is a valuable resource.

Thankyou.

Last edited by Fe26; 07-28-2012 at 10:42 AM.
Fe26 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 01:25 PM   #46
Vic Piano
Senior Member
 
Vic Piano's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Odessa, FL
Posts: 7,611
Default Re: Drake parts

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
I'll chime in as well. Thanks Bob! Vic
__________________
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Vic Piano is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 02:09 PM   #47
Kube
Senior Member
 
Kube's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 8,937
Default Re: Drake parts

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vic Piano View Post
I'll chime in as well. Thanks Bob! Vic
Slurp, slurp
__________________
"I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".
Kube is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 05:56 PM   #48
Vic Piano
Senior Member
 
Vic Piano's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Odessa, FL
Posts: 7,611
Default Re: Drake parts

Kube... Are you still here... I thought you had flushed yourself out of this thread... I guess anyone that appreciates you and your work is ok but when the tide turns against you, you demonstrate your spoiled brat tendencies in a big way. Would you like me to send you a crying towel...? I'll be happy to oblige... Oh, if you don't like the towel (for any reason), return it and I'll gladly refund the postage.
__________________
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Vic Piano is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 07:14 PM   #49
al pa.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: pgh.pa.
Posts: 321
Default Re: Drake parts

I'm with you too Kube.To the rest "opinions are like a**holes.everyone has one,and they all stink".
al pa. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 07:46 PM   #50
Vic Piano
Senior Member
 
Vic Piano's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Odessa, FL
Posts: 7,611
Default Re: Drake parts

Kube and his likeminded supporters, such as you, should be happy, as it appears they have won (to some degree) this battle. Kube wanted a response from Bob and Bob responded in a responsible and businesslike way. I think that, in his hast to press for a response, Kube did himself irreparable harm with a segment of FordBarners and that’s too bad because (from what I’ve seen in photos) his restoration work looks to be high end. I know that Bob Drake will continue to support the hobby and I hope Kube finds an endless supply of NOS parts for all his restorations. Oh per chance to live in a perfict world. Imagine that...
__________________
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Vic Piano is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 07:53 PM   #51
oldford2
Senior Member
 
oldford2's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: pittsfield, MA
Posts: 2,086
Default Re: Drake parts

" "opinions are like a**holes.everyone has one,and they all stink".

Al PA,

Is that another B. Franklin quote??
oldford2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 08:54 PM   #52
al pa.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: pgh.pa.
Posts: 321
Default Re: Drake parts

I think so.
al pa. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2012, 11:05 PM   #53
B-O-B
Senior Member
 
B-O-B's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ft Mohave,Az
Posts: 1,984
Default Re: Drake parts

" "opinions are like a**holes.everyone has one,and they all stink".

Al PA,
How would one know that????
B-O-B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2012, 11:45 PM   #54
Fibber Mcgee
Senior Member
 
Fibber Mcgee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Callahan Fla
Posts: 1,149
Default Re: Drake parts

I thing a good thread would just be one where we can post what we bought and if it fit and from who. Then we would get some good info before we purchase but without the opinions. I'm sure it wouldn't be perfect but if we see several posts saying a part doesn't fit it might save others the hassle.
__________________
Wanted, a car with a " Dynaflex Superflowing Unijet Turbovasculator which is Syncromeshed to the Multicoil Hydrotensioned Dual vacuum Dynomometer. "
Fibber Mcgee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2012, 07:00 AM   #55
Barry-ct
Senior Member
 
Barry-ct's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Newington, Connecticut
Posts: 1,374
Default Re: Drake parts

Good idea Fibber! Let's put this topic to bed, It's like a child who's over tired and needs rest!!
__________________
Barry

50 F-1
Barry-ct is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2012, 09:03 PM   #56
Fe26
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 949
Default Re: Drake parts

Fibber, x2. Quick and easy is the best way.
Fe26 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2012, 05:08 AM   #57
46ford
Senior Member
 
46ford's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Nottawa MI
Posts: 289
Default Re: Drake parts

In the auto industry if we ship bad parts to an OEM we SOMETIMES cover return freight. But that agreement is made up front.

I never expect return freight to be covered when something doesn't fit. I also keep a core or two if the shipping is anywhere close to the core fee.

If they start covering return shipping, expect a price increase up front. It has to come from somewhere.
46ford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2012, 06:55 AM   #58
gerrald meacham
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FRANKLIN GEORGIA
Posts: 158
Default Re: Drake parts

Its worth more if it fits .sometimes worth nothing if it dont ,wasts lots of time , which i dont have to spare , dont want to wait on bad parts, god bless america ...
gerrald meacham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2012, 08:29 AM   #59
done4
Senior Member
 
done4's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Union Pier MI
Posts: 392
Send a message via Yahoo to done4
Default Re: Drake parts

That has been the point from day one! Crap parts, crap manufacture service policies. I like what has been said about just posting "BAD" parts so they don't get ordered. When the manufactures are sitting on a lot of inventory they have the option to improve or I guess no longer produce them. Maybe a manufacture will step up and produce quality parts and and offer quality service. I think we know answer.
__________________
Still smokin tires and cigars
done4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2012, 05:44 PM   #60
Fe26
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 949
Default Re: Drake parts

Quote:
Originally Posted by 46ford View Post
In the auto industry if we ship bad parts to an OEM we SOMETIMES cover return freight. But that agreement is made up front.

I never expect return freight to be covered when something doesn't fit. I also keep a core or two if the shipping is anywhere close to the core fee.

If they start covering return shipping, expect a price increase up front. It has to come from somewhere.
My point in an earlier post was; if the return shipping cost comes out of the profit, then that alone is enough incentive to improve parts and service.

Another point I made was that buyers dollars go to the cheapest product, and therein lies our dilemma. If people post on here about good and bad parts and service so much the better. (A list as I have mentioned will not work) However, if a manufacturer attempts to increase prices to cover the cost of return shipping he will soon find business dropping off.

If a 'sticky' or a separate section on Fordbarn were made available for this purpose then, those manufacturers supplying the best parts would not need to increase their prices, thereby making their quality parts cheaper than the others.
Fe26 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:00 AM.