The Ford Barn

colin1928 · 06-09-2016, 05:02 AM

I for 1 will be a little unhappy to see Macs close for a few reasons
while not the best they were for international guys easy to buy online from and 1 of the better shippers as far as packaging and cost and it was possible to buy a mix of parts from T model to V8 and have it shipped together
My experience is when a major supplier closes the others suppliers with the extra work load tend to have a drop in service and personal touch and increase in price as they increase stock storage and staff

coupe1942 · 06-09-2016, 05:07 AM

I happen to like Mac's myself and I will continue to use them until their negatives outweigh the positives for me in doing so. No issues in any dealings I have had with them so far, so no moans and groans from me about anything negative to speak of. It is a balancing act in comparing one vendor vs another for sales, service, pricing or shipping.

Not everyone has the same exact experiences with any of them and there is a big difference between liking a business because it meets your own needs vs disliking them because they don't operate just as you would have them do or that the new owners are not as good as the old ones. That doesn't mean one can't complain with legitimate gripes over service or costs and such, but everyone reading such gripes really has to take such with a grain of salt, as not everyone else will have the same view and the reality is often sort of somewhere between the views discussed.

Any loss to the hobby is a loss, regardless. I hope they have continuing success so that the hobby itself doesn't suffer any loss at all.

jeep44 · 06-09-2016, 07:39 AM

I've been surprised that the Model A hobby can still support so many vendors! I try to spread my business around to all of them, and I really don't notice any difference in any of them.

Steve_Mack_CT · 06-09-2016, 07:43 AM

Well, we are lucky to have a true market with choices - a great advantage with these cars. I have had a couple of other cars where I HAD to deal with the outfit in NJ that rhymes with "Banter" - as in the Banter Bros. Clowns with the "well, you need it I have it and if you don't like it you can @#$% yourself" attitude. A little different from the nice guys you see on the HMN ads all the time...Can't say I have seen that with any pro A parts vendor. :-)

Bob Bidonde · 06-09-2016, 07:53 AM

New York State has a very large population of antique and vintage Ford owners, but many of them are negative about doing business with MAC's because of the 8% plus New York State sales tax.

I am empathetic for the people who will loose their jobs, but I did business with MAC's directly only once because the state sales tax.

Terry, NJ · 06-09-2016, 08:38 AM

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In fairness, I have never had any problems (Except for when they didn't ship a part. I called up and they acknowledged the error and made good) Were their parts any good? Ask me in a couple of years. I like the tech info that they and Brattons include. One of my complaints all the vendors is that they don't include even the simplest, most elementary directions in their products. I realize that the vendors don't package these products, but I think a few requests from them might be helpful. Granted, it would probably be difficult for say , Classic wood, from NC, to write up detailed instructions for their wide range of products. but as a former Tool and Die maker, I've found some assemblies on a mod. A to be confusing.
One more thing, I've read where the assessment and the subsequent responsibility for the anti business climate was laid a the Govt's feet and someone didn't like it. It was labeled "Anti Government" speech or some such. If it were not true, I'd agree with him. but regrettably, it is true. As a Tool and Die maker, (Once in, never out, completely) I've watched China "Eat our lunch" and I've wondered who was the fool who created this situation. Note I'm not talking about politics, This is misguided government policy!
Terry

denis4x4 · 06-09-2016, 09:00 AM

Started doing business with Mac's in the early eighties and never really had any bad experiences. Having been involved with the automotive accessory aftermarket since the early sixties, there is no doubt that local, state and federal rules, regulations and taxes have had a very negative on business catering to our hobby. To think otherwise is being naive.

ODFever · 06-09-2016, 09:33 AM

I think the consolidation of operations to Eckler's Florida location will benefit the Model A community. Management will be able to keep in close contact with the Model A parts division. Shipping rates may decrease due to economies of scale. The Model A community in Florida will GREATLY benefit from the move. The death of Jerry Isbell was a huge loss for us. Mikes A-Ford-Able became the closest place to get parts. If Eckler's moves the Model A parts to Titusville, those of us in Central Florida will be able to drive over and buy parts right from the sales counter. :-)

Phred · 06-09-2016, 09:44 AM

Lot's of speculation and "well wishing" in this thread.

We do a bit of supplying to Mac's and have received a notice from them that they are MOVING.

Posts #8 and #11 are correct. They are not closing.

Peace, Phred

Y-Blockhead · 06-09-2016, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_Mack_CT

Well, we are lucky to have a true market with choices - a great advantage with these cars. I have had a couple of other cars where I HAD to deal with the outfit in NJ that rhymes with "Banter" - as in the Banter Bros. Clowns with the "well, you need it I have it and if you don't like it you can @#$% yourself" attitude. A little different from the nice guys you see on the HMN ads all the time...Can't say I have seen that with any pro A parts vendor. :-)

Ah, yes. Know them well. I dealt with them once when buying parts for my '55 Ford front suspension. Never again...

SuperDave · 06-09-2016, 10:23 AM

Well... For me, it's a PLUS. Titusville is only about 40 miles from here (Melbourne). Shipping should be less.. LOL That was the original Ecklers Corvette startup many years ago. But I am wondering where they will warehouse the parts. That place is relatively small.
Maybe they are going to go the "Amazon" direction and ship direct from the supplier. ??

handlebar99 · 06-09-2016, 11:23 AM

Well, I've never ordered from them directly, but recently I needed a starting crank for my roadster, so I bought one on eBay. It arrived very promptly and the shipping charge was nominal. It was shipped straight from Mac's.

Your mileage may vary.

Ray Rice in sunny Rifton

Terry, NJ · 06-09-2016, 01:59 PM

The Cantor boys of Boonton! Real "New Jersey"! Arrogant, etc and all the adjectives that go with it. Do you have a Packard or a mid fifties GM car. Mod A forget it. My friend Rick and I took a day and drove up there from Ocean Co.,and came home angry and grinding our teeth! The brother who answered the phone said yeah , we have model A parts, no problem. When we got there, other brother, told us No. Because it's visible from I 287, I had always wondered about the place, then I found out. Screw them!
Terry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_Mack_CT

Well, we are lucky to have a true market with choices - a great advantage with these cars. I have had a couple of other cars where I HAD to deal with the outfit in NJ that rhymes with "Banter" - as in the Banter Bros. Clowns with the "well, you need it I have it and if you don't like it you can @#$% yourself" attitude. A little different from the nice guys you see on the HMN ads all the time...Can't say I have seen that with any pro A parts vendor. :-)

Mike V. Florida · 06-09-2016, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

What a surprise...

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...

True with one exception, Mac's also manufactured parts and the story does not say what will happen with that part of the business.

Mike V. Florida · 06-11-2016, 12:39 AM

A little more poking around has revealed that a company, Mark Construction, is building a rather large warehouse for Ecklers in the Orlando area. This could be the real reason for the NY warehouse closing. They could just be consolidating the "mail order" divisions to same some cash. There are lower business taxes in Florida, no income taxes for the employees, lower property taxes and no snow/ice for months on end. There have been only a handful of hurricanes that have ever hit that area of Florida.

RonC · 06-11-2016, 05:21 AM

I believe MACs is the sole supplier who makes or has made some of the essential Model A parts we buy from the other suppliers. The loss will be felt when the catalogs say no longer available for these parts. Also MACs sells everything on EBay in addition to mail order. eBay feed back shows slow shipping poor customer service. Maybe they are understaffed

OLDTINDEALER · 06-11-2016, 04:02 PM

When they were bought out, Bill (from Dick Spadaro's) joked with them that he hoped they would like Florida !! Reason they waited for 4 years is that MAC'S had gotten a LOT of money from NYS to stay in NYS (talk about free government cheese) but had to promise to stay for X number of years. Eckler's NEVER intended to stay here, just waited out the sunset clause of the millions of free $$ given to MAC'S.
My good friend Dick Spadaro told me " If your in this to make money, your in it for the wrong reason".
Good bye Eckler's your are not missed.

C26Pinelake · 06-11-2016, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLDTINDEALER

When they were bought out, Bill (from Dick Spadaro's) joked with them that he hoped they would like Florida !! Reason they waited for 4 years is that MAC'S had gotten a LOT of money from NYS to stay in NYS (talk about free government cheese) but had to promise to stay for X number of years. Eckler's NEVER intended to stay here, just waited out the sunset clause of the millions of free $$ given to MAC'S.
My good friend Dick Spadaro told me " If your in this to make money, your in it for the wrong reason".
Good bye Eckler's your are not missed.

You are not missed??? What kind of logic is that! What about the people that lost their jobs? Wayne

freak · 06-11-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48fordnut

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

me as well

Patrick L. · 06-11-2016, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLDTINDEALER

When they were bought out, Bill (from Dick Spadaro's) joked with them that he hoped they would like Florida !! Reason they waited for 4 years is that MAC'S had gotten a LOT of money from NYS to stay in NYS (talk about free government cheese) but had to promise to stay for X number of years. Eckler's NEVER intended to stay here, just waited out the sunset clause of the millions of free $$ given to MAC'S.
My good friend Dick Spadaro told me " If your in this to make money, your in it for the wrong reason".
Good bye Eckler's your are not missed.

Interesting. Hadn't heard that. Good old New York. No wonder we are #2 in debt.

06-09-2016, 05:02 AM	#41
colin1928 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Australa Melbourne Posts: 878	Re: Macs closing I for 1 will be a little unhappy to see Macs close for a few reasons while not the best they were for international guys easy to buy online from and 1 of the better shippers as far as packaging and cost and it was possible to buy a mix of parts from T model to V8 and have it shipped together My experience is when a major supplier closes the others suppliers with the extra work load tend to have a drop in service and personal touch and increase in price as they increase stock storage and staff Last edited by colin1928; 06-09-2016 at 05:08 AM.

06-09-2016, 05:07 AM	#42
coupe1942 Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Ada, Oklahoma Posts: 357	Re: Macs closing I happen to like Mac's myself and I will continue to use them until their negatives outweigh the positives for me in doing so. No issues in any dealings I have had with them so far, so no moans and groans from me about anything negative to speak of. It is a balancing act in comparing one vendor vs another for sales, service, pricing or shipping. Not everyone has the same exact experiences with any of them and there is a big difference between liking a business because it meets your own needs vs disliking them because they don't operate just as you would have them do or that the new owners are not as good as the old ones. That doesn't mean one can't complain with legitimate gripes over service or costs and such, but everyone reading such gripes really has to take such with a grain of salt, as not everyone else will have the same view and the reality is often sort of somewhere between the views discussed. Any loss to the hobby is a loss, regardless. I hope they have continuing success so that the hobby itself doesn't suffer any loss at all.

06-09-2016, 07:39 AM	#43
jeep44 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: canton,michigan Posts: 312	Re: Macs closing I've been surprised that the Model A hobby can still support so many vendors! I try to spread my business around to all of them, and I really don't notice any difference in any of them.

06-09-2016, 07:43 AM	#44
Steve_Mack_CT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Central CT Posts: 348	Re: Macs closing Well, we are lucky to have a true market with choices - a great advantage with these cars. I have had a couple of other cars where I HAD to deal with the outfit in NJ that rhymes with "Banter" - as in the Banter Bros. Clowns with the "well, you need it I have it and if you don't like it you can @#$% yourself" attitude. A little different from the nice guys you see on the HMN ads all the time...Can't say I have seen that with any pro A parts vendor. :-) __________________ Steve 1930 Model A Roadster

06-09-2016, 07:53 AM	#45
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,470	Re: Macs closing New York State has a very large population of antique and vintage Ford owners, but many of them are negative about doing business with MAC's because of the 8% plus New York State sales tax. I am empathetic for the people who will loose their jobs, but I did business with MAC's directly only once because the state sales tax. __________________ Bob Bidonde

06-09-2016, 08:38 AM	#46
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: Macs closing Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) In fairness, I have never had any problems (Except for when they didn't ship a part. I called up and they acknowledged the error and made good) Were their parts any good? Ask me in a couple of years. I like the tech info that they and Brattons include. One of my complaints all the vendors is that they don't include even the simplest, most elementary directions in their products. I realize that the vendors don't package these products, but I think a few requests from them might be helpful. Granted, it would probably be difficult for say , Classic wood, from NC, to write up detailed instructions for their wide range of products. but as a former Tool and Die maker, I've found some assemblies on a mod. A to be confusing. One more thing, I've read where the assessment and the subsequent responsibility for the anti business climate was laid a the Govt's feet and someone didn't like it. It was labeled "Anti Government" speech or some such. If it were not true, I'd agree with him. but regrettably, it is true. As a Tool and Die maker, (Once in, never out, completely) I've watched China "Eat our lunch" and I've wondered who was the fool who created this situation. Note I'm not talking about politics, This is misguided government policy! Terry

06-09-2016, 09:00 AM	#47
denis4x4 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Durango CO Posts: 1,309	Re: Macs closing Started doing business with Mac's in the early eighties and never really had any bad experiences. Having been involved with the automotive accessory aftermarket since the early sixties, there is no doubt that local, state and federal rules, regulations and taxes have had a very negative on business catering to our hobby. To think otherwise is being naive. __________________ No restorable Model A's were harmed in the building of this truck!

06-09-2016, 09:33 AM	#48
ODFever Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Central Florida Posts: 116	Re: Macs closing I think the consolidation of operations to Eckler's Florida location will benefit the Model A community. Management will be able to keep in close contact with the Model A parts division. Shipping rates may decrease due to economies of scale. The Model A community in Florida will GREATLY benefit from the move. The death of Jerry Isbell was a huge loss for us. Mikes A-Ford-Able became the closest place to get parts. If Eckler's moves the Model A parts to Titusville, those of us in Central Florida will be able to drive over and buy parts right from the sales counter. :-) __________________ ODFever 1930 Ford Model A Town Sedan "Alyssa"

06-09-2016, 09:44 AM	#49
Phred Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: IL Posts: 303	Mac's is MOVING Lot's of speculation and "well wishing" in this thread. We do a bit of supplying to Mac's and have received a notice from them that they are MOVING. Posts #8 and #11 are correct. They are not closing. Peace, Phred

06-09-2016, 10:23 AM	#51
SuperDave Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Melbourne Fl Posts: 166	Re: Macs closing Well... For me, it's a PLUS. Titusville is only about 40 miles from here (Melbourne). Shipping should be less.. LOL That was the original Ecklers Corvette startup many years ago. But I am wondering where they will warehouse the parts. That place is relatively small. Maybe they are going to go the "Amazon" direction and ship direct from the supplier. ??

06-09-2016, 11:23 AM	#52
handlebar99 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 20	Re: Macs closing Well, I've never ordered from them directly, but recently I needed a starting crank for my roadster, so I bought one on eBay. It arrived very promptly and the shipping charge was nominal. It was shipped straight from Mac's. Your mileage may vary. Ray Rice in sunny Rifton

06-11-2016, 12:39 AM	#55
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Macs closing A little more poking around has revealed that a company, Mark Construction, is building a rather large warehouse for Ecklers in the Orlando area. This could be the real reason for the NY warehouse closing. They could just be consolidating the "mail order" divisions to same some cash. There are lower business taxes in Florida, no income taxes for the employees, lower property taxes and no snow/ice for months on end. There have been only a handful of hurricanes that have ever hit that area of Florida. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

06-11-2016, 05:21 AM	#56
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: Macs closing I believe MACs is the sole supplier who makes or has made some of the essential Model A parts we buy from the other suppliers. The loss will be felt when the catalogs say no longer available for these parts. Also MACs sells everything on EBay in addition to mail order. eBay feed back shows slow shipping poor customer service. Maybe they are understaffed Last edited by RonC; 06-11-2016 at 05:29 AM.

06-11-2016, 04:02 PM	#57
OLDTINDEALER Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 165	Re: Macs closing When they were bought out, Bill (from Dick Spadaro's) joked with them that he hoped they would like Florida !! Reason they waited for 4 years is that MAC'S had gotten a LOT of money from NYS to stay in NYS (talk about free government cheese) but had to promise to stay for X number of years. Eckler's NEVER intended to stay here, just waited out the sunset clause of the millions of free $$ given to MAC'S. My good friend Dick Spadaro told me " If your in this to make money, your in it for the wrong reason". Good bye Eckler's your are not missed.