Just a rant
- Thread starter captndan
- Start date
Y-Blockhead
Well-known member
700rpm
Well-known member
It is hard to understand why someone working on an historic vehicle worth 10-15 thousand dollars (or more) when finished balks at paying a little extra for a quality part. If you can't afford that new whizbang right now, wait, and save some money somewhere till you can, and do it right. In a year you won't miss the money, and you'll have the proper whatsit on your car. Buy quality, and buy it once.
But too often, we don't have an option for quality, but still need the part. So we rework or make do with what we have, or restore when we can. Even restoration can be problematic, as we all know, because certain things just aren't possible.
It is especially frustrating that we can't get properly nickle plated repro parts that are otherwise serviceable, such as radiator and gas caps, head- and taillights, oval headed screws, interior door and window hardware, and so on.
But too often, we don't have an option for quality, but still need the part. So we rework or make do with what we have, or restore when we can. Even restoration can be problematic, as we all know, because certain things just aren't possible.
It is especially frustrating that we can't get properly nickle plated repro parts that are otherwise serviceable, such as radiator and gas caps, head- and taillights, oval headed screws, interior door and window hardware, and so on.
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Charlie Stephens
Well-known member
What did they say when you called them to return it?Well what tweaks me is when you pay good money ($100+) for a part from a reputable vendor (Snyder's) from a manufacturer (Vintique) that claims it was Made in USA and is Junk and does not fit.
Can't blame that one on off shore crap...
Charlie Stephens
Y-Blockhead
Well-known member
Snyder's said to return them. I bought used ones from Bert's and had them rechromed.
Snyder's is just the middleman and I doubt they even open the box. I now avoid anything made by Vintique which is too bad because Vintique/CW Moss are ~1 hour from me. I now have to ask Vendors who makes parts that are claimed to be Made in USA.
In the case of the cowl light arms ALL vendors sell Vintique Cowl Arms.
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DougVieyra
Well-known member
I read in yesterday's New York Times, in the "Auto" section, that China has been forced into new 'Trade' negotiations which will change the way China sells it's merchandise.
Now, instead of selling 'Cheap Chinese Junk', they have agreed to sell 'Expensive Chinese Junk'. They made this change after reading the best selling novel "The Art of the Deal".
So all those who complain about 'Chinese Junk', will no longer need to complain about 'Cheap'.
There is nothing wrong with 'Cheap'. The word just needs a little 'Spin' :
"Least Expensive", "Cost Effective", "Consumer Priced", "Lower Grade", etc.
So let's 'get over it' ! Stressing is bad for the heart.
Now, instead of selling 'Cheap Chinese Junk', they have agreed to sell 'Expensive Chinese Junk'. They made this change after reading the best selling novel "The Art of the Deal".
So all those who complain about 'Chinese Junk', will no longer need to complain about 'Cheap'.
There is nothing wrong with 'Cheap'. The word just needs a little 'Spin' :
"Least Expensive", "Cost Effective", "Consumer Priced", "Lower Grade", etc.
So let's 'get over it' ! Stressing is bad for the heart.
1931 flamingo
Well-known member
I'm thinking most Vintique stuff is made off shore. With as many posts as you have I think you should have picked up on this long ago. I don't mean to offend you.
Paul in CT
Paul in CT
Keith True
Well-known member
Working on old VW's years ago,I found lots of junk was made.With the VW's though,we are fortunate enough to have EVERYTHING available in both quality and junk.If you wanted good you bought from Wolfsburg West.If you were happy with junk you bought from J-bugs,Airhead parts,Empi or a half dozen others.The joke used to be,Empi was the Chinese word for crap.Or,it stood for,Every Mistake Passes Inspection.
captndan
Well-known member
#1 I'll believe it when I see it.
#2 When I called Snyder's they immediately agreed it was junk. That really chaps my butt.
#3 Another week down time.
#4 Yes I feel better, sort of.
Y-Blockhead
Well-known member
No offense taken, Paul. Thing is, 1. I didn't know the cowl light arms from Vintique when I bought them from Snyder's, 2. it sez right there on the box from Vintique "Made in USA"...
Lesson learned; Ask before you buy and never buy Vintique/CW Moss...
Attachments
Synchro909
Well-known member
Never buy Vintique. X2
ian Simpson
Well-known member
I have had Vintique bolts snap before reaching the desired torque setting.
Regardless, until people are willing to stand up to the Walmarts of this world who peddle lesser quality goods to the masses, we will continue to suffer. Yes, I do shop Walmart, but am very particular as to what I purchase there.
Chinese, Japanese, and other off-shore manufacturers will supply goods to the quality standard that is asked for. Instead of blaming the off-shore manufacturers, maybe we should be blaming the on-shore wholesalers and retailers who make a lot more profit by selling product with a limited life rather quality goods that last a lifetime.
As somebody who grew up in the UK in the desperate lean years following WWII I can remember my parents reacting in horror to the notion of planned obsolescence that permeated many the products that we were forced to buy. As local manufacturers struggled to get back to their usual business after being required to produce war materials, some took advantage to produce inferior product. Some lesser quality product even came from the US where industry had not been decimated by bombing.
My apologies to all who might be offended by this post. But I believe it to be the truth as I have lived it.
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C26Pinelake
BANNED
And just how do you propose that the masses stand up to Walmart when people like you still shop there. People that shop there like you put the small town shops out of business such as hardware stores, butchers shop, service station, men's shops and shoe stores. The lesson should be do as I say not as I do! I have lived there also! I have seen the small town store disappear. Wayne
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31 Model A
Well-known member
No offense taken but, I typed out a long explanation why you would have that kind of opinion about US made products coming into the UK after the war but it was all lost when I went to post it since I hadn't signed in for that extended period of time taken to write out my response so in short, I will post this:
A bit of History and like the metric system has been shoved down our throats for years and the defense against it coming here, so didn't the brits with our measuring system. Sorta like when Canada switch from driving on the left side to the right side, I remember that and boy was a fight put up..
If, we were making shodding material after the war, how did we not make it during the war then? Same factories, same American work ethics went into it. Maybe the brits were fed up with the continuing influence of American society had upon the british way of life and maybe anything/everything was crap after the war.
and....the brits still have their own measuring system today that differ from the US and an example is shoe sizes markings on shoe boxes coming from China, US size 10.5, UK size 10. People basically don't like change, "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" and that includes the our british cousins. US gallon/Imperial gallon
My comments are made upon my experience living all over the UK including NI within british society.http://www.enginehistory.org/british_fasteners.shtml
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Jeff/Illinois
Well-known member
Hey, it SAYS 'Quality Assured' on the box
The rest of that sentence says "....if you buy NOS Ford' but they ran out of room on the sticker!
George Miller
Well-known member
I believe only a small part of Canada ever drove on the left(?) Newfoundland or New Brunswick?
Also, I have always wished the US would convert to metric like most of the rest of the world, but it is not likely to happen. Metric is a much better system in daily life.
I lived in China for years, and I always found it funny that they were almost entirely metric, except.....for plumbing pipe thread! They use US NPT pipe thread sizes for everything.
I agree the Metric is a much better system. Makes a lot more sense than the US system. But back in the 70ts and 80ts when they were trying hard to change it to metric it was a problem. All us machinist were use to our system, had all the tools to measure with in our system. The company also had every thing for our system and none for metric. It would have cost big dollars to change.
For me our system is fine, I know all my fractions in decimals like 3/16 = .187 .
But the metric system would be easier to learn and be better to have the whole world on the same page. But we need to start at school and have a plan with a due date.
J Franklin
Well-known member
Remember when they lost a multi million dollar Mars probe by using metric when it wasn't called for on some parts?
I'll chime in on the junk verses good parts.
Every once in a while I'll climb on the owners butt about the cheap stuff NAPA carries,he gives me the same story that I see here, the consumer wants to pay less, my reply to this is don't carry the cheap garbage,I'll pay more for the good stuff, you can hardly buy a heavy duty 3 prong flasher from NAPA,it didn't even work when I plugged it in so back it went and I bought a heavy duty from Restoration Supply and it felt and worked like it should.
Every once in a while I'll climb on the owners butt about the cheap stuff NAPA carries,he gives me the same story that I see here, the consumer wants to pay less, my reply to this is don't carry the cheap garbage,I'll pay more for the good stuff, you can hardly buy a heavy duty 3 prong flasher from NAPA,it didn't even work when I plugged it in so back it went and I bought a heavy duty from Restoration Supply and it felt and worked like it should.
msmaron
Well-known member
OK here is the solution do you want to pay 7-10.00 for NAPA points.. 85% say NOT A CHANCE, I do! and won't use the junk, Its almost funny how so many complain about the prices of the good stuff but refuse to spend it.. so what does the manufacturers do,, they sell the junk, they have expenses , rent, lights etc..It won't change until the consumer gets it....