Why the Porsche Comunity are so Rude,The best,The good,The worst

Time and time again as you try to even to get a price why people dont return calls or e-mails in the porsche bussines?Whats wrong with this people? here is a list of my findings.
Andial just forget them the worst in my list
Ruf not far behiand
EBS they go out of the way to help you
Vertex sometimes late but always respond
Pelican well we all know,one of the best
Turbo performance False advertising
Haltech slow responce
Clutch masters fast and help
Protomotive Engineering fast and will help
Image auto Fast and will help
Kolken will help
Zucs forget them
Powerhause will help from time to time
JE Pistons will help
Anyone outhere want to add to the list? this is for comparassion only and to help us the victims.

For the past few years I have pretty much boiled down my "supplier list" to the following:

Pelican (of course!) for most normal stuff - service parts, rubber seals, etc. etc.

Stoddard when I need certain factory resto parts or other "specialty" repro parts or resto tools/materials. Being able to instantly price check and order just about any p-car part made in the last 40 years by the Porsche part number is a PLUS. These guys are usually helpful even if other suppliers (including the local p-car dealer) said "nope, no longer available" or otherwise blew me off...

Perf Prods for certain "new and improved" weltmeister widgets and/or if I absolutely need to have something same-day (I can pick up in person, 15 minutes from home), like clutch linkage gizmos and such. I try to minimize using these guys due to their oppressive prices and "Corporate" attitude but hey, it happens...

GPR for killer prices on some other stuff like Momo steering wheels, upgraded suspension bits, etc. In some cases Dave will blow away other guys' prices by 20% or more...

I have found no reason to go elsewhere, except for race clothing & gear, which none of the above carry in a wide enough selection at this point -- or at least they do not adequately publicize it in their web sites/catalogs. For that stuff, so far I've used OG Racing and Northstar Motorsports, both very satisfactorily.

Chris C.

I emailed Stoddards about a week ago concerning a set of headstuds, and some small misc. engine parts and I still have not heard from them. I'm getting irritated.

Interesting thread and observations, Juan.

I'm lucky in that I have a local Porsche parts supplier (Weissach Performance, Vancouver,BC) I can always count on for good service. Person behind the counter is "Jenny"; she really knows Porsche parts!

Frankly, I wouldn't waste my time *begging* suppliers to take my money.

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Doug
'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
members.home.net/zielke/911SC.htm

Juan,
I don't think the currently pitiful state of customer service in our country is limited to the Porsche supplier/repair business, but rather to a lethargic attitude of business in general caused by a recently good economy. Your observation of the current business environment will become more apparant in the near future as competition for our dollars becomes tighter and tighter. The people (such as Pelican) who are in tune with the market will survive and flourish. Others will wither. Patronize the ones that perform and ***** loudly to the ones that don't. The economy has shifted, and the consumer is back in the drivers seat.
Mark

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Mark B. Wilson
1970 911E
mbwilson@home.com
http://www.marksobsessions.20m.com/

I've had good experiences with:

Pelican (of course)

Doc 'n' Cy's (in Indiana, for early 911 resto parts)

Vertex (inconsistent customer service, but good prices)

AJ-USA (well-chosen product line, good customer service)

Tweeks (because Bo likes 'em)

Paragon (good prices)

Racer Parts Wholesale (good for hoses and fittings)

OG Racing (safety equipment)

Stoddard (for original dealer parts, great on-line search engine)

Zims Autotechnik (kind of goofy web site, but good service and prices)

GPR (good prices)

20th Street Parts (dismantler)

Parts Heaven (dismantler)

Griffiths, Inc. (for AC parts)

Rennsport Systems (Brake experts)

VCI (Brake experts)

P.A.P. parts

Ian's Euro Parts

Parts Obsolete (old restoration stuff)

Rennspeed Motorsports (body parts)

Performance/Automotion (when you can't find it anywhere else)

Safelite (for glass)

CarQuip (Swepco 203!)

Car Audio Innovations (for stereo stuff)

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

[This message has been edited by JackOlsen (edited 04-02-2001).]

The best service I have recieved is from Pelican and E.B.S. These two are hands down the best in my book, and the first I order from. Vertex and AJ-USA have treated me good as well.

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Matt Chamblin
78 911 SC

Jack's message pretty much sums it up. Ian's euro parts is my #1 used supplier and pelican is #1 for new. Ian is very helpful and I would reccommend him highly. Pelican...need I say more.

Dante Oliverio

I'd like to add Tweeks to the list of good suppliers - have used them on a couple of occations for smaller items such as bushings, bearings, etc.
And even though I have the added hassle of inernational shipping, it has worked relatively smooth.

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1972 911S Targa
************************
My project!

For high-performance or competition modifications and certain high-quality aftermarket performance parts, you won't find anybody more helpful or knowledgeable than Steve Weiner, at Rennsport Systems, in Portland, Oregon. They're not cheap and make no excuses about it, but you get what you pay for.

Stephan

I have used www.daveturner.com for Recaro seats and other racing supplies. GPR has had good prices, but they I think they are more for the AUDI/VW crowd. Performance products has telephone operators and not car enthusiast working the phones, unless you get lucky. They REAM you with shipping and handling charges also. Windward offer good prices, but when you speak to them, the are only interested in the sale. What they recommend is what they have alot of stock in.
The Tirerack can't be beat in my opinion. I wish I would of come up with that idea!

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8 9 9 1 1, The last of the line.



[This message has been edited by 89911 (edited 04-03-2001).]

Juan,

Thank you very much for allowing me to gather very good sources.

Pelican is certainly #1, but a very good supplier I have not yet seen mentioned is:
http://www.foreignintrigue.com/
They do not have the best web site, but they do have the parts.

I was looking for a synchro hub,
Pelican - not in stock
Performance Products - Back Order
etc..
etc..

Foreign Intrigue - "The computer shows I have it, let me go see". "Yep got it right here in my hand".

This was at noon on Thursday, they are in CT I am in TX, and it was in my hand by 10am on Friday.

They also send out flyers with very good prices.

For used parts, I shop around, and I share my other offers. $350.00 for a trailing arm - BUT - I found one in OK for $175 I told the guy in AZ he said $150 I told this to the guy in TN and he said $125. I don't lie, but I do shop around. There is a lot of room for movement on used parts. Just shop until you find what you can afford.

Never forget to check the Pelican Classifieds. That is where I found my best deal for the trailing arm. Some want to make a buck, but most enjoy helping out fellow enthusiasts, like an organ doner that just wants to see his parts live on.

Thanks again Juan for a great thread.

While we are talking suppliers, and parts, here is a helpful site:

http://importecparts.com/porslist.html

I printed the list, it is 30 pages long, it is Suggested Retail prices using the original Porsche Part Numbering System.

Just FYI.

Actually, Foreign Intrigue is in Maine, and they run a pretty reputable shop out of a very large barn. I brought a car there for a PPI, and they didn't even want to waste my money by doing it. I ended up not buying the car. They have a great reputation for many miles (and only partly because they are the ONLY shop for miles). I would go there, except they are about 1.5 hours from Boston. I recently bought a chin spoiler and mounting hardware from them (Pelican was $50 more), and and the package arrived next day. It was the "smile" instead of the chin spoiler. I called, and the guy shipped me the right item, which I recieved the next day, with a pickup ticket for the other part. No hassle, no wait, willing to talk on the phone(even when they were busy). I would rank them right up there. Pelican has a much better web site, and this great board, so I like to come here first. Unless the price is out of control, I will buy it here, as well. I do check Foreign Intrigue as well, mostly because I have been to their place and they are just as helpful as Pelican(in my experience).


Magilla

Magilla

Thanks for the correction, I pride myself on accuracy, but I droped the ball. Next time I'll say New England, sacrifice precsion for accuracy.

I don't know where Foriegn Intrigue got my address, but it was their sale flyer that brought me to them. I could tell they were small time, the guy on the phone was the same guy in the warehouse, but they sure have a first class attitude for service, and apparantly a large inventory.

A business man who knows where his business comes from.