Re: {Chrysler 300} A Five Star rating system for vendors

In my opinion, there are a lot of things that affect rating systems.

One thing that has happened is our expectations have increased (blame the internet and Amazon).

Then we have a lot of junk being sold, reproduction and replacement parts are often questionable quality.

Next, we have a few vendors out there that could best be described as "fly by night" and really don't care if you are happy with their wares. (you can blame the internet and eBay)

To top it off, we have a bully pulpit for those who feel they have to announce every mistake, no matter how minor, to the world. I'll swear that some folks will even blame the UPS guy because they weren't happy with their purchase. (again, blame the internet), As anyone that's been in business can tell you, there are people out there that you will never make happy, no matter how hard you try. Their life is so miserable that they find fault with everything, no matter how good your product or how well you treat them.

All that said, in the past year or so, I've had very good experiences with a few vendors.

Woodruff Carbs in Ohio comes to mind first. They did an AFB that looks good and works well, and at a price that is very competitive.

Firm Feel did a steering box for me and I was quite happy with the results.

As they have since they opened, Legendary Interiors hit the mark again, although we can blame Covid for a longer than usual lead time.

John

On Sunday, January 9, 2022, 07:19:26 AM EST, agmoon@xxxxxxxxx <agmoon@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Unfortunately you are right about today's world. What has happened?
It's so sad. All any of us want to do is have some fun with our old
cars. Nothing more.

A&G
..........................................................................

Quoting Rob Kern <robkern@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

> Unfortunately in this day in age, anything less than 5 star rating
> is best discussed off line. I fully agree with Keith on his 5 star
> list! 300'ly, Rob Kern
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Jan 8, 2022, at 8:23 PM, Keith Boonstra
>> <kboonstra.zeegroup@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> John,
>>
>> I agree that setting up a “Five-Star” list of service and parts
>> providers we have experienced would be very helpful to all who are
>> looking for help in selecting the best providers of parts and
>> services.
>>
>> I’ll start it out:
>> 5 Stars - J.C. Auto in Washington for expert service, sound advice,
>> AND rare parts. Jeff Carter is a long-time 300 Club member and
>> great guy. Knows his Mopars intricately.
>>
>> 5 Stars - Custom Plating Specialist in Brillion, WI for near
>> show-quality chrome at pretty much driver pricing. Mr. Terry Meetz
>> doesn’t lose your precious parts, and he gets them back to you at
>> the time and price he quoted you from photos you send him. And
>> he’ll stand behind the work and do it over if you’re not pleased.
>>
>> 5 Stars - Jim McGowan at the Quad Shop in Rochester, IL. An ace on
>> any carb. He understands their intricacies and can fix them after
>> everyone else gives up. Flow bench tests and pre-calibrates them so
>> they come back in plug-n-play condition. Also a 300 Club member.
>>
>> 5 Stars - Don Verity. Deeply knowledgeable on everything drivetrain
>> - front to back. He can rebuild anything the right way. And great
>> with advice on troubleshooting. Also a long-time 300 Club member.
>>
>> These are all folks I’ve dealt with multiple times, and I’ve found
>> them to be the best, most trustable I’ve worked with through
>> several restorations. When providers really please us, they deserve
>> to receive our endorsements.
>>
>> This just a start, and I have not noted as yet any who don’t hit
>> the top mark. Or those one-star drags on the hobby we need to
>> identify as well. We really need some sort of a spreadsheet set up
>> by the area of attention - one that would also allow for the
>> additional comments of others who may or may not share the same
>> opinion.
>>
>> I think it would be terrific to develop a one-stop “Five Star”
>> reference link on our Chrysler 300 Club International website that
>> consolidates the sum of our experiences with all the suppliers of
>> services and parts we’ve used in the restoration of our cars.
>>
>> Keith Boonstra
>>
>>
>> ——
>>
>>
>>> On Sat, Jan 8, 2022 at 12:44 PM John Grady <jkg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> people love watching “world champion wrestling” too . PT Barnum
>>> was right . Auctions same scam .
>>>
>>> RE brokers too , will give you a low estimate —the thinking is
>>> “sell fast get commission “ and run . Another aspect of this .
>>> That approach makes more money doing 2-3 of those fast than the
>>> one rare top of market hit , but you need that big hit on site to
>>> draw them in .
>>>
>>> I always used Hemmings to buy , never got badly hurt on cars but
>>> sometimes hurt on parts / services .
>>> Right now trying to navigate chrome — 3x difference in prices . right
>>> Bob has excellent vendors list , maybe we all start to rate like
>>> amazon does 1-5 stars in 5 categories , build up a data base so
>>> the good guys get all the business?
>>> Those stars often saved me ..
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone not by choice
>>>
>>> On 8 Jan 2022, at 12:25 pm, Richard Dutkiewicz <rdr_inc@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> Great call / insight. Always suspected all this.
>>>
>>> Rick Dutkiewicz Haynes
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my Bell Samsung device over Canada's largest network.
>>>
>>>
>>> -------- Original message --------
>>> From: 'mark love' via Chrysler 300 Club International
>>> <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Date: 2022-01-08 12:11 PM (GMT-05:00)
>>> To: John Lyons <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Cc: Matt Allyn <allynentertainment@xxxxxxxxx>, Ron Waters
>>> <ronbo97@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Chrysler 300 Club International
>>> <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Subject: Re: {Chrysler 300} Mecum Auction Site
>>>
>>> The fix is in. I think BJ and Mecum for sure are dubious
>>> operations. I have bought and sold at BJ and Mecum and I know
>>> dealers who do the same. They stroke the ring boys and the block
>>> caller and get extra attention. Heard the auctioneer stop and
>>> remind the audience the bid is way below value and then reads out
>>> the features again to try and stoke the bids again? These lots
>>> get an extra 45-60 seconds on the block because the owner has
>>> stroke. I am also personally aware of phantom bids that keep the
>>> one honest person left on the floor with a drink in his hand
>>> bidding ’till his glass is empty. How many times have you seen
>>> and heard the auctioneer stop and check the floor or telephone
>>> bidding only to go back and correct to a lower number when the
>>> real bidder passed.
>>> Buy from a club member or a regional auction where you know the
>>> people or others nearby know the car. Best for me has been from a
>>> club member who offers you an honest evaluation and an honest
>>> price, knowing that the two of you will see each other again down
>>> the road. This auction BS should be investigated and called out.
>>> M
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Jan 8, 2022, at 8:36 AM, John Lyons <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I'd have to look but I feel like the G has been at other Mecum sales.
>>>>
>>>> My takeaways in general:
>>>>
>>>> Mecum owns a lot of the higher dollar stuff they offer. With his
>>>> health issues, some of their star cars are repeats as he was not
>>>> as active recruiting cars for a while. With that estimate, I
>>>> suspect they own it.
>>>>
>>>> Once when I brought a letter car to sell a few years ago, their
>>>> auction 'grinder' walked up yo me before the car was on the block
>>>> and asked if I'd take effectively half reserve. I laughed and
>>>> said no. They ran the it up to their offer and passed the car.
>>>> The whole process took 45 seconds. They then made the same offer.
>>>>
>>>> I sold the car a short time later for $20k over my reserve.
>>>>
>>>> It just struck me that they did not know the merchandise and/or
>>>> they wanted to buy the car themselves.
>>>>
>>>> That G sure is sharp. Curious if it is a factory 888 interior or not.
>>>>
>>>> John Lyons
>>>> 860-883-3998
>>>> Excuse any typos.
>>>>
>>>>>> On Jan 8, 2022, at 12:32 AM, 'Matt Allyn' via Chrysler 300 Club
>>>>>> International
>>>>>> <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>> I was able to login….
>>>>> (Don’t know if you will be able to see these if you have yet to
>>>>> sign up on the Mecum site)
>>>>>
>>>>> 1961 G:
>>>>> https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0122-496159/1961-chrysler-300g-convertible/
>>>>>
>>>>> 1962 H:
>>>>> https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0122-487882/1962-chrysler-300h-convertible/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Jan 7, 2022, at 9:21 PM, Ron Waters <ronbo97@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Has anyone figured out how to search the Mecum/Kissemmee
>>>>>> auction for a specific make and range of years ? The last thing
>>>>>> I want to do is go day-by-day looking for 50s Mopars or
>>>>>> Chrysler 300s.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ron
>>>>>>
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