The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk bad service

Just curious but I emailed american classic truck parts with a very simple question last night about the gauge of sheetmetal used in a patch panel. Anyone had problems getting a response?

After 3 emails back and forth I finally got a reply with an extremely smart*** reply back explaining to me where specifically taiwan was and explaining to me how the metric system works.

So I call them up to discuss with them their bad customer service. They tell me that person is having a bad day. So I asked if that was there policy to let their customers get treated like crap and if thats really a good policy.

I keep getting diverted back to my original question and not the fact that they treated me with disrespect because she was having a bad day.

Now I know they sponsor this site and I think its about the best thing Ive ran into while working on the old truck but I dont think Ill ever order from them just cause of this.

Anyone else had problems with them? Im very careful about not being rude with customer service because it usually not in ones best interest to treat them disrespectfully.

Ive ordered from other places and not had any issues at all. If you cant answer the question just let me know, I understand some things like that are hard to answer.

I think Im done ranting now. Before I posted this I asked a few of my friends if I was in someway out of line and they said no, these people are disrespectful. Any opinions here?


Jeff

Heres the copy of my questions:

Q:I was curious what gauge the sheetmetal is on the replacement patch
panels for a 67-72 chevy truck.
Thanks for your time, Jeff

A:Taiwan gauge

Q:When I say gauge I mean the actual thickness of the metal. Please help.
Thanks, Jeff

A:Same answer

Q:Please elaborate. I have never heard of taiwan gauge nor do I know what
that means? In otherwords how thick is that in an american measurment? Am
I missing something here?

Jeff

A:Taiwan is an island off of China across the Formosa straits.
It is where most Americans like to buy their products from because they are
CHEAP.
By the same vein those same buyers also want their products to be the same
quality as the old USA ones.
Cheap and high quality do not go hand in hand in the real world.

To put this in your area the sheet metal that we import is usual between 1mm
and 1.25 mm thick.
MM or millimeters is a measurement that nearly all of the rest of the world
uses.

Rusted Nuts,

Had I received those responses, I don't believe I would have been as pleasant as you appear to have been.

I would have likely had to had a discussion with the owner/manager type person. At that point, he probably wouldn't have been having a good day either.

I haven't had any experience dealing with American Classic Truck Parts. While I doubt their management would really tolerate that type of behaviour, based upon your experience, it's unlikely that I will.

Perhaps you should have the aforementioned conversation with the manager/owner and advise them of your experience and how you've posted it to 10,000+ potential customer's, on a site they sponsor to boot.

If they're business savy at all, they'll know the next response will make a tremendous difference to their bottom line.

I'd be sure to include the follow-up conversation where the previous poor behaviour was excused as "having a bad day".

Whereas the response could have been better the initial question is a also a bit suspect. What does it matter? The patch panels will be close to the original thickness for the application it is meant for. Also, the manner in which the panels are installed, typically butt welds makes the issue null.

Eric I was bighting my tongue the while time! And Im not done yet...

Houston54 it matters to me because I posted this question in another forum, a friend of mine got replacement panels for a VW and the new panels were far inferior to the old. As in you could rap your knuckles on it and it would dent slightly.

Its a truck, its going to be used as a truck and and on the chance that it happens, I dont want to step on the rocker panel and dent or bow it in after spending the time and money to fix it.

On the phone they told me it was no were near the original thickness cause they were so cheaply made.

Thats why it matters to me. It might not be that big a difference to some but to me it is. Hope that helps to see where Im coming from.

Jeff

Unfortunately poor customer service is becoming the way things are done with a lot of companies these days. I had one wireless telephone customer support rep lie to me and then refuse to connect me with a supervisor. I then wrote a letter & sent it registered mail explaining how a complaint to the FCC would follow unless someone addressed the problem. I got a phone call the next day from a supervisor who was most willing to work with me.

one thing I have learned about American Classic...
never, ever try to email American Classic and get a response that makes any sense or that you'd like back in a timely fashion. Use the phone.

-W

American Classic was pretty good to me.. I ordered some tail lights.. the lady told me i wouldnt be happy with them... because they "are junk"... since i needed them.. i ordered them.. and guess what.. they were junk.. i couldnt even use them... but at least she warned me.... so i didnt get mad

I've been real frustrated with customer service the last few years. I don't have any unpleasant experience with American Classic, but there is another often mentioned vender I've been vocal about several times.

They respond as if any difficulty is my fault or my misunderstanding. I finally decided they are right and that if I don't order from them we won't have any more problems. So far that approach is working for me and they don't seem to mind doing without my money.

Jeff I've been happy with parts the parts I've bought from LMC Truck for my '72. The are not the cheapest but I've never had a complaint about their service and I'm willing to pay a little more for that.

Open comment to any vendors reading this thread

There is a classic study that was published in Harvard Business Review about 1990 that shows that acquiring new customers is much more expensive than serving long-term customers and that retaining customers long-term results in much stronger profits.

These results can be measured and even forecast.

I'd encourage any vendor reading this to do some research on the subject and think about the future of their company. You may be focused on measuring near-term profits to the detriment of long-term customer value and the future health of your company.

If you don't know how to measure it get some help.

Yes..I know...not a truck part...but I have a Whirlpool Washer/dryer, Microwave, Refridge, and Range..all are less than 8 months old...

Microwave took a dump after 2 weeks of use...2 months, a new door, and other parts later, it was fixed...Repair guy said NO WAY would Whirlpool give you a new one...they will fix the POS until it is off warr.

4 months later...Dryer takes a dump...It takes them 2.5 weeks to send parts....what in the HE!! do they think I am supposed to use to keep my clothes clean/dry during that time period....I live with 3 females...

Weber Grill sent me a new regulator for my outdoor grill in half the time it took to fix my dryer....(buy Weber!! the customer service was Awesome!!!) Hmmm. I suppose I could have used the grill to dry my clothes....

Point being...I won't buy Whirlpool or recommend them because the customer service was terrible...When you buy something, it should work...if it does not, fix it and quick or give me a new one...For pete sake, it is a microwave...how much did it cost to pay the tech to make 4 trips out and send out a new door for that thing..

Rant mode now off....

You can not succeed in business without repeat customers.


-W

I don't think that answer is all that terrible. Unfortunately she was trying to show some humor about a situation that is embarrassing to the suppliers. We as a market are buying by price and thus the best way for them to stay in business is by getting things made offshore. The last bit about the millimeters gives you a factual answer. As I understand it, 16 gauge means 1/16" think, 20 gauge means 1/20" , etc. So you have to convert the millimeters into the equivalent in inches. I have used the door bottoms from Taiwan and the skins were very nicely done and heavier than the original metal.

i - 1.5mm is an answer from someone who doesn't know and has no understanding of metric themselves - there is no appreciable variation in thickness of panels from a supplier, and many US companies contract parts to their specs to overseas plants where manufacturing is cheaper because labor is cheaper

1-1.5mm = thicker than 20ga [0.0359"] to less than 16ga [0.0598"] , a ridiculous variation

I'd use the phone and let some one there know they're being poorly served by the keypuncher

the 67-72 patch panels you can order from your local stores will come from Goodmark Industries or Dynacorn International and will be excellent quality, at least that's the case here - saying something that's foreign made = poor quality is just wrong

Bill

Then how do all those undertakers stay in business??



Brian

I've had problems with ignored Emails and smartalic answers after prying repeatedly to get a response. I regret it since they support this site but I will never contact them again.

If they had treated me with any respect at all they would have made hundreds of dollars. They must be doing one heck of a business to ignore and insult polite customers making serious inquiries about their products.

I posted a reply this morning about the bad servive I received from American Classics.IT WAS REMOVED. It not a good thing to tell the truth about a sponcer.Just send them your money and get bad parts and bad aditude.I don't think I or anyone has to kiss ____. If someone don't like this reply they will remove it.

anybody see giant's post anywhere? hangin from the rafters or layin outside the window?

as you can see by the posts in this thread Giant, nobody is stopping anyone from stating their opinion about Am Classic - if in fact you had a post deleted I'd expect it would have been a problem with how you "expessed yourself" - more likely the heat under yer collar had ya pressin the wrong buttons and yer reply didn't get added to the thread!

as site sponser, AM will surely be directed to this thread, if they haven't already seen it, and no doubt they will be interested in hearing your complaint, maybe you could express it a bit better than "get bad parts and bad aditude"?

Bill

No foul here. AAMOF, I wouldn't send this to AC. That's not the kind of relationship we have with them.

I always like to remember that saying ... when you are pointing a finger, remember four are pointing back at you.

Peg

Some days its all you can do to not run around with a gun in your hands!

I just see 3 Peggy

Opps.



At least you got the jist.

Yup

I think all of us deserve some kind of respect since, we are paying customers. I've had a bad experience with a junk yard I "USED" to go to. A place called HWY 67 Truck dismantlers. They are located in the San Diego area. Long story I called them looking for a P/S bracket for a 292. The guy on the phone says no don't got one. I then asked if he had one for a 230 or 250, thinking I could modify it. He then got real stupid and barked at me, "If I dont' got one for a 292 what makes you think I got one for a 250....DUH!" What is it with some of these junk yards? They think they are doin you a favor.

ya ever notice how certain familes all use the same funeral home for 3 or 4 genrations?

-W

yep.

That is my no. 1 reason for not even considering going to junk yards. Around here they have such an attitude problem.

-W

Back to the original question.
Seems to me someone could have measured the part with a micrometer or a pair of dial calipers and given you a prompt and correct answer.
Would have taken less time than the bad answers you got.

Try and ask if they can do that, assuming you have yet to get a real answer...

I'm so ****** off at all of the "new" parts dealers.... I've ordered thousands of dollars worth of parts so far for my 49 and nothing has fit right at all- it's all JUNK. Except for the hubcaps. Everything is junk, but we have to pay out the *** for it.... Bought a brand new original type radiator.... not exactly the same, the fan blade was hitting a lip on the bottom tank- the old one didn't have the lip. Bought new door latches- won't disengage, bought new windshield weatherstrip- fits like hell and the holes in the middle vertical strip don't match up with the trim piece, bought new parking brake cables- cable housing is too short to fit in the brackets that are riveted to the frame, had to pay $35 bucks a piece for the "3600" side hood emblems... only one place has them, so they rape people. Bought a brake line set- back half of it was for a 1/2 ton when i specificly ordered a 3/4 ton set. Guess what? I'm stuck with it because it was a "drop shipment" The maker and the seller (inline tube and Chevy Duty) both basicly said I don't know what I'm doing... Bull****. It is clear to anyone that has one of these trucks and a factory assembly manual, what brake lines they need- I mean with what they sent me, it wasn't even close. They wouldn't even work with me on anything. And just think about how many simple chunks of rubber we buy for $10, $20 a pop, and they are generic pieces of crap that don't fit, and you know darn well they only cost 50 cents to make. It is experiences like these that make me want to abandon the project and the restoration hobby.