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Sorry for the rant. Has anyone got recommendations for which suppliers you use? Or do you just risk it and get the cheapest and best parts and hope they turn up?
I don't know who you are using, but I have had great success using All 4X4 Spares in Kotara, NSW. They offer great service and advice and have Series knowledgeable sales staff. I've been using them for parts for 30 odd years and have never been let down.
I've been recommended them a couple times now! I have seen there website and I think I priced a few things way back. I'll have to revisit them!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferg
I was completely disgusted with a lot of the local parts suppliers last year when I was doing a lot of work on my IIA. The very fancy looking websites that disguise what are basically drop shipping operations from the UK will never get my business again. If you don't have an item in stock then don't sell it online and then contact the buyer telling them its a 6 week wait for shipping - or even better, allow the buyer to choose an expedited shipping option (for more money) then never contact them at all until after the supposed delivery date comes and goes, and when they contact you tell them "oh its coming from the UK and will take 6 weeks." I purchased a lot stuff direct from the UK and it arrived the following week.
Had great service from British Auto Parts in Melbourne and will pretty much only buy from them now, unless they don't have what I need in which case I will go direct to the manufacturer in the UK. What passes for the Australian parts industry can go jump.
At Cooma 2008 I bought a propshaft boot from a well known parts supplier. When I bought it I obviously took it out of the box and checked it out and put it back in the box and went home where it sat on the shelf for about 3 years.
I got it down to put on a new proshaft I had built up and on opening the box bits of rubber fell out and when I pulled the boot out it had all perished and was literally falling apart. Too late to take it back, and I later mentioned it to the supplier who of course denied averything.
So I now try to stay away from repro rubber products and get original old stock however that is often not possible.
I also go on the UK and US Jaguar forums and complaints about the poor quality repro parts are a constant source of discussion.
I think poor quality repro parts are a fact of life these days.
Garry
Most of the well known parts suppliers eg Britpart/Bearmach outsource most of the components they supply from India & China. I've noticed that on invoices from overseas the Country of origin is listed but to be fair the country of origin doesn't automatically dictate the quality.Quote:
Originally Posted by 101RRS
I wonder how big the Worldwide demand is for some of the parts and therefore how many manufacturers of certain LR parts there actually are.
I see claims that parts from company A are better than those from company B but are they sourced from the same original supplier ? Are they really any better ? Has the person making the claim purchased the same parts from both companies ?
Rubber parts have always been a problem on the aftermarket. Track rod & propshaft boots last about 2-3 years in the dark yet a Series II I've just acquired has been standing outside for over 20 years has intact track rod & propshaft boots ?!
The other annoying thing is the statements like 'OEM quality', 'OEM manufacturer', OEM specification' all of which mean absolutely nothing.
Then to add to the problems there is the local supplier that often drop ships, you effectively pay them to order from the UK for you !
As much as I'd like to support local suppliers I tend to buy most items from the UK. I used to also buy regularly from a Melbourne based company but they have changed hands several times in recent years and seem to be Ebay only now and no personal shoppers.
I guess it's a minefield for someone just starting off with Land Rovers and trying to figure out where to purchase parts from.
Colin