I've been lurking on this one, but I second Joe's opinion. I gave Victoria
British quite a bit of my business until the adapter nuts they sent me for
my car where the wrong ones and my front wheel fell off the car while
driving! The nuts simply stripped right off the studs! In comparing the
VB adapter nuts to my original steel wheel nuts, it became clear that they'd
sent me the wrong parts, but marked correctly as the adapter nuts I needed.
I suffered significant bonnet damage and had to replace all four wheel studs
on one side. When I complained to VB about the problem, I received a call
from a gentleman who expressed concern and said that at the very least, VB
would issue me a credit voucher for some new parts. I never heard back from
him and decided that it wasn't worth it to try and pursue any legal
recourse. Meanwhile, Spitbits sent me new adapter nuts that were clearly
made of much higher quality material.
VB is great when they have their sales -- I bought some nice seat covers,
made in England, for $179 for the set, I believe, but for important
mechanical parts where quality manufacturing is important, VB has become my
last choice, based on my rather unpleasant experience with them.
Best wishes,
Jeff in San Diego
'67 RHD Spitfire Mk3 aka "Mrs. Jones"
Jeff's Classic '67 Spitfire Mk3 site & Vintage Spitfire Webring
http://www.ohms.com/spitfire/spitfire.shtml
home of the NEW Totally Triumph Auction
"By Triumph enthusiasts, for Triumph enthusiasts"
http://www.ohms.com/cgi-bin/TRauction.cgi
and... The Triumph Autos/Parts Wanted Listings
http://www.ohms.com/cgi-bin/TRwanted.cgi
...plus a few other surprises!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net>
To: Dummer, Dan <Dan.Dummer@BestBuy.Com>
Cc: 'mark holbrook' <rolling_rock_12@yahoo.com>; <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2000 8:11 AM
Subject: Re: dash wiring harness from vicky brit
>
> Dan,
> I take exception with the comparison of VB with K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and
Target.
>
> If you go into any of those stores, you would expect to find (among other
things) name brands sold at prices lass than the other
> upscale stores.
>
> Victoria British sells in most cases the same parts as the other suppliers
at prices that are much higher. Compare prices there with
> SpitBits, BPNW and Ted Schumacher and see what you find. I Think you will
be surprised.
>
> Plus, their shipping policies really bite! I had a set of lifters shipped
UPS ground recently and they based the shipping cost on the
> price of the product not on the weight. So I ended up paying $15.75
shipping for something that would have been delivered priority
> mail for $3.20.
>
> Needless to say, I shop everywhere else before I go to VB.
>
> Joe
>
> "Dummer, Dan" wrote:
> >
> > Now hold on. Why does Victoria British deserve to be called a "Poor
> > Company" ? Because its larger than the other supply houses ? No, you
> > won't get personal service there. And yes, the operators on the phone
are
> > order takers, not technicians. But when I call a supply house, I'm not
> > looking for someone to ask questions of. I want someone to take the
order,
> > tell me its in stock, and tell me that it will be at my house in just a
> > couple days. I get that from VB. Are the parts concourse quality ?
> > Nope. Do I care ? Nope again. If you are the kind of person, who would
> > never shop in a Kmart/Wal-Mart/Target store, then you won't like VB.
> >
> > And I'm working real hard to hold back a rant about companies caring
about
> > making a profit. Arg.... that's one tough rant to choke back.......
> >
> > The usual caveats apply here, I do not have a financial interest in VB.
> > It just gets me going to hear a company slagged off just because they
are
> > big.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Dan
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: mark holbrook [SMTP:rolling_rock_12@yahoo.com]
> > > Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 10:19 PM
> > > To: dave jenkins
> > > Cc: spitfires@autox.team.net
> > > Subject: Re: dash wiring harness from vicky brit
> > >
> > >
> > > I have to say that Vic Brit is a poor company. All
> > > they know is part numbers, you ask a question and they
> > > have no idea what you're talking about. TRF on the
> > > other hand, as well as Rimmer Brothers, have great
> > > ordering and tech knowledge. I say screw Vic Brit and
> > > give your business to people who care about YOU and
> > > your CAR, not profit.
> > > Mark
> > > --- dave jenkins <me@davejenkins.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Help--
> > > >
> > > > I am restoring a '75 spitfire 1500 and am
> > > > contemplating rewiring my girl
> > > > (haven't named her yet-- suggestions?). I am
> > > > thinking of ordering the
> > > > 'complete wiring harness' from Vickybrit, but it
> > > > doesn't come with the
> > > > dash wiring harness. Do they have one of those? I
> > > > can't see it in the
> > > > catalog. If not, where can I get one?
> > > >
> > > > ALSO-
> > > > I am going to go for the 'beige' interior, not the
> > > > biscuit. Does the
> > > > VickyBrit 'Complete Interior Kit' come in Beige, or
> > > > just Biscuit and
> > > > Black?
> > > >
> > > > Sorry for asking what would be tech support
> > > > questions of their company,
> > > > but I can't seem to get a good answer from them, and
> > > > I thought maybe
> > > > someone has experience.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ONE LAST POINT:
> > > > As a web developer and company exec with a firm that
> > > > develops
> > > > e-commerce, (www.mediabang.com) I am appalled at
> > > > victoriabritish.com
> > > > (can only order catalogs). If I pushed it, I think
> > > > I can help them
> > > > develop an online parts ordering catalog. Imagine
> > > > being able to enter
> > > > your car(s) on the site, and only see parts for that
> > > > model . . . Imagine
> > > > being able to track orders, the site would remember
> > > > who you are, what
> > > > your cars have had done, etc. . . imaging being
> > > > notified when specific
> > > > special orders for your car(s) come online!
> > > >
> > > > I know that was kind of sales-pitchy of me. My
> > > > point is this: if I can
> > > > show them enough of a 'groundswell' for this, they
> > > > might go for it. I'm
> > > > sure we can figure out some way of discounts for all
> > > > of those who help
> > > > out--
> > > > just an idea (wish) . . .
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dave
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > =====
> > > -Mark Holbrook-
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Send instant messages with Yahoo! Messenger.
>
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