Just as I was attempting to piece together a usable facsimile of a 73 seatbelt in an all out effort to deliver the car to its patient owner, my UPS agent, (you know the guy who takes away nicely packaged, never to be seen again, items and drops off boxes that look like they have been dropped from an airplane at 35,000 feet), arrives with a COD parcel from SUNWEST.

Evidently Karl doesn't feel the desire to talk to me to obtain a credit card number...SMART.

The belt is perfectly restored and it leaves me wondering why he can't keep his word. His business would be huge if he could just get to honest. but it unfortunately eludes him.

I am grateful to the NCRS, several of our members, who spoke to Sunwest on my behalf and a certain carburetor restorer in St. Louis, who pointed out that it might be in his own best interest of do the "right thing".

In the end I believe that the only thing that motivated this unscrupulous vendor was the NCRS, The removal of Sunwest's advertising from NCRS publications limited his access to new victims and put pressure on his bank account, otherwise I fear I would still be waiting for a seatbelt. When I wrote the check I noted in the memo, "NEVER AGAIN", That sums it up for me.

Once again I am deeply appreciative to Vinnie, Eric and the organization

jer

 

Thanks Patrick, it literally made my day.
I am in complete agreement ith you, I can wait a long time for quality work, just let me know up front and keep me informed. I have NO patience with those that misrepresent themselves or their work
jer

 

My buddy, Blaine Worth, does auto restorations as his active retirement 'job' so to speak. Blaine was a master carpenter who was injured in an industrial accident. During his recouperation, he went to university and got a degree and became a high school teacher. His hobby of rebuilding cars became his 'job' when he retired from teaching. His house has six bays of garage, a paint booth plus storage.

When someone hires Blaine to do a restoration on a car, Blaine gives them the speech. "I'm gonna tell you up front- I'm slow and I'm expensive but it's done right- I stand behind my work. You tell me what you want and I'll make sure you get it but be prepared to pay for it. If you try to rush me, I'll drop your car off wherever you want it 'cause it won't be here."

While I was rebuilding my wife's Jeep CJ7 (renting a bay from Blaine) I watched (and occasionally helped) as Blaine took a basket case 57 Chev 2 dr hardtop which was brought in, literally, in pieces. The body was eaten by the rust monster that the door posts had to be replaced and everything inside cross-braced before the floor pan and trunk could be replaced. The owner spent mega-dollars buying new chrome, new tail lights, new brightwork, etc. (before consulting with Blaine) and was shocked when these new parts didn't fit!:crazy: Blaine got the guy to bring in the old parts which he luckily hadn't tossed out and, sure enough, everything fit, so off to the polishing shop they went.

At the end of the road, the owner got a little bizarre because almost everything was :chevy 'numbers matching' (ie: rebuilt powerglide, rebuilt matching engine, etc) and the owner decided to install aftermarket a/c and power seats. Whatever! When it was all finally together, the owner took it home and brought it back a week later with a big dent in the fender from a parking lot crunchling.:smash:

The good guys don't have to advertise. Sunwest does. Blaine doesn't. Enough said?


[Modified by Mac, 5:59 AM 10/29/2001]