Originally posted by Kauffman:
This Haines-worship still amazes me. He may have more knowledge about the 'tour than anyone here, but he is definetly not the number one supllier of unique 'tour parts.
With the attitudes on this board, I'm thinking my original decision to wipe my account and leave was a good one - I think this time it'll be final.
This is a valid question that I will answer from my perspective. When I bought my 3L block from SHO Shop, their support was terrible. When I would call for an answer to a question, if I didn't speak to Vadim, I got straight out lies. Its not like they didn't know doing the block swap would be tricky and someone that purchased the part from them 3000 miles away would need a little help with the tricky parts. Part of what I expected for the price I paid them was support, since their shop specialized in Contour 3L conversions (among other things). And if you really want to get down to details, OF Ray was kicking around the idea of a 3L conversion for Contours LONG before SHO Shop did any. The 3L conversion is NOT their idea, they just happened to be first to the plate with the packaged parts to do it. (And on top of that, there is something lacking in the quality of their parts anyway.)
No biggie, I just plowed through the problems with my mechanic and some research here and on David Z's site. By the time the engine was ready, I was completely sick of dealing with SHO Shop. Then the trans shop had problems fitting the Quaife. I put in a call to BAT (from whom I had purchased the Quaife), but they really couldn't help, since they just sell the parts - fitment is not part of their business strategy. They offered to direct me to a shop that had experience in fitting the Quaife on Contours. "This guy Vadim in LA has a shop that does this work." Ha ha, I told him to put in the call, but Vadim never called back. Big surprise. BAT also called Quaife USA and was told that it can't be the diff's problem and they couldn't offer any help. So, BAT did all they could, but just didn't have any way to help me. No problem; I can understand that.
Well, since I have absolutely no clue about transaxles I was in trouble. I had no idea if the trans shop just had their head up their butts, or why the diff wouldn't fit. I was a newbie, but I had seen Terry give advice about other CEGer's trans problems and understood that he owned some sort of business dealing with Contour upgrades. So I gave him a call, and he told me to have the trans shop call him so they could go over it. He contacted Quaife UK and went over the problem with my trans shop. Quaife UK basically said the same thing their USA office said. Eventually he got to the bottom of the problem and let me know exactly what I should do to fix it.
Why did Terry do this? First, he's a pretty nice guy and was doing what he could to help out someone who, by his own admission, was in over his head. Second, he was offering expert assistance to a potential customer. I was completely impressed with his knowledge and expertice in our vehicles (and then learned where the expertice came from). So, he earned himself a loyal customer.
So where does that leave me? Well, I wouldn't touch SHO Shop again with a 10 foot pole. I continue to buy from BAT, but I expect no installation support from them (and they make no offers of such either). The parts BAT has supplied me have been top quality. And I will buy from Terry every time he offers a part that I want or need for a competetive price. So to the fact that I vocally express my opinion that we are wrecking one of the few good things we have in the Contour aftermarket, I have this to say: I don't give a d@mn if you stay or leave; that is up to you. But if you are on a bulliten board with me, or sitting across a table from me having a conversation, you are going to get my opinion on matters - like it or not. That's just how I am.
If BAT offered the DMD for half the price, I would have to go with them for sure. If BAT was saving me $40 on the part, I would have to think hard about it, but I would probably go with Terry anyway. (I would expect to be in the minority and would not have such strong opinions about people saving those $40.) However, if some guy comes here and says, "I know nobody knows me and I only have like 40 posts and I am in a whole other continent from you. Send me $90 and I'll send you a genuine bona-fide Ford OEM dual mode damper." I am expected to give my business to him? And then people b|tch when I come out and explain why I think that is completely foolish? The extra $40 I spent going to Terry (give or take since it wasn't shipped to me but it was installed) is investment in future Contour offerings as far as I am concerned. And I know Terry isn't going to take off with my money. Something I don't know about this guy in Germany. When people start reporting that they got ther DMD from him, he'll get more credit in my book. I am NOT about to be one of those people taking that risk, however.
And as far as I know, Terry was the only source for Aussie Bars, unless someone wants to invest in a 50 piece minimum order from American Axle. And the only "currently verified as legitimate" source for DMDs. Then there are the upgraded front A-Arms. Bulldog Box. MTX-75 seminar (I know, not a part but still a unique offering). Other than that, I can't think of many Contour parts that have exactly one source of supply. BAT does import some unique parts and distributes them through other companies. And SHO Shop is the only full time supplier of "prepped" blocks and bolt-on 63mm TBs. But you already know what I think of them (and there is more that I haven't typed in here). Other than those parts, everything else on my mod list can be purchased from multiple sources. And I will continue to support companies that I have had good experiences with (CTA, BAT, HMS, Tire Rack) when they provide a part and/or service that I am in the market for and provide a reasonable price. It doesn't even have to be the cheapest price, because there can be hidden costs in choosing a supplier based simply on cost alone.
I wouldn't mind if someone drove SHO Shop out of business. They completely suck in my book. But when people come in and undercut Terry, I get disturbed. Because he is one of the few good things we have (had) going for us. I'll be sure to keep an eye on Terry's future offerings in HMS's new vehicle line strategy - you never know, I might know someone with that vehicle that could use an upgraded part at some time.
